PBS Wisconsin Originals

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THE TRADITION OF HAVING THE TRIBES GIVE A STATE OF THE TRIBES ADDRESS GOES BACK A NUMBER OF YEARS BUT IT IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO HEAR FROM WISCONSIN FIRST NATIONS TODAY'S SPEAKER GARY BESAW WAS TRIBAL CHAIRMAN IN 2015, VICE CHAIRMAN IN 2003, TRIBAL SECRETARY IN 2008 AFTER FIRST BEING ELECTED TO THE TRIBAL LEGISLATURE IN 2002. HE COMES WITH A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND WE ARE QUITE CONFIDENT HE WILL HAVE AN ADDRESS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO HERE. LET'S WELCOME GARY BESAW FROM THE MENOMINEE INDIAN TRIBE WHO WILL ADDRESS THE MEMBERS TODAY. WELCOME.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

>> I WAS JUST TOLD "IF YOUR SPEECH IS OVER TWO HOURS LONG, YOU BETTER GO GET YOUR WATER." SO I WENT... NO, NO.

LAUGHTER

Netaenewaymakenak, Posoh, nemaninitan eneqs-nawenakak! Oskipaewis iniq aes wesiyan, but, GARY BESAW IS THE NAME I USE WHEN I PAY MY TAXES.

LAUGHTER

Netotem enuaq eyaweq Awaesah Omaeqnomenew Enaniw neseknew netawem. Netaenewaymakenak, Mahni-kaekoh awew! Maec-waewaenen skes'- Piyak-Nekataw-manawac kikitem. I HAVE JUST SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE PRESIDENT CLEVELAND, YOUR CAR IS DOUBLE PARKED AND IT'S GETTING TOWED RIGHT NOW.

LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE

OH, NO, NO, NO. NO,

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

MY RELATIVES, GREETINGS. IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL HERE TODAY. OSKIPAEWIS IS MY NAME AND THAT TRANSLATION IS AS A MESSENGER OR TRANSLATOR. IT WAS GIVEN TO ME A LONG TIME AGO. THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID THAT MEANS. IT IS AN ANCIENT TRANSLATION OF OUR LANGUAGE. IT GOES BACK A LONG TIME AND THEY SAID IN THAT SENSE I HAVE THAT. AND I USE THAT WHEN I PRAY EVERY MORNING AS I HOPE YOU ALL DO. AND I SAY GARY BESAW, AS THE IRS KNOWS ME AND I ALSO SAID I AM BEAR CLAN WHOSE DUTIES INCLUDE TO SERVE AS A SPEAKER AND KEEPER OF THE LAW, AND THAT'S HOW YOU SEE ME HERE TODAY IN FRONT OF YOU. I ALSO SAID I AM BUT A COMMON MENOMINEE MAN. FINALLY, I SAID I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. IT IS A GOOD THING THIS THAT IS HAPPENING HERE TODAY. AND NOW I WILL SPEAK A BIT. MY GOAL FOR THIS SPEECH, LAST WEEK I WAS REMINDED THE NUMBER ONE FEAR LISTED IN SURVEYS OF THE PUBLIC, IT ISN'T DEATH, BUT SOMETHING MUCH, MUCH WAY WORSE. IT IS THE FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING. SO I TOLD THEM WELL, MINE WASN'T EITHER ONE OF THOSE, BUT MINE IS A COMBINATION OF THE TWO. OF DYING IN THE MIDDLE OF MY SPEECH.

LAUGHTER

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

AND NOT SO MUCH MY JOKES DYING-- MY KIDS TOLD ME THEY DIE ALL THE TIME. BUT SO MY GOAL IS IF I'M STANDING HERE AT THE END WHEN I'M ALL DONE, THAT'S A RELATIVE SUCCESS FOR ME. I HAVE LEARNED AS A LEGISLATOR TO KEEP THE BAR LOW.

LAUGHTER

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

AS I WILL THANK SEVERAL OTHERS LATER. I WANT TO GIVE THANKS TO OUR ALL NATIONS DRUMS WE HAD TODAY. THEY WERE SINGERS FROM THE VARIOUS TRIBES THAT BROUGHT IN OUR COLORS TODAY AND BROUGHT US INTO THIS FACILITY. AND THEY SANG THREE DIFFERENT SONGS. THE FIRST SONG WAS THE BEAR CLAN SONG. THAT IS FOR STRENGTH. THEY SANG THAT FOR US. THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD DO THAT. AND THE SECOND SONG, AS WE ENTERED THE ROTUNDA WAS A VICTORY SONG SAYING WE'RE STILL HERE TODAY. THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT HAVE WORKED AGAINST NATIVE AMERICANS BUT WE ARE STILL HERE TODAY AND WE'RE STILL FIGHTING AND WE'RE STILL STRONG SO THEY SANG US THAT VICTORY SONG.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

AND THEIR FINAL SONG IS WHAT WE CALL A TRAVELING SONG. AND THAT SONG SERVED TWO PURPOSES THAT EVERYONE HERE TODAY THAT WHEN WE LEAVE, THAT WE ALL CAN GO HOME AND FIND OUR LOVED ONES ALL IN A GOOD, SAFE WAY JUST THE WAY WE LEFT THEM. IT WAS FOR THAT AND IT WAS ALSO THAT AS THIS NEXT YEAR UNFOLDS BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT STATE OF THE TRIBES SPEECH, THAT THINGS GO WELL. THAT THINGS GO WELL IN THAT INTERCOURSE, IN THAT DISCUSSION WE HAVE. SO THOSE ARE THOSE THREE SONGS, SO I THANK THEM. NOW, I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND SHOW RESPECT TO ALL OF OUR WISCONSIN LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES HERE TODAY IN A VERY TRYING AND PAINFUL DEMOCRATIC WAY MAKE MANY IMPORTANT DECISIONS THAT IMPACT OUR VERY LIVES AND THOSE OF OUR PRECIOUS BABIES YET UNBORN. ASSEMBLY SPEAKER VOS, ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER STEINKE, ASSEMBLY MINORITY LEADER HINTZ, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER FITZGERALD. SENATE MINORITY LEADER SCHILLING AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATOR. ESPECIALLY THE TWO NEW MEMBERS SWORN IN TODAY. SUPREME COURT JUSTICES, ABRAHAMSON, REBECCA BRADLEY, WALSHE BRADLEY AND JUSTICE KELLY, WE THANK YOU. ATTORNEY GENERAL SCHIMEL, CABINET MEMBERS, DPI STATE SUPERINTENDENT EVERS AND ALL OTHER DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS SERVING IN MANY VARIOUS CAPACITIES AS SERVANTS OF OUR GREAT WISCONSIN PUBLIC. WE THANK YOU AND I GIVE YOU OUR WARMEST WELCOMES. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO--

APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME AND INTRODUCE THE LEADERS OF OUR 11 TRIBAL NATIONS LOCATED IN WHAT IS NOW CALLED WISCONSIN. I say maec-waewaenen to the Tribal leadership. FOR ENTRUSTING ME TO PROVIDE THIS MESSAGE, as close to one voice as we can. AS I CALL YOUR NAME PLEASE RISE. THESE ESTEEMED LEADERS INCLUDE PRESIDENT WILFRID CLEVELAND, HO-CHUNK NATION.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

CHAIRMAN DOUGLAS COX, MENOMINEE INDIAN TRIBE OF WISCONSIN.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

PRESIDENT SHANNON HOLSEY, STROCKBRIDGE-MUNSEE COMMUNITIES.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

CHAIRMAN TEHASSI HILL, ONEIDA NATION.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

CHAIRMAN CHRIS MCGESHICK, SOKAOGON CHIPPEWA COMMUNITY

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

CHAIRMAN RICHARD PETERSON, RED CLIFF BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA INDIANS.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

AND THE TRIBAL CHAIRMAN FOR ST. CROIX COULD NOT MAKE IT SO HE SENT TRIBAL ADMINISTRATOR LOUIS TAYLOR, ST. CROIX CHIPPEWA INDIANS OF WISCONSIN.

APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

NOW THIS IS NOT A TYPO, THE NEXT ONE CHAIRMAN I'M SAYING THIS FOR THE THIRD TIME NOW CHAIRMAN LOUIS TAYLOR, LAC COURTE OREILLES BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA INDIANS.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

PRESIDENT JOSEPH WILDCAT, SENIOR, LAC DU FLAMBEAU BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA INDIANS,

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

AND CHAIRMAN NED DANIELS, JUNIOR, FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY.

APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

WELCOME TO ALL LEADERS, STATE AND TRIBAL. WE HONOR YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE. WE USE THIS OPPORTUNITY, WE HOPE TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING OUR COMMUNITIES AND GREAT STATE CLOSER. WE MAY NOT THINK OF OURSELVES AS NEIGHBORS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS TODAY, BUT JUST THINK BACK TO ANY TRAGEDY THAT HAS BEFALLEN AMERICA OR WISCONSIN. LET'S REMEMBER THE DAYS AFTER THE 9/11 TRAGEDY. REMEMBER THAT? WE WERE ABLE TO SHOW FOR A FEW FLEETING DAYS AND WEEKS THE BEAUTIFUL UNITY OF OUR STRENGTH AND TOGETHERNESS THAT IS INSIDE OF US ALL. YOU REMEMBER THAT? MY RELATIVES, WE TRULY ARE RELATED. AND ON THE SAME TEAM. BUT SOMETIMES WE JUST DON'T REALIZE IT WITHOUT THAT COMMON CAUSE. LET ME START THEN ON A PATH TO GET US TO UNITING. FIRST WE MUST UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER. PLEASE DON'T THINK I'M SCOLDING, JUDGING OR LECTURING. I'M AN EDUCATOR HAVING TAUGHT AS A K-12 TEACHER, VICE PRINCIPAL. PRINCIPAL. SUPERINTENDENT, CURRICULUM DIRECTOR AND VP DEAN OF STUDENT SERVICES IN A COLLEGE. SO HUMOR ME.

LAUGHTER

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

HERE IS THE PRIMER. NATIVE NATIONS 101. LET'S START WITH SOME TERMINOLOGY AND YOU WILL BE GRADED LATER ON THIS. MR. SPEAKER, NO PEEKING AT MY NOTES HERE.

LAUGHTER

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

YOU HEAR ME SPEAK OF THIS GREAT STATE BY NAME, THAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE TAUGHT TO USE MENOMINEE LANGUAGE WHEN WE CAN. WISCONSIN COMES FOR THE ANCIENT MENOMINEE NAME FOR THIS GREAT LAND AND THAT'S WESKOHSEK, WHICH MEANS A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE.

APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

FURTHER THAT MEANING IS THAT IT IS GOOD LAND, HAS PLENTY OF FRESHWATER, MEDICINES FOR OUR USE, PLENTY OF FISH AND GAME, MUCH FRESH AIR, AND A PRETTY DARN GOOD PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM.

APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

NEXT YOU'LL HEAR ME SAY NATIONS. YOU WILL HEAR ME SAY THAT A LOT. DEMOGRAPHICALLY WE ARE A MINORITY AND FACE MANY OF THE CHALLENGES OF OTHER MINORITIES LIVING IN A MAJORITY SOCIETY. BUT WE ARE NOT SIMPLY A MINORITY GROUP LIKE OTHERS. WE ARE DIFFERENT. NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE SPECIAL INTERESTS AND PERSPECTIVES IN THE ISSUES WE ALL FACE. BUT WE ARE NOT SIMPLY ANOTHER SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP. WE ARE DIFFERENT. DIFFERENT BECAUSE NATIVE AMERICANS ARE CITIZENS OF THEIR OWN NATIONS. AS WELL AS CITIZENS OF WISCONSIN AND CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES. NATIONS THAT EXISTED LONG BEFORE THERE WAS A UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND LONG BEFORE THERE WAS A STATE OF WISCONSIN. AND OUR STATUS AS NATIONS IS RECOGNIZED BY FEDERAL LAW. WE ARE 11 NATIONS IN THE STATE OF WESKOHSEK AND ABOUT 571 NATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. AS NATIONS, WE TO A GREAT EXTENT GOVERN OURSELVES. WE MAKE OUR OWN LAWS, RUN OUR OWN GOVERNMENTS AND IN THE CASE OF MENOMINEE, PROVIDE OUR OWN COURTS, JAILS AND PUNISHMENTS BOTH CIVILY AND CRIMINALLY. SO WHEN WE REACH OUT TO WORK WITH YOU ON POLICY AND LEGISLATION, WE ASK TO BE RECOGNIZED AS SUCH AS NATIONS. MY DAUGHTER, KARA, WHO IS UP HERE WHO ATTENDS UW-MADISON ALONG WITH HER SISTER, MELISSA, WHO IS ALSO UP HERE AND BROTHER LUKE, WHO YOU JUST HEARD HERE, ALSO ATTENDS UW-MADISON AND GAVE OUR INVOCATION, AND THEIR ALUMNI BROTHER AARON, AND THEIR MOTHER AND MYSELF, WE'RE ALL BADGERS.

APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

WELL, ANYWAY, KARA RECENTLY SAT IN HER FIRST SESSIONS OF AN AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES CLASS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN HERE AND THE STUDENTS WERE GIVEN AN UNGRADED TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE TYPE OF INTRODUCTORY QUIZ. IT GAVE TRUE AND FALSE CHOICES REGARDING STATEMENTS ABOUT INDIANS. AND I'M DISAPPOINTED HOW SHE SAID MANY ANSWERED THE FOLLOWING AS TRUE. SO HERE IT GOES. THINGS LIKE NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE STATE DON'T PAY ANY TAXES. TRUE OR FALSE. THEY PUT TRUE. NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE A GENETIC DISPOSITION TO BE ALCOHOLICS, TRUE OR FALSE.

AUDIENCE MEMBER YELLS "FALSE"

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

YES, AND THEY PUT TRUE. THE NATIVE AMERICANS IN WISCONSIN ARE ONE BIG TRIBE. TRUE OR FALSE. THAT'S AGAIN FALSE. NATIVE AMERICAN CHAIRPERSONS ARE ALL GOOD LOOKING.

LAUGHTER

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

FALSE. THAT ONE IS FALSE.

LAUGHTER

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

NOW, IF WE SAID ALL FORMER TRIBAL CHAIRPERSONS ARE GOOD LOOKING, OBVIOUSLY.

LAUGHTER

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

BUT WE ARE DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE NOTHING HAS CHANGED. I HAD A CLASS HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN IN THE 1990s AND WAS ASKED TO CRITICALLY REVIEW ALL NATIVE REFERENCES IN THE THEN-CURRENT MAINSTREAM SOCIAL STUDIES TEXT. SO I'M REVIEWING ALL THESE HARCOURT BRACE JOVANOVICH TEXTBOOKS AND WHAT I FOUND WAS OVER 90% OF THE REFERENCES TO US, TO NATIVE AMERICANS, WERE ONLY IN THE PAST TENSE. THEY WERE LIKE TEACHING ABOUT ANCIENT GREEKS OR ANCIENT ROMANS. YOU CAN SEE WHY WE ASK THAT RACE-BASED MASCOTS MUST BE REMOVED FROM OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

AND AGAIN I'M NOT PREACHING, BUT NOT ONLY ARE THEY HURTFUL TO OUR CHILDREN, BUT THESE STEREOTYPES, THEY PROPAGATE THOSE STEREOTYPES THAT WERE IN THE PAST WHEN WE SEE THOSE AND OUR CHILDREN HAVE TO ENDURE WITH THOSE. HELP US OUT. BACK TO THE 1990s. THE TEXTBOOK REVIEW I DID. IT HAD THINGS LIKE NATIVE AMERICANS LIVED AT ONE TIME IN WISCONSIN. THAT'S WHAT IT SAID. NATIVE AMERICANS HAD CONTRIBUTED GREATLY. NATIVE AMERICANS WERE ONCE GREAT WARRIORS. WELL, I'M HERE TO SAY WE'RE NOT PAST TENSE REFERENCES. LET'S REVIEW JUST THESE THREE PAST TENSE REFERENCES THAT I GOT FROM THE BOOK. ONE, NATIVE AMERICANS LIVED AT ONE TIME IN WISCONSIN. YES, WE DID, ALMOST 15,000 YEARS. BUT WE'RE STILL HERE ON 11 SEPARATE SOVEREIGN TERRITORIES OR RESERVATIONS. NATIVE AMERICANS HAD CONTRIBUTED GREATLY. YOU BETTER BELIEVE WE DID. BUT WE STILL CONTRIBUTE TODAY WITH JOBS, TAXES, AND SERVE AS THE LARGEST ECONOMIC ENGINES IN THE MAJORITY OF COUNTIES THAT EXTEND INTO OUR LANDS. AND A THIRD --

APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

AND THE THIRD, THE FINAL THAT I'LL USE AS AN EXAMPLE. NATIVE AMERICANS WERE ONCE GREAT WARRIORS. YES, WE WERE BUT WE STILL ARE GREAT WARRIORS.

APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR ALL TRIBAL NATIONS COLOR GUARD AND ASK ANY OTHER VETERAN REGARDLESS OF SKIN COLOR, SEX, RACE OR CREED TO PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED AT THIS TIME. ANY VETERANS.

APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR GREAT NATION. NATIVE AMERICANS PROUDLY HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF SERVICE OF ANY RACE AND MENOMINEE COUNTY, WHICH SHARES ALMOST BOUNDARIES EXTERIOR BOUNDARIES WITH MENOMINEE RESERVATIONS IS LISTED AS ONE OF THE LARGEST SERVICE COUNTIES IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

AND YOU SHOULD BE PROUD TO KNOW WISCONSIN HAS THE HONOR OF HOSTING THREE TRIBES AS CODE TALKER UNITS. EVERYONE THINKS IT'S JUST NAVAJO BUT THERE WERE MANY. THERE ARE PROBABLY 33, 36 CODE TALKER UNITS IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES. YOU HAVE THREE OF THEM HERE IN WISCONSIN. HO-CHUNK, MENOMINEE, ONEIDA.

APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

MOST OF OUR LANGUAGES ARE NATIVE LANGUAGES DO NOT HAVE ENGLISH EQUIVALENTS. WE'RE BACK TO TEACHING YOU A LITTLE HERE. LIKE FOR THE WORD PLEASE, TODAY IT DENOTES GOOD MANNERS. BUT IF YOU WERE ASKED TO DO SOMETHING AND YOU COULD, IT WAS EXPECTED YOU WOULD DO IT. YOU JUST WOULD. THAT'S HOW OUR LANGUAGE AND THAT'S HOW WE RELATED TO EACH OTHER. SO WHEN YOU HEAR US ASKING DIRECTLY ASKS OF YOU, THAT'S HOW WE WERE TAUGHT. DON'T WASTE PEOPLE'S TIME. IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD DO FOR YOU. ONE MORE EXAMPLE THE MENOMINEE-- AND I'M SURE OTHER NATIONS-- DO NOT HAVE A WORD FOR "NATURAL RESOURCES." TO US EVERYTHING IS ALIVE. THE FOREST ANIMALS, WE CALL THEM manidoowaak, THE LIVING SPIRIT BEINGS. THEY LIVE, THEY BREATHE, THEY'RE ALIVE. IF WE CALL THEM NATURAL RESOURCES, TO US THAT MEANS NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY ARE A COMMODITY AND SOMETHING TO BE TRADED, SOMETHING TO BE TURNED INTO A PROFIT AND WE NEVER SAW THE WORLD LIKE THAT. THEY ARE ALL LIVING BEINGS. ALL THESE ARE LIVING THINGS. SO THERE IS A DIFFERENCE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE WORLD AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO IMPART, SOME OF THAT. THIS IS HOW MY RELATIVES SEE THE WORLD ALSO. NOW WE KNOW WE ARE PART OF A BIGGER INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD. WE AREN'T LUDDITES. I'VE GOT MY PHONE OVER THERE. I'M TALKING ON A MIC. I GOT DOWN HERE. I DIDN'T RUN. I DROVE A CAR DOWN HERE AND DIDN'T RUN. BACK IN THE DAY, I COULDA'.

