I don't
want to all come together.
Check.
It's just a hospital,
but it ends up to
be a place to have a kind of
something.
Oh, I like this,
because then they all come together.
We're for crying.
Thank you.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
if you want to go around, I think
that's all I have to say.
Yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You know you can't
film from there when we're in
session.
Thank you guys!
Not too late.
Not too late, I was the people
out and I hit the rack hard,
like, I couldn't believe it.
Oh yeah, yeah, it was up there,
really early.
How are you?
I think we're going to get our...
Thank you so much,
it's great, welcome home.
You made her, I know you did.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
In the name of
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
we ask
that you give us this day our daily
bread.
Give us this day
our daily bread.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Give
us this day our daily bread. Give us this day our
daily bread.
Give us this day our
daily bread.
Give us this day our daily
bread.
Give us this day our daily bread.
I'm going to be talking to you
in a little
bit more detail
about what
we're going to in a little bit more detail about what we're going to be
talking about in a little bit going to be talking about in a little bit
more detail about what we're going
to be talking about in a little bit
more detail about what we're going
to be talking about in a little
bit more detail about what we're going to be talking about in a little
bit more detail about what we're
going to be talking about in a little bit more detail about what we're
going to be talking about in a little bit
more detail about what we're going to be talking about in a little bit
more detail about what Thank you very
much for your time.
Thank you very much for your time. Thank
you.
Thank you.
Please stay tuned for the rest of
the video.
Representative for the third year at
San Jose, President of the grocery
system, and assembly member for
2018, who's brought us a great
calendar, a gift of his type, is
Randy Jackson.
Here he has the most wonderful
reading of the joint revolution.
assembly of the United Resolutionary
Team.
You are ready to act on your right
to call the service of the Congress
and the United States of America to
our side.
Where is our representative, Colton
Johnston, the president of Roscoe,
a dedicated public servant, husband,
father, son, brother,
and friend, passed away on November
4, 2024, at
the age of 41?
And where is Johnston and Roscoe,
with the coordinates of November 25,
1983, Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
as assigned to two sons in the
village town of Roscoe?
And where is Johnston and Roscoe,
graduated from graduate school,
and went on to receive a bachelor's
of care, constitution and
ethics, family law,
financial institutions, government
and Congress leading oversight,
mental health, natural resources
supporting marriage, state
affairs and government operations,
regular court cases taking form,
ways of peace, town speakers'
task force on Alzheimer's
and dementia, and the speakers' task
force on suicide prevention.
And we're asking all of these public
allies for action.
And we're trying to cross up all
the relationships that this country
has crossed party paths.
We have working across differences
in the title of working for working
democracy.
And we're trying to cross up the
dedication of her today and what
she's here to do.
And we're trying to cross up the
building of the Detroit-Canada Band
Cross-Off and the devoid of
competition, while we ask for
the rock, the humanity, and the
ideal.
First, I want to say thank you to my
family, my wife, Alyssa.
I want to say thank you to my
children, Arianna,
Hunter, Noah,
Naya, Aniki,
Koya, and my own mother.
It feels surreal to be out here in
this very place, in this
sacred place of Christ.
They say that it feels a village
where it's a child,
a model of that village,
and it feels surreal to be out here
in this very place of salvation,
for teaching me to respect
my fellow Anishinaabe people,
especially to respect women.
I want to thank my ceremony man,
my mentors, and my classmates.
We know who each of you are.
The support you have given me really
does mean the world to me.
Senate Majority Leader
Lama- Lama- who?
Lama- Haio.
All around.
Senate Majority Leader
Asselby and
members of the Senate.
Assembly Majority Leader
August.
Assembly Minority Leader Duvall
and members of the Assembly-
Thank you very much.
Tribal courts play a vital role for
peace and justice.
The protocols for WIUA,
discretionary, discretionary,
transfers of child support
enforcement, and collections,
healing to wellness courts,
and peace-making mediation are
all examples of justice,
traditions, and a way out of
health.
At this time, I would like to
recognize my fellow Chief Chair,
James Crocker.
Thank you very much.
Ladies and gentlemen, President John
Rupier. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
Hooray!
