Gov. Evers Celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day in Wisconsin, Signs Executive Order Promoting Tribal Treaty Rights and Stewardship

LAC COURTE OREILLES RESERVATION — Gov. Tony Evers, in celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, today joined the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) to take action on Executive Order #277, which advances on a number of issues around Tribal Treaty Rights and stewardship, including preserving cultural resources and languages and ensuring sustainable food production like wild rice.

“Since Day One, strengthening our government-to-government relationships, respecting Tribal sovereignty, honoring Treaty Rights, and building stronger communities together has been a top priority of my administration, and, today, I am proud to take another step forward in that relationship and in reaffirming our commitment to these agreements and efforts,” said Gov. Evers. “The executive order I am signing today will ensure the state is a stronger partner in supporting those who have been hunting and gathering from these lands and waters for centuries and in continuing our state’s commitment to preserving, protecting, and promoting Tribal Treaty Rights, sovereignty, and cultural practices.”

In 2019, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #50 to annually designate the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day and today marks the seventh consecutive year that the state of Wisconsin has formally celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day. A copy of this year’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day proclamation is available here.

In addition to recognizing the annual observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Wisconsin, in 2021, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #136, issuing a formal acknowledgment and apology for Wisconsin’s historical role in Indian boarding schools. The governor’s order also included a formal declaration of support for the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative.

Today’s Executive Order builds on these previous efforts of the Evers Administration to reaffirm the state’s commitment to respecting Tribal Sovereignty and fostering strong government-to-government relationships by bolstering the education and awareness of Tribal Treaty Rights and sovereignty and promoting stewardship to protect cultural wild rice resources.

Wild rice, or manoomin, is a culturally significant crop and important food source to the Native Nations of Wisconsin, serving as a central feature in Tribal agricultural practices, as well as community and faith-based traditions. However, habitat requirements for wild rice are fairly specific, and changing ecological conditions are putting Tribes’ ability to grow, cultivate, and harvest the crop on ceded Tribal lands and waters at risk.

“Wild rice is so much more than a crop—it’s an important part of faith, food security, and culture,” said Gov. Evers. “As a state, we have a responsibility to uphold the rights of the Ojibwe Nations to hunt, fish, and gather in the ceded territory, and this order is critical to honoring this agreement and preserving the long-established practice of wild rice stewardship.”

The LCO v. Voigt decision, made by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit Court in 1983, upheld the rights of the Ojibwe Nations of Wisconsin to hunt, fish, and gather in the ceded territory, and preserving Native Nation’s long-established practice of wild rice stewardship in these fixed territories is critical to honoring this agreement. Therefore, Executive Order #277:

• Directs cabinet agencies to work with Tribal governments, the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC), and other appropriate organizations to increase public awareness and education of Tribal Treaty Rights related to fishing, hunting, and gathering, including to provide training to state employees;
• Directs the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop a plan to incorporate Indigenous languages and public education on signage at state parks;
• Creates a new Wild Rice Stewardship Council to help promote the protection of wild rice in Wisconsin and ensure its presence for future generations; and
• Designates the first week of September beginning in 2026 as “Wild Rice Week,” helping to raise awareness for and appreciation of the value of wild rice in the state.

Additional information on specifics of the Wild Rice Stewardship Council, as well as initiatives included in Executive Order #277 is available here.

In addition to the governor’s executive action today, Gov. Evers also shared a video message celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day, honoring Native Nations in Wisconsin, and reaffirming the state’s commitment to respecting Tribal Sovereignty.

Wisconsin is home to 12 Native Nations, including the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Forest County Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk Nation, Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Oneida Nation, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians, and Brothertown Indian Nation.

The governor’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day video message is available here, and a transcript of the message is available below:

Hey there, Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers here. It is my pleasure to wish all of you a happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Wisconsin wouldn’t be who we are today without the vast historical and cultural contribution of Indigenous people.

That’s why, in my first year as governor, I was proud to sign executive orders respecting Tribal sovereignty and designating the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

And every year on this day, we celebrate the generations of Indigenous peoples and the rich cultures, languages, and traditions of these communities that have rooted here since long before Wisconsin became a state.

Since Day One, maintaining our government-to-government relationship with Native Nations in Wisconsin has been a top priority for my administration.

This week, I’m proud to announce I’m signing an executive order to advance on a number of issues around Tribal treaty rights and stewardship, including preserving cultural resources and ensuring sustainable food production like wild rice.

Wild rice is a culturally significant crop and an important food source to the Native Nations of Wisconsin.

However, changing ecological conditions of are putting Tribes’ ability to grow, cultivate, and harvest the crop on ceded Tribal lands and waters at risk.

So, we’re creating a new Wild Rice Stewardship Council in my administration to help promote the protection of wild rice in Wisconsin and ensure its presence for future generations.

And starting next year, this order designates the first week of September as “Wild Rice Week,” helping to raise awareness for and appreciation of the value of wild rice in our state.

Finally, with this order, I’m directing my cabinet agencies to take a number of steps to increase public awareness and strengthen education on Tribal treaty rights and incorporate Indigenous languages on signage across our state.

I’m incredibly excited about this announcement, which builds upon the state budget I signed earlier this summer that continues our work together to strengthen families and relationships and invest in Tribal communities.

Thanks to our work, all 11 federally recognized Tribes in the state will receive $1 million each year for the next two years to help support Tribal programs and language revitalization efforts.

I was also proud to direct $3 million to support the Tribal Food Security Program, which provides critical assistance to organizations that purchase and distribute food to Tribal elders.

These programs are important and play a vital role in preserving Native traditions, heritage, and language across our state.

But our work to ensure the prosperity, health, and well-being of every kid, family, and community—including Tribal citizens and communities—is far from over.

So, today, I invite you to join me in honoring our Native Nations and the immense history of those who came before us.

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Wisconsin.

Thank you, and take care.

 

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.