LAUGHTER

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

WE KNOW SOCIETY MUST USE RESOURCES TODAY. WE KNOW THAT. BUT WE TRY TO DO THAT IN A MORE SUSTAINABLE WAY IN A TRADE-OFF. YOU KNOW, WE JUST SEE THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY. WE AREN'T ENEMIES. PLEASE NEVER THINK OF US AS ENEMIES. WE SEE THE WORLD DIFFERENT. I'LL COME BACK TO THAT THOUGHT LATER THOUGH. SO THEN WE DO, THOUGH, HAVE A MILLION WAYS TO SAY THANK YOU. Waewaenen, miigwetch, piinigiigii, Anushiik, Yawako, ETC, I WOULD LIKE TO USE THAT TONE NOW TO SWITCH TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE SUCCESSES WE'VE HAD THIS PAST YEAR COLLABORATING WITH AND IN CONSULTATION WITH ONE ANOTHER IN A NATION TO NATION, GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT PROCESS. I'LL NAME A COUPLE OF SUCCESSES HERE TO START. OUR FIRST SUCCESS IS WISCONSIN HAS BEEN A LEADER AND MODEL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STATE TRIBAL CONSULTATION POLICY. IT IS BASED ON EXECUTIVE ORDER 39 WHICH WAS SIGNED IN 2004 AND IT CONTINUES TO BE HONORED BY OUR CURRENT ADMINISTRATION. IT PROVIDES THE FORUM FOR THE EXECUTIVE CABINET AGENCIES TO CONSULT WITH OUR NATIONS. WE MEET WITH ALL AGENCIES ANNUALLY AND IN THE CASE OF DHS, DCF, DNR WE MEET MORE OFTEN. WE'LL SOON BEGIN CONSULTATIONS WITH THE NON-CABINET AGENCY DPI. FOR THE MOST PART THE CONSULTATIONS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL IN WORKING OUT ISSUES FOR THE BENEFIT OF BOTH THE STATE AND THE TRIBES. WE KEEP EMPHASIZING TO AGENCIES THE NEED TO GIVE US A HEADS-UP WHEN ANY NEW ADMINISTRATIVE RULES, POLICIES OR STATUTES AFFECTING OUR NATIONS ARE BEING CONSIDERED. WE WANT TO ASK YOU THAT AS STATE LEGISLATORS, YOU DO SO AS WELL. THEN WHAT MORE COULD WE ASK FOR REGARDING THE CONSULTATION? FOLLOW THIS MODEL. FREE PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT. FREE PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT PRINCIPLES MUST GUIDE OUR CONSULTATIONS AND SERVE AS THAT MODEL FOR OUR GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT CONSULTATIONS. FREE AS IN NOT COERCED. PRIOR AS IN CONSENT SOUGHT IN ADVANCE. INFORMED AS IN PROVIDING ALL NEEDED INFORMATION, AND CONSENT AS IN THE COLLECTIVE DECISION MADE BY THE RIGHT HOLDERS AND REACHED THROUGH THEIR CUSTOMARY DECISION PROCESS. LET US HELP IN MAKING OF LAW OR ADMINISTRATIVE RULE THAT IMPACTS US. OK,THAT WAS NUMBER ONE. THE CONSULTATION PROCESS, EXECUTIVE ORDER 39. THANK YOU. NOW THAT RELATES TO OUR NEXT TOPIC OF SUCCESS, THE SECOND ONE IS THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON STATE TRIBAL RELATIONS. THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVES TO PROVIDE THE LEGISLATURE WITH LEGAL ADVICE, GUIDANCE AND RESEARCH ON TOUGH ISSUES TO BE-- AND TO RECOMMEND SOLUTIONS. THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON STATE TRIBAL RELATIONS IS LED BY CHAIR REPRESENTATIVE CHEF MURSAU AND KATHLEEN VINEHOUT. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS.

APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

THE STUDY COMMITTEE IS A PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATIVE FORUM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE TRIBAL NATIONS INPUT INTO DEVELOPING LEGISLATION WHEN DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS ON SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT IMPACT TRIBAL NATIONS. WE KNOW THE STATE LEGISLATURE WILL SOON COMPLETE ITS 2017 - 2018 SESSION. HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF RECENT LEGISLATION DEVELOPED BY STUDY COMMITTEES THAT WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN -- THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES. TRIBAL I.D. s. EACH TRIBAL CITIZEN TODAY HOLDS A TRIBALLY-ISSUED PHOTO IDENTIFICATION CARD THAT IS RECOGNIZED BY THE TRIBE AND BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THIS BILL WHICH YOU WILL BE VOTING ON LATER TODAY IN THE ASSEMBLY WILL ALLOW TRIBAL MEMBERS TO USE THEIR TRIBAL I.D.s FOR CERTAIN SIMILAR PURPOSES TO THAT OF A WISCONSIN DRIVER'S LICENSE. THINGS LIKE PICKING UP PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION AT PHARMACIES. USING IT FOR REGISTERING TO VOTE, AND USING IT FOR ALCOHOL OR CIGARETTE PURCHASES. YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE TAD BILL, OR TREATMENT AND DIVERSION GRANTS. THIS BILL WILL CLARIFY THAT TRIBES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR TAD GRANTS EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW THAT TRIBAL ELIGIBILITY HAS ALREADY BEEN RECOGNIZED. ANOTHER ASSAULT ON TRIBAL POLICE ON JUDGES. THIS IS ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION. IT AFFORDS EQUAL PROTECTION FOR TRIBAL POLICE, JUDGES AND COURT OFFICIALS AS IS CURRENTLY ENJOYED BY ALL OTHER POLICE, JUDGES AND COURT OFFICIALS IN WISCONSIN. IT'S AN EQUITY ISSUE. THE INDIAN BURIAL MOUNDS BILL IS SOMETHING TRIBES HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE ON DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS. IT'S AN ISSUE VERY IMPORTANT TO TRIBES IN WISCONSIN. A B-1 18 IS THE PRODUCT OF MANY MONTHS OF WORK BY ANOTHER STUDY COMMITTEE ON THE PRESERVATION OF BURIAL MOUNDS. THE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP INCLUDED THE TRIBAL HILLS TORE I CAN PRESERVATION OFFICERS FROM MENOMINEE ON HO-CHUNK. THANK YOU FOR THEIR INCLUSION. THIS LEGISLATION REQUIRED LONG HOURS, TOUGH NEGOTIATION AND COMPROMISE. IN THE END, NO ONE GOT EVERYTHING THEY WANTED BUT THE PROCESS WAS FAIR AND DELIBERATE. REPRESENTATIVE AMY LOUDENBECK CHAIRED THE COMMITTEE AND IS GUIDING IT THROUGH THE PROCESS.

APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

THE BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY OUT OF AN ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE, PASSED THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR ON A VOICE VOTE AND HAS NOW PASSED UNANIMOUSLY OUT OF A SENATE COMMITTEE. WE'RE JUST WAITING AND HOPING IT GETS SCHEDULED FOR THE SENATE FLOOR VERY SOON.

LAUGHTER

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

WHERE'S SENATE MAJORITY LEADER FITZGERALD? I WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT YOU WHEN...

LAUGHTER

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

I WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT YOU WHEN I SAID THAT, BUT... A NEW LAW THAT WAS NOT INITIATED BY A STUDY COMMITTEE BUT IS IMPORTANT TO TRIBES IS ACT 100 OR THE HEMP BILL. UNDER ACT 100, THAT--

APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

UNDER ACT 100 DATCP IS MANDATED TO, AND IS CURRENTLY FINALIZING, ADMINISTRATIVE RULES THAT MAY ALLOW FOR PLANTING OF HEMP CROPS AS EARLY AS THIS SPRING. WHILE WE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO INCLUDE TRIBAL INVOLVEMENT AT A SEPARATE AND EQUAL LEVEL, WE'RE STILL GLAD IT GOT PASSED AND WE'LL PARTICIPATE IN THIS GREAT ENVIRONMENTALLY-SOUND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. I SAY Waewaenen TO SENATOR TESTIN AND REPRESENTATIVE CONSIDINE FOR THAT HELP.

APPLAUSE

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

AND BY THE WAY, THE FEDS RAIDED MENOMINEE'S HEMP TWO YEARS AGO. WONDERING IF ATTORNEY GENERAL SCHIMEL MAYBE... KNOWS MAYBE WHERE THEY BURIED IT?

LAUGHTER

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

OKAY, OKAY. IN THE LAST STATE BUDGET, FUNDING FOR TRIBAL ADOLESCENT TREATMENT CENTERS WERE DISCUSSED. WE ARE NOT WALKING ALONE IN THIS EFFORT TO FIGHT THE ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE CRISIS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WHETHER TRIBAL COMMUNITY OR SMALL TOWN WISCONSIN OR BIG CITY WISCONSIN, WE KNOW THAT DRUGS KNOW NO BOUNDARIES. THE STATE BUDGET INCLUDED $200,000 FOR A FEASIBILITY PLAN FOR A TRIBAL NATION'S ADOLESCENT TREATMENT AND WELLNESS CENTER. ONE CENTRALLY LOCATED, SHARED CENTER. WE SAY THANK YOU.

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HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

SO WE SAY THANK YOU AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD WE HOPE THAT LEGISLATURE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO HELP OUR YOUTH WITH ALCOHOL AND DRUG SOBRIETY AND CONTINUE TO HELP US COMBAT THIS PLAGUE THAT HAS INVADED OUR COMMUNITIES STATEWIDE. ON ANOTHER ISSUE IS ACT 31. YOU WILL HEAR US REFER TO ACT 31 AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION REGARDING OUR 11 TRIBAL NATIONS. THE TRIBAL NATIONS ARE DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN ACT 31 WITHOUT ADDING UNDUE WORK FOR TEACHERS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE HOPE TO HAVE LEGISLATION READY FOR NEXT SESSION TO ADDRESS THE HISTORY, CULTURE, SOVEREIGNTY AND TREATY RIGHTS OF THE 11 TRIBAL NATIONS. REMEMBER, AN EDUCATED CHILD IS A CHILD READY TO CONTRIBUTE TO A JUST SOCIETY, TO COMPETE WITH OR TO GROW THE ECONOMY WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS. THESE AMENDMENTS PROVIDE THE TOOLS TO DO JUST THAT. THE WISCONSIN INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, A GROUP OF VOLUNTEER PROFESSIONALS FROM ACROSS THE STATE, ARE WORKING HARD ON THESE IMPROVEMENTS. WIEA, THE TRIBES THANK YOU.

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HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

ON CHARTER SCHOOLS, LET ME SPEAK FOR THE 11 TRIBAL NATIONS WHEN I SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. IN 2015 WHEN YOU EXPANDED CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZATION TO THE TWO TRIBAL COLLEGES IN OUR STATE. THE COLLEGE OF MENOMINEE NATION AND LAC COURTE OREILLES OJIBWE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND ALLOWED THEM TO SPONSOR UP TO SIX TOTAL CHARTER SCHOOLS BETWEEN THEM.

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HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

THE TRIBAL COLLEGES HAVE BEEN APPROACHED ABOUT PLANNING FOR THE POTENTIAL REQUEST FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS WITH MANY DIFFERENT THEMES, ALL AIMED AT IMPROVING CULTURAL IDENTITY AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION. BASED ON THE CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZATION AND LONG-RANGE STRATEGIC PLANNING, MENOMINEE HAS USED PRECIOUS TRIBAL FUNDING TO CREATE A MENOMINEE LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM. WE ARE TEACHING YOUNG ADULTS OUR LANGUAGE TO PREPARE THEM TO BE INSTRUCTORS IN A POTENTIAL MENOMINEE LANGUAGE IMMERSION CHARTER SCHOOL. MY SON, Otaeciah, OR LUKE, WHO GAVE TODAY'S INVOCATION, IS A PRODUCT OF THAT IMMERSION PROGRAM AND IS A JUNIOR IN LINGUISTICS AT UW-MADISON. MENOMINEE IS PILOTING A DAYCARE BIRTH-TO-2 LANGUAGE IMMERSION CLASSROOM AS WE DEVELOP MORE ADULT SPEAKERS TO BE TEACHERS. ANOTHER TRIBAL IMMERSION SCHOOLS TODAY INCLUDE K-7 SCHOOL IN LAC COURTE OREILLES, HO-CHUNK IMMERSION DAYCARE AND LAC DU FLAMBEAU HEADSTART IMMERSION. Maec-waewaenen, Otaeciah, FOR THOSE BEAUTIFUL WORDS GIVEN ON OUR BEHALF. MAY THOSE WORDS NEVER CEASE. LEGISLATORS--