Band of Lake Superior Tribute
Indians of Wisconsin, Chairman
Lewis Taylor.
Thank you.
The band, ladies and gentlemen,
Indians, President John Johnson.
We're going to give it a try for
Wisconsin Chairman Zoe Iwate.
Thank you.
from the Chicago Game Chippewa
Community, Mole Band of Lake
Superior Chippewa Chairmen,
Robert Benzada.
How are you? How are you?
The recognition chair of Ntasun
Hill.
Thank you.
Thank you very much. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
This is Dr. Brunson, community band
of Mohican Indians, President
Shannon Harvey.
Thank you very much.
Executive Officer of the Great
Plains Indian Tribal Council, Brian
Bainbridge.
I'd also like to acknowledge
my fellow St. Croix Triple Indians
of Wisconsin Tribal
Council members, Bernice
Taylor.
Conrad, with even a special mention
of things, the Santa Cruz
Intergovernmental Affairs
Specialist, Mike DeCora.
My name is...
Thank you
very much.
Mike and Peter, a lot of each
contributing 20-plus years of
service to our tribe.
Together, Mike and Pete performed
the Chippewa Federation, which is
once again active, that made
St. Croix an Indian country.
I don't know.
Finally, she, which, our
St. Perish have all others, our
St. Perish royalty, youth council,
drummers, singers,
veterans, friends, relatives,
guests, and all others watching
them.
Today's gathering has proved a
strong relationship that the great
grandparents and ancestors knew
that a positive relationship between
tribes and the state and federal
governments was the only strength in
our communities.
Our similarities, differences,
values, expertise in culture
and tradition enrich each
other's lives.
Our government to government
relationship is forever...
The 2015 census data
estimated around 5.2
million people in the United States
identified as American Indians
and Alaskan Indians.
With an estimation of around 86,000
tribal members residing in Wisconsin
alone.
Tribal nations entered into treaties
with the federal government in
1837, 1842,
1847, and
1854, which established
Wisconsin's reservations and
territories in exchange
for thousands of miles of our
historical homeland.
It's the protection and valuation
of tribal rights and natural
resources, education,
and health care.
Health care services are provided to
our members through Indian Health
Service and tribal-run health
programs.
Trust responsibilities to tribes
required by the U.S.
government to uphold its commitment
in providing services
to our people.
Treaty rights and the reaffirmed
by various court rulings,
educational systems,
social services, and more.
Our tribal people are all citizens
of the United States and members
of their own sovereign nations,
and we are very proud of this.
Our love for our country and
our home.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you.
I would like to recognize those
carrying our place today.
TBSO, Eagle Staff, Jeff Taylor,
U.S. Marine, and Jessica Storrs.
Let's thank them. You
And for any of those staff, Bruce
Taylor of the US Army, Vietnam.
Thank you.
And at his big display,
Kylie Leite of the U.S.
Army Reserve.
Thank you.
In Wisconsin's play,
Georgia Coveys are the losers.
And our POW play,
Hayden Edwards, US Army.
Thank you.
At St. Croix, he's trying to
get it straight.
Near the end of 2023,
the San Jorge Tribal government, a
historical, secretarial
election, has removed the Bureau
of Indian Affairs oversight of
our constitutional process.
This removal, consistent
with the government's desire to drop
the parental oversight of our
subordination, will also
put an end to money-making.
Our enrollment department and
enrollment committee has spent the
last year enrolling
765 descendants of
the San Jorge tribe.
Thank you.
In doing so, providing
them with great opportunities and
services.
Moving our relatives from
descendants to tribal members has
allowed our people to explore their
identities and learn and participate
in various cultural practices.
Exercising with a minimum
of ascendancy, we are
no longer measuring who we are
by being more committed to what we
have.
We are safe programs of our
ancestors because you
came for us.
This is a beautiful movie.
While our country
experiences many long changes as
our newly elected president, any
federal administration transition
is important that
we continue to distinguish and
differentiate this sovereignty from
ethnicity.
The Wisconsin Department of
Administration Division of
Intergovernmental Relations state
tribal relations describes it
best.
