On March 18, the Ho-Chunk Nation hosted a State of the Ho-Chunk Nation Address event at the Bingo Hall in Ho-Chunk Gaming – Black River Falls.  The evening opened with a dinner and a special guest panel discussing the Wisconsin Winnebago Business Committee (WWBC) from 1963 and the transformation into the Ho-Chunk Nation in 1994.  Representative Stephanie Begay and President Jon Greendeer addressed accomplishments, challenges, and what to expect in the next year.

     The panelists, Ona Garvin, JoAnn Jones, and John Steindorf, showcased the sacrifices our leaders and our people made for us during WWBC days and the future of the Ho-Chunk people.  Trials and tribulations were shared in such a way that only those who experienced them could express.

     Eric Logan led the discussion as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.  Traditional Chief Clayton Winneshiek offered an invocation.

     Representative Stephanie Begay delivered the Legislative Address. She thanked the President and his staff, the event organizers, the caterers, Ryan Greendeer for his equipment setup, Eric Logan, Traditional Chief Clayton Winneshiek, the panelists, and the Legislative staff.

     Representative Begay is also the Tribal Secretary and reported on opportunities, such as having a Legislative Intern last year, Sarah Skrzypczak.

     She thanked the Election Board for the unusually high number of elections this past year and for the swearing-in ceremonies.

     Stephanie Begay mentioned the two Legislative Citations honoring former Representative Matthew Mullen and Myrtle Long, retiring after 47 years of service to the Ho-Chunk Nation.

     The Legislature also enacted two laws this past year. One was the Rights of Way Ordinance done by former Representative Jessika Greendeer. The other was the Land Planning Commission Establishment and Organization Act, done by Representative Begay.

     She mentioned the lobbying work at the State and Federal levels.  Several Representatives focused on a sports betting bill, and it was voted on yesterday in the Wisconsin Senate. This bill allows for tribes to participate in mobile sports betting.

     The Legislature also worked with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation on projects. One was developing the Ho-Chunk World War II Code Talkers Memorial Highway. Hard work from Donald Greengrass and Sandra Winneshiek was recognized.  Another project was the Dual Language Highway Signs that identify Ho-Chunk communities on state highways.

     “We filed a Federal Law Suit against Kalshi, which is an online betting platform over illegal gambling,” said Representative Begay. “There are only four other tribes in California, along with us, the Ho-Chunk Nation, that filed suit. This definitely put Ho-Chunk on the map.”

     The Legislature collaborates a lot with the Executive Branch.  One of the things accomplished this year was providing funding for the 75 Years of Remembrance for Our Greatest Warrior, Corporal Mitchel Red Cloud Jr.  They also helped with the Veterans Housing Facility by providing a handicap-accessible van.  Mr. Douglas Greengrass was mentioned and thanked for both projects.

     The Legislature routinely provides funding for various events and powwows.  Not only that, but they also provide funding for things like The Art of Truman Lowe Exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American Indians in Washington, D.C., and the Riverside International Friendship Garden in La Crosse, WI, where there will be an unveiling of a sculpture of Betsy Thunder later this year. 

     Funding was also provided to Ahuco Head Start to receive a new playground, a solar project at the District 1 Community Center, and the re-opening of the Ho-Chunk Cinema in Tomah, WI.  The Legislature also provided funding for heating assistance, with the process being handled through Cedar Growth.  

     The Legislature allocated funds to build a Cultural Resources Division Building, which is expected to be completed in about a year.

     The Legislative office worked with the Office of the President to create the Ho-Chunk Nation Emergency Food Program, also known as tsnap, which operated during the Federal Shutdown when SNAP benefits were cut off for recipients.

     Another project, Cloud Village in Baraboo, WI, was named a Top Project by the Daily Reporter, a program that honors the state's top construction projects and showcases the impact and stories behind significant developments.

     Lastly, a major project that has been in the works for many years is the topping-off ceremony at Ho-Chunk Gaming – Beloit.  The facility is scheduled to open on September 26.  

     The Ho-Chunk Nation President, Jon Greendeer, then made his address.  He began by thanking the drum group, the Veterans, the Auxiliary, the meal preparers, the event planners, Mr. Eric Logan, and Representative Stephanie Begay. 

     President Greendeer shared a trickster story of the first buzzards.  Stories like this were shared to inspire younger ones not to be greedy and to respect elders. 