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HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

LEGISLATORS, THIS IS BUT AN EXAMPLE WHEN WE COME FORWARD WITH ASKS. THIS IS BUT AN EXAMPLE. YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED THE DOORS YOU OPEN FOR OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHEN WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO FILL THESE NICHES. THANK YOU. IF WE HAVE ANY IMMERSION STUDENTS, TEACHERS OR PARENTS HERE TODAY INVOLVED IN THAT PUSH, CAN YOU PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED?

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HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

OKAY. SAFE HAVEN BILL AMENDMENTS AB-113 IS OUR BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT WITH BILLS RECOMMENDED BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON STATE TRIBAL RELATIONS. WE HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO IMPROVE THE SAFE HAVEN LAW TO INSURE THAT LAW MAINTAINS ANONYMITY BUT CONSISTENT WITH THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT, WICWA AND ICWA ARE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS MEANT TO PROTECT THE BEST INTERESTS OF INDIAN CHILDREN AND TO PROMOTE STABILITY AND SECURITY OF INDIAN FAMILIES AND TRIBES. IT IS OUR HOPE THAT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THE CULTURAL SENSITIVITY THAT COMES WITH A NATIVE AMERICAN CHILD AND RESPECT THE MODEST IMPROVEMENTS THE TRIBAL NATIONS HAVE REQUESTED TO ASSIST IN THE IDENTIFICATION AND PROTECTION OF ALL OUR CHILDREN. UNFORTUNATELY, THE BILL HAS RUN INTO DELAYS IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. LET ME MOVE NOW TO SPECIFIC ISSUES AND CONCERNS LYING AHEAD OF US ALL AND WHAT WE ASK OF OUR STATE LEGISLATORS. DRUG TESTING FOR MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY. THOUGH NOT YET GRANTED, A WAIVER FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE UNINTENDED IMPACT OF BADGERCARE CHILDLESS ADULT REFORMS ON TRIBAL HEALTHCARE BUDGETS. WE ARE CONCERNED WITH THE HIGH RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND LOW JOB OPPORTUNITIES ON OUR RURAL RESERVATIONS. AND THE NEED TO GET OUR MEMBERS READY FOR WORK. WE FEAR THAT THE LACK OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND THREAT OF DRUG TESTING WILL SIMPLY SHIFT THE COST OF HEALTHCARE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THE TRIBES. THAT IS BECAUSE TODAY WHEN THE TRIBAL CLINIC PROVIDES CERTAIN TYPES OF CARE TO A TRIBAL MEMBER ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAYS 100% OF THAT COST, NOT THE STATE OR THE TRIBE. IF THAT SAME TRIBAL MEMBER GOES TO THE SAME TRIBAL CLINIC BUT IS REMOVED FROM MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY OR AVOIDS MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY, THEN FEDERAL INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE OR TRIBAL FUNDING MUST PAY FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL. AND IN TOTAL THE FEDERAL INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE, WHICH IS A TREATY AND TRUST RESPONSIBILITY, THAT FUNDING POT ONLY COVERS ON AVERAGE 60% OF THE TRIBAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS. SO HERE IS THE PROBLEM. RATHER THAN MOVING AWAY FROM THE RESERVATION FOR EMPLOYMENT OR TAKING A DRUG TEST TO KEEP THEIR MEDICAID BENEFITS, THE TRIBAL MEMBER INSTEAD SHOWS UP AT A TRIBAL CLINIC FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT AND THE TRIBAL CLINIC MUST PAY FOR THE COST FROM ITS OWN LIMITED FUNDS. THAT MIGHT NOT BE A PROBLEM FOR SOME TRIBES, BUT FOR MOST WE CANNOT AFFORD THAT. SO WE CONTINUE TO TELL THE FEDS TO NOT APPROVE THAT PORTION OF THE STATE'S WAIVER REQUEST. TRIBAL LEADERS ARE PLEASED WITH FAMILY CARE. THAT FAMILY CARE IS NOW BEING EXPANDED STATEWIDE. WE'RE WORKING WITH DHS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE THAT PROGRAM WORK BETTER FOR OUR TRIBAL MEMBERS. WE BELIEVE THAT THE SERVICES PROVIDED NEED TO BE CULTURALLY CENTERED AND TRIBALLY CONTROLLED. IF WE CAN DO THAT, WE CAN KEEP THEM OUT OF THE RETIREMENT HOMES OR THE AGING FACILITIES, THE HIGH-CARE FACILITIES THAT COST THE STATE AND TRIBE A LOT OF MONEY. WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP COSTS DOWN BY DOING THIS AND THIS WORKS. WE ARE HOPEFUL WE CAN GET THIS WORKED OUT AND HAVE THE FAMILY CARE WITH TRIBAL OPTIONS AVAILABLE AND WE HAVE A TARGETED IMPLEMENTATION DATE OF JULY 1, 2018. TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS ARE FACING THE TERRIBLE OPIOID CRISIS JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE STATE. WE APPLAUD THE EFFORTS MADE BY REPRESENTATIVE NYGREN AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR KLEEFISCH. TRIBES ARE IN A UNIQUE SITUATION WHEN IT COMES TO QUALIFYING FOR THE STATE-TARGETED RESPONSE OPIOID CRISIS GRANTS. TAKE A NOTE ON THIS ONE. OUR CHALLENGE IS THE COLLECTION OF DATA TO SUPPORT THE NEED. BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE FACILITIES OR WAIT LISTS, WE CAN'T SHOW NEED TO GARNER GRANT POINTS. BUT LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE, OUR NEED IS TREMENDOUS. TRIBES ALSO REQUEST THAT THE COUNTIES THAT DO RECEIVE THIS SPECIAL GRANT FUNDING BE REQUIRED TO WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THE TRIBES WITHIN THEIR COUNTIES. OUR CONCERN WITH CULTURALLY BASED TREATMENT HOPEFULLY WILL BE ADDRESSED WHEN OUR NO TRIBAL NATIONS ADOLESCENT WELLNESS CENTER, WHEN THAT IS CONSTRUCTED WITH HELP FROM THE STATE. ON THE SUPPORTIVE FRONT, MANY OF THE TRIBES HAVE DEVELOPED TRIBAL ACTION PLANS TO HELP COMBAT THE GROWING DRUG EPIDEMIC AS WELL AS OTHER SUBSTANCE ABUSE COMMUNITIES-- ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THESE TRIBAL ACTION PLANS ARE COMMUNITY-WIDE STRATEGIES USING ALL AVAILABLE TRIBAL PROGRAMS, TRIBAL AGENCIES, TRIBAL FUNDING, AND ARE CENTERED ON PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION INCLUDING CULTURALLY RELEVANT PROGRAMMING. WE ASK THE LEGISLATURE TO HELP US BY PROVIDING ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION TO HELP MAKE SURE OUR TRIBAL ACTION PLANS EFFORTS TO COMBAT DRUG ABUSE IN THEIR SHARED COMMUNITIES STEPS FORWARD AND CAN GROW. LIKE ANY OTHER COMMUNITY, WE KNOW OURS BEST. WHEN WE PUT THESE PLANS TOGETHER WE ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. MANY OF OUR TRIBAL ACTION PLANS USE TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE AS A COMPONENT OF THE PLANS. WE ARE SEEING PRELIMINARY GOOD RESULTS FROM THESE EFFORTS. NOW CLOSELY RELATED TO OUR HEALTH, THEN, IS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. THIS IS PART OF THE REASON I BELIEVE THAT MENOMINEE WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE THIS SPEECH. SO HERE IS BACK TO SOME OF THE WORLDVIEW OF OURS. THE TWO-LEGGED, THE FOUR-LEGGED, THE FIN, THE WING, THE PLANTS, WE'RE ALL RELATED. WE'RE ALL RELATED. SOME SAY WE'RE NOT. WHEN I WAS FIRST VOTED ON OUR TRIBAL LEGISLATURE SEVERAL OF MY AUNTS AND UNCLES TOOK ME ASIDE AND REMINDED ME OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES. I WAS TOLD THAT WHEN I VOTE I AM TO REMEMBER THAT I'M NOT JUST VOTING FOR HUMANS, I'M ALSO VOTING FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT VOTE. THE DEER CAN'T RAISE THE HOOF AND SAY RESPECTFULLY, "MR. CHAIRMAN, I VOTE NO ON THIS ITEM." THEY CAN'T. NEITHER CAN A FISH, NEITHER CAN A BIRD. THEY CAN'T. THEY CAN'T VOTE DIRECTLY. IT IS TO OUR VOTE THAT WE CONSIDER THEIR WELFARE AND VOTE FOR WHAT IS THE NEGOTIATED BEST CHOICE FOR ALL. FURTHER, WE ARE TOLD WE HAVE A COMPACT OF SORTS OR AN AGREEMENT THAT WE MADE WAY BACK WHEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS COULD STILL COMMUNICATE, LONG, LONG TIME AGO. THESE ARE THE STORIES WE'RE TOLD. THAT COMPACT WAS THAT WE HUMANS COULD HARVEST THE ANIMALS, THAT THEY WOULD GIVE UP THEIR LIVES. THE ANIMALS AND FISH AND OTHER BEINGS BUT WE COULD ONLY TAKE WHAT WE NEEDED FOR US AND FOR OUR YOUNG TO SURVIVE. AND WE IN TURN WOULD HELP PROTECT THE SURVIVAL OF THEIR HOMELANDS AND THEIR YOUNG. IT WAS A TRADE-OFF. IT WAS A COMPACT. AND WE STILL HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY TODAY. SO THEN HERE ARE SOME OF OUR CONCERNS. FIRST, THE TRIBAL NATIONS NEED YOU AND OUR DNR TO PROVIDE STRONGER PROTECTIONS FOR THE WILD HERDS OF DEER IN WISCONSIN FROM CWD.

