This report is in collaboration with our partners at ICT, formerly Indian Country Today.

Tribal sovereignty, education, environmental threats and public health were just some of the issues in the 21st annual State of the Tribes Address at the Wisconsin State Capitol on March 18. The speech represented Wisconsin’s 11 federally recognized Native American tribal nations.

A tribal honor guard and drummers stand in the center of the Wisconsin State Capitol rotunda as part of the annual State of the Tribes Address on March 18, 2025, in Madison. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin Chairman Thomas Fowler, addressed the full Legislature.

“My grandparents, great-grandparents and ancestors knew that a positive relationship between tribes and the state and federal governments could only strengthen our communities,” he said.

Fowler said the trust responsibility to tribes requires the federal government to uphold its commitment to protect Native land and Native rights — and provide services to Native people, services like education. He said Native students on tribal lands have unique challenges, and asked for more support for the state’s two reservation-based colleges: the College of Menominee Nation and the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University.

“St. Croix is in an educational desert, and our kids won’t all find success moving so far from home, away from their support systems and culture,” said Fowler.

St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin Chairman Thomas Fowler delivers the annual State of the Tribes Address to lawmakers in the Assembly chambers on March 18, 2025, at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. “My grandparents, great-grandparents and ancestors knew that a positive relationship between tribes and the state and federal governments could only strengthen our communities,” said Fowler. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

Among other provisions affecting K-12 schools before the Legislature, Fowler urged passage of bills in the Assembly and state Senate that would permit Native students to wear traditional regalia with feathers and beads during public school ceremonies.

“We ask that this body supports legislation that serves our students like AB 98/SB 85, so that school boards and charter schools don’t prohibit American Indian students from wearing traditional regalia at a graduation ceremony,” Fowler said.

Apache Danforth, a member of the Oneida Nation, was in attendance. She applauded the legislation, saying it’s time for Wisconsin to follow the lead of other states.

“Many of the first ones graduating from high school in their family, so wearing the traditional regalia really honors that tradition of accomplishment,” she said.

Oneida Nation member Apache Danforth speaks about legislation that would block prohibitions on Indigenous students wearing traditional regalia at school graduation ceremonies, in an interview following the annual State of the Tribes Address on March 18, 2025, at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. “Wearing the traditional regalia really honors that tradition of accomplishment,” she said. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

On the environment, Fowler called for a unified voice between the state and the tribes over the transport of oil and gas through their lands.

“Tribes have never been silent on their concern of the environmental hazards that come with pipelines,” he said. “Our lands and waterways are at risk, putting our food, water, medicine, cultural practices at risk too.”

As Fowler spoke to environmental protection, including the need to address climate change, Jonas Hill, a member of the Oneida Nation, called that message impactful.

“Climate change is real. We’re seeing the effects,” Hill said. “Maple season is in full effect right now, and the sap is running slow — duly because we haven’t had a real hard winter hit us for some time. The wildlife and trees all depend on the environment.”

Oneida Nation member Jonas Hill speaks about observing climate change impacts, in an interview following the annual State of the Tribes Address on March 18, 2025, at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. “Maple season is in full effect right now, and the sap is running slow,” he said. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

Fowler’s address touched on many difficult issues, including opioid addiction in Wisconsin’s Native communities. As one prescription, he called for the legalization of medical marijuana.

“We need medical marijuana for chronic pain management, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress and addiction,” said Fowler. “Addiction has left no family untouched in Indian Country.”

For her part, Danforth said such legislation should proceed with caution.

“I really encourage them to think about our kids when they’re looking at legislation and legalizing cannabis in our state, and how they’re protecting our children from abusing and using and having access to cannabis,” she said.

St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin Chairman Thomas Fowler delivers the annual State of the Tribes Address on March 18, 2025, at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. Fowler spoke about state budget priorities in tribal communities and proposed legislation, along with environmental, health and safety issues for Indigenous people in Wisconsin. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

On a most essential issue of life and death among tribal communities, Fowler called Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women a public health crisis.

“This is too common for our people and it must stop,” he said.

Danielle DeLong, vice president of the Ho-Chunk Nation, echoed the call and beseeched the state task force on the missing and murdered to focus its attention.

“There are so many disproportionate numbers to our missing and murdered Indigenous relatives, and that task force needs to be prioritized with funding,” DeLong said.

Ho-Chunk Nation Vice President Danielle DeLong speaks about seeking support for a state task force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, in an interview following the annual State of the Tribes Address on March 18, 2025, in the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. “That task force needs to be prioritized with funding,” she said. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

Fowler’s address brought into sharp focus the concerns of life and land, health, and the future for tribes across Wisconsin, reminding the audience that fully realizing tribal sovereignty and self-governance is possible by working with governments and administrations.

“Tribal nations seek common-sense policy reforms that strengthen our ability to govern, and protect our own people, and preserve our own cultures, and control our own lands and resources within our own boundaries,” he said, “because tribes are not children of the government.”

This report is in collaboration with our partners at ICT.