>> ONEIDA BUYBACK IS PART OF THE
NATION'S PUSH TO RECOVER ITS
ORIGINAL ACREAGE, WHEN
NON-TRIBAL PEOPLE WERE ALLOWED
TO PURCHASE TRIBAL LAND.
THEY HAVE NOW RECOVERED
TWO-THIRDS OF ITS 65,000 ACRES
OF RESERVATION LAND NEAR GREEN
BAY.
THE VILLAGE OF HOBART IS SUING
OVER THE LOSS OF ITS PROPERTY
TAX REVENUE.
ITS ADMINISTRATOR DECLINED TO
JOIN US.
ONEIDA NATION CHAIRMAN, TEHASSI
HILL, IS HERE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
>> SO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR IS ON YOUR SIDE IN
THIS, BUT HOW LONG AND DIFFICULT
HAS THIS DISPUTE WITH THE
VILLAGE OF HOBART BEEN?
>> YEAH, IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR
MORE THAN A DECADE, AS WE
ACQUIRE OUR RESERVATION
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING HERE AND NOW,
2024 ELECTION COVERAGE.
EARLY VOTING GETS UNDERWAY IN
WISCONSIN'S SPRING ELECTION,
GIVING THE FIRST OFFICIAL
GLIMPSE INTO OUR VOTERS ARE
FEELING ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
BALLOTS WILL ALSO HAVE QUESTIONS
ON AMENDING THE STATE
CONSTITUTION.
WE BREAK DOWN WHAT YOU NEED TO
KNOW.
THEN, IT'S OFFICIALLY LIGHTS OUT
FOR TWO HOSPITALS IN THE
CHIPPEWA VALLEY.
SENATOR JEFF SMITH SPEAKS TO
WHAT HAPPENS NOW, AND TRIBAL
NATIONS ARE SPENDING MILLIONS
BUYING BACK LAND THEY'VE LOST
OVER CENTURIES.
ONEIDA CHAIRMAN, TEHASSI HILL,
SAYS IT'S IMPERATIVE FOR
SURVIVAL.
FINALLY, A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
PROGRAM COULD BE A LIFELINE FOR
YOUNG ADULTS RECENTLY AGED OUT
OF FOSTER CARE.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MARCH
22.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY FOR
THE SPRING ELECTION IN
WISCONSIN.
LOCALLY, BALLOTS WILL INCLUDE
RACES LIKE SCHOOL BOARD, COUNTY
BOARD AND CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES.
THE STATEWIDE BALLOT HAS VOTERS
WEIGHING IN ON THEIR PREFERENCE
FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.
IT ALSO HAS TWO QUESTIONS ASKING
VOTERS IF THEY WANT TO AMEND THE
STATE CONSTITUTION.
THE FIRST QUESTION RELATES TO
THE USE OF PRIVATE FUNDS IN
ELECTION ADMINISTRATION, SHALL A
SECTION OF THE CONSTITUTION BE
CREATED TO PROVIDE THAT PRIVATE
DONATIONS AND GRANTS MAY NOT BE
APPLIED FOR, ACCEPTED, EXPENDED
OR USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE
CONDUCT OF ANY PRIMARY ELECTION
OR REFERENDUM.
THE SECOND QUESTION RELATES TO
ELECTION OFFICIALS.
SHALL A SECTION OF THE
CONSTITUTION BE CREATED TO
PROVIDE THAT ONLY ELECTION
OFFICIALS DESIGNATED BY LAW MAY
PERFORM TASKS IN THE CONDUCT OF
PRIMARIES, ELECTIONS AND
REFERENDUMS.
BOTH QUESTIONS BEGAN AS G.O.P.
LEGISLATION BUT WERE VETOED BY
THE GOVERNOR.
REPUBLICANS THEN PASSED THEM AS
STATEWIDE BALLOT REFERENDUM,
ASKING VOTERS TO DECIDE
DIRECTLY.
TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THESE
QUESTIONS, WE TURN TO UW LAW
SCHOOL PROFESSOR, ROBERT YABLON.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
>> THE FIRST QUESTION HEARKENS
BACK TO THE USE OF SO-CALLED
"ZUCKERBUCKS," FUNDING FROM THE
OWNER OF FACEBOOK THAT WENT TO
MORE THAN 200 CITIES AND
COUNTIES IN WISCONSIN TO RUN
ELECTIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC, A
"YES" VOTE WOULD PROHIBIT THAT.
WAS THAT PRIVATE FUNDING FOUND
TO BE ILLEGAL OR POLITICALLY
BIASED?
>> SO THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO.
