Ryan Winn
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Sports editor at Detroit Free Press. Previously Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Arizona Republic
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Articles by Ryan Winn
It’s all about the land in one way or another
By Ryan Winn, Correspondent Menominee elder Sylvia Wilber taught me that there’s a truism behind the motivations about the United States’ Native American policies: “It’s all about the land.” From treaties, to relocation, to removal, to termination, to pipelines, to mines, to nuclear waste repositories, to carbon credits, the government-to-government relationship defined in the U.S. Constitution and upheld by the Supreme Court has historically been exercised on all matters concerning Native land.
Door County monument educates about Menominee
By Ryan Winn, Correspondent Monuments help us remember. They educate visitors about the past, acknowledging that the society we’re all a part of is built upon the foundation of those who preceded us. On Sept.
Vande Corput named CMN’s Faculty of the Year
By Ryan Winn, Correspondent For Sarah Vande Corput, the classroom is place to find a sense of belonging. The College of Menominee Nation’s 2026 Faculty of the Year honoree has been drawn to ways to connect learners to concepts throughout her career, creating a throughline that led to her being honored by CMN at its May commencement ceremony. After earning her bachelor of science in communication processes, Vande Corput began her career working in the business sector.
Menominee Pageant partners with Smithsonian
By Ryan Winn, Correspondent The Menominee community will play a role in the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration. “Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals” will host about 40 festivals around the country, with the July 29 production of the Menominee Pageant being the only event held in Wisconsin. A revived tradition of the Menominee Nation, the annual production is a show of pantomime, live music and Native dance that marks the beginning of Menominee Powwow week each summer.
Podcast just what the doctors ordered
By Ryan Winn, Correspondent If you’re interested in hearing about how language can heal a nation, two Oneida doctors have just the prescription. “Not Those Kind of Doctors — A Serious Podcast by Unserious People” is hosted by Dr. Rosa Rylene King and Dr. Priscilla Belisle.
Native Summer Reads for 2025
I have a habit of recommending books. Whether I’m walking into a faculty meeting, browsing at the library, or seated next to someone on a plane, if I believe that there’s a book that they should know about then I’m going to tell them. In my classroom, I’m prone to holding a text aloft and suggesting that my students should spend part of their semester break between its covers. This past spring, a student and fellow bibliophile asked me to compile a list of new Native books to read over the summer.
Alcatraz Is Not an Island and It Shouldn’t Be a Distraction
Alcatraz marks a pivotal turning point in Native American history. Its 1969 occupation by a group known as Indians of All Tribes made an indelible mark on Indigenous activism, inspiring the Red Power Movement to flourish for years to come. Lumbee tribal member Dean Chavers was a part of that 19-month occupation which drew international attention.
Norbert S. Hill Jr.’s latest book offers entry points that can advance important conversations. In both tribal and national appointments, the enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin has spent six decades striving to improve Indigenous educational and academic opportunities through a mixture of tenacity and witticisms. The elder statesmen of prescient Indigenous issues has now focused his attention on what he sees as “the most important issue for Indians this century—blood quantum.
Five Native Films You Should Be Streaming in 2025
This past fall, a student in my class concluded his positive appraisal of a film with a well-known hand gesture. Raising his thumb skyward, he proclaimed, “You all should stream it.” For many film aficionados, assessing a film goes hand-in-hand with viewing it. We watch cinema to have an experience. After the credits roll, we want to tell others about what we saw, why it matters, and whether they should view it for themselves.
Jimmy Carter’s Legacy for Native Nations
Jimmy Carter’s legacy will be on display as he’s laid to rest this week. Although the centenarian was the longest living United States president, the nation’s 39th chief executive held office for only a single term. In much of the national coverage, Carter’s work on the 1978 Camp David Accords will be heralded as his most influential achievement.
Ryan Winn: College sports aren't ruined. They're just growing up
Shortly after college football’s transfer portal opened — a new post-Thanksgiving ritual that rivals Black Friday in dollars spent and pandemonium — fans were treated a breaking news bulletin usually reserved for the professionals: “Sources: Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels has agreed to a new deal to stay with the Jayhawks for 2025,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel posted on X on Dec. 6. A new deal? For a college athlete?
The Best Native Studies Books of 2024
Powerful writing affects readers’ lives. I’ve spent nearly two decades introducing students to works that have moved them to respond, quote, and even share with others beyond our classroom. Hearing my students react so profoundly to texts I’ve assigned feels like an act of academic reciprocity, as their passionate exuberance over the material compels me to keep searching for new literary treasures to send their way.
Vote Like the Future We Hope for Depends upon It
History is falsely remembered as being inevitable. In the process of celebrating successes, we overlook the perseverance that brought them. Every example of tribal identity that thrives today, from language to culture to artwork to diplomacy, can be traced to the actions of elders who saw each one as important. When they faced a fork in the road offering diametric paths leading to either stagnation or progress, they chose the actions that were best for their people.