Tribal members are not ready
to lack a follow-through,
a program of respect, and
growing confidence.
Be mindful of this fact when
it comes to tribal relationships.
Ms. Berger sees volumes of
the government-to-government
relationship which has grown
and strengthened between tribal
nations and the state of Wisconsin
in the past hundred and eighty-plus
years.
She bequeathed to her presence
tribal and state leaders who
have had a hand in negotiating many
good things, many good things
happening. Thanks for watching!
Thank you.
And while we discuss their faith,
it is no secret that there is some
uneasiness surrounding the recent
changes. I think it is important not
to dwell on a certain thing.
The truth is that we have been but
navigated through some great
administrations throughout history
who worked hard to uphold treaties
and responsibilities of
civilizations, councils,
politicians, and allies working
tirelessly within and alongside
tribes to defend and propel tribal
rights inside.
We are strong, cohesive,
proud, intelligent, hard-working
people.
And we will continue to be there for
your judgment.
Be there for your elders.
Help raise and try to continue these
youths.
Often you're a same-off.
You're as best. Just one
addition-off is still offered in
this battle in giving thanks
that our careers will recognize
that and take pity upon
all of us.
Mm.
So offer your tobacco.
Give thanks to all that we have.
And if you have not had a chance to
hear that story,
I would encourage you to offer
tobacco to an elder in your
community to tell the team.
Because it is really smart to give
them a story.
As indigenous people,
we will leave a collective
responsibility to the world.
We provide our people in many
ways.
I thank you. Thank you.
The university acknowledges
the importance of respect for tribal
nations' sovereignty and has
committed to the power of the tribes
to manage their own affairs and
resources.
And by ensuring...
Applause ...
one day schools will teach
more native American history,
culture, and sovereignty.
The inception of Act 31
stemmed from the violent controversy
over our midway rights to
steer fish in the 1980s
as acknowledged in the Boyd
Decision.
These were the days of the ball at
ours.
Same a ball at yours, steer it
in.
While we remain grateful for the
lobbyists who 36 years
ago propelled this bill forward
and mandated education
on the missionary practices, We
want more.
We fear returning to a public
education environment without Native
American history and teachings.
Act 31 is not enough.
The truth will be, it has never been
enough.
It has always been the
tribe's position that Native
American history needs to be tied to
our public school systems.
We ask this body to
collaborate further on Indian
education and all of us.
We thank the University of Wisconsin
at Madison for bringing free tuition
to enrolled tribal members.
We ask it now be expanded
through Governor Evers' budget
to include full tuition waivers
at other UW campuses closer
to those of us enrolled in the
country. Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
The University of Wisconsin,
life.
We're creating so different
universities.
We're going to call it a night.
Thank you.
Investing in both UW
campuses and tribal higher education
supports tribes and their students,
and ultimately, don't
be prohibitive.
American Indian students from our
traditional regalia have graduated.
We'll also ask,
or we'll also speak...
APPLAUSE
A kitchen has left
no family untouched in
Indian country.
A kitchen rates amongst Native
Americans are now four times
higher than national rates.
I've seen first hand paupoyas,
and fed girls, and frogs,
and birds, and grasshoppers,
and spiders, and I smell bug spray
in trees, and leaves, and people,
and the sun, and ponds,
and mosquitoes.
They were biting me.
I put the bug spray on, and they
were still biting me.
So I got so
irritated.
I love you.
She left this poem written
on a small piece of notebook paper
at her mom's grave.
In May 2023,
my daughter's biological mother's
life was taken too
early from an accidental overdose
of this deadly fentanyl.
Naya's story isn't
unique.
All the doses have nearly wiped out
a generation of our tribal nations'
mothers and fathers.
Through the regulation of medical
marijuana in the state of Wisconsin,
we can work towards moving people
out of highly-addicted drugs,
drugs which are killing our
people.
Recent data indicates that in
this state of Wisconsin where
cannabis is not legal.
There is a 25% reduction
in opioid use and overdoses.
The Marquette Law
School poll last year showed that
86% of Wisconsin
registered voters support
medical cannabis legalization.
