SPECIAL GUESTS JOINING US HERE
TODAY.
FIRST OF ALL, THE GOVERNOR OF
THE GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
[APPLAUSE]
>> ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH KAUL.
[APPLAUSE]
>> STATETREASURER.
[APPLAUSE]
>> STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT,
CAROLYN STANFORD-TAYLOR.
[APPLAUSE]
>> CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE, SHIRLEY
ABRAHAMSON.
[APPLAUSE]
>> JUSTICE ANN WALSH BRADLEY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> JUSTICE ANNETTE ZIEGLER.
[APPLAUSE]
>> JUSTICE REBECCA BRADLEY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> JUSTICE DAN KELLY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I AM NOW PLEASED -- TAKE YOUR
SEATS.
I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE TEHASSI
TASI HILL, CHAIRMAN OF THE
NATION WHO WILL ADDRESS MEMBERS
FROM THE CLERK'S PODIUM.
PLEASE STEP FORWARD.
[APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON AND WALK WALK
[YAWKO IS "GREAT BIG THANKS" IN
ONEIDA]
THANK YOU, SPEAKER VOS, FOR
THAT INTRODUCTION.
[SPEAKING IN ONEIDA LANGUAGE]
TEHASSI TASI NIYUKYATS
WAKESLEWAKE NIWAKITALOTA ONYOTE
AKA NIWAKAHUNTSYOTA OKHALE
TALUNKOWAN TWA NAKE.
MY NAME IS TEHASSI TASI, I AM
THE BEAR CLAN, AND MY NATION IS
KNOWN AS THE PEOPLE OF STANDING
STONE, AND I COME FROM A PLACE
OF BOUNTIFUL DUCKS.
YAWKO, TO SPEAKER VOS FOR
HOSTING US TODAY AND ALSO
GOVERNOR EVERS, LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR BARNES, MAJORITY LEADER
STEINEKE, ASSEMBLY MINORITY
LEADER HINTZ, SENATE PRESIDENT
ROTH, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
FITZGERALD, SENATOR MINORITY
LEADER SHILLING, MEMBERS OF THE
LEGISLATURE, HONORABLE SUPREME
COURT JUSTICES, ATTORNEY GENERAL
KAUL, STATE TREASURER AND ALL
THE CABINET SECRETARIES.
YAWKO.
YAWKO TO OUR VETERAN'S COLOR
GUARD FOR RAISING OUR COLORS
TODAY AND ALSO YAWKO TO OUR
INTERTRIBAL COLUMN AS THE
SINGERS FROM VARIOUS TRIBES WHO
SANG IN OUR COLORS TODAY AND
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPECIAL
LEADERS, WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU,
KAYLEE SCHULYER AND CALEB
AGUIRRE WHO SHARED OUR ONEIDA
THANKSGIVING ADDRESS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> ON BEHALF OF THE ONEIDA
NATION AND GREAT LAKES
INTERTRIBAL COUNCIL, I'M HULL
BELLED AND HONORED TODAY TO
REPRESENT WISCONSIN'S TRIBAL
NATIONS IN DELIVERING THE 2019
STATE OF THE TRIBES ADDRESS.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK MY FAMILY, THE BUSINESS
COMMITTEE AND THE ONEIDA
COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORTING ME IN
REPRESENTING OUR NATION.
YAWKO.
NOW I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME TO
INTRODUCE MY FELLOW TRIBAL
LEADERS.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AS I SAY
YOUR NAME AND REMAIN STANDING.
PRESIDENT HOLSEY OF THE
STOCKBRIDGE-MUNSEE COMMUNITY.
[APPLAUSE]
CHAIRMAN WIGGINS, JUNIOR OF THE
BAD RIVER LAKE SUPERIOR TRIBE OF
CHIPPEWA INDIANS.
[APPLAUSE]
ON BEHALF OF CHAIRMAN SOX,
TRIBAL SECRETARY, PERSHING
FRECHETTE OF THE MENOMINEE
INDIAN TRIBE OF WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND OF THE
HO-CHUNK NATION.
[APPLAUSE]
CHAIRMAN DANIELS OF THE FOREST
COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY.
[APPLAUSE]
ON BEHALF OF CHAIRMAN ACKLEY,
CARMAN MCGESCHICK OF THE
SOKAOGON CHIPPEWA COMMUNITY.
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR OF THE LAC
COURTE OREILLES BAND OF LAKE
SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA INDIANS OF
WISCONSIN.
PRESIDENT WILDCAT OF THE LAC DU
FLAMBEAU BAND OF MAKE SUPERIOR
CHIPPEWA INDIANS.
[APPLAUSE]
ON BEHALF OF CHAIRMAN TAYLOR,
THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
SPECIALIST, MICHAEL DECORAH OF
THE ST. CROIX CHIPPEWA INDIANS
OF WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
AND LASTLY, CHAIRMAN PETERSON OF
RED CLIFF BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR
CHIPPEWA INDIANS.
[APPLAUSE]
PLEASE JOIN ME IN APPLAUDING OUR
TRIBAL LEADERSHIP.
[APPLAUSE]
WISCONSIN TRIBAL NATIONS HAVE A
LONG AND PROUD HISTORY OF
WORKING HARD TO PROVIDE FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES AND PROTECT OUR
RESOURCES, AND FOSTERING
GOODWILL BY BUILDING APPLIANCES
AND FRIENDSHIPS WITH ONE
ANOTHER.
YAWKO TO ALL THAT YOU DO FOR
YOUR PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITIES,
AND THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
JUST AS WE HAVE WORKED TO BUILD
APPLIANCES AND FRIENDSHIPS
AMONGST ONE ANOTHER, WE ALSO
BUILT STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
OUR FLAGS DISPLAYED IN THE
ROTUNDA SYMBOLIZES THE MUTUAL
RESPECT BETWEEN THE STATE AND
OUR TRIBAL NATIONS AND REMINDS
US OF OUR COMMON GROUND AS CIVIL
SERVANTS.
LASTLY I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE
SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO OUR
ELDERS AND ANCESTORS.
YAWKO FOR PAVING THE PATH FOR
US, YOUR SACRIFICE HAS AFFORDED
US MANY OPPORTUNITIES.
YOU SHOWED US WHAT IT TRULY
MEANS TO HAVE A STRONG FIRE.
IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU WE STAND
HERE TODAY, IN THE STATE
CAPITOL, CELEBRATING OUR
RELATIONSHIPS AND CULTURES.
[APPLAUSE]
IT IS WITH THIS EYE ON THE PAST
THAT I TURN TO MY FELLOW LEADERS
WITH ENCOURAGEMENT TO PERSEVERE
WITH GOOD MINDS, A GOOD HEART
AND A STRONG FIRE TO LIGHT THE
PATH FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW US.
I STAND -- I STARTED TODAY'S
ADDRESS BY PROUDLY SHARING
INFORMATION ABOUT THE
SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE IMPACTS OUR
TRIBAL NATIONS HAVE ON
WISCONSIN'S ECONOMY.
LAST MAY, ONEIDA NATION
PARTNERED WITH ST. NORBERT
COLLEGE CENTER FOR ECONOMIC AND
BUSINESS ANALYSIS TO QUANTIFY
OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE LOCAL
ECONOMY.
