Native American culture comes alive at Washington School

A unique cultural experience brought Wisconsin history to life at Washington School on March 14, 2025, when third-grader Piper Pullium and her father, Mathew, shared their Native American heritage with students.
Mathew Pullium, who has Creek, Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw ancestry, provided students with insights into traditional Native American culture through music, dance, and storytelling.
“The pow wow is a gathering that keeps our culture alive,” Mathew Pullium said. “We have a responsibility to care for all children and pass down our culture. In a tribe, no one is related—you are one people.”
The presentation was a great supplement to the third-grade curriculum, according to third grade teacher Sherri Schulz. “Our third graders are studying Native American regions and cultures, so a presentation on Native American heritage fits perfectly with what they’ve been learning. They’ve been exploring different tribes across America and their ways of life, and reading stories that highlight traditional Native American customs,” said Schulz. “Some of my students didn’t realize that Native American cultures are still active today, so having a student and her father visit our school to share their culture in person really brought the concepts they’ve been studying to life and made them feel more real.”
Piper, dressed in traditional regalia handmade by her family, demonstrated Native American dancing for her classmates.

“I was super excited to show my classmates that I can dance. It felt really fantastic,” said Piper. “My dress was handmade by my family. My favorite part is the shawl—it’s yellow and I love how colorful it is. I feel proud when my dad sings—he is a very talented singer.”
Mathew explained the significance of various dances and songs in Native American culture.
“We believe there are healing powers to dance,” he said. “The round dance is called the people’s dance. They would do this during times when tribes were relocating. Tribes would come together to dance. The round dance is a friendship dance.”
He also shared how songs are created in Native American tradition.
“In the song that I sing, there is no lyrics to it, there are no words. There are harmonized vocals—like if you were humming a song,” Mathew said. “A song might come to me in the morning when I hear a bird chirping. Or sometimes a song can come to you in a dream. Sometimes you hear a tune, and that is how a song comes to us—the creator is bringing the song to us. These are really old songs. You can hear the upbeat tune in this song, but we also have songs for funerals and for the veterans. Then the beat is different.”
Classmates were visibly impressed by Piper’s performance and her family’s cultural traditions.
“I liked seeing my friend doing these dances that are special to her,” said third-grader Landry. “I think it’s really amazing that she gets to do something so special.”
Another classmate, Aenea, was struck by the visual elements of the presentation. “The music was really good and the clothing was super colorful and amazing—like a butterfly,” she said.
“It was cool how she danced and how she hopped to the drumming. It’s pretty awesome what she can do,” said third-grader Cassidy.
Shannon Weber, third grade aide, noted the lasting impact of the presentation. “I was so impressed by how personable Matt was with the kids. They all had questions, and he took his time having a meaningful interaction with them. The kids have been talking about it for days. I was amazed by the traditional Native American singing and drumming,” she said.
School Social Worker Kelli Morgan highlighted the community-building aspect of such cultural sharing. “This presentation on Native American culture was exceptional,” Morgan said. “Having families actively participate in our school not only enriches our students’ learning but also creates a connection and pride among us all. It helps build a stronger connection between our school and the community, and creates a sense of pride and togetherness for everyone involved.”
Piper herself has participated in pow wows and continues to learn traditional dances.
“At the pow wows, I really like the jingles on the dresses,” she said. “I want one like that. I went to a pow wow in the winter. Sometimes I get nervous to dance, but then my mom and dad help and I feel better.”
“I loved my dad coming here and showing my class the dances,” Piper said.