In partnership with
the Indigenous Candidates Industry
Association, ICIA,
the Wisconsin Tribal Task Force on
cannabis, and tribal
nation leaders are here
today in support of the 95%
of Democrats.
The 84% of independents
and the 78% of
Republican staff are also some of
the largest employers in their own
counties as well.
Money spent in
tribal nations is circulated
back into local communities.
Grant funds awarded to tribes of
law for the hiring of contractors,
consultants, teachers.
Thank you very much.
You
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you very much.
We prioritize this
initiative to provide these products
completely free of charge across
three counties to everyone
because we believe healthy
communities benefit us all.
The partnerships we have developed
along the way with local county
programs and private
companies are a secondary benefit
of...
I would be remiss if I
failed to highlight and bring to the
forefront awareness for
missing and murder of indigenous
women and relatives.
A 2016 study by the National
Institute of Justice found
that nearly 85% of
American Indian and Alaskan Native
women have experienced violence
in their lifetime, including
over 50 herby
babies were found there in one year.
Fair game.
Emily, cut!
Cut!
and her remains were found
nearly a month later, more than
80 miles from where she was
last seen.
This is such a tragedy.
Her death in Indian country
and her death
is felt throughout Indian country
and our thoughts and prayers are
with her relatives and loved ones.
Parents that provide shelter and
increased mental health resources.
We must do better.
For every one of them,
say their name.
Emily Type.
Thank you. Thank you.
He needs to improve
our standards of water cleanliness
to better protect our natural
watersheds, which will provide
better protection to geodude,
our fish, and manumission,
our wild rice.
There is an increased lack
of research on the safety of
the use of chemical treatments to
fight invasive species in the water.
The appropriate sulfate
levels in our waters significantly
impacts movement
growth.
In order to improve sulfate levels,
the state needs to find ways to
reduce pollutants in
accessing our watersheds.
This involves better regulations
of many things, agricultural
runoff, chemicals,
sprays, commercial waste.
It faces numerous threats,
including pollution, climate change,
and habitat loss.
Our partnership with the state in
the protection and stewardship of
our land has never been more
important.
The challenges are too fast to
tackle.
We must unify to
secure the highest level of
environmental protection.
We're going to do a high five.
We're going to sing a song.
D-A-N-I-E-L-L-E,
last name D-Long, D-E, capital
L-O-N-G.
And which tribe are you from?
I'm with the Ho-Chunk Nation.
Okay, thank you so much.
A powerful speech this
morning. Coming out of it, what are
some of your first thoughts?
My first thoughts are, you know,
his end note, you know, unifying,
standing together in solidarity
and moving forward together as
tribal nations and as, you
know, state representatives.
respect and honor of
our unique relationships between our
nations.
in that unique relationship.
He mentioned education quite a
bit and he mentioned UW Madison
offering free tuition to Native
students but he also mentioned
students in reservations and
in rural areas may be
concerned or intimidated about
coming to school in Madison.
Do you think there should be more
offerings like this to other
campuses to meet?
students where they are?
Absolutely. Education is power and
in order to empower all
tribal individuals we need to
best serve them as individuals.
So college is you know sometimes
a scary and threatening thought
to think that you have to remove
yourself from your family and your
community and spread your wings
and go to a large
campus someplace but having that
ability to stay within your
community and continue
to learn and be educated and
bring that back to your community or
bring it out into, you know,
here at the state capitol.
So I think every opportunity we can
provide for our students
in seeking out higher education
or even secondary education is
beneficial in that tuition waiver.
I want to thank UW for that is
definitely appreciated and a
profound step towards, you know,
educational equity.
I also want to ask you again about
education. He mentioned Act 31.
Do you think that's enough to
get out the knowledge that students
need to understand Native American
history?
Should there be more?
Act 31, I'm
extremely grateful for.
Wisconsin has been
very progressive in making sure
that our children get
their rights within Indian
education.
But yes, there is always more to be
done.
I think so
much of our tribal
and cultural contributions
need to be recognized in more
classes than just history.
We are alive, we are here today.
We have youth who deserve to see
themselves in the curriculum,
not only reflected in who their
teachers or who their administration
is or what their buildings look
like.