     He then thanked the Traditional Chief Clayton Winneshiek for the invocation.

     “Wow! A lot has happened in a year,” said President Greendeer. “And it seems like a pretty short year.”

     The President shared his experience with a heart attack and how those around him aided in his recovery.  He paid tribute to the late Jean Stacy-Snow and her role within the Ho-Chunk Nation.

     “We are, to my knowledge, the only people named from our language and not the other way around,” said Jon Greendeer, and he expressed the importance of the Ho-Chunk language and practicing words in everyday life.

     He spoke about our ancestors and the teachings they passed along.  The younger ones who repeat or remember these teachings should pass that knowledge on.

     “Here’s the deal, we get to be a part of the evolution of people, those of them before us who had less resources, and more expectations and if we knew what they did to get here, we wouldn’t have a single day that we could complain about,” said President Jon Greendeer.

     He continued, “It’s important to carve out time to recognize those, and this is what Founders Day and what the Address is about, to make sure that we recognize that and we start to begin to talk and tell those stories.

     “What they’re done is, what I believe, is created one of the most sophisticated and intricate governments, and not just in Indian Country but its incomparable to every political system of Political Science Major, like myself, have seen out there.  From the Federal Government to the Counties, to the Municipals, the Ho-Chunk Nation’s elaborate network of governing structure and order will never be compared to any one else that’s out there. 

     “That was something that was built long before I got here. Our success in governance isn’t because of Judges, it isn’t because of our Legislators, and it’s definitely not because of the President, it’s because of you. You are the People. No one holds us more accountable than our Ho-Chunk People, the people that we work for.”

     He went on to explain that leaders cannot please everyone all the time.  There will be times when people will be mad at you. That doesn’t mean that the people don’t believe in you. A leader has to keep working.

     He went on to explain the powers of each branch, the beauty of it, and the ability to hold each other accountable.

     Next, he touched on the casino in Beloit and the mixed reactions to building it.  The goal of Greendeer’s administration does not include Beloit, but it is a means to reach other goals. Goals of better housing, better healthcare, more job opportunities, education, addiction response centers, and language and culture revitalization.

     Greendeer believes Beloit has become our best dollar spent, our best investment.  He says it won’t fix everything, but it will increase resources.

     He discussed the housing issue and brought up the Ho-Chunk Nation Homeless Coalition and the Wisconsin Balance of State Continuum of Care.  The Ho-Chunk Nation is the first tribal nation to secure that partnership and will now receive funding for rapid re-housing, homeless prevention, and emergency shelter.  He thanked the Social Services Department for this accomplishment.

     The Language and Culture Division will soon have a home, thanks to the work of the President’s office, Heritage Preservation, Language Division, Cultural Resources Museum, and the Legislators.  This summer, the Ho-Chunk Nation will be breaking ground for an amazing facility across from the District 1 Community Center.  The new building will house a learning center, a place to archive and store the most vulnerable pieces of artifacts, and a place for us to meet to protect gravesites and cultural sites.

     President Greendeer highlighted the challenges the Ho-Chunk Nation faces today.  Leaders are sitting at tables in Washington, D.C. to have tough discussions.  The United States Federal Government all but declared war against Indian Country and the Ho-Chunk Nation itself.  Grants were cut, and staff were eliminated from State offices.  The Ho-Chunk Nation fought and reclaimed the grants.  The Federal Government is also cutting back on environmental regulations, and the Ho-Chunk Nation and partners filed lawsuits to counter those reductions. 

     The Federal Government dispatched the U.S. Military on our own citizens under the guise of immigration control to arrest brown people, poor people, people of different disabilities, people of different sexualities, to our places of employment, our schools, and our homes without any sense of compassion. 

     The Federal Government is working to marginalize our rights to vote, our rights of free speech, and the Ho-Chunk Nation is pushing for voter registration. 

     The Federal Government is deconstructing the Department of Education, and we are working to move anything that was lost over to the Bureau of Indian Education.

     “Our goal is to leave something behind for our people,” said President Greendeer. “And this is what I have deduced, you have four options. One, you can do nothing. You do what’s popular.  You can do what’s legal. You can do what’s right.”

     President Greendeer expressed a desire to break down the district walls and be there for everybody.

     He closed with, “Find peace, kindness, with your friends and family, even in disagreement. Take a look at what happened to get us here. Don’t ever forget that. Tell those stories.  Share the things that you do. Rely on each other.  Be kind.”