Gov. Evers Delivers Radio Address Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day and Highlights Executive Order Promoting Tribal Treaty Rights and Stewardship

Audio File of Radio Address.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered his weekly radio address in celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day earlier this week, highlighting 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. The governor signed Executive Order #277 on Indigenous Peoples’ Day at an event with the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe. A photo of that event is available here.

In 2019, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #50 to annually designate the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and this week marked 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. The governor also shared a video message in celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day earlier this week, which 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.

Executive Order #277 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.

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.

More information about the governor’s efforts to promote Tribal Treaty Rights and stewardship are available here.

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 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.

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.