THE STUDY FOUND THAT ONEIDA
NATION CONTRIBUTES 3/4 OF A
BILLION DOLLARS AND PROVIDED
5,465 JOBS WITHIN BROWN AND
OUTAGAMIE COUNTIES.
[APPLAUSE]
THE NATION'S ECONOMIC IMPACT HAS
INCREASED BY ROUGHLY $300
MILLION SINCE OUR LAST STUDY
CONDUCTED IN 2006.
FURTHER, ACCORDING TO THE
GREATER GREEN BAY CHAMBER,
ONEIDA NATION IS THE THIRD
LARGEST EMPLOYER IN OUR AREA.
WHILE NOT ALL WISCONSIN TRIBES
HAVE PURSUED ECONOMIC IMPACT
STUDIES, THE RESULTS OF ONEIDA'S
STUDY ARE REPLICATED IN EACH
TRIBAL COMMUNITY IN VARYING
DEGREES.
IT IS CLEAR THAT WISCONSIN
TRIBAL NATIONS STIMULATE THE
ECONOMIES OF THEIR REGIONS
THROUGH JOB CREATION AND
ECONOMIC AND ENTERPRISE
DEVELOPMENT.
AT THE STATE LEVEL, WISCONSIN
TRIBAL NATIONS CONTRIBUTED OVER
$53 MILLION TO THE STATE
PURSUANT TO OUR GAMING COMPACTS.
OFFERING SO MUCH MORE THAN
GAMING, OUR TRIBAL NATIONS
PARTNER WITH THE STATE TO
PROMOTE TOURISM TO OUR TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES AND THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN THROUGH NATOW, THE
NATIVE AMERICAN TOURISM OF
WISCONSIN.
NATOW PROMOTES TOURISM FEATURING
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE AND
CULTURE.
WISCONSIN IS A HUB FOR NATIVE
TOURISM AS IT HAS THE LARGEST
CONCENTRATIONS OF TRIBES EAST OF
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
WALK -- YAWKO TO NATURE NATURE,
THEIR EFFORTS STIMULATE LOT
ECONOMIES AND HELP OUR NATIONS
TELL THEIR OWN HISTORIES AND
SHARE THE CULTURES.
YAWKO TO THE STATE AND WISCONSIN
DEPARTMENT OF TOUR I MEAN.
IT IS CLEAR THAT THE SUCCESS OF
TRIBAL NATIONS TRANSLATES TO THE
SUCCESS OF THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
OURSELF GOVERNANCE AND GOALS FOR
SELF SUSTAINABILITY BOTH PRIDES
FOR OUR NATION AND BENEFITS TO
THE STATE.
WHEN YOU'RE TRIBAL NATION
FOCUSES ON EDUCATION, HEALTH
CARE, SOCIAL SERVICES AND
HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WE
ALLEVIATE THE PRESSURE PLACED ON
SIMILAR PROGRAMS BE OFFERED BY
THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONEIDA NATION
OPERATES A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH
TWELFTH GRADE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
ONEIDA ECONOMIC STUDY SHOWS THAT
WE RELIEVE EDUCATION COSTS.
OVER THE YEARS, THE ECONOMIC
GROWTH OF WISCONSIN TRIBAL
NATIONS HAS RESULTED IN POSITIVE
CHANGES FOR OUR PEOPLE.
WHEN COMPARING THE MOST RECENT
U.S. CENSUS DATA TO THAT OF
1990, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR
NATIVE AMERICANS IN WISCONSIN
DECREASED FROM 17.1% TO 9.9%.
THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME MORE
THAN DOUBLED FROM APPROXIMATELY
$17,000 TO $39,000.
THE FAMILY POVERTY RATE
DECREASED FROM 32.5% TO 23.9%.
I APPLAUD THE WISCONSIN'S TRIBAL
NATIONS FOR THE STRIDES WE HAVE
MADE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE IN
SELF GOVERN ANSWER --
SELF-GOVERNANCE AND
SELF-SUSTAINABILITY.
WHILE THERE IS MUCH TO BE
CELEBRATED, WE STILL HAVE WORK
TO DO.
NATIVE AMERICANS IN WISCONSIN
CONTINUE TO TRAIL BEHIND THE
GENERAL PUBLIC IN MANY CRITICAL
AREAS.
OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS DOUBLED
WHEN COMPARED TO THE REST OF
WISCONSIN RESIDENTS.
OUR MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS
70% OF THE MEDIAN INCOME OF ALL
HOUSEHOLDS IN THE STATE.
OUR POVERTY RATE IS ALMOST THREE
TIMES OF ALL WISCONSIN FAMILIES.
WE ARE HERE TODAY IN THE SPIRIT
OF COLLABORATION WITH A STRONG
DESIRE TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO
COMMON PROBLEMS WHICH WILL
IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE.
OUR PRESENCE HERE REPRESENTS A
WILLINGNESS TO LEARN FROM ONE
ANOTHER AND TO WORK TOGETHER TO
OVERCOME CHALLENGES.
IN MY HOME WE LIVE BY THE
SLOGAN, TEAM WORK MAKES THE
DREAM WORK.
REGARDLESS IF YOU STAND HERE
TODAY AS A MEMBER OF THE
WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE OR AS A
TRIBAL LEADER, WE ARE ALL HERE
TO MAKE BETTER LIVES FOR OUR
CONSTITUENTS BY CREATING
OPPORTUNITIES AND BUILDING SAFE
AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.
[APPLAUSE]
OUR DIVERSITY IS AN ASSET IN
REACHING NEW SOLUTIONS, AND I AM
PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS TEAM.
A GOOD EXAMPLE OF OUR TEAM WORK
IS A SPECIAL STUDY COMMITTEE ON
STATE/TRIBAL RELATIONS.
EACH BY BIENNIUM, THE WISCONSIN
LEGISLATURE THROUGH THE JOINT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, CONVENES A
SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON
STATE-TRIBAL RELATIONS.
I EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION TO THE
WISCONSIN STATE LEGISLATURE FOR
ITS CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THIS
GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT
APPROACH.
I ALSO COMMEND THE FOLLOWING
LEGISLATORS FOR THE SERVING IN
THE 2018 STATE-TRIBAL RELATIONS
COMMITTEE.
REPRESENTATIVE JEFF MURSAU,
CHAIRMAN.
[APPLAUSE]
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES EDMING,
REPRESENTATIVE DAVE CONSIDINE,
FORMER STATE SENATOR AND
VICE-CHAIR KATHLEEN VINEHOUT
SENATOR JERRY PETROWSKI, SENATOR
JANET BEWLEY, SENATOR TIM
CARPENTER, AND SENATOR LENA
TAYLOR.
WA
YAWKO FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP,
SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO THIS
COOPERATIVE EFFORT.
IN MARCH THE STATE-TRIBAL
RELATIONS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
SIX PROPOSAL WHICH THE JOINT
COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO
INTRODUCE AS LEGISLATION.
FIVE OF THE SIX PROPOSALS
SUBMITTED BY THE STATE-TRIBAL
RELATIONS COMMITTEE ARE FOCUSED
ON UPDATING INDIAN EDUCATION
STATUTES.
ONE PROPOSAL I WOULD LIKE TO
HIGHLIGHT IS ACT 31.
