Our Shared Future is more than a heritage marker
Our Shared Future represents UW–Madison’s commitment to respect the inherent sovereignty of the Ho-Chunk Nation and the other First Nations of Wisconsin. It is a first step that calls on each of us—faculty, staff, and students—to deeply consider our shared past and present with Indigenous peoples in this place, Teejop, and to make our own personal and institutional commitments to achieve a shared future with them.
Our Shared Future is a process, not a land acknowledgement or something to recite. It is a collective act of moving together from ignorance to awareness; an educational framework for posing questions; and an opportunity to celebrate Ho-Chunk people, as well as learn about the hard truths of our histories with them. It is a challenge to educate ourselves and each other, and create a better future together.
In October of 2021, the marker was installed in its permanent location near South Hall on Bascom Hill.


The Millennia before UW-Madison
How the First Nations Cultural Landscape Tour became a unique campus institution
The First Nations Cultural Landscape Tour examines the 12,000-plus years of human existence documented along the shores of Lake Mendota, particularly the history of the Ho-Chunk Nation, on whose ancestral land the university now sits.
Our Shared Future Efforts Mark the Beginning, Not an End
Hundreds of people attended events in the fall of 2019 related to the “Our Shared Future” heritage marker, a first step in a multi-year effort to educate the campus and the broader community on the Ho-Chunk Nation and the history it shares with the university. The spring 2020 semester brought an even greater emphasis on the marker.

News
- Land and campus community connect through new art installationJanuary 8, 2024
- UW–Madison to cover full cost of undergraduate degree for students from Wisconsin Indian tribesDecember 18, 2023
- Seed by SeedNovember 7, 2023
- Artists bring Ho-Chunk beadwork, imagery to giant banners on Bascom HallNovember 7, 2023
Events
- March
- March 3Warrior Princesses Strike Back: The Power of Advocacy, Culture, and ConnectednessAn Evening with Sarah Eagle Heart6:30 PM, De Luca Forum, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery
Want your event to show up here? Tag related events with “Our Shared Future” when adding them to the UW’s event calendar.