THERE WERE SOME LEGAL CHALLENGES
RAISED BACK IN 2022 THAT FUNDING
AND THEY WERE REJECTED BY BOTH
THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
COMMISSION AND BY COURTS.
IT WAS FOUND THAT THOSE FUNDS
DID NOT VIOLATE STATE LAW.
THERE WERE ALLEGATIONS MADE OF
PARTISAN BIAS WITH RESPECT TO
HOW THOSE FUNDS WERE
DISTRIBUTED, AND THE BULK OF
THOSE FUNDS DID GO TO THE
STATE'S LARGEST CITIES, WHICH
ARE DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLDS,
PEOPLE WHO DEFEND THOSE FUNDS
WILL RESPOND AND SAY IT'S
NATURAL THAT THEY HAVE THE MOST
FUNDING.
THEY HAVE THE MOST PEOPLE WITH
THE GREATEST NEED IN 2020 AND
OVER 100 MUNICIPALITIES DID GET
SOME OF THAT MONEY.
THERE HAVE BEEN NO STUDIES THAT
INDICATED THAT ANY OF THESE
FUNDS TILTED THE RESULTS OF THE
ELECTION IN WISCONSIN.
>> ARE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
UNDERFUNDED TO THE EXTENT THAT
PRIVATE FUNDING IS NEEDED?
>> CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING OF
ELECTIONS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
THERE ARE ELECTION OFFICIALS,
BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT
AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE BEEN
ASKING FOR MORE FUNDS FOR THINGS
LIKE NEW EQUIPMENT, MORE
SECURITY MEASURES AND SO ON, SO
THAT'S A CONSTANT ISSUE.
2020 WAS PARTICULARLY
DISTINCTIVE BECAUSE OF THE
PANDEMIC, AND ELECTION OFFICIALS
IN WISCONSIN AND ELSEWHERE
REALLY FOUND THEMSELVES WITH
UNIQUE DEMANDS THAT THEY FACED
AND THEY WERE OFTEN SHORT ON THE
FUNDS AND PERSONNEL THAT THEY
NEEDED TO FULFILL THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THAT'S
WHERE YOU HAD THE PRIVATE
INTERVENTIONS IN 2020.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE
HAD A LOT OF IN THE PAST BUT
PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS SAW THAT
THERE REALLY WAS THIS SHORTFALL
AND FOLKS STEPPED UP.
>> SO QUESTION NUMBER TWO ON THE
BALLOT IS ASKING WHETHER TO
PROHIBIT ANYONE OTHER THAN AN
ELECTION OFFICIAL DESIGNATED BY
LAW FROM ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION.
THIS HAS TO DO, IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING, WITH A CONSULTANT
IN GREEN BAY WHO ADVISED
OFFICIALS ON HOW TO MAKE THEIR
ELECTIONS RUN MORE SMOOTHLY,
AGAIN, IN 2020, DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
APART FROM OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS,
WHAT KIND OF ELECTION OFFICIALS
NOT DESIGNATED BY LAW, HOWEVER,
HELP RUN ELECTIONS?
>> YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S A GREAT
QUESTION, AND THERE IS SOME
AMBIGUITY ABOUT THE SCOPE OF
THIS PROVISION AND EXACTLY WHAT
IT WOULD PROHIBIT.
THERE'S SOME QUESTION ABOUT
WHETHER IT WOULD EVEN PROHIBIT
WHAT SOME OF THE PROPONENTS SEEM
TO WANT TO STOP, WHICH IS THE
USE OF THIS SORT OF ELECTION
CONSULTANTS THAT GENERATE
CONTROVERSY IN GREEN BAY IN
2020, BUT THERE ARE OFTEN PEOPLE
THAT ARE NOT ELECTION OFFICIALS
THAT DO WORK THAT IS IN SOME WAY
CONNECTED TO HELPING FACILITATE
AN ELECTION.
THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT
ELECTION OFFICIALS WHO WILL HELP
THE POLL WORKERS SET UP THE
POLLING PLACE IN THE MORNING AND
QUESTIONS MAY ARISE WHETHER THEY
CAN DO THAT.
SOMETIMES A MACHINE MIGHT BREAK
DOWN AND QUESTIONS MIGHT NOW
ARISE IF THIS PASSES ABOUT
WHETHER THE ELECTION OFFICIAL
CAN CALL THAT OUTSIDE VENDOR AND
ASK FOR TROUBLESHOOTING
ASSISTANCE, COULD THEY CALL UPON
AN EXPERT IN BALLOT DESIGN TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE FITTING
EVERYTHING ON THE PAGE IN A
SENSIBLE WAY.
