Bees, Butterflies and Dragonflies
America’s Snow Sculpting Invitational
Winterfest (formerly US Nationals) Lake Geneva, WI

This year we fought valiantly against aggressively high temps in the 40’s and 50’s in the creation of this piece. So much so, that we had to seriously modify the design and really couldn’t sculpt until the last 24 hours of this 4 day competition! Despite these setbacks, Team Kwe brought their A-Game and finished an impressive piece!

Bees, Butterflies and Dragonflies
America’s Snow Sculpting Invitational
Winterfest (formerly US Nationals) Lake Geneva, WI

As Team Kwe, we honor our relatives who crawl and fly through this montage of native pollinators in their natural habitat! Featuring a Monarch butterfly, caterpillar, bees and a dragonfly, they survive through the presence of native plants in their natural habitat. As Anishinaabe women, Aamoog, memengwaa, miinawaa Oboodashkwaanishiinyag (Bees, butterflies and Dragonflies) are an important part of our heritage and community. We strive for the preservation of our pollinator relatives, and bringing awareness to the need for insect conservation.

Bees, Butterflies and Dragonflies
America’s Snow Sculpting Invitational
Winterfest (formerly US Nationals) Lake Geneva, WI

As Team Kwe, we honor our relatives who crawl and fly through this montage of native pollinators in their natural habitat! Featuring a Monarch butterfly, caterpillar, bees and a dragonfly, they survive through the presence of native plants in their natural habitat. As Anishinaabe women, Aamoog, memengwaa, miinawaa Oboodashkwaanishiinyag (Bees, butterflies and Dragonflies) are an important part of our heritage and community. We strive for the preservation of our pollinator relatives, and bringing awareness to the need for insect conservation.

Bees, Butterflies and Dragonflies

Juliana and Maggie atop the big block at Nationals!

Based on our current ecological realities, an eagle skull is juxtaposed to an oil refinery, asking the viewer to make a move towards a fossil fuel free world for the sake of humanity. Our survival depends on it.

MN State Snow Sculpting Competition, 2025

Based on our current ecological realities, an eagle skull is juxtaposed to an oil refinery, asking the viewer to make a move towards a fossil fuel free world for the sake of humanity. Our survival depends on it.

MN State Snow Sculpting Competition, 2025

Artist Maggie Thompson takes a hit!

Juliana and Maggie

Juliana working top down

Busting through the block to create negative space, the first hole is always the most exciting! Juliana is so proud!

Juliana and Maggie saw though the big block at States!

Battle Creek Park, 2025

A passer by snaps a pic of Heather in action!

Battle Creek Park, 2025

Based on the history of the Dakota land at Battle Creek Park. Before it was "Battle Creek" here was a place where Dakota women collected plant medicine, foraged for food, and connected with the earth and sacred teachings.

Battle Creek Park, 2025

Based on the history of the Dakota land at Battle Creek Park. Before it was "Battle Creek" here was a place where Dakota women collected plant medicine, foraged for food, and connected with the earth and sacred teachings.

Battle Creek Park, 2025

Based on the history of the Dakota land at Battle Creek Park. Before it was "Battle Creek" here was a place where Dakota women collected plant medicine, foraged for food, and connected with the earth and sacred teachings.

Battle Creek Park, 2025

Based on the history of the Dakota land at Battle Creek Park. Before it was "Battle Creek" here was a place where Dakota women collected plant medicine, foraged for food, and connected with the earth and sacred teachings.

Battle Creek Park, 2025

Based on the history of the Dakota land at Battle Creek Park. Before it was "Battle Creek" here was a place where Dakota women collected plant medicine, foraged for food, and connected with the earth and sacred teachings.

Snow sculpting apprentice Amy Blumke works on the logo block during day one of this sculpt.

Battle Creek Park, 2025

Tanaǧidaŋ To Wiŋ stands with the almost completed snow sculpture which is based on her likeness.

Based on the history of the Dakota land at Battle Creek Park. Before it was "Battle Creek" here was a place where Dakota women collected plant medicine, foraged for food, and connected with the earth and sacred teachings.

Battle Creek Park, 2025

Tanaǧidaŋ To Wiŋ stands with the almost completed snow sculpture which is based on her likeness while getting her picture taken for Women’s Press Magazine.

Based on the history of the Dakota land at Battle Creek Park. Before it was "Battle Creek" here was a place where Dakota women collected plant medicine, foraged for food, and connected with the earth and sacred teachings.

Dakota elder Fern Renville works on the skirt of “Heart of Battle Creek”

Heather stands with her two snow sculpting apprentices after an evening of work during the creation of this sculpture.