ACT 31 IS AN EXISTING LAW WHICH
REQUIRES ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND PRE-SERVICE
EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE
INSTRUCTION ON TRIBAL HISTORY,
CULTURE AND SOVEREIGNTY.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS
LEGISLATION REACHES OUTSIDE OF
THE CLASSROOM AND INTO WISCONSIN
HOMES WHEN IT HAS THE POWER TO
BREAK STEREOTYPES.
WE CAN ONLY MOVE FORWARD WHEN WE
HAVE AN ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING
OF OUR PAST AND THE CONTINUED
SURVIVAL OF OUR CULTURES TODAY.
FOR TOO MANY GENERATIONS,
CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED ABOUT
NATIVE AMERICANS AS RELICS OF
THE PAST, TO BE STUDIED IN
MUSEUM EXHIBITS.
OUR KIDS LEARN TOGETHER, THEY
PLAY TOGETHER AND THEY GROW
TOGETHER.
OUR AMENDMENTS TO ACT 31 MUST
TEACH THAT WE, AS NATIVE PEOPLE,
ARE ALIVE, VIBRANT AND THRIVING.
OUR CULTURES ARE ALIVE, VIBRANT
AND THRIVING.
[APPLAUSE]
ON BEHALF OF ALL TRIBES HERE
TODAY, WE ASK THE STATE
LEGISLATURE TO MOVE THIS NEWLY
INTRODUCED BILL FORWARD.
ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE FOCUS
IMPORTANT TO WISCONSIN'S TRIBAL
NATIONS IS ELIMINATING THE USE
OF INDIAN MASCOTS, LOGOS AND
NICKNAMES IN EDUCATION ALPHA
SITS SUPPORTED BY THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
AS OF LAST MONTH, THERE WERE
STILL 31 WISCONSIN PUBLIC
SCHOOLS USING INDIAN MASCOTS,
LOGOS AND/OR NICKNAMES.
THE USE OF INDIAN IMAGES,
STEREOTYPES AND DEHUMANIZES OUR
CULTURE AND NATIVE AMERICAN
PEOPLE FOR THE SAKE OF
ENTERTAINMENT.
FURTHERMORE, IT ENCOURAGES
RACIST AND VULGAR BEHAVIOR IN
THE NAME OF SCHOOL SPIRIT, WHICH
IS BOTH SOCIALLY AND
ACADEMICALLY DETRIMENTAL TO ALL
CHILDREN.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME
TO THANK THE WISCONSIN INDIAN
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AND THE
INDIAN MASCOT AND TASK FORCE FOR
THEIR VOLUNTEER WORK ON THIS
VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
ON BEHALF OF NATIVE AMERICAN
STUDENTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
SYSTEM, I ASK THAT THIS TEAM TO
PRODUCE NEW LEGISLATION WHICH
SHARE THE WISCONSIN INDIAN
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION MOTTO OF
TEACH RESPECT, NOT RACISM.
INDIANS ARE PEOPLE, NOT MASCOTS.
[APPLAUSE]
AS RELATED TO TEACHING AND
SHARING OUR CULTURE, I NOW SHARE
WITH YOU OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
MOTHER EARTH, AS WE HAVE HEARD
EMPHASIZED IN TODAY'S
THANKSGIVING ADDRESS.
THE WISCONSIN TRIBAL NATIONS
WORK TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE WHAT
THE CREATOR HAS PROVIDED AND
ALWAYS CONSIDER HOW OUR ACTIONS
IMPACT THE NEXT SEVEN
GENERATIONS.
WHEN FULFILLING OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE LAND, TO
THE PLANTS AND THE ANIMAL LIFE,
WE MAKE OUR MOTHER EARTH
HEALTHIER, GROWNER AND MORE
BEAUTIFUL.
I TURN MY DISCUSSION NOW TO
TOPICS WHERE THE WISCONSIN
TRIBAL NATIONS AND THE WISCONSIN
LEGISLATURE CAN COLLABORATE
CONCERNING OUR MOTHER EARTH.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, FOOD
SUSTAINABILITY AND CHRONIC
WASTING DISEASE.
[APPLAUSE]
AS A PEOPLE WE CANNOT SURVIVE
WITHOUT MOTHER EARTH.
FOR WITHOUT HER LANDS, THERE'S
NO LIFE.
NO HUMAN LIFE, NO PLANT LIFE, NO
ANIMAL LIFE.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAS
ALWAYS BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF
NATIVE LIFE AND CULTURE.
JUST LAST YEAR, SEVERAL NATIONS
STOOD IN SOLIDARITY WITH
MENOMINEE NATION IN THEIR
LAWSUIT OPPOSING THE PROPOSED
BACK FORTY MINE.
IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT THE
IMPACTS OF MINING ACTIVITIES ARE
WIDESPREAD AND PERMANENT.
THE PROPOSED MINE WOULD SIT A
NEAR 150 FEET FROM THE BANKS OF
THE MENOMINEE RIVER.
THIS RIVER FORMS A BOUNDARY
BETWEEN WISCONSIN AND THE UPPER
MICHIGAN AND FLOWS INTO LAKE
MICHIGAN.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS TO THE
MENOMINEE RIVER, ADJACENT LANDS
AND THE GREAT LAKES FROM THE
INEVITABLE ACID MINE DRAINAGE IS
UNACCEPTABLE.
THE MENOMINEE NATION HAS A
SOVEREIGN RIGHT TO PROTECT THEIR
SACRED PLACE OF ORIGIN AND
CULTURAL RESOURCES THREAT INNED
BY THE BACK FORTY MINE, AS DO
OTHER TRIBAL NATIONS IN THE
OPPOSITION --
[APPLAUSE]
AS DO OTHER TRIBAL NATIONS IN
OPPOSITION OF METALLIC MINERAL
MINING, SUCH AS LYNN MINE, WHICH
THREATENS OUR TREATY RIGHTS.
OUR TRIBAL COLLABORATION IS A
PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE
COMMITMENT OF OUR BROTHERS AND
SISTERS TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT
OUR ENVIRONMENT FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> PROTECTING HIGH QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND
REPAIRING DAMAGE IS NOT A
POLITICAL POLICY, IT IS A
RESPONSIBILITY.
WE HAVE OBLIGATIONS TO PROTECT
THE PRECIOUS WATER RESOURCES.
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PROTECT
OUR PRECIOUS WATER RESOURCES.
WATER IS LIFE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AS YOU KNOW, THE UNITED
STATES EPA HAS PROPOSED
REVISIONS TO THE CLEAN WATER
ACT'S DEFINITION OF WATER WHICH,
IF ADOPTED, WOULD NARROW THE
WATERS THAT ARE FEDERALLY
PROTECTED.
WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN
ENSURING THAT MORE, NOT LESS, OF
OUR WATERS ARE PROTECTED UNDER
THIS ACT.
THE IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED
NARROWING OF THE PROTECTION
COULD BE DEVASTATING TO
WISCONSIN WATERS AND TRIBAL
WATER RIGHTS.
WITH LESS FEDERAL PROTECTION OF
WISCONSIN WATERS, THERE WILL BE
LESS PERMITTING, MORE POLLUTION,
AND A REDUCTION IN TRIBAL WATER
QUALITY STANDARDS.
THIS IS THE TIME TO STRENGTHEN,
NOT WEAKEN, OUR RESOLVE TO A
CLEAN AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> FURTHERMORE, I CALL ON
WISCONSIN TO STAND IN THE
FOREFRONT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
DISCUSSIONS.
