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Gordon Thayer, the chairman of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, delivered the State of the Tribes address to the Wisconsin Legislature on Tuesday amid a rocky relationship with state politicians. Tribes have been battling the state on mining, fishing, hunting and treaty issues. Thayer urged more collaboration but offered a blunt assessment of the situation as he laid blame on some Republican lawmakers and Gov. Scott Walker (R) “We can’t be dismissed as a subgroup of people in Wisconsin,” Thayer said in the hourlong speech, according to news reports. “That’s all I’m saying. We’re here.” The speech upset Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Bill Kramer (R), a member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. He walked out on Thayer. "You're continually talking about collaboration but continually telling us everything we did wrong," Kramer told The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after the speech. Get the Story:
Chippewa leader tells Legislature of disputes with state over mine; lawmaker walks out (The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 4/10)
State of the Tribes address: 'We're not your adversaries' (The Wisconsin State Journal 4/10)
Tribal leader speaks out against mining legislation (The Badger Herald 4/10)
Chippewa leader slams DNR 'propaganda,' mining legislation in tribal address (AP 4/10) Related Stories:
Opinion: Wisconsin tribes make power play on fishing rights (3/28)
Editorial: Wisconsin must work to 'mend fences' with tribes (3/27)
Treaty tribes defend fish quotas amid complaints in Wisconsin (3/26)
Opinion: Wisconsin politicians should pay attention to tribes (3/20)
Ojibwe tribes in Wisconsin raise spring walleye spearing limits (3/19)
Lac du Flambeau Band hosts treaty rights fishing tournament (3/15)
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