SO THOSE ARE THE WORRIES THAT
OPPONENTS OF THIS WILL BRING UP,
THAT IT CREATES UNCERTAINTY,
POSSIBLY UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES, AND IF IT IS
INTERPRETED BROADLY, COULD MAKE
THE JOB OF ELECTION OFFICIALS
MORE DIFFICULT.
>> MEANWHILE, WOULD AMENDMENT
NUMBER 2 CHANGE EXISTING LAW?
>> THAT'S ALSO A QUESTION.
WISCONSIN HAS A STATUTE RIGHT
NOW THAT SAYS ONLY ELECTION
OFFICIALS MAY CONDUCT AN
ELECTION, AND IN 2020, THAT
PROVISION WAS INTERPRETED
ACTUALLY NOT TO PREVENT THE USE
OF EXPERT OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS,
SO IT MAY BE THAT THE AMENDMENT
DOES VERY LITTLE, WRITE A NARROW
INTERPRETATION OF THE AMENDMENT
WOW SAY IT'S TRACKING THE LAW
THAT WE HAVE BUT BECAUSE OF THE
FACT THAT YOU HAVE ARGUABLY
AMBIGUOUS TASKS, WHAT IS CONDUCT
OF AN ELECTION, THAT OPENS THE
DOOR TO SOME ARGUMENTS THAT IT
NEEDS TO HAVE A BROADER
INTERPRETATION.
>> WHAT DO LEGAL EXPERTS THINK
OF SEEKING TO ENACT
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AS
OPPOSED TO PASSING LEGISLATIVE
BILLS INTO STATUTE?
>> RIGHT.
WELL, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF
STATES SINCE 2020 THAT HAVE
RESTRICTED PRIVATE ELECTION
FUNDING.
IT'S BEEN A BIT OF A POLITICAL
ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
FOR THE MOST PART, THAT HAS
HAPPENED THROUGH STATUTES, NOT
THROUGH CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE.
AND SO SOME OF THE CRITICS OF
THIS AMENDMENT SAY THIS JUST
DOESN'T RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A
MATTER THAT NEEDS TO -- THAT YOU
NEED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
FOR.
THE CONSTITUTION IS THE STATE'S
FUNDAMENTAL LAW, IT SETS THE
FRAMEWORK FOR OUR GOVERNMENT, IT
PROTECTS OUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.
IS THIS REALLY THE SORT OF THING
THAT WE NEED TO ENSHRINE INTO
THE CONSTITUTION RATHER THAN TRY
TO WORK OUT THROUGH THE
POLITICAL PROCESS, IDEALLY
THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE A
BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE.
>> ROBERT YABLON, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
>> NEXT WEEK ON OUR PROGRAM,
REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ LOOKS AT
ONE MORE ITEM YOU MAY SEE ON
YOUR SPRING BALLOT, WHETHER TO
RAISE YOUR PROPERTY TAX LEVY TO
HELP YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
PAY FOR OPERATING EXPENSES.
TURNING TO HEALTH NEWS, TWO
HOSPITALS OF THE HOSPITALS
SISTERS HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE
EAU CLAIRE AREA HAVE OFFICIALLY
SHUT THEIR DOORS AS OF TODAY.
ONE WHO MONTH AHEAD OF THE
ALREADY ABRUPT TIMELINE
ORIGINALLY ANNOUNCED IN JANUARY.
AN ADDITIONAL 19 PREVEA HEALTH
CLINICS WILL CLOSE IN APRIL.
AN HONOR WALK WAS HELD YESTERDAY
FRONT OF THE HOSPITAL TO
COMMEMORATE THOSE IN THE
COMMUNITY LOSING THEIR JOBS.
WE TURN TO DEMOCRATIC STATE
SENATOR JEFF SMITH OF BRUNSWICK
FOR WHAT HAPPENS NOW.
AND SENATOR, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR BEING HERE.
>> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> SO, FIRST, THE SHOCK OF THE
ANNOUNCEMENT, THEN THE ANXIOUS
ANTICIPATION OF THE HOSPITAL
CLOSURES, NOW REALITY.
WHAT'S THIS REALITY LIKE IN THE
COMMUNITY?
>> IT HAS BEEN SHOCKING.
WHEN THAT OCCURRED, PEOPLE WERE
REALLY TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT
THAT A HOSPITAL SYSTEM COULD
CLOSE WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY --
ANY SEEMING -- ANY OPPORTUNITIES
TO TRY TO HELP PREVENT THAT FROM
HAPPENING, AND IT CAME AS QUITE
A SHOCK.
