Each fall, Madison Public Library and Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison welcome a variety of Native artists, storytellers, and community leaders into library spaces for a series of programs celebrating Indigenous people in and beyond Teejop (pronounced day-JOPE, meaning Four Lakes, or Madison). Beginning shortly after Indigenous Peoples' Day (Monday, October 13), Native folks from different nations lead programs highlighting both traditional and contemporary practices, stories, and community relationships.
This year, six presenters representing different Native tribes will lead programs throughout October and November with a focus on Native art, making and handicrafts. Program participants will have the opportunity to try hands-on crafts like beading, collage, and basket-weaving and understand how techniques and approaches vary depending on the tribal traditions guiding them.
This year, presenters represent the Ho-Chunk, Oneida and Oglala Sioux nations. Meet the presenters and sign up for programs below.
If you have questions, please contact community@madisonpubliclibrary.org.
Kimberly Crowley
Thunder clan of the Ho-Chunk Nation
Kimberly Crowley is a member of the Thunder clan of the Ho Chunk Nation. She is the 3rd daughter of Sidney Hall Sr. and Christine Hall. She grew up in Wittenberg, Wisconsin with her 10 siblings and now resides in Baraboo, Wisconsin with her family, where she spends her time making and teaching black ash basket classes. She has been making baskets for over 44 years, and just within the last 5 years, she has been teaching black ash basket making, an art that is slowly dying out. She has 2 granddaughters that are her apprentices-in training, They both assist her during basket classes, and both have baskets along with Kimberly herself at several museums around Wisconsin. Basket weaving is one of the longest practiced Ho-Chunk artistic forms, and both women and men continue to make baskets professionally today.
Sherman Funmaker
Bear Clan member of the Ho-Chunk Nation
Sherman Funmaker was born in Black River Falls as a Bear Clan member and raised in Wisconsin. He is one of 11 children of Adam and Doris Stacy Funmaker. He is a graduate of UW/ Baraboo with an English Degree, and he also attended the University of New Mexico in 2007. He has been writing since 2006 and his first book will be published by the Wisconsin State Historical Society in February 2026.
“I hope to encourage participants to write their own story. We all have stories to tell, and we want to hear them.”
Tonia Lowe
Hoocąk [Ho-Chunk]
Tonia Lowe was born and raised in Teejop. Growing up as Truman Lowe’s daughter meant she was often recruited to help peel willow for her dad’s installation sculptures. Inspired by her dad’s work, she studied Art History in college, earning a BA at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an MA at University of Colorado Boulder where she wrote her thesis on Edgar Heap of Bird’s public artworks. She has been working in advertising in the San Francisco Bay Area for the past 25 years and is now making her way back to the art world.
Charlotte Easterling
Enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Ojibwe by descent
Charlotte is a freelance graphic designer and digital illustrator. Her art is inspired by nature and stories from her culture, using bold and whimsical shapes and colors to convey these ideas. In her work, you'll see animals and insects, the night sky, family stories, and natural phenomena. She invites viewers to join her in seeing the beauty of the world, whether it's just outside the window or as far away as the stars.
Jennifer J. Jordan
Enrolled member of the Oneida Nation
Jennifer J. Jordan, PhD is an award-winning artist who has been beading for over 30 years. Jennifer’s beading journey began when she was 18 and needed to bead her traditional regalia for the Miss Oneida Pageant. Under the tutelage of her dad Jim and her late great aunt Josephine Oudenhoven, Jennifer began to learn more about beading and beadwork. During her college years, Jennifer worked for Ho-Chunk business owners Mick and Lucy Kjar and worked summers traveling the country at the Kjar’s bead stand learning more about beads, beadwork, and the business of buying and selling beads. Over the years, Jennifer has learned more beading techniques such as flat stitch, peyote stitch, and she has expanded her knowledge of Haudenosaunee Raised Beadwork under the tutelage of Oneida elder and award-winning artist Ms. Betty Willems. In addition to beadwork, Jennifer is working to expand her knowledge of Haudenosaunee art by learning more about moose and caribou hair tufting and teaching others this art form.
Melanie Tallmadge Sainz
Enrolled member of the Ho-Chunk Nation
Melanie Tallmadge Sainz was born in Baraboo and raised in the Wisconsin Dells area. She is an artist, cultural arts educator, arts administrator, and enrolled member of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin. She was recognized as the Educator of the Year in 2024 by the Museum of Wisconsin Art. As the Executive Director of Little Eagle Arts Foundation (LEAF), Melanie mentors new and emerging Native artists, facilitates workshops and cultural arts programs, and co-produces LEAF's annual Native Art Marketplace, the organization's signature event, in collaboration with Taliesin Preservation in Spring Green.
Previous Teejop & Beyond Years
In 2023, nine presenters representing different Native tribes in Wisconsin led 15 programs from October - December on a wide range of topics, including art, the climate crisis, identity, mental health, growing up Native in Wisconsin, food and much more.
Ho-Chunk Through Story with Andi Cloud
In fall of 2021, Madison Public Library welcomed Ho-Chunk Nation storyteller and tribal member AJ (Andi) Cloud for a variety of interactive storytelling and creative learning opportunities. The programs kicked off on Indigenous Peoples' Day, October 11, 2021. They included art workshops, activity kits, outdoor story walks, digital stories, exhibits, and more all across the city focusing on topics like Ho-Chunk history and culture, the fall harvest, veterans and Veteran's Day, beadwork, black ash basket making, and growing up Ho-Chunk in the 20th Century.
Following Andi's wonderful residency, the Library expanded the program into what we now call Teejop & Beyond.
Additional Resources
Native American Heritage Month Book List 2024 [DOWNLOAD]
Native American Heritage Month Book List 2023 [DOWNLOAD]
Native American Heritage Month Book List 2022 [DOWNLOAD]
Native American and Indigenous Fiction
Native American and Indigenous History & Culture; with Memoirs, Essays and Poetry
Native American and Indigenous Children's Books
Native American and Indigenous Experience for Middle Grades and YA
Tribal Libraries, Archives and Museums [DOWNLOAD] compiled by Cassy Leeport for Lunch for Libraries 2024
Indigenous Artist & Presenter Guide [DOWNLOAD]