Making Every Class a Language Class
If you browse the College of Menominee Nation’s (CMN’s) website this month, you will see a new page option under the “Community & Culture” header. The dropdown bar contains a hyperlink titled “Let’s All Speak the Language Library.” Clicking on that link brings you to a page containing videos that could enrich classrooms anywhere in the world. The page notes that “College of Menominee Nation endeavors to be a conduit for Indigenous language and culture.
Examining Dated Newspapers in Tribal College Classrooms
Every autumn, I discuss the repercussions of a Chicago Tribune cartoon that caricatures Native people. Created by John T. McCutcheon, “Injun Summer” first appeared on September 30, 1907, but then ran annually from 1912 to 1992.
STEM diversity is critical for our future prosperity
Those of us working on the persistent challenge of getting more women and girls into STEM study and careers often remind people that “you can’t be what you can’t see” – making the observation that girls at school, and women making career choices, need to have visible diverse role models to demonstrate the opportunities open for them in science and technology.
Baseball, American Culture, and Community Building
Every community has a baseball story. From major league stadiums to smalltown sandlots, tales of bat and ball prowess have united Americans across demographic lines. Although not a uniquely Indigenous game, there’s almost something surreal about the impact that baseball has on tribal communities. Every summer, Wisconsin’s tribal youth take to the field aiming to add their own stories to those of their elders.
CMN Launches Online Courses with Purpose
College of Menominee Nation President Christopher Caldwell said: “The charter for the college states that we are to serve Menominee people. It doesn’t just say to just educate those Menominee who live on the reservation.” This fall, CMN furthers this mission by offering online courses to anyone who wishes to learn. Part of the Navigating the Future Project, CMN Chief Academic Officer Geraldine Sanapaw said: “CMN wants to give students more of a selection for courses.
Climate action not optional in the world
Reporting on an event is a weighty responsibility. As a monthly columnist, I’m thrilled to highlight some of the important stories that people from throughout Northeast Wisconsin may have missed. As an academic trained to scour media archives, I know all too well the truism that newspapers are the first draft of history. I appreciate what a single story can offer a community, recognizing that I best get it right.
Plating up our smarts will take more than just a plan
The tasty concept of paddock to plate has gained popularity in recent years – with people attracted to the idea of fewer middlemen, simplified supply chains, and faster and fresher food. It’s a concept that we’d do well to keep in our mind as Australia looks to transform its economy from one that simply digs things out of the ground for export markets, to one that uses those inputs to create the science-based jobs, products, services, and society of the future.
ISPI takes look at land-centered learning
According to Jennifer Gauthier, it’s all about the “ahkēw, the land.” The director of College of Menominee Nation’s Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) said: “That’s why we’re all here.” The specific “here” claimed was the Indigenous Summer Planning Institute (ISPI), which was held on the CMN campus the first week of June. “It’s an opportunity for Indigenous people to learn, share and exchange knowledge.
IPSI takes look at land-centered learning
According to Jennifer Gauthier, it’s all about the “ahkēw, the land.” The director of College of Menominee Nation’s Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) said: “That’s why we’re all here.” The specific “here” claimed was the Indigenous Planning Summer Institute (IPSI), which was held on the CMN campus the first week of June. “It’s an opportunity for Indigenous people to learn, share and exchange knowledge.
Shingler retires from education - again
Kenneth Shingler has made a lot of life-changing decisions. For 58 years, he has steered area high school and college students along their educational journeys. The time has come for Shingler to officially call it a career. Born in Clintonville, Shingler received his formative education at St. Rose Catholic Military School. He then graduated from Clintonville High School where his favorite classes were football, basketball and baseball.
Pageants an old tradition made new again
The Menominee word mamātāweqtan covers a range of performance arts. It can be translated as an “exhibition, circus, (or) theatrical performance.” The word begins to capture some of the storied history of Menominee tourism to the famed Woodland Bowl. Since the 1800s, the natural amphitheater in Keshena has hosted showcases of Menominee culture. Tourists from throughout the United States traveled to Keshena to experience the Menominee Fair, dance exhibitions and the famed theater pageants.
CMN students do well at Minnesota conference
The word kenāēheqtam can be stated of any of the nine College of Menominee Nation students who competed at the tribal college conference last month. In English, the compliment translates as, “You did good” or “You are skilled.” This year’s American Indian Higher Education Consortium’s (AIHEC) Student Conference was held March 9-12 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Five Native Films You Should Be Streaming in 2024
When Lily Gladstone won the award for best female actor in a motion picture at the Golden Globes, we all were treated to a greeting in her Blackfeet language. Gladstone’s performance as a wealthy Osage woman who endures unspeakable cruelty in Killers of the Flower Moon was an unquestionably laudable moment in cinema. Yet, the way she presented herself as a proud Indigenous woman who benefited from the work of her forebearers resonated beyond the stage she spoke from.
