2024
Ho-Chunk Nation Mural
By Don Krumpos & Erin LaBonte
401 N Washington St, Green Bay, WI 54301, USA
Case study
- Client
- ArtFest Green Bay, with the Ho-Chunk Nation
- The problem
- Green Bay's second annual ArtFest wanted its signature community mural to honor the Ho-Chunk Nation — whose oral history places their origin village at the Red Banks, just north of the site — and to be painted by the public, not just admired by it.
- The approach
- A twelve-feather design honoring the twelve Ho-Chunk clans, inspired by the work of Ho-Chunk artist Ken Lewis (Bear Clan), painted with the community over festival paint days.
- Scope
- A large public wall on the Fox River under the Main Street bridge, with a permanent interpretive didactic on Ho-Chunk history.
- Participants
- Over 300 community painters, including members of the Ho-Chunk Nation; dedicated with Ho-Chunk drummers and tribal leadership present.
- Timeline
- Painted July 2024 during the 2nd annual ArtFest Green Bay.
- Outcome
- A permanent riverside landmark pairing public art with First Nations history — 'Hoocak Wookixete: love one another.'
The didactic at the mural reads: Aho!
Welcome
As you stand here today, take in the beauty of the artwork and the river that surrounds you. The Fox River was vitally important to those who came before us.
The Ho-Chunk are one of two of the First Nations of Wisconsin with an oral history that places their origin village at Móogasuc or the Red Banks, located approximately 10 miles north of this site along th banks of Green Bay.
The Ho-Chunk were first known as the Wisconsin Winnebago Tribe, a name given to them by early European explorers. In 1994, when the tribe adopted its present constitution, the nation reclaimed their original name: Ho-Chunk or
“People of the Big Voice.”
The Ho-Chunk Nation is comprised of twelve clans, or family groups, and each has distinct responsibilities within the tribe.
Water Spirit Clan - Wakjexi Hikika-The Water
o physicians, using heros, sacred
Snake Clan - Waka Hikikarac
Fish Clan - Hoo Hikikarac
Pigeon Clan - Ruucge Hikikarac
Hawk/Warrior Clan -
Kereju/Woonggire Waaksik
Eagle Clan - Caax$ep Hikikarac
Wolf Clan - Suukjgk Hikikarac
Buffalo Clan - Ceexji Hikikarac
Dee
Clan - Caa Hikikarac
Thunder Clan
Waka a Hikikarac
traditionally solected.
Elk Clan - Hyuug Hikikarac
Bear Clan - Hyuc Hikikarac
The mural design of the 12 feathers was inspired by the work of Wisconsin Ho-Chunk artist, Ken Lewis. He is a Bear Clan member, and his Ho-Chunk Name is Haap Maasja Maani, which means
Walks with the Strength of the Day.
Artists Erin LaBonte, Don and Wes Krumpos, and David Carpenter of Yonder in Algoma, Wisconsin, brought this mural to life in July 2024
with the help of over 300 painters. Area residents and visitors, including members of the Ho-Chunk Tribe, joined together to paint this community mural during the 2nd annual ArtFest Green Bay
Hoocak Wookixete
Love one another
やん
Want something like this on your wall? This project is a Participatory Community Mural .
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