EQI Fire Circle to Remember Indigenous Presence on Campus

Community members along with UW-Milwaukee faculty and students stood behind safety bars as they watched the last couple of stones being installed in the new Electa Quinney Institute Fire Circle last Tuesday.  

Celeste Clark, the multicultural student success coordinator at UWM, said she was so excited when she saw the first stone being placed that she had to take a picture of it.  

“It was a historical event for me and other people maybe my age where we did not have that place,” said Clark. “It feels good to be acknowledged as there are American Indian people on campus.” 

Clark said money was raised to have a Fire Circle for American Indian students.  

The fire circle is to “Remember indigenous presence,” according to Margaret Noodin, director of EQI and professor of English and American Indian Studies at UWM. 

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland and, through funding, the Electa Quinney Institute was able to create a Fire Circle to remind people of the indigenous ancestors who focused their cultures on land, water and life. 

UWM held the Welcoming the Grandfathers Event last Tuesday to watch the arrival of the stones for the EQI Fire Circle. Bader Philanthropies and Dr. Isabel Bader funded the Electa Quinney Institute. The Electa Quinney Institute is working with Studio:Indigenous to create a site by the original campus quadrant, by Holton, Merrill and Johnston Hall. The Fire Circle celebrates and reflects the American Indian connection to the place where members live.  

There was a posting of the UWM Eagle Staff and a sunrise song in the morning. Eagle staffs represent traditional Indigenous cultures and are used at celebratory functions.  

Once the truck arrived with the stones, members of the community were able to watch the installation from behind safety bars or on the grass.  

“I was very deeply moved,” said Clark. 

Clark said she felt excited about the installation of the Fire Circle, but they are still waiting on the middle piece. 

More community members came to take pictures of the stones being placed as they hoped to see the center piece be installed.  

The installation of the stones took longer than expected, but they hoped to have the center piece installed the next day, according to Noodin. 

The event had prepared loose and bundled asemma (tobacco) for community members to take a small bundle or hold in their hand. They then could leave it in a wooden bowl that would go into the first fire.  

Noodin showed a map and explained the significance of Lake Michigan and the three rivers, the Menominee, Kinnickinnic and Milwaukee, to the Fire Circle. She said the stones represent Lake Michigan and the rivers and why Milwaukee is here.  

Noodin said 10 years ago, native students wished they had a place like this to join together. 

Isabel Bader, advisor of Bader Philanthropies, donated money to the Electa Quinney Institute to help make the Fire Circle, according to Noodin.  

Noodin said that there are other Indigenous landmarks near the original campus quadrant.  

The stones are made from local limestone and quartz, according to Noodin.  

Chris Cornelius, founding principle of Studio:Indigenous and citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, designed the Fire Circle.  

The map on the firestone represents when Menominee, Ho-Chunk and Potawatomi villagesguarded the joining of the Menominee, Kinnickinnic and Milwaukee rivers along the shoreline of Michigaming. The circle continues from the first sunrise on Earth to the next moonrise. Fire circles take place under the full moon.  

There will be the American Indian Heritage Month Event and Full Moon Ceremony with UWM’s Black, Indigenous and people of color Self-Care Club Event at the fire circle next month.