Sokaogon Chippewa Community News
Governor Proclaims July as State-Tribal Environmental Partnership Month
Posted on: July 23, 2020
From the GLITC Communications Office
At a Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (GLITC) Board of Directors Meeting held on July 9, 2020, and on behalf of the Governor, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Preston Cole and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Secretary Designee Randy Romanski presented a Proclamation that recognizes the Tribal Nations in Wisconsin for their continued efforts of environmental protection and resilience across the state.
While the meeting was held via conference call, the honor bestowed upon the Tribes and the recognition by Governor Evers and his cabinet secretaries was valued. The proclamation acknowledges the Indigenous People of the state as the “original stewards of the land and water of our state, protecting wild rice beds, nurturing our forests, and respecting our fish and wildlife for generations.”
Furthermore, the proclamation declares “the state of Wisconsin and the 11 sovereign Native Nations that call Wisconsin home are working to prioritize the sustainable cultivation of healthy terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and to ensure that our Earth and the resources we utilize for food, recreation, economic gain, and spiritual retreat are protected and respected; and…
This month, the state of Wisconsin pledges to the 11 Native Nations a respect of their sovereignty, a commitment to meaningful partnerships, a desire to listen to their concerns and ideas, and a dedication to collectively caring for our environment and natural resources for generations to come.”
Shannon Holsey, President of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community and the GLITC President, expressed the gratitude of the other Tribal presidents and chairpersons and stated that this proclamation represents the growing partnership between the Tribal Nations and the State of Wisconsin.
“Working and standing together on the many environmental issues that impact our way of life and culture now and those that are yet to come, will only strengthen our relationship and efforts for a cleaner and healthier Wisconsin, not only for the 11 Sovereign Nations across the state, but for all the people of this great state we call Wisconsin.”