The Milwaukee Harbor District BID, which leads the revitalization of Milwaukee’s harbor district, highlighted and celebrated Indigenous culture and history by providing free, family-friendly, and bilingual programming. They brought together close to 300 people for their Indigenous Elegance Fashion Show, Wild Bearies workshop, and boat tours.
For the Indigenous Elegance Fashion Show, the Harbor View Plaza was transformed into a runway highlighting the wearable art of Sabrina Lombardo of Native Nation Design. Her three nonbinary collections brought joy to a diverse crowd. The event also included eight local indigenous vendors, who showcased and sold their art to community members.
The plant workshop was led by Wild Bearies, an Indigenous educational, community outreach nonprofit that strives to bring ancestral foods to communities in a nurturing and nourishing way. Wild Bearies walked elders from the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center Native Wellness Garden through harvesting and planting in alignment with the moon cycles. This workshop allowed participants to connect with each other while creating a biodegradable flower pot and Anise Hyssop seed to take home with them.
The Historic Boat Tours, in collaboration with the Electa Quinney Institute, allowed participants to experience our waterways and learn about Milwaukee’s indigenous history.