**
>> PLED
>>
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE RECITED]
>> CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
HAVE ALL MEMBERS RECORDED THEIR
PRESENCE?
IF SO, THE CLERK WILL CLOSE THE
ROLL.
94 MEMBERS PRESENT, A QUORUM IS
PRESENT.
GENTLEMEN FROM THE 45TH.
>> MR. SPEAKER, ASK FOR A
TEMPORARY LEAVE FOR THE
GENTLEMAN FROM THE 73RD.
>> ASKING FOR A TEMPORARY LEAVE,
HEARING NONE.
>> TEMPORARY LEAVES FROM THE
GENTLEMAN FROM THE 39 AND THE 55
AND LEAVE FOR THE BALANCE OF THE
DAY FOR THE GENTLEMAN FROM THE
88.
>> GENTLEMAN FROM THE 24TH,
TEMPORARY LEAVE OF ABSENCE
GRANTED FROM THE 39TH AND THE
55, AND LEAVE FOR THE BALANCE OF
THE DAY FROM THE 88.
ANY OBJECTION?
HEARING NONE, IT IS SO ORDERED.
WE DO HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS
JOINING US TODAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE AND
PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL
THE END.
THE STATE TREASURER.
PLEASE HOLD -- JUST TESTING.
THANK YOU.
HALF THE ROOM GOT IT, THANK YOU.
OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
CONSTRUCTION, ATTORNEY GENERAL,
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND THE
GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE OF
WISCONSIN TONY EVERS.
[APPLAUSE]
WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY SEVERAL
MEMBERS OF WISCONSIN SUPREME
COURT.
JUSTICE HAGEDORN, JUSTICE DALET,
AND JUSTICE KELLY, AND THE
BALLOT TODAY.
[APPLAUSE]
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO NOW
INTRODUCE CHAIRMAN NED DANIELS,
JR. OF THE FOREST COUNTY
POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY WHO WILL
ADDRESS THE MEMBERS OF A JOINTLY
GATHERED LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SORRY.
NOT, IT'S -- A TYPO IN HERE.
LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF
APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> SAVE THAT WATER FOR LATER.
I NEEDED IT NOW.
[INTRODUCTION IN POTAWATOMI]
I SAY HELLO TO EVERYBODY,
FRIENDS, RELATIVES, MY WIFE, I
GOT TO SAY THAT, I WANT A GOOD
RIDE HOME.
[LAUGHTER]
I ACKNOWLEDGE YOU IN FRONT OF
EVERYBODY.
AND BEFORE I DID THAT, I WANT
YOU TO KNOW THAT I ACKNOWLEDGE
OUR CREATOR AND I ASK HIM TO
OPEN YOUR MINDS TODAY.
SO MY NAME IS NED DANIELS, JR.
I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FOREST
COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY.
AND I WANT TO SAY GOOD
AFTERNOON, GOVERNOR EVERS,
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BARNES,
SPEAKER VOS, MAJORITY LEADER
FITZGERALD, PRESIDENT ROTH,
ATTORNEY GENERAL, BEHIND THOSE
THINGS, AND MEMBERS OF THE
SENATE, MEMBERS OF THE STATE
ASSEMBLY, CONSTITUTIONAL
OFFICERS, CABINET SECRETARIES,
JUSTICE OF THE WISCONSIN SUPREME
COURT.
FELLOW TRIBAL LEADERS, ESTEEMED
ELDERS AND VETERANS, AND ALL THE
OTHER HONORED GUESTS.
I STAND BEFORE YOU IN HONOR AND
RESPECT FOR THE ELDERS,
VETERANS, LEADERS, AND PUBLIC
SERVANTS WHO HAVE COME BEFORE
ME.
OUR TRIBAL NATIONS ARE
WELL-REPRESENTED TODAY AS WE
HAVE AMONG US PRESIDENT MARLON
WHITEEAGLE, HO-CHUNK NATION.
[APPLAUSE]
CHAIRWOMAN JOAN DELABREAU,
MENOMINEE INDIAN TRIBE OF
WISCONSIN.
[APPLAUSE]
PRESIDENT SHANNON HOLSEY,
STOCKBRIDGE-MUNSEE COMMUNITY.
CHAIRMAN TEHASSI HILL, ONEIDA
NATION.
CHAIRMAN GARLAND McGESHICK,
SOKAOGON CHIPPEWA COMMUNITY.
