Wa Ehi Hoci

An overview of Wa Ehi Hoci

BUILDING NAME AND HISTORY OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION

The name Wa Ehi Hoci derived from consultations with members of the Ho-Chunk Nation Traditional Court.  The word “Hoci” (pronounced ho-chee) refers to the physical building.  The phrase “Wa Ehi” (pronounced wah-ay-hee) denotes  purpose odiscussion about someone or something for thef achieving resolution.  The Hocak have commonly referred to attorneys as wa ehi, this title appears on the room signage of the law clerk.

Traditionally the Hocak resolved internal disputes by referring matters to either family or clan elders.  After receiving a consensus of opinion, the elder members would render a decision and typically proclaim, heskekje,” meaning “let it be that way.”  The Ho-Chunk Nation Traditional Court still incorporates this phrase at the conclusion of each of its rulings. Members would seldom violate the decisions reached by the elders.  This expectation resulted from an abiding and overwhelming sense of respect for elder determinations.  However, infractions would sometimes occur, and the offending members would not only risk being ostracized from the community but also the imposition of various penalties, including, but not limited to, restitution, imposed fasting and banishment.

Presently the Traditional Court serves as the embodiment of the ancestral elder panels.  Its membership consists of several clan leaders and a single Native American Church representative.  The Traditional Court convenes its sessions around a central fireplace, cihukisak hunazi, which insures the occurrence of truthful discussion.  The Traditional Court reveals Hocak tradition and custom through formal pronouncements.  These articulations form the basis of the Nation’s common law.  The Ho-Chunk Nation Trial and Supreme Court may apply the resulting common law in cases and controversies over which the Judiciary exercises proper jurisdiction.  Each Court must also interpret and apply constitutional and statutory law.

THE GREAT SEAL OF THE HO-CHUNK NATION

The south entryway signage displays the Nation’s seal, which the Wisconsin Winnebago Business Committee, predecessor to the Ho-Chunk Legislature, adopted for use on July 12, 1980.  Industrial and graphic designer, Christine Fletcher, created the Seal during the time her husband, Attorney Jay O. Fletcher (Muscogee), serves as legal counsel for the Nation.  Ms. Fletcher integrated several Hocak themes into the seal, taking her inspiration from the ethnological treatise, The Winnebago Tribe, by Paul Radin (1923).  The Seal includes depictions of an eagle, bear, peace pipe and war club.  The animal depictions serve as representations of the Sky and Earth clans.  The tribe is divided into twelve clans: Eagle, Pigeon, Thunder, Warrior, Bear, Buffalo, Deer, Elk, Fish, Snake, Water Spirit and Wolf.  The outline of the State of Wisconsin signifies the tribe’s historical attachment with this territory.

OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE HO-CHUNK JUDICIARY

A cast bronze depiction of the judicial seal adorns the south wall of Wa Ehi Hoci.  The Judiciary commissioned the seal’s creation shortly after its formation in March 1995.  The Judiciary lacked a judicial seal to affix to its orders, causing difficulty whenever it sought recognition and enforcement in a foreign court.  In consultation with the Traditional Court, tribal member Kenneth B. Lewis devised the judicial seal.  Several former Traditional Court members, now deceased, assisted with the design:  William P. Blackdeer, Bert R. Funmaker, Herbert S. Goodbear and Dr. Charles J. Kingswan.

The seal includes representations of the eagle and bear.  The eagle holds a scroll of the CONSTITUTION OF THE HO-CHUNK NATION in one talon and the scales of justice in the other.  The Secretary of the Interior approved the current constitutional document on November 1, 1994.  The scales of justice find its origin in antiquity, first appearing with images of the Egyptian goddess Ma’at.  The term “magistrate” derives from this ancient source.  The judicial seal, however, lacks a boundary depiction in order to indicate the extra-territorial reach of the Nation’s jurisdiction.

INTERIOR SIGNAGE

Each individual room bears and English and Hocak designation.  Traditional Court members, Donald Blackhawk and Preston L. Thompson, Jr. provided the necessary translations for the interior signage.  The Hocak words are written in the International Phonetic Alphabet as required pursuant to legislative resolution.  Please direct inquiries to the judicial staff concerning proper pronunciation.   

CONSTRUCTION SUMMARY AND JUDICIARY STAFF

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 21, 2003 and the new courthouse opened on December 29, 2003

Members of the Ho-Chunk Nation Judiciary include:

TRADITIONAL COURT:

Wallace E. Blackdeer-Deer Clan, Dennis Funmaker, Sr.-Bear Clan, Orville L. Greendeer-Deer Clan, Douglas Red Eagle Sr.- Eagle Clan, Eugene I. Thundercloud-Thunder Clan, Chief Clayton Winneshiek-Thunder Clan, Donald Blackhawk-Warrior Clan, Owen Mike-Buffalo Clan James C. Greendeer-Deer Clan, Douglas G. Greengrass-Thunder Clan, Gavin R. Pettibone-Pigeon Clan, Preston L. Thompson, Jr.-Eagle Clan, Morgan E. WhiteEagle-Native American Church-Eagle Clan

SUPREME COURT:
Chief Justice Mary Jo B. Hunter, Associate Justices Mark D. Butterfield and Jo Deen B. Lowe

TRIAL COURT:
Chief Judge William H. Bossman,
Associate Judge Todd R. Matha