Ho-Chunk Living Site on Turkey River at Confluence with Bass Creek
Ho-Chunk families constructed ciporoke at this site over many decades, even in recent decades. A ciiporoke is similar to the Algonquin wigwam. This confluence of the Bass Creek with the Turkey River site offered great fishing, beaver, turkey and deer hunting opportunities in the surrounding dense woods. They also raised squash, pumpkins, corn and other vegetables and gathered berries. After the forced removals of the 1840s and 1850s, some Ho-Chunk families returned annually to the Turkey River Reserve lands for the summers until the 1940s.
Nearby German farmers recall how the Ho-Chunk taught their families how to fish the river and help work on their farms in exchange for chickens, pigs and fresh vegetables. In the 19th century local people recall the annual Ho-Chunk presence in Turkey River Reserve lands. The annual Autumn caravan of Ho-Chunk returning to their Wisconsin homelands incited the local St. Lucas school children to watch the day long wagon train.
Typical Ho-Chunk Ciiporoke (wigwam) of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Turkey River confluence with Bass Creek in the near background, 2025.
Ho-Chunk Living Site at Confluence of Turkey River and Bass Creek. Photo: June 14, 2026.
