Dakotah/Hidatsa elder, storyteller and traditionalist Mary Louise Defender Wilson will be the Elder-in-Residence at UW-Madison the week of Nov. 18.
The Elder-in-Residence program began in 2018 to invite elders from different First Nations across the country to campus for a week in order to provide educational and cultural experiences for both Indigenous identifying students on campus.
Wilson, also known by her Dakotah name Wagmuhawin, is a member of the Dakotah/Hidatsa tribe. She is a nationally renowned storyteller, traditionalist, historian, scholar and educator of the Dakotah/Hidatsa people.
A member of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation of North Dakota, Wilson has received many awards for her music, spoken word and art.
“Elders are recognized as keepers of wisdom, knowledge, culture and stories and are highly respected in their communities,” Larry Nesper, the director of American Indian Studies at UW-Madison, said.
Wilson will be the third Elder to visit the UW-Madison campus following Ada Deer, UW alumna and member of the Menominee Nation, as well as Oneida Tribal Judge Leland Wigg Ninham.
UW-Madison has increased efforts to strengthen relationships with First Nations in order to better support Native students.
The university will hold an event where Wilson will have the opportunity to meet Native students. She will also join students in classes and meet with different indigenous student groups on campus such as Wunk Sheek.
In addition to her work with the community as a whole, Wilson will hold “office hours” where students can meet with her one-on-one.
Wilson will participate in the lecture series “Everyone’s Earth: Conservations on Race and Environment” on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. in Dejope Hall. The lecture will be free and open to the public.