Menominee Clans website returning to CMN
The Menominee Clans website is coming home. Since the early 2000s, the original iteration of the site has resided on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s servers. On March 22, the public is invited to College of Menominee Nation to witness the relaunching celebration of the updated site under the care of CMN. The Menominee Clans website is created based upon the research of the late Menominee culture keepers James F. Frechette Jr. and Mike Hoffman.
Indigenous voices hold key to rediscovering culture
According to Dr. Carol Cornelius, the Oneida word Ongwehoweh translates to “The Real People — Most Indigenous nations have a word that describes them as the original, the Indigenous people of the land.” It’s those original people who inspired Cornelius to write her latest book, “A History of Wisconsin Indigenous Voices: Menominee, Ho-Chunk, Oneida, Stockbridge, and Brothertown Interactions in the Removal Era.” She will discuss the text and the 1800s treaty era it covers during her Feb.
The Best Native Studies Books of 2023
I don’t have the official data to prove it, but more people have asked me for book recommendations in 2023 than any year prior. Certainly, I’ve never been shy about sharing lists of excellent new texts with anyone who inquires. This past year brought more precise questions about which titles belong on specific bookshelves.
Master Planning for the Future of Electric Vehicles Original
An effective decarbonization strategy is often an exercise in enhancing master planning – one in which pathways to reduce emissions are identified and implemented while thinking creatively about how to meet community infrastructure needs around mobility and building use.
History of Restoration coming alive in show
What is sometimes lost in the story of Menominee Restoration is that many people acted because it was asked of them. Ada Deer, Sylvia Wilber, Shirley Daly, and countless others became involved with the movement to restore their tribe’s federal trust status because their parents and community asked them to do so. The leaders of DRUMS, which stands for Determination of Rights and Unity for Menominee Stockholders, put their Creator-given talents to work.
Restoration told by those who lived through it
Last week, a friend from graduate school pinged my phone with a simple question: “Any books I should read for Indigenous Heritage Month?” Since next month marks the 50th anniversary of the Menominee people winning the restoration of their federal trust status, my mind immediately went to the stories of this resilient nation.
Native languages accessible by online means
If you’ve recently spent time on the College of Menominee Nation’s Facebook page, you’ve likely seen the Menominee word, kocēqtah. In English, the term translates to “try it.” In partnership with Menominiyou, CMN is posting a new video in its “Let’s All Speak the Language” series biweekly throughout its fall semester. The goal is for every viewer to watch the language instructions and try speaking Menominee aloud. The series offers an accessible model for first-time speakers.
Book details maintaining Oneida sovereignty
Oneida Nation tribal member Rebecca M. Webster is guided by the teachings of her people. “Under the Great Law, we are taught to carry ourselves with three main principles — kanikuliyo/skana (peace of mind), kanolunkwatsla (love) and katsastʌnsla (power).” Webster’s book, “In Defense of Sovereignty: Protecting the Oneida Nation’s Inherent Right to Self-Determination,” demonstrates how her nation applies these concepts to their social, political and legal dealings with the village of Hobart.
Five Native Films You Should Be Streaming in 2023
There’s a film my students cite whenever our course discussions become too heavy: Paddling on Both Sides. The 2021 short by Blake Angeconeb (Anishinaabe) and Buffy Sainte-Marie (Cree) reminds us that while we must examine the trauma inflicted upon Native peoples, we should also celebrate “all the good stuff invented by…the Indigenous people of the Americas.” Sainte-Marie explains that “If all we think about is one side or the other, we just go in circles.
The Best Native Books of 2022
A theme emerged at book launches this year. Whether at a virtual or in-person event, authors shared how the pandemic impacted both their literal and creative lives. While each writer’s reasoning was uniquely their own, there was a common thread of needing to connect their work with other people. As I listened to what became a familiar motivation, I reflected on the observations of the late Richard Wagamese (Wabaseemoong Ojibway): “We all have stories within us.
Sacred City
Home › Issues › Distance Education and Cyberinfrastructure › Sacred City By Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. University of New Mexico Press (2021) 174 pages Review by Ryan Winn Theodore C. Van Alst jr.’s writing is not confined by precedent. The second in an eventual trilogy, Sacred City’s semi-autobiographical protagonist Teddy travels many of the same Chicago streets as he did in its predecessor, Sacred Smoke, but this time with a bit more swagger.
Jim Thorpe is Still Underappreciated
Jim Thorpe is still underappreciated. For more than a century, the Sac and Fox tribal member has been regarded as “the greatest athlete who has ever lived,” having been bestowed that title after winning gold medals in both the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden.