>> SO FROM YOUR UNDERSTANDING,
HOW BIG OF A JOB WAS IT TO
TRANSFER PATIENTS ELSEWHERE AND
HAVE E.M.S. OR AMBULANCES
DIVERTED AND ALL THAT PERTAINS
TO PATIENT CARE?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IN ONLY TWO
MONTHS TIME, 1,600 EMPLOYEES ARE
OUT OF A JOB, PATIENTS HAVE HAD
THEIR HEALTHCARE UPENDED.
THIS IS REALLY A BIG DEAL.
WE HAVE A MAIL SYSTEM THAT'S
ALSO IN EAU CLAIRE, BUT THEY
CAN'T QUITE COVER ALL THAT AND
NEITHER CAN MARSHFIELD, WHICH IS
ALSO HERE.
WE'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH
ALL OF THEM TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND
AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY CAN DO
TO EXPAND SOME SERVICES, BUT WE
STILL HAVEN'T COME UP WITH THAT
LONG-TERM SOLUTION OF WHERE
EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE ABSORBED.
>> WHAT HAVE YOU HARD FROM YOUR
CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THEIR
EXPERIENCES WITH ALL OF THIS?
>> IT'S INTERESTING, FREDERICA.
WE HAVE, FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING, GOTTEN PLEAS FROM
PEOPLE, WHY CAN'T YOU STOP THIS?
THERE'S SIMPLY A
MISUNDERSTANDING THAT HOSPITALS
ARE UNDER SOME SORT OF
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE OR
SOME SORT OF REGULATIONS THAT
CAN BE PREVENT THIS FROM
HAPPENING, AND THAT'S THE THING
THAT I THINK REALLY, REALLY HURT
PEOPLE, THAT THIS COULDN'T BE
STOPPED.
IT IS A CORPORATE DECISION AND
THEY HAVE TO MAKE THEIR
DECISIONS BASED ON THE LOSSES
THAT THEY'VE BEEN TAKING.
>> HOW HAVE PROVISIONS FOR
DOCTORS AND STAFF, FOR EXAMPLE,
IN TERMS OF SEVERANCE OR JOB
PLACEMENT, BEEN GOING, TO YOUR
UNDERSTANDING?
>> TO MY UNDERSTANDING, ONE OF
THE REASONS FOR INSTANCE WHEN
THEY -- I'LL START WITH WHEN
THEY FIRST MADE THE
ANNOUNCEMENT, THEY MADE THE
ANNOUNCEMENT GIVING PEOPLE THE
IMPRESSION THAT IT WOULD BE
MIGHT WANT DAYS MEANING TO APRIL
2021 THAT WE WOULD EXPECT THEM
TO CLOSE, BUT THEY'VE ALREADY
CLOSED AS OF TODAY, MARCH
22nd, AND PARTLY BECAUSE
DURING THAT COURSE OF TIME,
DOCTORS AND NURSES HAVE ALREADY
BEEN FINDING OTHER POSITIONS IN
OTHER AREAS AND THAT'S REALLY A
BIG CONCERN, THAT WE MAY BE
LOSING THAT TALENT AND SKILL
OUTSIDE OF THE AREA.
SO THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN FINDING
THEIR PLACES.
I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN, OF
COURSE, AS WE ALL KNOW, A GREAT
CALLING FOR MORE DOCTORS AND
NURSES IN -- THROUGHOUT THIS
COUNTRY, SO IT'S PROBABLY NOT
THAT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FIND
THEIR POSITION, BUT WE SURE
DON'T WANT TO LOSE THEM FROM
WESTERN WISCONSIN.
>> HAS THERE BEEN ANYTHING
SPECIFICALLY DONE AT THE STATE
LEVEL TO HELP IN THIS SITUATION
AS SOME OF YOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
ASKING?
>> YEAH, THERE CERTAINLY HAS
BEEN.
FIRST OF ALL, I'VE HAD
CONVERSATION WITH ALL OF THE
HEALTH PROVIDERS OVER THE COURSE
OF TIME, TRYING BEHIND THE
SCENES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN
DO AS A STATE TO HELP THEM TO
ABSORB THE LOSSES, BUT ALSO THE
OBVIOUS PUBLIC THING THAT
EVERYONE IS AWARE OF IS THAT
THERE WERE $15 MILLION SET ASIDE
A FEW YEARS AGO FOR THIS
HOSPITAL.
THEY NEVER DID GET INTO THAT
MONEY, SO WE HAVE MADE THE RIGHT
DECISION, VERY BIPARTISAN
DECISION TO MOVE THAT MONEY BACK
TO THE GENERAL FUND AND LET --
HOPEFULLY LET THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH ACTUALLY SECURE THAT
MONEY SO THAT THEY CAN GRANT
THAT MONEY TO HELP MAKE THIS
HAPPEN, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY HAS BEEN
DRAGGING THEIR FEET.
