History Is at the Heart of Wisconsin s 2021 State of the Tribes Address
In a speech to the state Legislature, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa President John D. Johnson, Sr. connects the principles of tribal sovereignty to contemporary issues important to Native communities.
History s deep currents and their inexorable flows into present-day conditions flowed throughout the 2021 State of the Tribes address, delivered to the Wisconsin Legislature on behalf of Wisconsin s 11 sovereign and federally recognized tribal nations. At the same time, the history-making magnitude of the coronavirus pandemic loomed over the speech and its setting.
The address was delivered by John D. Johnson, Sr., president of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, whose 12-by-12-mile reservation or Waswagoning, a place where they fish by torchlight in the Ojibwe language now straddles portions of Iron, Oneida and Vilas counties. Just travel north to Minocqua and hang a left,
/ John Johnson of the Luc du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians delivering the 16th annual State of the Tribes address.
16 years ago, the Annual State of the Tribes began as an opportunity for the people of Wisconsin, members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and state Legislature to give platform to issues facing Wisconsin Native tribes. Each year the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council selects a governing member to deliver the annual address. This year, that person is John Johnson of Luc du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.
“Speaking on behalf of 11 tribal nations, living within what s now known as Wisconsin is a great opportunity and responsibility,” said Johnson.
The Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council is giving the State of the Tribes address.
President John Johnson Sr. of Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians will be giving this year’s address.
For 17 years, the speech has been a way to increase public awareness around the issue’s tribal nations face.
The address is Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
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