NATIVE PEOPLE HAVE CALLED
WISCONSIN HOME FOR THOUSANDS OF
YEARS.
AS A RESULT OF GLOBAL WARMING
AND ITS EFFECT ON THE
ENVIRONMENT, WE COULD LOSE
ESSENTIAL HUNTING, FISHING AND
GATHERING CULTURAL PRACTICES
ALSO AFFECTING OUR TREATY
RIGHTS.
HEAVY RAIN STORMS ARE MORE
PROTECT AND THEY INCREASE THE
RISK OF FLOODING WHICH MEANS
MORE POLLUTANTS RUNNING FROM THE
LAND TO WATER.
INCREASED POLLUTANT RUNOFF
POTENTIALLY CAUSES DEVELOPMENT
OF MORE ALGAL BLOOMS THAT ARE
ALREADY MORE LIKELY DUE TO
INCREASED WATER TEMPERATURES.
ALGAL BLOOMS ARE UNSIGHTLY AND
HARM FISH AND DEGRADE WATER
QUALITY BY CREATING DEAD ZONES
IN OUR LIFE SUSTAINING WATERS.
WE ARE EXPERIENCING MORE EXTREME
TEMPERATURES AND HOTTER DAYS
THAN EVER BEFORE.
THE ICE COVER ON THE GREAT LAKES
IS FORMING LATER AND MELTING
SOONER.
THE SHORTER AND WARMER WINTERS
THREATEN WISCONSIN TOURISM FOR
WINTER RECREATION LIKE ICE
FISHING, SNOWMOBILING, SKIING
AND SNOW BOARDING, WHICH MANY OF
OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO THE
NORTH RELY UPON TO SUPPORT THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
THE HOTTER DAYS RISK PUBLIC
HEALTH, ESPECIALLY IN URBAN
AREAS, AND WREAK HAVOC ON THE
CORN HARVESTS OUR NATIONS RELY
UPON IN WORKING TO BECOME FOOD
SOVEREIGNS.
ALSO THE CHANGING CLIMATE
INETABLY SHIFTS OUR ECO SYSTEMS.
IT AFFECTS THE RANGE OF PLANT
AND ANIMAL LIFE WHICH AFFECTS
THE COMPOSITION OF OUR NORTH
WOODS, OUR FISH, OUR BIRD
POPULATIONS, WHEN FLOWERS BLOOM
AND WHEN ANIMALS REPRODUCE.
IN 2007 WISCONSIN CREATED A
GLOBAL WARMING TASK FORCE WITH
THE GOAL OF MAKING WISCONSIN A
LEADER TO ADDRESS CLIMATE
CHANGE.
THIS IS A REAL NATIONAL
EMERGENCY.
[APPLAUSE]
NOW IS THE TIME FOR WISCONSIN TO
CONFRONT THE THREAT AS A
NATIONAL LEADER.
I CALL ON WISCONSIN TO WORK WITH
OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES TO
BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO THE GLOBAL
WARMING TASK FORCE, OUR
EXISTENCE AS WE KNOW IT, RELIES
UPON OUR ACTION.
IT IS ONLY WHEN WE HAVE HEALTHY
LANDS AND WATERS THAT WE MAY
GROW HEALTHY LIFE UPON THEM.
AS NATIVE NATIONS, WE HAVE
DEDICATED -- WE ARE DEDICATED TO
FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND RESTORING
THE ABUNDANCE OF OUR TRADITIONAL
FOODS.
ONE EXAMPLE OF FOOD SOVEREIGNTY
IS FARM TO TABLE INITIATIVES.
THESE INITIATIVES FOCUS ON
BUILDING FOOD ECONOMY THAT
PROMOTES A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE
FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY
STEMS FROM THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF
GROWING AND SUSTAINING OUR
NATURAL FOODS.
WISCONSIN TRIBAL NATIONS ARE
FORTUNATE TO HAVE PRESERVED
HEIRLOOM SEEDS, WILD RICE BEDS,
FISH, FOWL AND GAME.
WE HAVE ORCHARDS, GARDENS AND
FISH HATCHERIES AND HAVE
EXPLORED AQUAPONICS AS A WAY TO
SUSTAIN OUR FOOD CHAIN.
RECENTLY WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN TO TAKE
ANOTHER STEP TOWARD FOOD
SOVEREIGNTY.
WE NOW GROW FOODS WHICH ARE
TRADITIONAL TO OUR CULTURE AND
HELP US FEED OUR TRIBAL MEMBERS
THROUGH CONGREGATE MEAL SITES
AND PROGRAMS SUCH AS MEALS ON
WHEELS.
WHILE FOOD SOVEREIGNTY IS THE
TARGET FOR OUR NATIONS, WE WANT
EVEN MORE.
WE WANT OUR ORCHARDS, GARDENS
AND HATCHERIES TO BE THE LOCAL
CHOICE.
I PROPOSE DEVELOPING A JOINT
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING
INITIATIVE BETWEEN THE STATE AND
WISCONSIN TRIBAL NATIONS.
WISCONSIN WOULD LEFT FROM A
STATE-TRIBAL SUB COMMITTEE WHICH
PROMOTES TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AS
FOOD HUBS FOR PEOPLE TO BUY
LOCAL.
THE IROQUOIS HAVE A STORY OF
THREE SISTERS, CORN, BEANS AND
SQUASH WHO ONLY GROW AND THRIVE
WHEN TOGETHER.
SIMILAR TO THE CONNECTIVITY OF
THE THREE SISTERS, ANY APPROACH
TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
AND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY WOULD BE
LACKING IF WE DID NOT ALSO
RECOGNIZE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROTECT THE ANIMAL LIFE.
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE, MORE
COMMONLY KNOWN AS CWD, IS AN
UNPRECEDENTED THREAT TO
WISCONSIN'S DEER POPULATION.
NATIVE COMMUNITIES RELY ON DEER
AS A CULTURAL FOOD SOURCE, AND
MANY -- BUT THE DEER POPULATION
IS IMPORTANT AS SUSTENANCE BOTH
NUTRITIONALLY AND ECONOMICALLY
FOR ALL OF WISCONSIN.
FURTHER, TOURISM OFFICIALS
INDICATE HUNTING IS A $1 BILLION
INDUSTRY IN WISCONSIN.
AS CWD CONTINUES TO SPREAD ON
DEER FARMS AND HUNTING RANCHES
IN WES WE, THE STATE'S
RESPONSIBILITY MUST BE IMMEDIATE
OR WE WILL RISK LOSE ARE OUR
DEER CULTURE AND ECONOMY.
JUST AS WE LEVERAGE SCIENCE FOR
SOLUTIONS TO OTHER ISSUES, WE
NEED TO SUPPORT RESEARCH TO
FURTHER ANSWER VITAL QUESTIONS
ABOUT CBD.
MORE STUDIES ARE NEEDED TO FULL
UNDERSTAND THE SPREZ OF CBD, THE
BEST WAYS TO CONTAIN THE SPREAD,
AND THE RISKS OF CONSUMING
INFECTED MEAT.
TO PROTECT ALL OF OUR FAEPS,
WISCONSIN'S TRIBAL NATIONS URGE
THE STATE TO ACT SWIFTLY TO
CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF CWD
THROUGH FOUR FRONTS.