CHAIRMAN RICK PETERSON, RED
CLIFF BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR
CHIPPEWA.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FULLER,
ST. CROIX CHIPPEWA INDIANS OF
WISCONSIN.
CHAIRMAN LOUIS TAYLOR, LAC
COURTE OREILLES BAND OF LAKE
SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA INDIANS OF
WISCONSIN.
CHAIRMAN MIKE WIGGINS, JR., BAD
RIVER BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR
TRIBE OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS.
PRESIDENT JOE WILDCAT, SR., LAC
DU FLAMBEAU BAND OF LAKE
SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA INDIANS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
THANKFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
AND DESIRE TO COME TOGETHER AND
STRENGTHEN THE COOPERATIVE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN AND THE 11 NATIONS.
AS WE BEGIN I WANT TO RECOGNIZE
SOMEBODY WHOSE WORK EMBODIED THE
PURPOSE OF TODAY'S ADDRESS.
OUR CHIEF JUDGE, EUGENE
WHITEFISH.
HE PASSED AWAY IN DECEMBER.
FUGIE, AS WE CALL HIM, THAT WAS
HIS NICKNAME, WAS THE FIRST
JUDGE ELECTED WHEN POTAWATOMI
ESTABLISHED OUR COURT SYSTEM.
HE DEDICATED HIS CAREER TO
ENSURING A STRONG RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE
TRIBES.
AND IT IS BECAUSE OF HIS EFFORTS
THERE IS A BETTER COORDINATION
BETWEEN THE STATE AND TRIBAL
COURTS.
WE ARE IN A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE
OF FUGIE, AND I KNOW HE'S
LOOKING DOWN ON US AND SMILING
RIGHT NOW.
[APPLAUSE]
WHILE THE FOREST COUNTY
POTAWATOMI TODAY HAVE
RESERVATION LANDS IN NORTHWOODS
OF WISCONSIN, THAT IS NOT OUR
TRADITIONAL TREATY LAND.
LIKE THE OTHER TRIBES IN
WISCONSIN, POTAWATOMIS WERE
FORCED OFF THEIR LANDS.
POTAWATOMI TRADITIONAL HOME IN
WISCONSIN STRETCHES FROM
POTAWATOMI LIGHTHOUSE AND
POTAWATOMI STATE PARK IN DOOR
COUNTY, COMES ALL THE WAY SOUTH
ALONG LAKE MICHIGAN, THROUGH
MILWAUKEE AND JUST WEST TO
WALWORTH COUNTY NEAR BIG FOOT
BEACH STATE PARK, WHICH IS NAMED
AFTER CHIEF BIGFOOT POTAWATOMI.
AND OUR DEEP TIES TO THOSE AREAS
CAN STILL BE SEEN TODAY.
CITIES LIKE KENOSHA, MUSKEGO,
WAUKESHA, SHEBOYGAN, AND
MANITOWOC, ALL DERIVED FROM THE
POTAWATOMI LANGUAGE.
SO WHEN THE POTAWATOMI TALK
ABOUT OUR HOME, THAT IS WHAT WE
MEAN.
AND SOMETHING EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT THAN RECOGNIZING A
TRIBE'S TRADITIONAL TREATY LAND
IS THE RECOGNITION OF TRIBAL
SOVEREIGNTY.
THROUGH OUR STATUS AS INDIVIDUAL
SOVEREIGN NATIONS, TRIBES ARE
EMPOWERED TO MAKE DECISIONS AND
ACT IN WAYS THAT BEST SERVE OUR
PEOPLE.
TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY IS NOT
SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN GRANTED,
BUT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE ALWAYS
INHERENTLY HELD WHILE
SOVEREIGNTY IS NOW EXPRESSED
THROUGH TREATIES, COURT
DECISIONS, CONGRESSIONAL ACTS,
AND OTHER DOCUMENTS, TRIBES HAVE
BEEN GOVERNING HOW THEIR OWN
PEOPLE LIVE, ACT AND RULE FOR
COUNTLESS GENERATIONS.
THIS INHERENT --
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU.
THIS INHERENT SOVEREIGNTY IS
WHAT WE WILL WORK TO PRESERVE,
PROTECT, AND ENHANCE FOR OUR
FUTURE GENERATIONS.
LIKE MANY OF YOU SITTING HERE
TODAY I ALSO KNOW WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE ELECTED OFFICIAL AND TO
SERVE AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR MY
PEOPLE.
AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE ALL
SHARE THE SAME FEELING OF
RESPONSIBILITY AND DUTY.
WE PURSUE THE BEST INTEREST OF
OUR CONSTITUENTS, ACT AS ROLE
MODELS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS,
AND SERVE IN A VARIETY OF OTHER
WAYS TOO NUMEROUS TO LIST.
IN THESE ROLES WE SACRIFICE
CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTS OF TIME,
ENERGY, RESOURCES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION
AND ADVOCATING FOR THE PUBLIC
GOOD.
IT IS NOT EASY.
I AM THANKFUL FOR YOUR EFFORTS
TO CHAMPION SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS
OUR VARIOUS CHALLENGES AND FOR
WHAT YOU -- WHAT YOUR DEDICATION
TO IMPROVING OUR STATE.
I KNOW IT IS EASY TO GIVE UP
WHEN FACED WITH DIFFICULT
PROBLEMS.
BUT WE MUST NOT GIVE COMPLACENCY
A HOME TO GROW THE POISON OF
INACTION.
SUCCESS OF NOT ONLY WISCONSIN'S
TRIBAL NATIONS BUT FOR ALL
RESIDENTS OF THE STATE DEPEND ON
OUR RESILIENCE TO CONTINUE TO
TACKLE CRITICAL ISSUES.
WE MUST MAINTAIN A SHARP FOCUS
ON IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THOSE
WE REPRESENT AND THE NEW DECADE
AS WE GRAPPLE THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF ADDRESSING THE COMPLEX
CHANGES BEFORE US.
AND THERE IS NO CHALLENGE MORE
COMPLEX THAN THAT OF THE OPIOID
EPIDEMIC.
WE ARE ALL WELL AWARE OF THIS
PROBLEM AS IT'S IMPACTED EVERY
CORNER OF OUR STATE.
IT HAS NO REGARD FOR AGE, RACE,
GENDER, OR INCOME.
IT HAS LIKELY IMPACTED MANY OF
YOU SITTING HERE TODAY.
UNFORTUNATELY, I KNOW FIRSTHAND
THE PAIN AND SUFFERING THIS
EPIDEMIC IS CAUSING FAMILIES.
AND CONSEQUENTLY, MY WIFE AND I
ARE NOW RAISING SOME OF OUR OWN
GRANDCHILDREN.
SADLY, MY STORY IS NOT UNIQUE.
NATIVE COMMUNITIES ACROSS
WISCONSIN HAVE BEEN HIT
ESPECIALLY HARD BY THE OPIOID
EPIDEMIC.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES
LIKE MINE WHO ARE NOW CARING FOR
THEIR YOUNG ONES OF RELATIVES
BECAUSE OF OPIOID ADDICTION.
OPIOIDS ARE TEARING APART OUR
COMMUNITIES.
ONE BY ONE, THEY ARE KILLING OUR
PEOPLE.
THEY ARE LEAVING OUR FAMILIES
DEVASTATED, AND OUR YOUNG ONES
WITHOUT PARENTS.
IT SHOULD NOT BE LIKE THIS WAY.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO
STOP THIS DEVASTATION.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE THANKFUL
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN NYGREN AND
OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN TENACIOUS
IN THEIR WORK SUPPORTING AND
ADVANCING THE HOPE AGENDA.
[APPLAUSE]
THIS SERIES OF LEGISLATIVE
EFFORTS HAS PROVIDED NEW TOOLS
FOR COMBATTING ADDICTION FOR
THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST.
SEVERAL NEW HOPE AGENDA BILLS
HAVE BEEN MAKING THEIR WAY
THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
THIS SESSION.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
HOW THEY WILL CONTINUE TO HELP
ADDRESS AND COMBAT ADDICTION IN
OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
RECOGNIZING THAT A ONE SIZE FITS
ALL APPROACH DOES NOT APPLY TO
SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
FOR NATIVE COMMUNITIES, IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE PROVIDE
TREATMENT TO OUR PEOPLE WHILE
ALSO HEALING THEM ACCORDING TO
OUR CULTURAL BELIEFS.
[APPLAUSE]
UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE FEW
PLACES WHICH CAN PROVIDE
TREATMENT THAT OUR PEOPLE TRULY
NEED.
SO FOR MANY YEARS WISCONSIN
TRIBES HAVE BEEN WORKING TO
DEVELOP A YOUTH WELLNESS AND
TREATMENT CENTER.