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ONE OF OUR MAJOR CONCERNS IS THE ADEQUACY OF GAME FARM REGULATION. WE THANK THE DNR FOR AGREEING TO A NOTIFICATION PROCESS WITH THE TRIBES REGARDING REPORTING CWD TEST POSITIVES. BUT THE QUESTION COMES NEXT, WHAT ABOUT STRICTER ACTIONS AFTER WE GET THE CWD POSITIVES? THE OJIBWE ENJOY COURT-AFFIRMED TREATY HUNTING, FISHING AND GATHERING RIGHTS IN THE NORTHERN THIRD OF WISCONSIN AND THE OTHER TRIBES ENJOY THE SAME RIGHTS ON OUR TRUST LANDS. OUR TREATIES, CEDING THIS BEAUTIFUL LAND OVER ALLOWS FOR CERTAIN RIGHTS FOREVER. THE LACK OF AN AGGRESSIVE, COMMON SENSE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PLAN REGARDING STOPPING CWD PUTS OUR COURT-AFFIRMED TREATY RIGHTS, AS WELL AS WISCONSIN PUBLIC TOURISM AND HUNTING IN PERIL. NEXT I HAVE BEEN LEADING UP TO THIS. OUR PERSPECTIVE ON MINING. NOW, CERTAIN TYPES OF MINING SUCH AS GRAVEL MINES SEEM OKAY. WHEN THE MINING MORATORIUM LAW WAS PASSED IN 1998 OR THE PROVE IT FIRST LAW AS IT WAS KNOWN IT INCLUDED A COMMON SENSE PROVISION THAT ANY MET ALLIC SULFITE MINING ATTEMPTS IN WISCONSIN MUST FIRST PROVE THAT THE SAME TYPE OF MINING WAS OPERATED FOR 10 YEARS AND THEN CLOSED FOR 10 YEARS AND THERE WAS NO ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION OR POLLUTION EMANATING FROM IT. SO BASICALLY WHEN TECHNOLOGY CAUGHT UP WITH MINING AND COULD PROVE IT COULD HAPPEN, AND IT WOULDN'T HURT US OR THE ENVIRONMENT WISCONSIN WOULD AGREE TO MONITOR IT AND ALLOW IT. IT MAKES SENSE. BUT THIS YEAR THE MINING MORATORIUM LAW WAS REPEALED. THIS REVERSAL OF MUCH OF THE PROTECTIONS OF THE PROVE IT FIRST LAW GOES AGAINST ALL OUR KNOWLEDGE AND COMMON SENSE. BUT AS WE SAID, WE'RE NOT LUDDITES. WE UNDERSTAND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RISK MIGHT BE TOLERATED IN EXCHANGE FOR CERTAIN MINERALS THAT HELP SOCIETY. WE GET IT. BUT WE DON'T THINK THAT TECHNOLOGY DAY HAS COME YET. WE AREN'T ALLOWED ETHICALLY TO PUT OUR FUTURE BABY'S WORLD AT HIGH RISK. WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO. YOU MUST LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS RECYCLING OR NO MINES NEAR WATER. WE HAVE TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE. WE HAVE NO CHOICE. THAT'S OUR MORAL ETHICS AS TRIBAL NATIONS. AND PLEASE, WE ARE NO ONE'S ENEMY WHEN WE OPPOSE THIS LAW CHANGE. WE ARE NOT DOING THIS TO ARGUE OR MAKE ENEMIES. THIS IS OUR MORAL GROUNDS AND WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO STAND AND HOLD THEM.