ONE, REQUIRE MORE RESPONSIBLE
DEER FARMING PRACTICES, TWO,
REQUIRE PROPER DISPOSAL AND
TREATMENT OF INFECTED DEER AND
CARCASSES.
THREE, PROVIDE FAST AND FREE
TESTING OF ALL HARVESTED ANIMALS
AND FOUR, PROVIDE A GREATER
INVESTMENT IN RESEARCH RELATED
TO CBD.
IT IS THROUGH THIS CALL TO
SCIENCE THAT I ASK WISCONSIN TO
MAINTAIN ITS PROGRESSIVE
APPROACH UNDER THE STATE MOTTO
TO CONTINUE FORWARD TO PROTECT
AND MAINTAIN THE HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING OF OUR LAND, PLANT
LIFE AND ANIMAL LIFE FOR THE
BENEFIT OF ALL HUMAN LIFE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WE WORK TO BUILD A HEALTHY
AND STRONG ENVIRONMENT, KNOWING
IT WILL ENABLE US TO HAVE
HEALTHY AND STRONG MINDS AND
BODIES.
HAVING ADDRESSED SOME OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES, I WANT
TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH
DISPARITIES OF OUR PEOPLE
THROUGH DISCUSSION ON HEALTH
CARE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
DATA COLLECTED BY THE NATIONAL
HEALTH BOARD DEMONSTRATIONS THAT
INDIANS IN WISCONSIN HAVE NEARLY
TWICE THE RATE OF HEALTH
DISPARITIES THAN OTHER RACES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE DIABETES RATE
IS TWO, SOMETIMES THREE TIMES
HIGHER IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.
THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE RATE IS SIX
TO EIGHT TIMES HIGHER THAN THE
GENERAL POPULATION.
JUST LIKE WISCONSIN, OUR TRIBAL
LEADERSHIP WANTS TO ENSURE OUR
COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO
QUALITY HEALTH CARE.
HOWEVER --
[APPLAUSE]
>> HOWEVER, WISCONSIN TRIBAL
NATIONS CONTINUE TO FACE
CHALLENGES WITH THE STATE IN
ENSURING -- HOWEVER, WISCONSIN
TRIBAL NATIONS CONTINUE TO FACE
CHALLENGES WITH THE STATE IN
EFFORTS SURROUNDING MEDICAID,
MEDICAID WAIVERS AND THE GENERAL
APPROACH TO HEALTH CARE OVERALL.
[APPLAUSE]
>> ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS
UNDERSTANDING THE BASIS OF A
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND HOW OUR
TRIBAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS ARE
DIFFERENT.
THE UNITED STATES HAS A LONG
STANDING LEGAL OBLIGATION TO
PROVIDE FOR THE HEALTH CARE OF
OUR AMERICAN INDIANS THAT DATES
BACK TO THE FOUNDING OF THE
REPUBLIC.
IN EXCHANGE FOR THE VAST TRACTS
OF LAND AND RESOURCES BY TRIBAL
NATIONS, THE UNITED STATES
ENTERED INTO TREATIES THAT
REQUIRED THE UNITED STATES TO
PROVIDE FOR THE HEALTH AND
WELFARE OF NATIVE PEOPLE.
THOSE OBLIGATIONS STILL EXIST
TODAY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE INDIAN HEALTH CARE
IMPROVEMENT ACT, CONGRESS
DECLARED IT IS THE POLICY OF
THIS NATION, TO FULFILL THE
SPECIAL TRUST RESPONSIBILITIES
AND LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO
INDIANS, TO ENSURE THE HIGHEST
POSSIBLE HEALTH STATUS FOR
INDIANS AND URBAN INDIANS TO
PROVIDE ALL RESOURCES NECESSARY
TO AFFECT THAT POLICY.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE UNITED STATES
HAS NOT YET REACHED THIS GOAL AS
SEVERAL FEDERAL REPORTS CONCLUDE
THAT THE INDIAN HEALTH SYSTEM
CONTINUES TO BE DRAMATICALLY
UNDERFUNDED AND NATIVE AMERICANS
CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME OF THE
LOWEST HEALTH STATUS INDICATORS
IN THE UNITED STATES.
TO DEMONSTRATION THIS
UNDERFUNDING, A REPORT PUBLISHED
BY THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
OFFICE SHOWED TOTAL ANNUAL
SPENDING FOR NATIVES USING THE
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES IS ONLY
$3688 PER YEAR, AS COMPARED TO
FEDERAL PRISONERS WHO RECEIVE
$5500 PER YEAR AND THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE IS OF $9,523 PER YEAR.
WITH THE $6,000 GAP IN SPENDING
BETWEEN NATIVE AMERICANS AND THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE, IT IS OBVIOUS
THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO
FALL SHORT IN ITS OBLIGATIONS TO
NATIVE PEOPLE.
BECAUSE OF THE INDIAN HEALTH
SERVICE FUNDING SHORTFALLS, THE
INDIAN HEALTH SYSTEM HAS TO RELY
ON OUR FUNDING SOURCES TO KEEP
OUR CLIN I BES OPEN.
BY FAR, OUR MOST IMPORTANT
SOURCE OF THIRD PARTY REVENUE IS
MEDICAID.
WISCONSIN TRIBAL NATIONS
CONTINUE TO STRONGLY SUPPORT
FULL MEDICAID EXPANSION IN THE
STATE.
[APPLAUSE]
MOVING TO FULL MEDICAID
EXPANSION WOULD PROVIDE COVERAGE
FOR AN ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL 5700
TRIBAL CITIZENS IN THE STATE.
THIS WOULD RESULT IN AN
ADDITIONAL $38 MILLION IN
FEDERAL HEALTH CARE RESOURCES
COMING INTO THE INDIAN HEALTH
SYSTEM, ALL OF THAT AT MINIMAL
TO NO COST TO THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> UNDER FEDERAL LAW, THE UNITED
STATES PAYS 100% OF THE COST OF
MEDICAID SERVICES RECEIVED
THROUGH INDIAN HEALTH SYSTEM.
THIS IS KNOWN AS THE FEDERAL
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE EX PENDZ
TOURS OR FMAP.
WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH THE STATE TO INCREASE
HEALTH COVERAGE AND LOWER COSTS
THROUGH THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.
WISCONSIN TRIBAL NATIONS AND THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN HAVE A UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO JUST THAT.
CMS RECENTLY CHANGED POLICY TO
ALLOW STATES TO RECEIVE 100%
FUNDING NOT JUST FOR SERVICES
RECEIVED BUT ALSO SERVICES TO
INDIANS PROVIDED BY OUTSIDE
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.
IF TRUBAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS
IMPLEMENT THE CHANGE, THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN COULD RECEIVE
SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN FEDERAL
MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT.
IF DONE CORRECTLY, THE CHANGE IN
POLICY COULD RESULT IN A WIN-WIN
FOR WISCONSIN TRIBAL NATIONS AND
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> ANOTHER CHALLENGE WE FACE AND
STRONGLY OPPOSE ARE THE WORK
REQUIREMENTS IN MEDICAID AS A
CONDITION OF ELIGIBILITY.
WHILE TRIBES SUPPORT FULL
EMPLOYMENT FOR ALL OUR MEMBERS,
MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENTS
CREATE DISINCENTIVES FOR
RECIPIENTS WITHIN THE TRIBAL
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
INSTEAD, WORK REQUIREMENTS WILL
CAUSE MANY, M NOT ALL OF OUR
MEMBERS, TO DROP OUT OF
MEDICAID.