WE'VE HAD A MONTH NOW SINCE WE
PASSED THAT LEGISLATION IN THE
SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY AND
SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR AND YET
WE STILL ARE WAITING TO SEE IF
THEY WILL RELEASE THAT MONEY AT
ALL.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'RE
STILL WAITING FOR THAT.
>> WHAT WOULD THAT $15 MILLION
GO TOWARD?
>> WELL, ORIGINALLY THE
REPUBLICANS HAD ONLY SUGGESTED,
AND THIS IS WHERE WE COME INTO
THE POLITICAL PROBLEM WE HAVE,
THEY SUGGESTED IT SHOULD ONLY GO
TOWARDS EMERGENCY CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS, BUT THE -- AS I
SAID, I'VE SPOKEN TO ALL OF OUR
PROVIDERS AND THEY'VE BEEN
ASKING FOR MONEY TO, FOR
INSTANCE, EXPAND URGENT CARE, TO
EXPAND OBSTETRICS, BECAUSE THERE
WAS 900 -- EXPECTED 900 BIRTHS
GOING TO HAPPEN AT SACRED HEART
THIS NEXT YEAR, SO OTHER PLACES
NEED TO EXPAND THAT SERVICE.
BUT ALSO, MORE IMPORTANTLY, AS
WE HAVE ALREADY TOUCHED ON,
BEING ABLE TO SECURE THE STAFF
AND TO HIRE THE STAFF NEEDED.
THE MONEY AS KAITD BY THE
REPUBLICANS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO BE USED BY THAT AND
THAT'S WHY THE GOVERNOR HAD TO
VETO THAT PART OF THE BILL AND
OPEN UP THE POSSIBILITIES FOR
PROVIDERS TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT
MONEY AS THEY SEE THE NEEDS THAT
ARE PRESENTED TO US.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
SENATOR JEFF SMITH, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> WELL, THANK YOU.
>> A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT OVER 500 ACRES OF
LAND PITS THE VILLAGE OF HOBART
NEAR GREEN BAY AGAINST THE
ONEIDA NATION.
HOBART IS WITHIN THE ONEIDA
RESERVATION AND THE TRIBE
PURCHASED 500 ACRES THERE,
PROVING IT TO TRUST STATUS AND
SOVEREIGN LAND NOT SUBJECT TO
LOCAL TAXES.
THE ONEIDA BUYBACK IS PART OF
THE NATION'S PUSH TO RECOVER ITS
ORIGINAL ACREAGE, NEARLY ALL OF
IT LOST WHEN NON-TRIBAL PEOPLE
WERE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE
RESERVATION LAND.
THE ONEIDA HAVE NOW RECOVERED
NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF ITS 65,000
ACRES OF RESERVATION LAND NEAR
GREEN BAY.
THE VILLAGE OF HOBART IS SUING
OVER THE LOSS OF ITS PROPERTY
TAX REVENUE.
ITS ADMINISTRATOR DECLINED TO
JOIN US.
ONEIDA NATION CHAIRMAN, TEHASSI
HILL, IS HERE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
>> SO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR IS ON YOUR SIDE IN
THIS, BUT HOW LONG AND DIFFICULT
HAS THIS DISPUTE WITH THE
VILLAGE OF HOBART BEEN?
>> YEAH, IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR
MORE THAN A DECADE, AS WE
ACQUIRE OUR RESERVATION LAND
BACK IN FEE STATUS AND GO
THROUGH THE PROCESS UNDER THE
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS TO HAVE
LAND PUT INTO TRUST.
THE PROCESS CALLS FOR INPUT FROM
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS WELL AND SO
THEY GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND
HOBART HAS ELECTED SEVERAL
TIMES, ELECTED TO APPEAL THE
PROCESS OF PUTTING LAND IN TRUST
AND WE BELIEVE THAT THEIR
ARGUMENTS HAVE NO MERIT.
>> HOW HAS THE ONEIDA NATION
BEEN ABLE TO BUY BACK ITS LAND
IN OTHER PLACES WITHOUT SUCH
KIND OF LONGSTANDING AND
LITIGIOUS DIFFICULTY?
>> WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A
LONG TIME AND SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE
TO WORK WITH OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES IN THE AREA TO
COME TO AGREEMENT ABOUT THE --
HOW PAYMENT, I GUESS, FOR
SERVICES RENDERED TO TRIBAL
TRUST LAND AND FEE LAND IS TO
COME ABOUT, SO IF THERE IS
AMBULANCE CARE, POLICE SERVICE
AND OTHER SERVICES THAT THE
MUNICIPALITY OR THE COUNTIES
PROVIDE TO TRIBAL LAND IN THE
AGREEMENT, WOULD WORK OUT THE
BALANCING ACT OF WHAT WE PROVIDE
IT AND WHAT THEY PROVIDE AND
COME TO A MEANINGFUL
UNDERSTANDING AND A PAYMENT FOR
THAT PARTICULAR SERVICES
RENDERED.
>> THE ONEIDA AT ONE POINT LAST
NEARLY ALL OF ITS TREATY-GRANTED
LANDS.
HOW WAS THE TRIBE ABLE TO
REVERSE THAT?
>> WELL, IT REALLY STEMS BACK TO
THE INDIAN REORGANIZATION ACT.
SO IN -- UNDER THAT, WE WERE
ABLE TO ESTABLISH GOVERNANCE
SYSTEM THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZED MORE
READILY AND THEN ALSO, OTHER
FEDERAL REGULATIONS DURING THE
1970s, AND SO BEING ABLE TO
ACQUIRE LAND BACK ON A
RESERVATION AND BE ABLE TO HAVE
THE ABILITY TO PUT LAND IS ABOUT
TRUST STEMS BACK TO THE 1970s
IN THAT REVERSAL OF FEDERAL
INDIAN POLICY.
>> DESCRIBE WHY IT IS IMPORTANT
TO PRESERVE YOUR SOVEREIGN
LANDS.
>> THIS IS ALL THAT WE HAVE
LEFT.
SO INDIAN TRIBES ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY HAVE SEEDED MILLIONS OF
ACRES OF LANDS TO THE BIRTH OF
THE UNITED STATES, AND IN DOING
SO, REERVEDZ WHAT WE HAVE LEFT,
AND SO MANY OF THE TRIBES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY ARE, LIKE US, HAVE A
RELATIVELY SMALL LAND BASE LEFT
FROM OUR ORIGINAL HOLDINGS AND
SO IT IS ALL THAT MUCH MORE
IMPORTANT TO US, BECAUSE THIS IS
OUR HOMELAND, THIS IS WHERE WE
RAISE OUR FAMILIES, WHERE WE DO
BUSINESS, WHERE WE GROW OUR FOOD
AND SO EVERY INCH IS BE
IMPORTANT TO US BEING ABLE TO
MAINTAIN THAT CONTROL OVER WHAT
IS LEFT OF OUR LANDS.
>> HOW MUCH HAS IT COST TO HAVE
TO BUY BACK YOUR LANDS?
>> OH, EASILY HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
EASILY.
20 YEARS AGO, YOU MIGHT HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO BUY AN ACRE OF LAND
FOR $5,000.
AND WITH THE LAND PRICES NOW IN
THIS AREA, ANYWHERE FROM 15 UP
TO $40,000 AN ACRE.
SO AS TIME GOES ON, OBVIOUSLY
THE PRICE CONTINUES TO RISE.
>> AND YET, IT'S A COST THAT YOU
MUST MAKE.
>> THAT IS -- THAT IS CORRECT.
OUR PEOPLE HAVE REALLY DEDICATED
RESOURCES ANNUALLY IN OUR TRIBAL
BUDGET TO FACE THIS LAND DEMAND
NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
NOT ONLY DOES IT PROVIDE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT
PROVIDES LANDS THAT ARE SUITABLE
FOR HOUSING AS WELL AND
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES, ALL THIS PROGRAM AND
SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, A LOT
OF IT DEPENDS ON THE LAND.
>> WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO
POTENTIALLY NON-TRIBAL PEOPLE
WHO MIGHT THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO
MOVE YOUR REACQUIRED LAND TO
FEDERAL TRUST STATUS AND NOT
HAVE IT BE SUBJECT TO LOCAL
TAXES?
>> WELL, I GUESS I WOULD LOOK AT
IT AS KIND OF THE OPPOSITE, THAT
THIS RESERVATION WAS ESTABLISHED
BY TREATY WITH THE UNITED STATES
AND TREATIES ARE SUPREME LAW OF
THE LAND.
