Woodland Heart Nonprofit Empowers Menominee Youth Through Traditional Dance and Regalia

SHAKOPEE, Minn. — In a vibrant display of cultural reclamation, young Menominee dancers took to the arena at the annual Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Wacipi in mid-August 2026. Among them was 13-year-old Niigani Bineshi Buckholtz, who joined over 1,300 registered dancers at one of Indian Country’s largest annual powwows. Buckholtz, adorned in handmade woodland regalia featuring hand-stitched applique aprons, is one of several teenagers participating in Woodland Heart, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting Menominee youth. Based in Neopit, Wisconsin, on the Menominee Reservation, Woodland Heart was established in December 2024 to support boys aged 11 to 14 who may be disengaged from school activities or sports. Co-founder and Executive Director Dana Warrington told ICT that the organization aims to bridge the gap for youth who did not grow up with these traditions, noting that identity is strengthened through performing tribal-specific dances and knowing one’s heritage. Participants like 14-year-old Adrian Silas emphasize the spiritual connection the program provides. Silas, who identifies as Menominee, described the woodland style as a medium for storytelling that allows him to feel the spirit of his ancestors. Beyond the dance floor, the program provides families with the tools and knowledge to create traditional woodland regalia, fostering a deeper sense of belonging and community. Co-founder Heather DiCosimo (Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe) highlighted the importance of consistency in youth development. She noted that by living the culture day-to-day rather than through occasional workshops, the program helps build the confidence necessary for young men to navigate their paths into adulthood. As the group travels to various powwows across the Midwest, the focus remains on maintaining the pure form of tribal dances as a foundation for personal and cultural growth.