THIS FACILITY IS PLANNED TO BE
LOCATED CENTRALLY AMONG OUR
NATIVE NATIONS, AND BE A HUB FOR
ALL WISCONSIN TRIBES TO RECEIVE
TREATMENT FOR ADDICTION.
WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT THE
LEGISLATURE --
[APPLAUSE]
-- WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT THE
LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR HAVE
COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THIS
PROPOSAL BY ALLOCATING GAMING
FUNDS TO CONTINUE THE
ADVANCEMENT OF THIS PROJECT.
THIS FACILITY HAS THE POTENTIAL
TO DO GREAT THINGS AND WE HOPE
THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH US ON THIS ENDEAVOR.
MIIGWETCH.
[APPLAUSE]
WE WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT
WISCONSIN TRIBES TAKE THE
STRUGGLE WITH OPIOID ADDICTIONS
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES VERY
SERIOUSLY, AND MANY ARE TAKING
THEIR OWN STEPS TO ADDRESS IT.
FOR EXAMPLE, FOREST COUNTY
POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY HAS BROUGHT
TOGETHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS FROM
STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES TO
SHARE INFORMATION AND DISCUSS
WAYS TO CURB THE TREND OF OPIOID
ADDICTION.
WE HAVE PROVIDED ADDITIONAL
FUNDING TO SEVERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO SUPPORT
THEIR DRUG DETECTION AND
ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS.
AND WE HAVE ENHANCED OUR OWN
ADDICTION-RELATED SERVICES SO WE
CAN PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES TO
NOT ONLY OUR TRIBAL MEMBERS, BUT
THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
AND OUR INVESTMENTS HAVEN'T
STEPPED AT ENFORCEMENT AND
TREATMENT.
WE HAVE MADE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT
TO FOCUS ON OUR TRIBAL YOUTH TO
MAKE SURE THEY ARE RECEIVING A
GOOD EDUCATION.
WE KNOW THAT EQUIPPING OUR
CHILDREN WITH STRONG KNOWLEDGE
BASE WILL HELP THEM TO MAKE A
BETTER DECISION IN THE FUTURE.
THIS HAS BEEN DONE BY WORKING
MORE CLOSELY WITH OUR LOCAL
SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HIRING
ADDITIONAL TUTORS, AND GUIDANCE
COUNSELORS, AND GETTING OUR
PARENTS MORE INVOLVED WITH THEIR
CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, WITH
BETTER COMMUNICATION.
TEN YEARS AGO THE HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATION RATE AMONG OUR TRIBAL
YOUTH WAS AROUND 60%.
TODAY I AM HAPPY TO SAY NOW MORE
THAN 90% OF OUR TRIBAL YOUTH
GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU.
THEY DIDN'T PUT THIS IN THERE,
BUT I'M GOING TO SAY IT.
SINCE I'VE BEEN ELECTED, IN
RECENT YEARS, WE HAVE EVEN
REACHED 100%.
[APPLAUSE]
BUT NOT ALL THE TRIBES HAVE THE
SAME ABILITY TO PROVIDE THIS
LEVEL OF SUPPORT OR TREATMENT.
SO WE ENCOURAGE AND ASK THAT YOU
CONTINUE TO INVEST IN INNOVATIVE
STRATEGIES TO PROVIDE BOTH THE
NEEDED ENFORCEMENT OF TREATMENT
OF OUR NATIVE COMMUNITIES.
OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN
WILL REMEMBER AND THANK YOU FOR
THE THINGS YOU DO ON THIS ISSUE
TODAY.
UNFORTUNATELY, OPIOIDS ARE NOT
THE ONLY ISSUES PLAGUING NATIVE
COMMUNITIES.
MEN AND WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE
BEING EXPLOITED, TRAFFICKED AND
SUBJECTED TO VIOLENCE AT A
DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH RATES.
THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND
SOMETHING WE CANNOT AFFORD TO
TURN OUR EYES FROM.
THE HARM CAUSED BY THESE
DEVASTATING ACTS LEAVE LASTING
IMPRESSIONS ON NOT ONLY THE
VICTIMS BUT ALSO THE FAMILIES
AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND TREAT THE
PROBLEMS POSED BY HUMAN
TRAFFICKING.
