Greetings as we enter into the harvest season and our Ho-Chunk children to school, our focus turns to the youth. For the Ho-Chunk Nation, the youth represent our future. As a people, we strive to provide opportunities for our youth as one day they will be the providers. The youth determine our strength, path, and vision that will lead us toward our future.

The future of the Ho-Chunk Nation has always been the strength of our leaders. Such strength is found in the very teachings of our traditions. They have been and will continue to be the source of our strength. Our future leaders need the strength that can only come from our Ho-Chunk culture.

The path to a bright future is education. It provides countless opportunities for the youth to contribute to their respective communities and the Nation. In this regard, a sense of urgency cannot be stressed enough. However, personal finance must be added to our youth's life skill set to protect their interests. Thus, I also advise our youth to take a keen interest in financial planning to make sound decisions concerning their respective per capita distributions.

The potential for Ho-Chunk Nation rests also with the vision of our youth. It is appropriate to allow our youth to define their futures for themselves. As they develop their life's missions, they will also determine their goals in life. This is the basis for a solid future. A future placed firmly in the hands of our youth.

The youth are our strength, path, and vision that guarantee the survival of our Nation. I urge our youth to have goals to work toward in life. With goals come planning and with planning comes that real opportunity for the future of the Ho-Chunk Nation to shine brightly. Our best of wishes and hopes for the school year go out to our youth.

In the service of the people,

President, Troy E. Swallow