AND SO ESSENTIALLY, OUR
RESERVATION HERE WAS ON LOAN OR
RENTED TO NON-TRIBAL PEOPLE FOR
DECADES NOW AND SO THEY WERE
ABLE TO USE ITS RESOURCES,
WHETHER THEY'RE NATURAL
RESOURCES OR TO BUILD A HOME FOR
THEIR FAMILIES AND THE SUCH, TO
USE THIS LAND FOR A PERIOD OF
TIME, AND NOBODY AFORCING THEM
TO SELL THEIR LAND TO US AS
PROPERTIES BECOME AVAILABLE AND
SOMEONE IS -- HAS REACHED THE
END OF THEIR LIFE THAT THEY WANT
TO SPEND IN THIS PARTICULAR NECK
OF THE WOODS, THEN THEY DECIDE
TO SELL THEIR LAND, AND IF THE
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE, ONEIDA
CHOOSES TO PURCHASE IT MOST OF
THE TIME.
AND SO THAT'S ONE THING.
WE'RE NOT FORCING ANYONE OUT.
WE'RE JUST ACQUIRING LAND AS IT
BECOMES AVAILABLE AGAIN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
CHAIRMAN HILL, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> IN OTHER NEWS, A NUTRITIONAL
LIVING SPACE ON TRANSITIONAL
LIVING SPACE WOULD HOUSE YOUNG
ADULTS THAT HAVE AGED OUT OF
FOSTER CARE, A POPULATION AT
HIGH RISK FOR HOMELESSNESS.
THE PROGRAM IS PART OF THE URBAN
TRIAGE UNHOUSED YOUTH INITIATIVE
AND IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN
WISCONSIN.
C.E.O. OF URBAN TRIAGE, BRANDI
GRAYSON, JOINS US NOW.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> YOU'RE SO WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.
IT'S A LONG TIME SEEING YOU.
WELL, BEING ON YOUR SHOW, THAT
IS.
>> SO THIS WOULD BE FOR 18 TO
21-YEAR-OLDS.
WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF THESE
YOUNG ADULTS WHO HAVE AGED OUT
OF THE FOSTER SYSTEM?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE
YOUTH AGING OUT OF SYSTEMS,
THEY'RE USUALLY WITHOUT PARENTS,
FAMILIES, OR SUPPORTS.
SO THE NEEDS ARE A LOT.
A LOT OF THEM STILL NEED SUPPORT
WITH DEVELOPING THE READINESS
SKILLS TO BE ON THEIR OWN,
WHETHER IT'S FINANCIAL PLANNING,
LEARNING HOW TO NEGOTIATE A
LEASE, WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A
TENANT, TENANT RIGHTS, HOW TO
BUDGET, HOW TO ENROLL IN SCHOOL,
HOW TO NAVIGATE SYSTEMS, AND
REALLY HOW TO DEAL WITH THE
TRAUMA OF BEING IN A SYSTEM,
FEELING ABANDONED, AND NOT
HAVING SUPPORTS AND SERVICES.
I WOULD SAY THAT'S THE BIGGEST
ONE, IS ACTUALLY THE TRAUMA IN
SUPPORTING YOUTH WITH JUST
LEARNING THE TOOLS AND THE
SKILLS TO NAVIGATE THE EMOTIONAL
IMPACT OF BEING ALONE IN THE
WORLD.
>> SO GIVEN THAT THIS WOULD BE
THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN
WISCONSIN FOR THIS KIND OF
LIVING SPACE, ARE THOSE NEEDS
THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED
CURRENTLY BEING MET IN THE
STATE?
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE STATE.
I HAVEN'T DONE MUCH RESEARCH,
BUT I WOULD SAY NO.
THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE
RESOURCES FOR FOLKS WHO ARE
AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE, BUT
NOT ENOUGH.
SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE LET US GIVE
YOU A TOTE FULL OF DISHES AND
ESSENTIALS, BUT THERE'S NO PEER
SUPPORT OR NAVIGATION SUPPORT,
THERE'S NO RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
THERE'S NO CASE MANAGEMENT,
THERE'S NO MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES ATTACHED TO THAT.
YOUTH, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN OUR
COMMUNITY, REALLY ARE FORCED TO
PIECE TOGETHER SUPPORTS BY GOING
TO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS,
WHICH THEN LEADS TO TRAUMA,
WHICH THEN LEADS TO
HOPELESSNESS, WHICH LEADS TO
HOMELESSNESS AND LEADS TO ALL
KIND OF DESPERATE ACTS ON THE
SIDE OF YOUTH.
>> SO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
THAT, THAT IT -- HIGH RISK FOR
HOMELESSNESS.
WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES FOR YOUNG
ADULTS, IF THEY'RE NOT HAVING
THESE KINDS OF NEEDS MET AS YOU
DESCRIBE?
HOW DO THEY GO FROM, YOU KNOW,
BEING IN A FOSTER CARE SITUATION
TO HOMELESSNESS?