IN FACT, ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO THE
SEVERITY OF THE ISSUE, PRESIDENT
TRUMP RECENTLY LAUNCHED A WHITE
HOUSE TASK FORCE LED BY ATTORNEY
GENERAL BARR TO "ADDRESS THE
ISSUE THAT UNDERLIES THIS
TERRIBLE PROBLEM AND WORK WITH
OUR TRIBAL PARTNERS TO FIND
SOLUTIONS, RAISE AWARENESS, AND
BRING ANSWERS AND JUSTICE TO THE
GRIEVING."
ON THE STATE LEVEL WE ARE
THANKFUL FOR THE EFFORTS OF
SENATOR JANET BEWLEY,
REPRESENTATIVE JEFF MURSAU,
AMANDA STOCK, BETH MEYERS, TO
CREATE A STATE TASK FORCE ON
MURDERED MISSING WOMEN AND
GIRLS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ADVOCACY ON THIS IMPORTANT
ISSUE.
[APPLAUSE]
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO INCLUDE
MISSING, MURDERED, NATIVE WOMEN
AND GIRLS WHEN ADVANCING ANY
HUMAN TRAFFICKING LEGISLATION.
PLEASE KNOW THAT WISCONSIN
TRIBES STAND READY AND WILLING
TO WORK WITH YOU, TO HELP TACKLE
THIS CRITICAL ISSUE.
BUT I'M NOT HERE JUST ONLY TO
TELL YOU ABOUT CONCERNS OF OUR
NATIVE COMMUNITIES.
I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU
KNOW ABOUT THE MANY GREAT THINGS
THAT ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE OF
WISCONSIN TRIBES.
WE ARE FAR MORE THAN JUST
OPERATORS OF CASINOS.
WE ALSO OWN AND OPERATE A
MULTITUDE OF SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE UNIQUE
AND IMPORTANT BENEFITS FOR
PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE AND
COUNTRY.
THIS INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION
MANAGEMENT AND ENGINEERING
COMPANIES, CYBERSECURITY FIRMS,
INDUSTRY LEADING FOREST PRODUCTS
COMPANIES, TELECOMMUNICATIONS
COMPANY, DATA CENTER, FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS, AND AGRICULTURE.
WE EMPLOY THOUSANDS OF WISCONSIN
RESIDENTS AND LARGEST EMPLOYERS
IN MANY OF THE COUNTIES WE ARE
LOCATED.
OUR ENTERPRISES HELP BRING
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND
THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS TO
DIFFERENT PARTS OF WISCONSIN.
WE PROVIDE REAL CAREERS FOR
THOSE RESIDENTS OF OUR
COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE THEM
WITH FAMILY-SUPPORTING WAGES AND
BENEFITS.
BUT WE ALSO FACE THE SAME
STRUGGLE AS MANY OTHER
BUSINESSES ACROSS WISCONSIN.
WHILE THE STATE IS ENJOYING
HISTORICALLY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE, THERE IS ALSO A WORKFORCE
AND HOUSING SHORTAGE THAT IS
HAVING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON
OUR BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT
OPERATIONS.
THE SUPPLY AND AFFORDABILITY OF
HOUSING HAS BECOME A CHALLENGE
FOR TRIBES TO ATTRACT AND EXPAND
OUR BUSINESSES.
WE ARE PLEASED THAT THE
LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR ARE
WORKING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE
AND HOPE TO SEE THOSE EFFORTS
CONTINUE.
WHILE IT CAN BE HARD TO GET
PEOPLE TO MOVE TO AND PROVIDE
SERVICES IN RURAL WISCONSIN,
CONNECTING THEM CAN HELP.
BROADBAND IS ONE OF THE TOOLS
DRIVING DEVELOPMENT.
[APPLAUSE]
AND ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE
WAYS TO BUILD OPPORTUNITY,
INTERNET ACCESS CAN DRIVE
INNOVATION AND GROWTH IN
WISCONSIN RURAL AREAS.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THIS
AND INVESTING IN BROADBAND
EXPANSION.
WE APPLAUD THOSE EFFORTS AND
ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE DILIGENT IN
FINDING MORE WAYS TO ENCOURAGE
EXPANSION.
WE NEED TO GIVE OUR FUTURE
GENERATIONS EVERY ADVANTAGE IN
DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS TO THE
PROBLEM OF TOMORROW AND ENSURING
RELIABLE BROADBAND ACCESS IS ONE
KEY TO ACHIEVING THAT GOAL.
[APPLAUSE]
OK.
I CANNOT LEAVE HERE TODAY
WITHOUT TOUCHING ON A SUBJECT
THAT IS CENTRAL TO THE BELIEF OF
MY PEOPLE AND ALL OF WISCONSIN
TRIBES.