Vanquishing the Ghosts of Cultural Oppressors
Last week, two of my students were discussing their recent high school graduations. While they are both citizens of separate Native nations and graduated from different districts, the obtuse administrators they encountered were remarkably similar. The first explained that despite Indigenous people accounting for a substantial number of the graduates, a drum group wasn’t permitted to play an honor song.
Honoring Juneteenth in Our Classroom Conversations
Teaching necessitates privileging stories. Time and curriculum constraints require that instructors select which perspectives we highlight, giving us each an awesome responsibility to fill our syllabi with voices our students need to hear. As tribal college and university (TCU) faculty, we’re charged with privileging Native American perspectives.
Giving Libraries Overdue Praise
What are your favorite library memories? Do you think about a specific place you’ve earmarked as important or rows of meticulously shelved books? Do you remember the sensation of dragging your fingertips across Mylar-covered spines? Do you recall the paper-pulp aroma that accompanies every page turn? Do you reflect upon feelings of hope, possibility, and the excitement of engaging with a multitude of perspectives?
Five Native Films You Should Be Streaming in 2022
The Menominee community is proud that a tribal member has thrived in a major television series. Alaqua Cox is mesmerizing as Maya Lopez, a deaf heroine coming to terms with her past, in the miniseries Hawkeye. Due to Cox’s success, her young cousin, Darnell Besaw, was recruited to portray Lopez in her youth, becoming a scene-stealer herself. Yet, Native people in the industry who open doors for others is hardy anomalous.
The Best Native Books of 2021
Last year witnessed a high-water mark for Native literature. Not only did a wealth of Indigenous texts flood the market, but the democratization of virtual platforms meant that one could stream author events from every corner of Turtle Island. With a few clicks of a mouse, book lovers were able to join their favorite authors’ tours or drop in to hear a new voice.
Looking to the Ancestors for Encouragement
Teaching Indigenous humanities courses requires an interdisciplinary approach, as one cannot fully appreciate the stories told through texts without recognizing the culture and history that inspired them. While all students are looking for a passing grade in their coursework, instructors often ask them to look beyond the semester to times when the knowledge they’re imparting will be applied.
Honoring the Hope that Accompanies Recovery
Last month, Peter Cozzens released Tecumseh and the Prophet: The Shawnee Brothers Who Defied a Nation. The dual biography recounts the life and influence of Tenskwatawa alongside that of his more renowned older brother, Tecumseh. Cozzens intertwines engaging prose with contemporary accounts to prove that devotion to Tecumseh’s call to repel land encroachment came in part due to the clarity of Tenskwatawa’s prophecy to abstain from alcohol and return to tribal teachings.
The Spaces and Places Where TCU Students Gather
Early this year, Simon Winchester released his chronicle Land: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World to much acclaim. Performing the audio book himself, Winchester mixes engaging anecdotes and astute research to explain the progression of how land held for the common good transformed into parcels doled out to individuals.
'Nuking the Moon' Takes a Fascinating Look at Military Flops and Doomed Schemes
The infamous US nuclear test at Bikini Atoll. U.S. Dept of Defense Ryan Winn March 8, 2021 AUDIOBOOK: Nuking the Moon and Other Intelligence Schemes and Military Plots Left on the Drawing Board by Vince Houghton Read by the author, with the recording produced by Penguin Audio. Reviewed by Ryan Paul Winn Much ink has been spilled recounting successful covert actions: But author Vince Houghton spins these into a fresh perspective, chronicling inventors’ epic flops and failed plans.
Perspectives of Famous Spanish Explorers Unfold in 'Conquistador Voices'
On Aug. 13, 1521, Cortés and his reinforced army swarmed across the causeways of Tenochtitlan to complete the conquest he had begun less than three years earlier. Lebrecht Music & Arts Photo Library/Alamy Stock Photo Ryan Winn March 8, 2021 Conquistador Voices: The Spanish Conquest of the Americas as Recounted Largely by the Participants, Volume I Conquistador Voices: The Spanish Conquest of the Americas as Recounted Largely by the Participants, Volume I by Kevin H.
Five Native Films You Should Be Streaming in 2021
A month before COVID ran rampant in the United States, fans of Native film had reason to celebrate. What now seems like years ago, Maori filmmaker Taika Waitiki took the stage on February 9th, 2020, at the Academy Awards ceremony to accept the Oscar for best adapted screenplay. Set in Nazi Germany in the waning days of WWII, the winning film, Jojo Rabbit, was justly lauded for conveying a cathartic message of hope and humor during a time of unspeakable horror.
Scarface and the Untouchable
By Max Allan Collins and A. Brad Schwartz Read by Stefan Rudnicki , with Max Allan Collins , and A.
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