Wisconsin’s Dugout Canoe Conundrum – What Lays Below The Surface

Wisconsin’s Dugout Canoe Conundrum – What Lays Below The Surface

Bill Quackenbush
Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Ho-Chunk Nation

August 25, 2025
6:30 p.m.
The Octagon Barn, E4350 Horseshoe Road, Spring Green

In 2019 a native american dugout canoe was discovered by divers in Lake Mendota that when later recovered in 2020, brought to the surface with it questions that many found difficult to answer or even comprehend in relation to Wisconsin’s history. Questions such as how “ancient” it was scientifically dated to be, who actually made such a vessel, and how did it survive the many years submerged under water only to be discovered now. These and many other questions are now being asked as additional dugouts continue to be discovered along the shoreline of what is known to the Ho-Chunk People as Tee Waksik Hominakaja - Lake Where He Lays.”

Join us know as Bill “Naawacekgize” Quackenbush, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Ho-Chunk Nation, shares his perspectives on the collaboration and partnership work that is currently taking place between the Wisconsin State Historical Society and regional tribes in their pursuit to answer the lingering questions the discovery of the Lake Mendota dugouts have created over the past three years.


For more information visit: https://morrilllectures.org/events/billquackenbush

You may also like the following events from The Morrill Lecture Series:

• Next Thursday, 21st August, 07:00 pm, Book Discussion at The Shed: Entangled Life in Spring Green

Also check out other Sports events in Spring Green.