We need to have a wider curriculum
that incorporates.
You know, we as tribal nations
have unique tribal
relations with the state.
And our students and children
are.
Every county, except for two within
the state of, as far as whole chunks
are concerned,
except for two counties, we have
whole chunks living everywhere and
going to public schools.
So they deserve to see themselves
not only in every
subject matter, but in every school.
And Act 31 has helped with that,
but also providing
for teachers,
American Indian teachers to get into
that classroom because those
relationships are vital.
up in his speech and he also
brought up the horrific era of
the boarding school era and how
language was lost.
But now we're in an era of language
revitalization.
Tell me what that means to you and
what does that mean for different
tribes in being able to build
community through language?
Absolutely. You know, our language
is part of who we are.
It's intertwined within our
culture and our identities.
So, going back to education, this
is one way that the state can
help us revitalize our
languages by allowing our students
to receive credit, by having
accredited, I
guess, speakers coming in as
those qualified teachers.
But ultimately, revitalizing
the language is an individual
responsibility as Native
people. We need to not only work on
that learning ourselves,
but get that support within
our communities, within our
tribes, and within the state's
legislation.
So I greatly appreciate his words
today.
He also spoke about MMIW,
Missing and Murdered Indigenous
Women, and also children, which was
also brought up.
Where do you think there can be more
attention to this crucial
and dangerous epidemic
that's happening in the Native
community, not just here in
Wisconsin, but on a national level
as well?
Absolutely.
This has to be a priority.
I appreciate that Wisconsin has a
task force established for MMIWR,
but it has to be
a national effort.
So many of our relatives...
struggling with this.
I mean, it hits home in every
community and if we can't
become a priority based on
just our, you know, small population
or...
I guess we can't stand to be.
status or, you know,
have a percentage associated,
every person matters.
However, there are so many
disproportionate numbers to
our missing and murdered indigenous
relatives and that
task force needs to be prioritized
with funding.
We need to get news
networks that are able to cover this
and willing to cover that and
just have communities because
social media makes so much of
our voice be
heard. But we need everybody on
board for that to end.
And lastly, I want to ask you about
the environment, especially with
the new presidential administration.
The environment is at greater
concern, probably now more
than ever.
And caring for the environment in
indigenous practices is something
that's to the heart of the Native
community.
What would you want the state to
know about preserving the
environment and
having that be central in
kind of looking at policies, as
they talked about with
collaboration?
moving forward.
Absolutely, you know as Ho-Chunk
people we consider ourselves
stewards of the land and
we recognize that nature
in and of itself has rights
and may not have a voice
and so it is our duty and our job to
advocate on that behalf
of our waters and our lands and all
of those beings and relatives so
I think knowing that,
it is definitely our responsibility.
to take care of,
as opposed to
abuse and use for profits.
We need to be mindful.
It is a complex balance,
but at the same time,
the land and nature depends on
us being aware and
respectful.
Not so much for profit, but more
so out of respect of that
reciprocal relationship.
And are you an elected official
within Ho-Chunk Nation?
I am.
I'm currently the Ho-Chunk Nation
Vice President.
And when people watch this all over
the state, what do you want them to
know?
about Ho-Chunk Nation?
I want them to know that Ho-Chunk
Nation is happy to be here.
Treasures, the relationship that we
have within the state of Wisconsin,
all of our communities and within
all of the other tribal nations
throughout, we are
here to be of service and
we are here to stand together.
So please, you know, don't hesitate
to reach out to Ho-Chunk Nation.
We are not just solely...
a gaming facility in your community,
but we are a government and we are
working hard to do our best for
our people.
I appreciate that.
Thank you so much.
Okay, thank you so much.
Can I just have you slowly say and
spell your first and last name?
Jonas Hill, J-O-N-A-S-H-I-L-L.
In which tribe are you from?
Oneida Nation.
And anything we should put
underneath, are you an elected
official within your tribe?
Yes, I'm a councilman, council
member, excuse me, council member
for the United Nations.
A lot was said today in
this speech, coming out of it, what
are some of the things that are
still sticking with you?
