Drums beat on the coastline of Milwaukee’s River Front Launch Site as Indigenous communities gathered to witness the lighting of Hoan Bridge in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Oct. 13.
Community members met at the River Front Launch Site, 600 S. Water St., to witness the annual lighting of Hoan Bridge. Every year, the bridge is lit up black, yellow, red and white, the colors of the Indigenous Medicine Wheel, in recognition of the day. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley came out in celebration and to give an executive proclamation to call on all residents of Milwaukee County to honor the sovereignty, heritage and contributions of Native Americans.
“’I’m excited to be here because it’s important that we continue to make sure that we lift up our Indigenous people, making sure that when a rising tide happens, all the boats are lifted because we all are connected,” Crowley said. “We all share the same air, the same water, and we all need to make sure that we’re not only protecting each other, but we’re protecting the lands that we occupy while we are here.”…