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WE HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS OVER REDUCING STATE REGULATION OVER CERTAIN TYPES OF WETLANDS AND WE HAVE CONCERNS OVER ALTERING THE BALANCE OF WILDLIFE IN OUR FORESTS BY REMOVING THE ALPHA PREDATORS, THE WOLVES FROM THEIR RIGHTFUL ROLE IN KEEPING THAT BALANCE.

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HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

FINALLY... OH, I THOUGHT PEOPLE WOULD CLAP WHEN I SAID "FINALLY."

LAUGHTER

HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

NYGREN, I'M WATCHING. FINALLY, WE ARE DISAPPOINTED AT OUR STATE'S INACTIONS REGARDING THE POTENTIAL PERMITTING OF THE ACQUILA BACK 40 OPEN PIT SULFITE MAN ALONG THE MENOMINEE RIVER IN MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN. BECAUSE IT IS AN INTERSTATE, INTERCOMERS BOUNDARY WATERWAY WE BELIEVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MISTAKENLY IS GIVEN REGULATORY AUTHORITY TO THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. THE STATE OF WISCONSIN SEEMS TO HAVE GIVEN AWAY THE CONCERNS OF ITS CITIZENS TO ANOTHER STATE. THE WATERS OF THIS INTERSTATE WATERWAY DICTATE MANDATORY FEDERAL AUTHORITY. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT, EVERYBODY SHOULD CLAP BECAUSE THAT MEANS WE ARE TRYING TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL RISK. IT DOESN'T MEAN STOP IT NECESSARILY. WE WANT TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL RISK TO ALL OF OUR WATERS FOR ALL OF OUR BABIES. THAT SHOULD BE A GOOD THING.

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HERE IS WHAT I REALLY SAID IN OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE

FOR THE MENOMINEE, CONSTRUCTION OF THE MINE MEANS DESECRATION AND DESTRUCTION OF BURIAL MOUNDS, GRAVES AND SACRED SITES ALONG AN EXTENDED ANCIENT VILLAGE SETTING. WE URGE OUR LEGISLATORS AND AGENCIES TO HEED THE WARNING. IF ALLOWED THIS OPEN PIT SULFITE MINE LOCATED JUST 50 YARDS FROM THE MENOMINEE RIVER ON THE MICHIGAN SIDE WILL PUT EITHER NOW BY ACCIDENT OR LATER BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS EVENTUALLY, IN EVERY ONE OF THESE TYPES OF MINES TO DATE, IT WILL PUT TOXIC SULFURIC ACID INTO THE GROUNDWATER THAT WILL POLLUTE THE MENOMINEE RIVER, GREEN BAY, AND LAKE MICHIGAN. WISCONSIN'S HOMES AND BUSINESSES AND TOURISM ALONG THE RIVER AND LAKESHORE WILL BE HARMED. WOULD YOU SIT BACK AND I'M ASKING THIS OF ANY LEGISLATOR, NOT JUST THOSE LIVING ALONG THAT WATERWAY. WOULD YOU SIT BACK IF RISKY ACTION WERE BEING TAKEN ON THE MINNESOTA SIDE OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER OR THE ST. CROIX RIVER THAT COULD IMPACT YOUR HOME DISTRICT? WOULD YOU ALLOW THAT? WOULD YOU SIT BACK IF LAKE SUPERIOR WERE THREATENED BY SOME ACTION AGAIN IN MINNESOTA OR IN ONTARIO, CANADA? WE'VE GOT TO PROTECT ALL THE SIDES AND ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. HOPEFULLY WHEN THE STATE LEGISLATURE RECONVENES FOR ITS 2019-2020 SESSION YOU WILL CONSIDER THIS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS WE VOICED TODAY. IT IS MY HOPE. MY RELATIVES, WE'RE TOLD THIS PATH WE WALK IS HARD AND AS HUMANS WE ARE NOT ALONE. WE SHOULD SEE OURSELVES AS STRANDS IN THIS BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT, NOT ABOVE IT. HERE FOR A FLEETING MINUTE, AND JOIN IN, NOT PUT IT AT RISK. WE MUST JUST SEE THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY. WE AREN'T ENEMIES. WE MUST JUST SEE THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY. AS TRIBAL LEADERS, WE HAVE INHERITED A DIFFERENT NON-NEGOTIABLE RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR GREAT GRANDCHILDREN. IT IS HOW WE LIVED ON THIS LAND FOR ALMOST 15,000 YEARS. SEVEN GENERATIONS AGO, MY ANCESTORS BELIEVED IN THAT VERY RULE AND HERE I STAND TODAY BENEFITING FROM IT. FROM THEIR SACRIFICE AND THEIR WISDOM. IF EVERY GENERATION WOULD FOLLOW THIS RULE, WE'RE GUARANTEED A GOOD WORLD FOREVER. SO THE TRIBAL NATIONS REACH OUT TO YOU. WE INVITE YOU TO VISIT OUR LANDS, LEARN ABOUT OUR BUSINESSES, OUR LAWS, AND OUR CULTURES. IN REACHING OUT, I FINALLY QUOTE HUNKPAPA LAKOTA SIOUX, CHIEF ELDER SITTING BULL, 1831-1890 WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THESE TYPES OF CHANGES AND TRYING TO FIX WHAT HE COULD. HE SAID, LET US PUT OUR MINDS TOGETHER AND SEE WHAT LIFE WE CAN MAKE FOR OUR CHILDREN. AND WE ASK THAT OF YOU. Netaenewemakenak. ALL MY RELATIVES, THANK YOU.

SPEAKING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE