Native veterans present the colors at the 2016 State of the Tribes address in Madison, Wisconsin. Photo: Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
The 13th annual State of the Tribes address in Wisconsin takes place April 4. Shannon Holsey, the president of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians, will deliver this year's speech. She will talk about ways to improve relations between tribal governments and the state. “This event affords the Wisconsin tribes the platform to advance the conversation of how we can, as government-to-government, exercise our tribal sovereignty and leverage our collective needs and concerns and foster a relationship that results in effective and positive outcomes that benefit everyone’s interests,” Holsey said on Tuesday. The event starts off with a drum and honor song featuring students from the Indian Community School of Milwaukee. The ceremony begins at 12:15pm on the east wing steps of the Capitol building in Madison, weather permitting. Afterward, a group of veterans will post the colors in the Assembly Chamber. The invocation before the speech will be given by Jeremy Mohawk, a Stockbridge-Munsee council member, and a Stockbridge-Munsee veteran is set to deliver the Pledge of Allegiance. “I’m pleased that we can continue this Assembly tradition that promotes better communications between the tribal nations and the state,” said Rep. Robin Vos (R), the Speaker of the Wisconsin House. “It’s important to find areas of mutual concern that we can work on together.” The 2016 address was delivered by Wayne "Mic" Isham, the chairman of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.
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