Our Mission

The mission of Indian Summer Inc. is to educate, preserve and promote American Indian cultures; showcase the diversity that exists within tribal cultures, provide economic opportunities to our people and strengthen communication and understanding.

 

Our History - Now 24 Years Strong!

Indian Summer Festival is the brainchild of Butch Roberts, a Milwaukee Police Officer. In 1985, his dream was to have an American Indian Festival to add to the other ethnic festivals that were being held on the Summerfest grounds, Henry Maier Festival Park. Roberts recruited the Warren and DeNomie families to organize the event. These three families were instrumental in getting Indian Summer off the ground.

It took two years of planning and organizational assistance from Irish Fest to kick off Indian Summer’s first festival in 1987. The festival received a $5,000.00 grant from The Milwaukee Foundation and a cash loan from the Klumb family to provide funding for the first event. The first festival was a huge success.

Over the last 24 years, Indian Summer Festival has maintained a strong position as one of Milwaukee's most popular and memorable ethnic festivals. And as Indian Nation's largest cultural celebration of its kind, Indian Summer Festival has become a gathering place for Native people from all over the US, Canada and beyond.

 

We Give Thanks

Indian Summer Festival, a 501 C 3 organization, is thankful for the wisdom, guidance and support provided by our corporate sponsors and the sponsoring Wisconsin tribes and casinos. We are also grateful for the dedication and commitment of our volunteer board of directors, committee chair people and festival workers. There would not be a festival without our sponsors and volunteers.