Chippewa Nation representatives visit Capitol to celebrate relationships and cultures, and honor the past and the history of the land we live on.

MADISON - Today, President John Johnson Sr. of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa delivered the 17th State of the Tribes Address in the Wisconsin State Capitol. The address highlighted several issues that are important to the tribes in Wisconsin but also to the state overall. Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released this statement following the address:

“Today the Wisconsin State Legislature had the privilege to welcome Wisconsin’s First Nations to the Capitol for the annual State of the Tribes Address. We honor our sovereign tribes as intergovernmental partners but also recognize that we occupy their land.

“The speech today highlighted many important topics: honoring and recognizing treaties, addressing systemic racism, and our natural resources. We must acknowledge that our Indigenous tribes were the first residents of our state and nation. Our Indigenous population has a deep history in the land that is now known as Wisconsin and has contributed greatly to the success of our state.

“We must learn from our state’s history and mistakes, in order to better move forward with compassion and service to others. Communication and understanding are vital in our ability to work together to create change and solutions that lift up members of our tribal nations, and all Wisconsinites. When Wisconsin’s tribal members do better, we all do better.

“Today, we celebrate relationships and cultures, and we recognize voices who have too often gone unheard. We must honor the past and the history of the land we live on–  and build the way towards our shared future.

“Although the State of the Tribes looked different this year with limited public access, I want to thank President John Johnson Sr. of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa for his powerful words. Additionally, I want to thank all those who were able to join us today to share their voices and to light the path forward for a better future.”