THIS WILL MEAN LESS FEDERAL
MONEY AVAILABLE FOR US TO
PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR OUR
PEOPLE.
WE ARE ALREADY UNDERFUNDED AND
CANNOT ACCEPT ANY MORE CUTS.
WORK REQUIREMENTS ALSO ARE
INCONSISTENT WITH THE UNITED
STATES' TRUST AND TREATY
OBLIGATIONS TO PROVIDE HEALTH
CARE FOR OUR PEOPLE, AND
INCONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS OF
MEDICAID STATUTE.
THE MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENTS
ARE ALSO A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW
THE STATE'S HEALTH CARE POLICIES
ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTING TRIBAL
HEALTH SYSTEMS AND THE ACCESS TO
QUALITY CARE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WITH THAT, THE WISCONSIN TRIBAL
NATIONS ASK THE STATE TO TAKE A
HARD LOOK AT MEDICAID EXPANSION
AND WE ASK FOR CONTINUED
COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATE WITH
TRIBES TO INCREASE CARE WHILE
REDUCING COSTS IN OUR TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES.
WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF THE
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
LEADERSHIP IN LEARNING ABOUT OUR
TRIBAL HEALTH SYSTEMS AND
WORKING WITH US TO DEVELOP
SOLUTIONS TO THESE ISSUES.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC
REPRESENTS ONE OF THE GREATEST
PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS IN THE
MODERN ERA, HAVING DEVASTATING
IMPACTS ON ALL OF OUR XHUNS AND
FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
COUNTRY.
NATIONALLY, THE DRUG OVERDOSE
DEATH RATE OF AMERICAN INDIANS
AND ALASKA NATIVES HAS EXCEEDED
THE GENERAL POPULATION EVERY
YEAR SINCE 2001.
IN 2017, AMERICAN INDIANS AND
ALASKA NATIVES HAD THE HIGHEST
OVERDOSE DEATHS OF ANY RACE.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS OFTEN AN
ATTEMPT TO AVOID PAINFUL
FEELINGS THROUGH SELF-MEDICATION
SO IT SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE THAT
THE OPIOID CRISIS HAS ROOTS IN
HISTORICAL AND INTERGENERATIONAL
TRAUMA FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
[APPLAUSE]
>> TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, SOCIAL
WORKERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS AND MANY
OTHER PROFESSIONALS RECOGNIZE
HOW HISTORICAL TRAUMA HAS
FAR-REACHING EFFECTS ACROSS
GENERATIONS AS IT CAN NEGATIVELY
IMPACT EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL,
PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL
WELL-BEING.
OUR LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
CONTINUES TO BE PASSED DOWN
GENERATION TO GENERATION SO, SO
HAVE THE LONG-LASTING
CONSEQUENCES OF OUR ANCESTORS
ENDURING A SUCCESSION OF TRA
TRAUMATIC EVENTS, FORCED
RELOCATION, ATTEMPTED GENOCIDE,
AND CHILDREN FORCIBLY REMOVED
FROM HOMES AND PLACED IN
BOARDING SCHOOLS ARE EXAMPLES.
WE KNOW OUR PEOPLE ARE
RESILIENT.
WE WILL FIGHT EVERY DAY TO
SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES AND FIND
SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT THIS
EPIDEMIC FROM MOVING TO OUR
FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC IS A
NATIONAL CRISIS AND OUR TRIBAL
NATIONS CANNOT COMBAT THIS
ALONE.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO WISCONSIN
ALONG WITH OUR FEDERAL AND LOCAL
PARTNERS ASSISTING IN CURRENT
EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS.
ONE CRUCIAL COMPONENT AND THE
NATIVE AMERICAN DRUG AND GANG
INCENTIVE, ALSO KNOWN AS NADGI.
NADGI FOCUSES ON NAIN AMERICAN
COMMUNITIES AND THE SPECIFIC
THREAT TO RESPOND TO ILLEGAL
DRUG DISTRIBUTION, CRIMINAL GANG
ACTIVITIES AND ALL ASSOCIATED
CRIME AND VICTIMIZATION.
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES FACE AN
ALARMING INCREASE OF DIVERTED
NARCOTIC MEDICATIONS, HEROIN,
FENTANYL AND METHAMPHETAMINE.
THE USE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS HAS A
DIRECT CORRELATION TO AN
INCREASE IN CRIME SUCH AS
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HUMAN
TRAFFICKING, BURGLARY, THEFT AND
OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES.
EFFECTS AREN'T JUST CRIMINAL.
THEY ALSO TU INTO MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES AND THE EROSION OF FAMILY
AND COMMUNITIES.
IN THE FACE OF THESE THREATS,
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, LAW
ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNITY MEMBERS
AND NADGI ARE COLLECTIVELY
WORKING ON MULTIPLE APPROACHES
TO EACH SPECIFIC THREAT.
THE NADGI MISSION OF DETERRENCE,
REASSURANCE AND ATTRITION LOOKS
TO DRUPT AND DISMANTLE DRUG
TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS WHILE
ADDRESSING THOSE WHO ARE
ADDICTED AND THOSE AFFECTED.
THROUGH COMMUNITY TRAINING
SESSIONS AND COORDINATION WITH
TRIBAL RESOURCES, THE DETER ENS
AND REASSURANCE PORTIONS OF THE
MISSION FOCUS ON PREVENTION AND
TREATMENT.
MANY OF OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
HAVE CREATED TRIBAL ACTION PLANS
TO WORK TOWARDS A COMPREHENSIVE
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
PROGRAMS FOR ALCOHOLISM AND
OTHER SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
WE FACE MANY OF THE SAME
OBSTACLES AS COMMUNITIES ACROSS
COUNTRY, A SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES
AND INPATIENT TREATMENT CENTERS.
THERE ARE LIKELY -- THERE ARE
KEY PROFESSIONS OR CALLINGS
WITHIN EVERY CULTURE WHERE THE
ROLE IS TO SERVE, TO HEAL AND
BRING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.
WHETHER IT BE TEACHERS, DOCTORS,
NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS, POLICE
OFFICERS OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SPECIALISTS, COMMUNITIES
STRUGGLE TO FILL THESE ROLES AND
THE DEMAND FOR THEIR SERVICES
NEVER SEEMS TO LESSEN.
AS STATED, THE ENTIRE COUNTRY
FACES SHORTAGE IN CRITICAL
HELPING PROFESSIONS AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES ARE NO DIFFERENT.
THE EFFECTS ARE ONLY EXACERBATED
BECAUSE OF MANY INEQUITIES AND
UNIQUE CHALLENGES NATIVE
COMMUNITIES ALREADY FACE.
IT IS NO DOUBT A DIFFICULT ROAD
TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AND TO HEAL
OTHERS ESPECIALLY WHEN DEALING
WITH THE DEVASTATION ADDICTION
BRINGS.
AS ENTIRE COMMUNITIES, WE NEED
TO STEP UP AND WORK TOGETHER TO
SERVE, TO HEAL AND TO CONNECT
ALL OF US.
WE ALSO NEED TO BE SURE TO
APPRECIATE THOSE WHO PUT IN THE
WORK EVERY DAY.
