Milwaukee Public Museum celebrates Indigenous Peoples' Day

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Oct. 13 is both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day, and to celebrate the latter, the Milwaukee Public Museum recognized the holiday with a celebration Monday afternoon. 

It featured music performed by Little Priest, a Ho-Chunk drum group, and dancers showing off different styles seen at pow wows. 

There was also a showcase of traditional Mexican drumming and dancing native to the Aztecs. 

We spoke to a member of the Oneida Nation who works at the museum. He tells us why it's so important to highlight native culture on a day like today. 

"I think when it comes to the indigenous presence in this country, the United States is in a perpetual state of amnesia, and we have to continuously remind society that we've been here, we have treaties signed with the U.S., that we have treaty rights, treaty obligations, we have tribal sovereignty," said James Flores, manager of tribal relations at the Milwaukee Public Museum. 

The future Nature and Culture Museum of Wisconsin will keep the Milwaukee Public Museum's focus on indigenous people once it opens in 2027. 

They're working on renewed exhibits, an outdoor installation honoring the tribes from our area, and more.