The 34th Annual Wo-Zha-Wa Days Fall Festival Celebration of Autumn was held on September 14, 15, & 16, 2001 in Wisconsin Dells. The festival included an Arts & Craft Fair, Antique Flea Market, Maxwell street days, a 100-unit Parade with lots of concessions, and entertainment along the way.

The celebration of autumn included our own Ho-Chunk members participating in the 100- unit parade. The Ho-Chunk Nation had two entries in the parade. Riding horseback in traditional dress were Chief Clayton Winnesheik, Michelle Greendeer, Bill Hopinkah, Billy Greendeer, Steve Cleveland and Autumn White.

The float, a huge canoe, was sponsored by the Ho-Chunk Nation enterprises. The Lake Delton singers and drummers were: Alvin Cloud, Allen Cloud, John Cloud, Paul Cloud and Collin Cloud. Other participants on the float were Bernadine Tallmadge, tribal elder, and retired business owner of the Winnebago Indian Museum in Wisconsin Dells, Brittany Greendeer, Collins Funmaker, Lyle Funmaker, Bryan Lewis, Sharon Cloud, Jeron Wilson and little Memphis Belle Cleveland sleeping on her cradle board held by Rose Cloud. The second entry, sponsored by Ho-Chunk Casino was a tractor drawn wagon carrying the Wisconsin Dells Singers: Elliott Funmaker, Dickson Funmaker, Damon Funmaker and Knoozie Decorah.

Michelle Greendeer, said, "this will be nice, we (Ho-Chunk) haven't had a presence in this parade in a long time…we Ho-Chunk need to strengthen our presence in the Dells community."

Brittany and Collins were getting a little impatient as they waited in the canoe for the parade to get started. Briitany and Collins both said " this is the first time" when asked if they had ever done this before. They both agreed they were having fun despite the wait.

Chief Clayton Winnesheik riding "Chief" was greeted with cheers and applause from the crowd which was lined up along the streets of the parade route. The Cloud Singers sang the entire time of the parade which was about 2 hours long.

Allen said' lots of singing in a short period of time…".

The kids that participated looked a little tired, but they all said they had a lot of fun….

It was a nice day for the fun and festivities for Wo-Zha-Wa days in the Dells.

Special thanks to Ken Lewis and Silas Cleveland of the Business Department, Bill Hopinkah of Whirling Thunder Ranch and Stuart Rave, Diane Rave for their hard work and time in the preparation of the float and horses.