Dr. Josephine P. White Eagle

Gi Ska Inga (Clear Day)

Dr. Josephine P. White Eagle was a Ho-Chunk tribal member who was known for her linguistic research and program development for early education to preserve Ho-Chunk language for future generations.  She received her undergraduate education at University of Minnesota in 1961 and, her master's degree jointly from Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Department of Linguistics and Philosophy.  In 1983 she received her Doctorate in Education from Harvard University and held a post doctoral fellowship at MIT.  

She became a valued faculty member of the School of Education at Harvard and at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was well known for her commitment to Native Heritage, Language Preservation and Community Development.   She was a key member of the community in ensuring the Wisconsin Winnebago Business Committee constitution was approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  This BIA recognition, in turn made it possible for tribal members to get grant dollars for such services as healthcare, education, economic development and housing.  Among her many talents, Dr. White Eagle was a musician, Sunday school teacher and crafted beautiful baskets. 

The Ho-Chunk Nation, Department of Education, and the White Eagle family would like to put Dr. White Eagle forward as a role model in eduction for her courage, commitment and inspiration.  As such, from this point forward, all students who receive funding to pursue a graduate degree by the Ho-Chunk Nation Higher Education Division will be known as Josephine P. White Eagle Scholars.

We wish them well-being, success and hope they, too will choose to assist our tribal community with their knowledge and persective to advance the Ho-Chunk Nation.