June 4, 2019

Winona LaDuke, nationally recognized Native activist, is turning 60 years old, and is calling all women with the name Winona—all the “First Daughters”—to bring themselves, families and friends to party in “their” town of Winona, Minnesota on weekend August 23-25, 2019. It is a Winona All Call, inviting Winonas and Winona lovers to Winona, MN to celebrate, explore and wax poetic on being Winona.

Winona, MN circa 1898

The name, Winona, comes from the Ojibwe creation story and is the mother of Nanaboozho. The Dakota also have the name Winona or Wenonah which means in both languages “first-born daughter.” The city of Winona is known for the legend of Princess Winona, the Miss Winona Pageant and many buildings bearing the name Winona. Winona, Minnesota will be the perfect town for Winonas to gather.

Winona LaDuke, keynote speaker for the Frozen River Film Festival in Winona, MN on Feb 17, 2015.

Winona LaDuke is executive director of Honor the Earth, Founder of Winona’s Hemp & Heritage Farm and Anishinaabe Agriculture, and is a two-time Green Party candidate for Vice President with Ralph Nader.

“There are hundreds of Native and non-Native women named Winona; this is your party.”

CALL FOR SUBMISSION

Call for Native artists around the theme of “Wenonah”. Send a note and a jpg to winonaallcall@gmail.com to be in the exhibit at the Watkins Art Gallery, WSU, Aug. 23-Sept. 14, 2019

 The gallery is a small space, at 600 square feet. Please offer your art accordingly.    

Academic Panel: Winona, Wenonah: In history and today: the legends, the stories and the reality of Winonas  

Realizing that some Winona stories may not be told in the midst of summer, we nonetheless encourage academic summaries and some discussion of Winona stories in history and present times. Please submit a summary of your writing, or your spoken word pieces to winonaallcall@gmail.com   We will let you know. Submissions are due on June l5, 2019.

Visit http://www.winona-all-call.com/artshow to learn more, and instructions for submitting artwork to the gallery.

Celebrate Winona :  Music includes a band and dance with a blues band, Corey Medina and the Brothers, and other special guests who will provide entertainment Saturday night. Weekend plans also include canoe races, hemp mill history tour and a map with places to take selfies with city of Winona landmarks.

There will be a bus tour with local dignitaries and a river cruise on the Mississippi River to see the sites of the town of Winona, a screening of award-winning documentary film First Daughter and the Black Snake, an intimate portrait offering a window into the life and work of Winona LaDuke, and the successful battle against the Enbridge Sandpiper between 2014 and 2016.

There will be a video booth for “Winona” testimonials and opportunities to celebrate with Winona LaDuke.

Saturday night will include a catered Sioux Chef Dinner ( $40 per person, pre reserved $70/couple). Limited seating.  Before we depart, Sunday we will host a traditional round dance to celebrate Winonas and secure a group photo.

This is going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity to be surrounded by a lot of “First Daughters” celebrating being Winona in the city that bears their name.

REGISTRATION along with more information about events, tickets, hotels and camping can be found on the website: https://www.winona-all-call.com/, and facebook: facebook/winonaallcall

For more information please contact:  winonaallcall at gmail.com