Pictured left to right is Heather Friedli, Wren Kizer, and Amy Blumke

My son stands next to “Stripes" holding a heart for this school pride piece

2024

A fun little in my yard snow sculpture to honor the FB group “A group where we all pretend to be ants in an ant colony”

Atlas Obscura https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/all-women-indigenous-snow-sculpting-team

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/all-women-indigenous-snow-sculpting-team

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/all-women-indigenous-snow-sculpting-team

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/all-women-indigenous-snow-sculpting-team

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/all-women-indigenous-snow-sculpting-team

"Ready, Set, Carve!"
https://math.scholastic.com/issues/2023-24/020124/carve.html?language=english#950L

Photos by Stephen Maturen for MPR News
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/02/01/the-only-all-women-indigenous-snow-sculpture-team

Photos by Stephen Maturen for MPR Newshttps://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/02/01/the-only-all-women-indigenous-snow-sculpture-team

Photos by Stephen Maturen for MPR Newshttps://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/02/01/the-only-all-women-indigenous-snow-sculpture-team

”PHOTOS: Snow sculptors create giant snowflake at MSU”, Photos by Pat Christmanhttps://www.mankatofreepress.com/multimedia/photos/photos-snow-sculptors-create-giant-snowflake-at-msu/collection_2b0114fe-6636-11eb-8491-efe7b5ae44f6.html#anchor_item_1

”PHOTOS: Snow sculptors create giant snowflake at MSU”, Photos by Pat Christman
https://www.mankatofreepress.com/multimedia/photos/photos-snow-sculptors-create-giant-snowflake-at-msu/collection_2b0114fe-6636-11eb-8491-efe7b5ae44f6.html#anchor_item_1

Copywrite By Gage Curetonhttps://www.keyc.com/2021/02/04/snow-sculptors-minnesota-state-university-mankato-shape-school-spirit-native-american-culture/

Copywrite By Gage Curetonhttps://www.keyc.com/2021/02/04/snow-sculptors-minnesota-state-university-mankato-shape-school-spirit-native-american-culture/

Copywrite By Gage Curetonhttps://www.keyc.com/2021/02/04/snow-sculptors-minnesota-state-university-mankato-shape-school-spirit-native-american-culture/

Copywrite By Gage Curetonhttps://www.keyc.com/2021/02/04/snow-sculptors-minnesota-state-university-mankato-shape-school-spirit-native-american-culture/

Copywrite By Gage Cureton
https://www.keyc.com/2021/02/04/snow-sculptors-minnesota-state-university-mankato-shape-school-spirit-native-american-culture/

Our piece “Mankato Winter Pride”, aims to bring unity and spirit to the Minnesota State University Mankato’s Stomper community. We created an 8’ tall giant snowflake with the Stomper logo at its heart center. Radiating out from the center of the piece, is interwoven the seven Grandfather Teachings important to our team’s indigenous culture, and values held by the Mankato community.

The Jingle Dress was originally created during the 1918 flu pandemic to help heal those who were sick. The story goes that the granddaughter of an Ojibwe Medicine Man fell ill with the flu. The man had a recurring dream that 4 Native women were wearing this new kind of dress, dancing around and bringing healing to all around them. The women in the dream taught the man how to make the dress, what songs to play, and how to perform the dance, and that this would make his granddaughter well again. The community then gathered to create this special dress, and still perform the Jingle Dress Dance to this day at pow-wows and ceremonies across the country.

“Poseidon's Mare”
Ely Winter Festival Snow Sculpting Symposium
2019

Photo Credit: Chris Ellerbroek

Poseidon's Mare
Ely Winter Festival Snow Sculpting Symposium
2019

Photo Credit: Chris Ellerbroek

“Poseidon’s Mare”
Ely Winter Festival Snow Sculpting Symposium
2019

“Arise from the Storm”
1st Place
2019
US National Snow Sculpture Competition
Lake Geneva, WI

“Arise from the Storm”
1st Place
2019
US National Snow Sculpture Competition
Lake Geneva, WI

“Arise from the Storm”
1st Place
2019
US National Snow Sculpture Competition
Lake Geneva, WI

“Metamorphosis”
1st Place
Hamm Lake Snowbowl
2018

“A is for Acorn Weevil”
Ely Winter Festival Snow Sculpting Symposium
2018

“Steampunk Turtle”
National Snow Sculpting Competition
Lake Geneva, WI
2018

“Attack of the Hookjaw”
1st Place
Minnesota State Snow Sculpting Competition
2017

Two Bucks Fighting

10'x8'x10'

Snow Sculpture

St. Paul Winter Carnival

2015

Minnesota Rumble

Snow

8' x 10'

Clay model for Two Bucks Fighting

10'x8'x10'

Snow Sculpture

St. Paul Winter Carnival

2015

Working sketch for Mobius Fish

8'x8'x8'

Snow Sculpture

St. Paul Winter Carnival 

2014

Clay model for Mobius Fish 

8'x8'x8'

Snow Sculpture

St. Paul Winter Carnival 

2014

Mobius Fish

8'x8'x8'

Snow Sculpture

St. Paul Winter Carnival 

2014

Mobius Fish

8'x8'x8'

Snow Sculpture

St. Paul Winter Carnival 

2014

Kingfisher

8'x8'x8'

Snow Sculpture

Ely Winter Carnival

2015

Loon Rising

8'x8'x8'

Snow Sculpture

St. Paul Winter Carnival

2013

Dino Fight!

10'x12'x12'

Snow Sculpture

Ely Winter Festival

2012