MOLE LAKE - Keeping the story alive in the Mole Lake community is an important part of the culture.

“They have to understand where they came from and their history,” Tribal Public Relations Director Richard Ackley said.

“I’m surprised I saw what I did and it was cool,” Crandon fourth grader Hudson Kane said.

Preserving culture for years to come is an emphasis in the Sokaogan Chippewa community.

“It’s pretty important to know that this tribal community has a 10,000 year history,” Ackley said.

Native history in Mole Lake is important to preserve for future generations like these fourth graders from Crandon.

But the heritage here includes a building that’s a little less tribal.

“The cabin that we have here in the Mole Lake community was originally built by the US Government as an overnight stay as a travel between Ft. Dearborn in Green Bay and the Copper Harbor peninsula during the Civil War,” Ackley said.

Both American and native history were display today.

The tribal aspect is thanks in part to Wisconsin legislation in the early 90’s calling for increased native history in schools.

“What I try to do is I try to follow that when I do the teaching here in Mole Lake, and this is our third year,” Ackley said.

The third year of enlightening children to the native world.

Story By: Ben Meyer