Joan Keshena Harte, of Keshena, joined the spirit world on December 7, 2011. She was the great great-granddaughter of Chief Keshena and like him, she dedicated herself to fight for Menominee land and rights. She was born in Keshena on March 28, 1924 and moved to Chicago after graduating from high school where she met and married John Harte. She loved Chicago, gourmet cooking, and being a Docent at the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. She enjoyed the arts and got to see some of the greats including Old Blue Eyes, Judy Garland and Billie Holiday. In the early 70's she was influential in establishing the Determination of Rights and Unity for Menominee Shareholders (DRUMS) and fought for federal recognition for the Menominee Tribe, including testifying before the U.S. Congress. She would go door to door in the city educating the Menominee people about the injustice of termination and would commute each weekend to meet with others devoted to this struggle. She raised her children in Chicago and later in life chose to pursue a higher education - receiving a Master of Education degree and a Certificate of Advanced Study from Harvard University. She worked for the Illinois State Board of Education, where she retired. Joan served on many boards, including being appointed to the U.S. Bicentennial Commission by President Gerald Ford; the National Advisory Council on Indian Education by President George H. Bush and in later years she would become a founding board member of the College of Menominee Nation. She taught us you can be tribal and global - providing you know where you came from and honored the teachings of your culture. Joan is survived by: her children, Mary Harte, Dr. Kate Keshena, MD, Christy (Jim) Lofink, Sean (Judy) Harte; and six grandchildren. She also leaves behind: her sister, Petronell Martin. Joan was preceded in death by: her parents, Frank and Nellie (Besaw) Keshena; her husband, John Harte; and her siblings, Joseph Keshena, Dolores (Keshena) Boyd, Francis "Zeke" Keshena, Rita Keshena, and Gordon Keshena. Family and friends can pay their respects at Keshena Falls at N1099 Oshkosh Road beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. A traditional funeral service will begin at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday at Keshena Falls with a meal to follow at the College of the Menominee Nation's Cultural Building. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in Joan's memory to the College of the Menominee Nation. Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano is assisting the family with the arrangements. www.swedbergfuneralhome.com