November is Native American Heritage Month across our nation. Did you know Wisconsin is home to 11 federally-recognized Native Nations, plus another that is not recognized by the federal government? These Nations made significant contributions to our region’s culture and economy long before Wisconsin became a state, and they continue to help shape our state’s identity today. Strengthening relationships with Wisconsin’s tribal nations has been a priority for this administration, as evidenced by Gov. Evers’ signing of Executive Order #18 shortly after taking office. Among other things, the order directed each state agency to consult tribal governments on matters that may indirectly impact them. I’ve assigned Assistant Deputy Secretary Melissa Roberts as our agency’s liaison with tribal governments and she, along with our Stakeholder Engagement Manager, regularly meets with representatives of those governments to strengthen working relationships with DOC. Native American Heritage Month is a great time to learn about Wisconsin’s indigenous peoples, and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction offers many resources to help on its website here. I hope you can take the time this month to review these or other materials, and learn a little more about native cultures so important to our state’s history. Kevin A. Carr, DOC Secretary |