IN ADDITION TO THE SHORTFALL OF
HUMAN RESOURCES, WE ARE ALSO
LOOKING STRUCTURAL RESOURCES FOR
INPATIENT TREATMENT.
FOR INFASHT TREATMENT THAT DOES
EXIST, MANY FAIL TO INCORPORATE
OUR NATIVE CULTURES INTO THE
HEALING PROCESS.
WE LEARNED IN ANALYZING OUR AODA
TREATMENT DATA THAT OUR PEOPLE
ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN TREATMENT
WHEN CULTURAL HEALING IS
INCORPORATED AND WE MUST
TRANSLATE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED
TO THIS EPIDEMIC.
TO TREAT THE PERSON WITHOUT
ADDRESSING THE UNDERLYING
TRAUMA, MENTAL HEALTH AND
TRIGGER ISSUES LEADING TO
ADDICTION IS AN INVESTMENT IN
FAILURE.
I AM PLEASED TO STAY,
WISCONSIN'S TRIBAL NATIONS,
THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES
INTERTRIBAL COUNCIL, ARE
PURSUING THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN
INPATIENT ADOLESCENT TREATMENT
FACILITY.
WE THANK THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
FOR ITS SUPPORT AND CONTRIBUTION
TO THIS ENDEAVOR IN THE LAST
BIENNIUM BUDGET.
[APPLAUSE]
>> A FEASIBILITY STUDY WAS
COMPLETED WHICH GETS US ONE STEP
TOWARD OUR GOAL TO OFFERING A
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO
TREATMENT FOR ADDICTION.
IN OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, IN
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND
THROUGHOUT COUNTRY, PEOPLE ARE
LOSING THEIR BATTLE WITH
ADDICTION WHILE WE STRUGGLE TO
FIND THE RESOURCES TO HELP THEM.
I CALL ON THIS TEAM OF TRIBAL
NATIONS AND THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT
AGAINST ADDICTION TOGETHER BY
ASSESSING OUR SHARED DATA AND
AGGRESSIVELY PROCURING FEDERAL
DOLLARS AND ALLOCATING THEM
WISELY.
I EXTEND PRAYERS OF STRENGTH,
LOVE AND COMPASSION TO EVERY
HOME THAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE
TOUCHES.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, ACCESS
TO SAFE, ADEQUATE AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IS ONE OF THE CRITICAL
COMPONENTS TO A COMPREHENSIVE
DRUG TREATMENT APPROACH.
[APPLAUSE]
>> HOUSING IS A CONSTANT ISSUE
IN OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.
OUR TRIBAL CITIZENS HAVE LOWER
HOUSEHOLD INCOMES AND HIGHER
POVERTY RATES THAN OTHER
WISCONSIN RESIDENTS.
AS SUCH, OUR COMMUNITIES
STRUGGLE WITH INCREASED
INCIDENCES OF HOMELESSNESS,
UNDERHOUSING AND SUB PAR
HOUSING.
HOUSING ISSUES DO NOT LOOK THE
SAME IN ALL COMMUNITIES.
IN MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES, IT
DOESN'T MEAN SLEEPING IN THE
STREETS BUT MEANS DRIFTING FROM
HOUSE TO HOUSE OR OVERCROWDING A
FAMILIAL HOME.
OUR COMMUNITIES NEED ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES FOR HOMELESSNESS AND
UNDERHOUSED INDIVIDUALS.
OUR COMMUNITIES ALSO NEED INTERT
ACCESS TO ADEQUATE AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HAVING A SENSE OF STABILITY IN
THE HOME IS IMPORTANT FOR
INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES.
A STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
IN DECEMBER OF 2016 FOUND HOME
OWNERSHIP RESULTED IN INCREASED
HOUSING STABILITY.
THE STUDY FOUND THAT HOME
OWNERSHIP UNIQUELY INVESTS A
HOMEOWNER IN A SET LOCATION AND
THEREFORE, POSITIVELY IMPACTS A
MULTITUDE OF SOCIAL FACTORS.
CHILDREN OF HOMEOWNERS HAVE
HIGHER EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT,
LOWER DROPOUT RATES AND AN
INCREASED LIKELIHOOD THEIR
PARENTS WILL TEACH THEM
FINANCIAL RESPOND THROUGH HOME
OWNERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE.
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES BENEFIT
FROM HOME OWNERSHIP AS A RESULT
-- IT RESULTS IN BETTER
MAINTAINED PROPERTIES, WHICH IN
TURN LEADS TO BETTER PHYSICAL
AND MENTAL HEALTH INCLUDING
HIGHER REPORTS OF SELF
CONFIDENCE AND SATISFACTION.
THE NEED FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
IS REDUCED AS HOMEOWNERS HAVE
THE ADVANTAGE OF USING THE HOME
EQUITY LINES TO HELP PAY OTHER
DEBTS.
FINALLY, THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS
FROM MORE HOME OWNERSHIP AS IT
FOSTERS MORE CONNECTIVITY AND
INCREASES INVOLVEMENT IN LOCAL
POLITICS AND VOLUNTEER
ORGANIZATIONS.
BOTH PROPERTY AND VIOLENT CRIME
RATES ARE REDUCED BASED ON
STRONGER COMMUNITY INVESTMENT.
WHILE I ACKNOWLEDGE THE MAJORITY
OF TRIBAL HOUSING RESOURCES ARE
PROVIDED THROUGH FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, THERE IS STILL WORK
TO BE DONE IN WISCONSIN THROUGH
GRANT OFFERINGS AND OTHER
INCENTIVES TO MAKE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT MORE AFFORDABLE.
SPECIFICALLY, WE NEED INCREASED
RESOURCES FOR HOMELESSNESS, HOME
OWNERSHIP INITIATIVES AND GREEN
BUILDING, WHICH RIGHT NOW IS
PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE.
I'M ASKING THE STATE TO HELP US
PROVIDE HOMES FOR OUR FAMILIES
WHICH LEADS TO MY TWO FINAL
TOPICS, OUR WOMEN AND OUR
CHILDREN, THE HEART OF THE HOME
AND OUR FUTURE LEGACY.
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS
WOMEN AND THE THREAT TO INDIAN
CHILD WELFARE ACT WORKING ITS
WAY THROUGH THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
FEDERAL COURT ARE TWO ISSUES
SPECIFIC TO NATIVE COMMUNITIESES
OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS
WOMEN IS DEVASTATING NATIVE
AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS ALL
OF AMERICA.
ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCH FUNDED
BY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, NATIVE
WOMEN LIVING ON TRIBAL LANDS ARE
MURDERED AT EXTREMELY HIGH RATE.
IN MANY COMMUNITIES,
JURISDICTIONAL AND ENFORCEMENT
GAPS PLAY A LARGE ROLE IN
ALLOWING THE VIOLENT CRIMES TO
GO UNPUNISHED.
IN BUSINESS BUSINESS, AS A
PUBLIC LAW 280 STATES, STATE
CRIMINAL LAW APPLIES TO OUR
RESERVATIONS WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF THE MENOMINEE NATION.
THEREFORE, WE DO NOT SHARE MANY
OF THE SAME JURISDICTIONAL
CHALLENGES.
HOWEVER, WE STILL SEE HIGHER
INCIDENCES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN IN OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.
WE MUST DO BETTER.
