Teepees are perfect for ducking out of the festival excitement for a spell.

Indian Summer provides family fun, conversation

Published Sept. 11, 2011 at 11:08 a.m.

Early last evening, I took my kids to Indian Summer on the Summerfest grounds. This is becoming an annual tradition for us, and one that always leads to interesting and important conversation.

Indian Summer is one of the most family-friendly festivals in the city. It is affordable (kids are always free), it's colorful, filled with drum music, features spaces like teepees and wigwams that kids and adults can climb into and has limited consumption of alcoholic beverages. (There is no drinking on the North End of the grounds in observance of Native Americans' original, alcohol-free, culture. Alcoholism has been a major issue on reservations and among city-living Native Americans.)

Plus, the Skyglider is only $4 for a round trip ride. I have said "no" to this repeatedly to my kids because, during Summerfest for example, it's $6 each way to ride. I finally said "yes" to a bird's eye view of the festival grounds and, arguably, the sound and color of Indian Summer is even more amazing from the sky.

Best of all, we were able to have a natural conversation about Native American history. I was amazed that one of my sons asked if Christopher Colombus discovered America, and I was able to set the record straight. (I'm a direct person, you may want to say it more eloquently, but I opted for "It was stolen from them.")

During the Pow Wow, my sons asked me if Native Americans always dress in traditional Native clothing. "Do they go to their jobs like that?" he asked.

I was able to explain to him about honoring tradition and celebration. And then, we were able to really take part in the afore-mentioned celebration. I was surprised that everyone in the audience -- hundreds of people, maybe more -- were invited to participate at the end of the Pow Wow.

"Mom! I'm in a Pow Wow!" my kids screamed out.

For our family, Native American culture is a way to easily talk about my son's heritage, too. He is of Mayan descent and although he is very aware of what it means to be Latin, he is less in the know about what it means to be Mayan, too.

All in all, this was an incredible experience for my entire family. But enough words from me. I'll let our photos speak thousands of more words.

Talkback

Talkbacks

Victor Golf | Sept. 13, 2011 at 10:09 a.m. (report)

Oh, is that what I said?

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Milly | Sept. 13, 2011 at 9:35 a.m. (report)

So under that logic, Victor, because they did it to each other it was OK that Europeans did it to them, too? Huh. Do two wrongs makes a right? That's the spirit!

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Victor Golf | Sept. 13, 2011 at 8:47 a.m. (report)

It's true. Did you know there used to be Sioux in WI and northern Minnesota until their land was "stolen from them"... By the Chippewa. (after over 100 years of constant war with each other and terrible atrocities on both sides).

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