I think recognizing
the tribal self-determination
and that tribes have
the inherent sovereignty to
govern the programs
and services
within the nation for
our community members and
the approach of
enhancing support for
financial resources
for the nations.
And when he spoke of tribal
sovereignty and brought it even to
education, he even made some
points that people don't even know
what that is.
Do you think there needs to be more
than just Act 31 in
the classrooms to really educate
the public overall on
tribal sovereignty,
economic independence, and what it
means that actual government to
government relationship?
I think it's important.
Our self-determination truly
explains our identity
as how we can self-govern as
a nation.
Tribes, through Act 231,
education is key for
anybody within the state.
Intergovernmental relations are huge
as well, and they play a huge role
with being able to
gain support in
the assembly, the state side,
federal side.
It's important that people know
what these services do for
our members, you
know, I think when
an elected official sees an
approval for a bill or something,
you know, they don't really
understand that, you know, those are
helping children and kids,
or kids and families
to get food on the table,
to get to school, to get to
work, to get clothes on their you
know, those resources
are huge for tribes.
the need for
more language revitalization,
especially coming out of the era of
the unfortunate boarding school era.
How important is this
moment of language revitalization,
not just in Oneida, but in all
tribes across the state?
Cultural revitalization is huge,
it's our identity, it's who we are,
it's how we can be
our people, you know, be us as
people, a native people, by speaking
our language, practicing our
culture, attendance ceremonies,
and being able to carry that on
from our ancestors.
Let's talk about the environment
briefly. He spoke about the
environment under the threat of
climate change and also under
the threats of the current political
presidential administration.
How important is it to maintain
the environment in this
time, in this era, when it's also
has always been important to
Native nations in the state?
No, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Environmental protection.
Let's go back to how important is
that, it's always been important to
the natives in America from the
beginning of time.
How important is it to maintain the
environment, especially at this time
in the face of climate change?
Climate change is real.
We're seeing the effects.
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.
And as Native people,
we take it on this role.
We give thanks in our prayer through
prayer. for everything,
starting from Mother Earth all the
way to the sky, and we give thanks
for everything. And we also are the
voice for those beings that don't
have that voice.
So a lot of us Native Americans,
we advocate for all those
beings that don't have that voice.
And through environmental
protection and
being able to raise awareness
for climate change,
we are doing that.
He also mentioned gaming and there
have been positive strides in gaming
in terms of employment.
Can you talk to me how gaming has
impacted in the United Nations and
the strides that they're making in
helping natives in the community
get and sustain employment?
Indian Gaming was the best thing
that's ever helped native nations
in the state of Wisconsin and in the
Indian country overall.
Without Indian Gaming, we wouldn't
be able to provide resources
to members, we wouldn't be
able to send people
to school, our members to school,
we wouldn't be able to provide
services.
We wouldn't be here right now
without Indian Gaming.
Indian Gaming, for us, is one of the
largest employers in our area.
We provide free healthcare for
every member that
works for us, not just
a member, but anybody.
Thank you.
It's huge.
It plays a huge role.
So, Oneida has
some of the highest educated
individuals in Brown County.
And without them, we wouldn't
have been able to be proud of
that statistic.
And once we finish up, everyone in
the state is going to watch this.
It's going to air on Friday.
What do you want them to know about
Oneida Nation?
United Nation.
We are here.
We're here to support our brothers
and sisters and relatives
as they
advocate for rights that
affect their area,
but not only their area, but
affect us all as a whole
and native of any country.
Thank you so much.
Yes, thank you.
I'm just wondering if they might be
done there. Mr. Speaker.
Sound good?
Thank you for
this interview today.
Can I just have you slowly say
and spell? your first and last name
please.
Apache Danforth,
A-P-A-C-H-E-D-A-N-F-O-R-T-H.
What tribe are you from?
I'm from the Oneida Nation.
Thank you so much for this today.
He spoke about the significance
of students being able to wear their
traditional regalia at their high
school ceremonies and that's for
students to be okay and
comfortable with that as part of
their identity.
Tell me about what you think about
what he said about that today.
