(Photo courtesy of University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries)
The Field Museum would like to recognize the extraordinary life and legacy of Ada Deer, a leader of the Menominee Nation, the first woman to lead the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the first Native American woman to run for Congress in Wisconsin, and the first woman chairperson of the Menominee Nation. Ada passed away on August 15, 2023, at the age of 88.
Ada’s lifelong advocacy for Indigenous restoration and sovereignty is featured in the “Sovereignty” section of the Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories exhibition. Ada was a key partner in the re-imagining of the exhibition and gave the keynote address at the dedication of the Peace Tree, a gift from the Menominee Nation, in the Museum's Rice Native Gardens.
The Field Museum is fortunate to have called Ada a friend. We extend our condolences to her family, friends, loved ones, and members of the Menominee Nation.
Ada’s lifelong advocacy for Indigenous restoration and sovereignty is featured in the “Sovereignty” section of the Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories exhibition. (Photo by Jay Young)