First Bear Moon Gathering
This year, I had the honor of attending the First Bear Moon Gathering, hosted by Heritage Pathways Tours and guided by Chrissy Shegonee and Angela Lowe. The First Bear Moon — is a sacred time when mother bears give birth while in hibernation — is a season of reflection, storytelling, and connection. Our experience began not just on the morning of the event, but the evening before, as we arrived in Baraboo and settled into a quieter space.
Arriving in Baraboo — Slowing Down for the First Bear Moon
We checked into a cozy two-bedroom cottage at the Willowood Inn, managed by Angela Lowe. It was the perfect space for my husband, our two youngest children, and me to unwind before the gathering.
The cottage had a quaint, nostalgic charm — complete with a VCR and a stack of VHS tapes that gently encouraged us to slow down, disconnect, and be present. That small detail set the tone for the weekend: less rushing and noise and more grounding and intention.
It felt like the gathering began right there — in the stillness of a winter evening.
Beginning the Day — Stories, Breakfast, and “Bear Tracks”
The next morning, we joined everyone at the Willowood Inn lobby for a warm welcome and continental breakfast, including blue corn mush. Sharing food together felt like a natural introduction into the day’s teachings and conversations.
Chrissy and Angie began the morning by giving us time for brief introductions, allowing everyone to share who they were. I love personal introductions and with a smaller group it created a great space for hearing from each person. From there, we were introduced to Sherman Funmaker — a musician, poet, and writer — who shared excerpts from his upcoming book, “Bear Tracks: Memories of a Ho-Chunk Elder.” Hearing him read from his work and tell additional stories was a beautiful way to begin the gathering, setting a tone of reflection and storytelling that seemed to carry throughout the day.
Walking the Land at Tee Wakacak / Sacred Lake
From there, we traveled to Tee Wakacak — Sacred Lake (Devil’s Lake) and gathered at the Nature Center.
We began with a presentation by Rob Nurre, who shared history and information about the mounds and the cultural significance of the surrounding landscape. His presentation set the stage for the hike to follow.
Our first hike of 2026 led by Sue Johanson Myoleth was a great follow through. We dressed for the winter air and followed her from the Nature Center down toward the beach front, pausing along the way as Rob pointed out several of the mounds found within the park.
With my two little ones in tow, I admit that my attention was torn between listening to the history of the land's formation and watching my children play in the snow. But I think it was the perfect time and distance…just enough to feel the cold seep in and create an appetite for the meal to come.
We made it back to the nature center for a well-thought-out lunch prepared by Anne Thundercloud — a Wild Rice Power Bowl with chicken, cannellini beans, roasted cauliflower, spring greens, red bell peppers, blueberries, avocado, and blueberry vinaigrette, as well as butternut squash soup. The meal was nourishing, comforting, and shared in good company.
Snow Snake, Storytelling, and Cultural Teaching
Although there wasn’t enough snow for Bill Quackenbush to create a track for snow snake activity, his storytelling and teachings more than made up for it — a reminder that winter gatherings are as much about story as they are about activity.
As a parent attending with little ones, I unfortunately missed a good portion of his presentation — my kids decided to fully exercise their very loud lungs, so I stepped out with them for a while. But from what I was able to sit in, I could immediately tell I was going to be missing out on a lot of meaningful teaching and insight.
Even so, that brief glimpse was enough to remind me how important these stories are — and I plan to follow up with Bill and, hopefully, find time for more conversations in the future.
Songs, History, and Honoring Ancestors
In the late afternoon, we moved over to the House of Wellness, where Eric Logan shared his stories and traditional songs that grounded the space in emotion and connection. After that, we enjoyed yet another amazing meal prepared by Anne. With a choice between maple-glazed salmon or bison meatballs with mushroom gravy. Paired with roasted potatoes, green beans, spring green salad with balsamic vinaigrette, dinner rolls with maple butter and a hot herbal tea with honey. Finished off with a delicious desert, chocolate chia seed pudding with strawberry drizzle
Angela Lowe then read from “Winnebago Stories” by Oliver LaMere, her great-great-grandfather — a deeply moving moment that connected generations through voice and memory.
The evening concluded with another presentation, “Thunder in the Dells,” a presentation and Q&A with Lance Tallmadge.
Gratitude & Reflection
The First Bear Moon Gathering was more than an event — it was a weekend of connection, learning, and grounding in culture, land, and story.
I’m grateful to:
Chrissy Shegonee & Angela Lowe of Heritage Pathways Tours
Sherman Funmaker for sharing from his upcoming book
Rob Nurre, Sue Johanson Myoleth, and Bill Quackenbush for cultural knowledge and storytelling
Eric Logan for song
Lance Tallmadge for his presentation
And Anne Thundercloud, whose meals carried warmth and generosity throughout the day
From our quiet night in the Willowood Inn cottage to the closing songs of the gathering, this experience truly honored the spirit of the First Bear Moon — reflection, storytelling, and community.
If you are interested here are links to some of the books shared throughout the day:
https://a.co/d/10IPBqt “Bear Tracks: Memories of a Ho-Chunk Elder.” by Sherman Funmaker
https://a.co/d/hV99mqS “Mountain Wolf Woman: A Ho-Chunk Girlhood” by Diane Holliday
https://a.co/d/i9AADWF “Winnebago Stories” by Oliver LaMere