Well, it definitely is very
important, and it's a right
that I think that our people have
been advocating for
for many, many years, so it's not a
new issue, however, it continues
to be an issue, so just
recognizing that graduation is a
milestone for many of our
young people,
and they, you know, many of
the first ones graduating from high
school their family.
So wearing the traditional regalia
really honors that tradition.
of accomplishment and
a lot of times the regalia
is an heirloom
from a family so it also represents
their family and what their
success for their family and
representing their family.
I know that a lot of states have
already passed legislation allowing
students to wear traditional regalia
and I think that the state
of Wisconsin can follow suit and
do the same.
to help protect our Indigenous
students here in our state
and allow them to wear that regalia,
allow them to have that accolade and
to represent our people in
that way.
It really promotes an inclusive
culture.
I also want to ask you about, we
did that really good, that was
perfect timing.
I've never seen this before.
I want to ask you about cannabis
regulation in this state.
You mentioned the statistics, 86%
of Wisconsinites say they're in
favor for it.
What do you think about that and how
would it specifically impact
native people here in Wisconsin?
I think there's two sides of the
coin on cannabis and I think that
the legislator in
many ways is right to kind of be
careful in producing legislation
that allows for the regulation of
cannabis in our state,
however it is an
economic tool that the tribes can
use to
build our communities and
fund many programs that help our
communities, society.
However, it has to be
done 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.
However, in terms of plant medicine,
definitely we've all seen the
studies.
It can definitely be a tool
that helps our people, you know,
escape addiction,
pain management so that we don't
have to get, you know,
pharmaceuticals and heart opioids
and fentanyl and all these things to
help regulate our pain, so that
we're understanding that it is a
plant medicine and it is important,
it is spiritual in many ways,
and respecting that, so respecting
that spiritual part of the plant
medicine, but also being aware that,
you know, it can be abused.
What are we doing to protect
children in these cases from having
access to it and becoming addicted
in that way as well?
So what do you think right now with
all the issues presented?
Education, cannabis regulation,
missing and murdering indigenous
women.
What would your opinion say is
what's next?
What do the states really, the
tribes are gonna do? push with the
state? That is a tough question
because they're all equally as
important.
Let me think.
So they're all equally as important.
Missing and murdered indigenous
women and relatives is certainly
critical in
our state and you have to look at
where we are.
We're located between Chicago,
we're located between Duluth where
that's a major international hub
with Freights coming in and out of
there and then
just being that
just having that human
trafficking trail through our state
and human trafficking, we know,
is directly related to
MMIW.
We know that human trafficking
is more leakative than
drugs because you don't have to
read up on a human.
You can use that person over and
over.
I worked on Human Trafficking
Awareness and Prevention Project
in the state and interviewed
a forensic nurse out of Rock County
and she told us that Milwaukee
is...
Pimpe University, people come to
Milwaukee to learn how
to dehumanize.
That's in our state and
so you know we can't say that the
issue is not real, the issue is real
from the top.
The other incredibly important
issue to our people is
protecting the water, protecting our
waterways.
So we have the biggest watershed
in the world, one of the biggest
watersheds in the world with Lake
Superior and the Great Lakes.
What are we doing to protect them?
I know what the tribes are doing to
protect them.
So tribes, you know, and he said it
in the speech,
Chairman Fowler said in the speech
that that is our inherent
responsibility to
protect our earth and protect our
waterways.
So all of our legislation,
all of our environmental projects
are to do that.
to not only protect them, but to
enhance them through, you know,
water restoration projects and
things of that nature.
But I think it's critical that the
tribes and the state work together
to protect our waterways.
Collaboration.
Yes, absolutely.
So I think that, like you said,
there's a lot of issues that
President Fowler, Chairman Fowler
brought up that are as
important to tribes as they should
be to the state in that working
together in collaboration is
definitely what we need to do and
having these addresses every year
and gathering and and seeing our
representatives, our state
representatives on the floor and
supporting our chairperson
at the time who's giving the speech
and standing up and giving applause
for certain issues and it's really
refreshing to see that they support
us like that.
So having these events in this
particular state of the tribes
address is critical
to the state tribal relations
and continuing good relationships.
Absolutely, thank you so much.
Great interview.
Thank you.