[APPLAUSE]
WE MUST TAKE CARE OF OUR LIFE
GIVERS.
JUST AS MOTHER EARTH PROVIDES
EVERYTHING WE NEED TO SURVIVE
AND THRIVE, OUR MOTHERS,
GRANDMOTHERS, AUNTS, SISTERS AND
DAUGHTERS PROVIDE THE LOVE,
NOURISHMENT AND PROTECTION OUR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES NEED TO
SURVIVE AND THRIVE.
THAT MANY SAID, LIFE GIVEN OR
MOTHER IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY
CRITICAL ROLES WOMEN HAVE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
BEYOND FAMILIES, WOMEN ARE
CRITICAL TO OUR ECONOMY AND WORK
FORCE.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN NOT ONLY
DESTROYS FAMILIES, IT MEANS TIME
AWAY FROM WORK AND THE
DEVELOPMENT OF RELATED HEALTH
ISSUES SUCH AS SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
FURTHER, A THREAT AGAINST OUR
WOMEN IS A THREAT OUR CHILDREN
AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
ACCORDING TO THE FAMILY VIOLENCE
PREVENTION FUND, CHILDREN WHO
HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO FAMILY
VIOLENCE SUFFER SYMPTOMS OF POST
TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, SUCH
AS BED WETTING OR NIGHTMARES AND
ARE AT A GREATER RISK THAN THEIR
PEERS OF HAVING ALLERGIES,
ASTHMA, GASTRO INTESTINAL
PROBLEMS, HEADACHES AND FLU.
WOMEN OPPOSED TO PHYSICAL ABUSE
AS A CHILD ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE
VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE AS
ADULTS.
WHILE MEN WHO ARE EXPOSED TO
PHYSICAL ABUSE AS A CHILD ARE
MORE LIKELY TO PERPETRATE
PHYSICAL ABUSE AS ADULTS.
THE MISSING AND MURDERED
INDIGENOUS WOMEN U.S.A. GROUP IS
WORKING TO COMBAT VIOLENCE
AGAINST INDIGENOUS WOMEN BY
EDUCATING WOMEN OF THE THREATS
THEY FACE AND TEACHING THEMSELF
DEFENSE.
I CALL ON THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
TO WORK WITH OUR TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES TO DO BETTER FOR OUR
LIFE GIVERS THROUGH INCREASED
FUNDING FOR WOMEN'S PROGRAMS,
INCLUDED, NOT LIMITED TO
PROGRAMMING FOR IDENTIFYING SEX
TRAFFICKING, TEACHING DEFENSE,
PROVIDING TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE,
AND HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION
FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIMS.
THIS DISCUSSION OF WORKING TO
PROTECT OUR NATIVE WOMEN
NATURALLY TRANSITIONS TO MY LAST
COP I CAN, THE PROTECTION OF OUR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOR THE
FUTURE OF OUR NATIVE NATIONS AND
OUR TRADITIONAL CULTURES.
THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT,
COMMONLY KNOWN AS ICWA IS
CURRENTLY UNDER ATTACK IN THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
WHERE IT IS ALLEGED TO BE
UNSTRUL.
THE LAW WAS PASSED IN 1978 AND
AIMED AT COUNTERACTING
GENERATIONS OF POLICIES THAT
SEPARATED NATIVE AMERICAN
CHILDREN FROM THEIR COMMUNITY.
A FINDING THAT ICWA IS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL WOULD HAVE FAR
REACHING IMPLICATIONS ON NATIVE
AMERICAN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
AN CONSTITUTIONAL DECISION COULD
ALSO HAVE SWEEPING CONSEQUENCES
OVER ALL INDIAN LAW THAT GOVERNS
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
TRIBAL NATIONS AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
TODAY I THANK THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN FOR STANDING WITH
NATIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
IN 2009, THE STATE ADOPTED THE
WISCONSIN INDIAN CHILD WELFARE
ACT.
TO CLARIFY, THE FEDERAL LAW AND
IMPROVE COMPLIANCE IN WISCONSIN.
IN ADDITION, WISCONSIN HAS STOOD
WITH INDIAN COUNTRY IN SUPPORT
OF ICWA.
AGAIN, YAWKO AND PLEASE CONTINUE
TO STAND WITH US IN DEFENDING
INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT.
[APPLAUSE]
IN CLOSING, MR. SPEAKER,
MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE
LEGISLATURE, IT HAS BEEN MY
HONOR TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY.
TO MY FELLOW TRIBAL LEADERS OF
THEIR TRIBAL NATIONS, YAWKO FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON OUR
BEHALF.
TODAY I HAVE DISCUSSED AREAS
WHERE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE
STATE AND OUR TRIBAL NATIONS CAN
AND WILL MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES.
I HAVE CALLED ON THIS TEAM TO
CONTINUE DOING WHAT IT DOES
BEST, BUILDING BRIDGES THAT
BRING US TOGETHER TO MAKE LIFE
IN WISCONSIN AND WITHIN OUR
TRIBAL NATIONS BETTER.
SOME SAY THAT OLD WAYS DON'T
OPEN NEW DOORS.
YET, OUR OLD WAYS HAVE TAUGHT US
WHO WE ARE, ALL OF US.
WE ALL HAVE A RICH TRADITION AND
HERITAGE AND OUR ANCESTORS STAND
BEHIND US.
AS NATIVE PEOPLE, IT IS BECAUSE
OF OUR TRADITIONAL WAYS THAT
PERSEVERANCE IS INGRAINED IN OUR
SOULS AND SURVIVAL FLOWS THROUGH
OUR BLOOD.
[APPLAUSE]
WE MUST ALL WORK TO EMBRACE OUR
WAYS, OLD AND NEW, BEING MINDFUL
OF THE PAST AND HOPEFUL FOR THE
FUTURE.
IT IS ONLY THEN WILL WE BE ABLE
TO FOSTER BETTER COMMUNICATION
AND UNDERSTANDING ACROSS THE
AISLE, ACROSS THE STATE AND
ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES.
I HAVE LIVE -- WE HAVE LIVED
AMONGST EACH OTHER FOR
GENERATIONS AND WE STILL WORK TO
UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER.
THROUGH CONTINUED COLLABORATION
AND TRUST BUILDING, IT IS
POSSIBLE THAT OUR FUTURE
GENERATIONS WON'T BE PLAGUED BY
THE SAME PROBLEMS WE FACE TODAY.
OUR GOVERNMENTS ARE MORE SIMILAR
THAN WE THINK.
WE EACH WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR
OUR PEOPLE.
BETTER SCHOOLS, BETTER HOMES,
BETTER HEALTH CARE, BETTER
ECONOMIES, BETTER FUTURE.
WE ARE BETTER WHEN WE STAND
TOGETHER.
I HAVE A FINAL CALL TO THIS
TEAM.
MAY WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD A
SHARED VISION AND GOALS.
MAY WE CONTINUE TO MOVE THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN FORWARD,
TOGETHER.
MAY WE KEEP A GOOD MIND, A GOOD
HEART AND A STRONG FIRE WHEN
FACED WITH CHALLENGES ALONG THE
WAY.
NURTURE THE FIRE WITHIN
YOURSELVES.
ENCOURAGE THE FIRE WITHIN ALL
OTHERS.
[SPEAKING IN ONEIDA LANGUAGE]
YAWKO OKHALE SWANESLIYOHAK.