Our Shared Future Heritage Marker on Display in Memorial Library

On June 18, 2019, UW–Madison dedicated the Our Shared Future heritage marker which recognizes and acknowledges that UW-Madison currently occupies Ho-Chunk ancestral land. The marker has made its way to Memorial Library after traveling to various campus buildings and events to “increase knowledge and sense of place for students and employees while beginning the process of embedding the marker’s message long-term in the university’s teaching and learning.” (Doug Erickson, University Communications)

The Libraries are proud to host the marker at Memorial Library this December and it is an honor to be part of this initiative.

The Libraries are planning two more events, one in January, and one in February to continue to provide learning experiences for staff to engage in the concepts presented in the Our Shared Future heritage marker.

Don’t forget to stop by the Art, Law, and Steenbock Libraries to visit their displays as well!

The Our Shared Future marker reads in full:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison occupies ancestral Ho-Chunk land,
a place their nation has called Teejop (day-JOPE) since time immemorial.

In an 1832 treat, the Ho-Chunk were forced to cede this territory.
Decades of ethnic cleansing followed when both the federal and state government repeatedly,
but unsuccessfully, sought to forcibly remove the Ho-Chunk from Wisconsin.

This history of colonization informs our shared future of collaboration and innovation.
Today, UW-Madison respects the inherent sovereignty of the Ho-Chunk Nation,
along with the eleven other First Nations of Wisconsin.

-2018-

Lisa Carter notes “This statement is not just a set of words but serves as a starting place to move our community into action in developing and building partnerships with Wisconsin’s First Nations. Additionally, the Our Shared Future initiative offers us opportunities to grow personally and as a community by embracing difficult conversations and dialog that creates shared understanding and expectations for how partners work together.”