Frederica Freyberg:
Also this week at the Capitol, the State of The Tribes address was delivered before the full Legislature. Forest County Potawatomi Chairman James Crawford described issues impacting all tribes like access to nutritious food, affordable housing, good jobs and healthcare.

James Crawford:
The recognition of tribal sovereignty is one of the most important tenets of native peoples. Tribes have been governing how their own people live, act and rule for countless generations. And each tribe in Wisconsin is its own sovereign nation and has its own distinct challenges and opportunities. Tribal sovereignty is not something we have been granted; but is something we have always inherently held. This inherent sovereignty is what tribes continuously work to preserve, protect and enhance for our future generations. The perspectives brought by Wisconsin tribes in collaboration with the state have accomplished positive things for all of us. For example, healthcare. Healthcare is one of the most important and costly services that tribal governments provide to both their people and the greater community. And because of tribal health centers — and because tribal health centers serve large populations that are Medicaid eligible, their continued operation is essential.