>> I MEAN, YOU -- I MEAN, MOST
18-YEAR-OLDS TODAYANT READY TO
BE ON THEIR OWN.
RIGHT?
I HAVE YOUNG ADULTS, CHILDREN,
AND THEY LIVED WITH ME UNTIL
THEIR OPINION 20 SOMETHING AND
BE THEY WENT TO COLLEGE AND THEY
STILL REQUIRED SUPPORT,
FINANCIAL, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL
SUPPORT, SO WE HAVE FOLKS AGING
OUT WITH NONE OF THAT.
RIGHT?
SO I GUESS -- I DON'T KNOW HOW
TO ANSWER THAT, REALLY, BECAUSE
IT'S SO -- IT'S SO TRAUMATIC FOR
THEM.
SO IT'S LIKE SO MANY LAYERS, AND
IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR BASIC
NEEDS BEING MET, YOU
AUTOMATICALLY BECOME SUBJECT TO
SEX TRAFFICKING, DRUG USE,
GAMBLING, HAVING SEX WITH PEOPLE
JUST TO HAVE A HOME OR, YOU
KNOW, PUTTING YOURSELF IN
SITUATIONS THAT ARE DANGEROUS
BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO
SURVIVE, DESPERATE TIMES REQUIRE
DESPERATE MEASURES, AND THAT'S
REALLY WHAT YOUTH RESPONSE,
CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES AND SUCH
THAT THEY'RE FORCED TO DO
BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO RESOURCES,
THEY HAVE NO HOME, THEY HAVE NO
FOOD, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
>> SO THIS IS DESCRIBED, AGAIN,
AS A TRANSITIONAL LIVING SPACE.
WHAT CAN PEOPLE WHO COME TO LIVE
THERE EXPECT IN TERMS OF WHAT
THEY'LL SEE THERE?
>> YEAH.
A LOT OF SUPPORT.
RIGHT?
SO WE'LL HAVE OVERNIGHT SUPPORT.
THAT PERSON WILL ACT AS A MENTOR
TO THE YOUTH THAT'S IN THE HOME.
WE WILL HAVE PEER SUPPORT
SPECIALISTS COME IN DURING THE
DAY, WE'LL HAVE NAVIGATION
SUPPORT SPECIALISTS, HOUSING
FOLKS COME THIS DURING THE DAY,
SO IT WILL BE FULLY STAFFED
DURING THE DAY, AND THEN WE'LL
DO WHAT WE CALL OUR SUPPORTING
FAMILIES HEALTH GROUP, WHICH IS
THE TRAUMA RECOVERY SUPPORTING
FOLKS IN DEVELOPING THE PERSONAL
LEADERSHIP AND PERSONAL
DEVELOPMENT SKILLS TO NAVIGATE
SYSTEMS, HELPING THEM BUILD THE
SYSTEMS AND HELP THEM DETACH
FROM THE FEELINGS OF INFERIORITY
OR FEELING LIKE THEY'RE TO BLAME
FOR THEIR SITUATION AS A YOUNG
PERSON AND THEN WE'LL CONNECT
THEM TO JOB PLACEMENT READINESS
PROGRAMS AND WE'LL PLACE THEM IN
PERMANENT HOUSING WITH RENTAL
ASSISTANCE ONCE THEY'RE READY TO
MOVE ON ON THEIR OWN, SO THEY
CAN EXPECT HOLISTIC SUPPORT.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU EXPECT
TO MOVE IN AND WHEN DOES IT
OPEN?
>> WELL, THE HOUSE IS LIKE 12
BEDROOMS.
WE FOUND THAT THERE'S SOME
ISSUES ON THE THIRD FLOOR THAT
HAS TO BE MITIGATED SO WE'RE
LIMITED NOW TO BEDROOMS, I THINK
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH FIVE
YOUTH AND HOPEFULLY THE THIRD
FLOOR WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN UP
SOON.
OUR CONTRACT IS EFFECTIVE WITH
DANE COUNTY APRIL 1st, SO
THAT'S WHEN WE BEGIN TO DO THE
WORK.
WE'LL START THE FIRST 30 DAYS
WITH RENOVATING THE HOUSE AND
THEN THE NEXT 30 DAYS,
RECRUITING FOR STAFF AND THEN
HOPEFULLY BY THE THIRD OR FOURTH
MONTH, 120 DAYS INTO THE
CONTRACT, WE CAN START ENROLLING
YOUTH INTO THE PROGRAM.
>> THAT IS GREAT NEWS.
BRANDI GRAYSON, THINKS VERY MUCH
AND THINKS FOR YOUR WORK.
>> YOU'RE SO WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
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WISCONSIN.