OUR TRADITIONAL VALUES TEACH US
TO RESPECT ALL LIVING THINGS, TO
TAKE ONLY WHAT WE NEED FROM
MOTHER EARTH AND TO PRESERVE THE
AIR, WATER AND SOIL FOR OUR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANYTHING MORE
IMPORTANT THAN ENSURING THE
SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR MOST
PRECIOUS AND VALUABLE NATURAL
RESOURCES FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
[APPLAUSE]
AWESOME.
THAT IS AWESOME.
IN THE WORDS OF OUR ELDERS AND
LEADERS BEFORE US, I PRAY TO THE
CREATOR THAT WE LOOK BACK SO
THAT WE MAY SEE AHEAD.
LET US EXAMINE OUR LIVES SO THAT
WE ARE RESPECTFUL TO OUR FELLOW
HUMAN AND TO NATURE.
LET US RESPECT OUR CHILDREN AND
ABOVE ALL, LET US LIVE OUR LIVES
IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR BELIEFS.
THESE WORDS GUIDED THE
POTAWATOMI ON OUR DECADE EFFORT
WORKING WITH BOTH DEMOCRAT AND
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS AND
GOVERNORS TO PROVIDE INCREASED
PROTECTION FOR THE QUALITY OF
AIR IN AND AROUND RESERVATION
LANDS.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE KNOW
THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE BREATHING
THE CLEANEST AIR POSSIBLE.
BUT WE MUST DO MORE TO ENSURE A
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE NEXT
GENERATION.
WE MUST TAKE STEPS TO ADDRESS
THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE
IGNORED.
THANK YOU, GOVERNOR EVERS, FOR
ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE ON
CLIMATE CHANGE.
[APPLAUSE]
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BARNES,
SENATOR MARK MILLER, AND
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE KUGLITSCH
AND GRETA NUEBAUER, AND ALL THE
MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE TO
HELP FIND MEANINGFUL STRATEGIES
TO HELP MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF
CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE ARE ALSO GLAD THAT YOU HAVE
HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF
CLEAN WATER BY DECLARING 2019 AS
THE YEAR OF CLEAN DRINKING
WATER.
[APPLAUSE]
ACTING THROUGH THE SPEAKER'S
TASK FORCE ON WATER QUALITY
ENSURING CLEAN, SAFE WATER, IT
IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE.
SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE FROM BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE CAN AGREE
UPON.
WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE WORK
THAT WAS DONE BY REPRESENTATIVE
TODD NOVAK, KATRINA SHANKLAND,
AND ALL THE OTHER LEGISLATORS
WHO WORKED ON THE SPEAKER'S TASK
FORCE ON WATER QUALITY.
HOWEVER --
[APPLAUSE]
HOWEVER, THERE IS MORE.
ALWAYS MORE TO BE DONE TO ENSURE
THERE IS CLEAN AIR, WATER, AND
SOIL FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AS WE BEGIN THIS NEW DECADE, LET
US LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH HOPE,
OPTIMISM, AND A STEADFAST
DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE THE
PURSUIT OF PROGRESS.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT YOU ARE
NOT ALONE IN YOUR EFFORTS TO
SHAPE THE FUTURE.
YOU HAVE PARTNERS IN THE
WISCONSIN TRIBES.
WE MUST WORK TOGETHER AND
COLLABORATE ON SOLUTIONS TO THE
PROBLEMS OF TODAY.
THERE IS A COMMON GROUND BETWEEN
US.
WE JUST NEED TO ACT WITH THE
MINDSET OF COMMUNICATION AND
UNDERSTANDING TO FIND WHERE IT
IS.
BY DOING SO, WE WILL CONTINUE TO
MOVE WISCONSIN FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE
DONE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO TO
HELP NOT ONLY NATIVE COMMUNITIES
BUT EVERYONE IN WISCONSIN.
IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR ADDRESSING
THIS BODY.
I AM APPRECIATIVE TO HAVE HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE MY
PERSPECTIVE ON THE STRUGGLES,
FEARS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND
TRIUMPHS EXPERIENCED BY
WISCONSIN'S TRIBAL NATIONS.
THE ACTIONS WE TAKE TODAY WILL
ENSURE FUTURE GENERATIONS HAVE
THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO THRIVE IN
TOMORROW'S SOCIETY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOD
BLESS YOU ALL.
[APPLAUSE]