In Ojibwe culture, winter is storytelling season. The Wisconsin Historical Society is celebrating by featuring Ojibwe storytellers in a four-part virtual series.

Hear from Wanda McFaggen, , St. Croix Tribal Member and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer.

Wanda’s spirit name is Bedobanukwe (Bii-daab-a-noo-kwe,) which roughly translates to Daybreak Woman. She is from the Migizi (Eagle) Clan and is also Second Degree Midewewin. Wanda’s interests include attending ceremonial gatherings, powwows, sewing regalia/quilts, beading, Ojibwe language/culture; she also spends a lot of time teaching some the children that live in her community about St. Croix and the rich culture and heritage of our people.

Wanda studied to become a Federal Land Officer and holds a Federal Land, Level I Degree. She established the St. Croix Tribal Historic Preservation Department in August 2000 for the protection and preservation of cultural, historical and archaeological resources on St. Croix reservation lands, she is the second Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) to work for St. Croix. Wanda oversees all things that are significant to St. Croix, such as the Archaeological/Sacred Sites, and the Burial Mounds. Wanda ensures the tribe is in compliance with 36 CFR, Part 800 of the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106.

Wanda has done many cultural papers/presentations on St. Croix for tribal members, the non-native communities and local colleges.

Wanda has worked with Patti Loew, Native Author and Life Science Professor for UW-Madison on her life story as one of St. Croix’s strong community leaders. Wanda also has created a facebook page under the St. Croix Tribal Historic Preservation for the St. Croix tribal members and general public to research old photos of tribal members, tribal history, project videos, culture and traditions; she has also worked on numerous projects with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, such as Lac Butte Des Mort’s Causeway, Highway 41 between Oshkosh and Neenah/ Menasha Wisconsin, the first of its kind in the state of Wisconsin. She has followed her traditions to help restore the Wild Rice back to Clam Lake, Siren Wisconsin and held feasts at the lake to continue to ask the Creator to help her community and her family to give the gift back to her people. Wanda has also coordinated and documented two Birch bark Canoe (Wiigwaasi Jiimaan) projects with other members from her tribe to bring back the tradition of canoe building with the guidance of Marvin DeFoe, Red Cliff tribal member and made history in 2013 by bringing both canoes to Sandy Lake Minnesota for the ancestors that perished there in December of 1850.

Wanda has also used her creative side to bring awareness with many publications on the St. Croix tribe, such as a yearly calendar and appointment planner, which include many historic dates, traditional values and knowledge for her people and the public.

Wanda’s latest projects include teaching her people the art of moccasin making and tobacco pouch workshops.

Webinar happened on January 31, 2023.