Emma Big Bear was more than a knowledge keeper. She was an artist, a mother, a wife and a Ho-Chunk woman who refused to leave her homelands.

A skilled black ash basket maker, she carried culture through her hands and through her everyday life. She chose to remain near the graves of her ancestors, staying rooted in place, identity, and responsibility during a time of great change.

Our traditions have always been preserved by women like her, not always in institutions, but in everyday living.

May she remind us that it is our responsibility to carry that forward.

Wa’iniginapwi for tuning into our Women’s History Month series this month!

We’re a team of two balancing full-time work, family, and this work in our spare time! Pį̄nągigiwi for your patience with our uploads.

Stay tuned for the final episode.