Wisconsin Native Vote Highlights Use of Tribal ID for Voting

Frederica Freyberg:
President Donald Trump this week signed an executive order requiring people to provide proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. The president’s authority to enact this and other parts of the order are in question and expected to be met with legal challenges. The executive order does not affect Tuesday’s election in Wisconsin, but experts expressed concern over potential voter suppression, especially in communities already marginalized like Tribal Nations. A number of tribal issues could be impacted by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Erica Ayisi:
What are some issues that are pertinent that you feel when you’re out in the community that are pertinent to Wisconsin Natives, that would make them want to come out for this very unique Wisconsin Supreme Court election?

Anne Egan-Waukau:
Sovereignty, tribal sovereignty, protecting our rights to govern ourselves, protecting our culture. And what goes with the water protection is our wild rice beds, our sturgeon and walleye, ancient spawning fishing areas. That’s also up that it’s a big concern for our people. I think that the Wisconsin Indian Child Welfare Act is another issue where Native children are placed with fit and willing Indigenous relatives to help them preserve their culture stability and preventing trauma, because before they were normally placed with non-Native families.

Erica Ayisi:
Are Tribal IDs a valid form of ID?

Anne Egan-Waukau:
Yes, they are. Isn’t that great? I love it. Tribal IDs are valid form. And so when we’re registering people, a lot of people want to use their Tribal ID, and that’s just awesome. I love doing that. It’s just awesome. I love it.

Erica Ayisi:
So tell me about historically, some of the challenges of getting Wisconsin Natives the messaging to vote and then actually out to vote.

Anne Egan-Waukau:
So we’ve had voter disenfranchisement where people are actually faced some challenges where their — maybe their ID — vote tribal ID won’t be accepted or they’re turned away, or the local election commission just gives them incorrect information. And I can give you an example that I experienced about. It was in 2014, I actually moved to a Milwaukee suburb, and I went to vote, and I was registering and had all my information. And she was — I was real excited and she was asking me all the questions, you know, name, date, where you live now, age. And then she wanted to know where I was born. And I told her I was born on the Menominee Reservation. And she said, “You’re Indian?” And I said, “Yes, ma’am, I am.” And she said, “You can’t vote. Indians aren’t allowed to vote.” And I just looked at her and said, “Ma’am, I can vote. I voted before.” And she said, “Indians can’t vote. You’re not allowed.” And I think she was really confused. So she went to the head of the poll and I could see she got a little talking to, and she came back and she said, “Ma’am, I just want to tell you, I was following policy procedure. This wasn’t racist.” And then I voted. She finally let me vote. I had the right ID, etc. But you know, that story I tell because people take voting for granted and we shouldn’t. But also we have people that may face this and I want them to know, I don’t care how old you are, if you’re just turned 18 or if you’re 90, if people treat you like that, you have the right to vote and you make sure you let people know that you’re not going to leave until you vote.