Yesterday’s 2023 State of the Tribes Address delivered from the State Capitol in Madison was given by Sokaogon Chippewa Community Chairman Robert VanZile. Many topics were covered and called on state lawmakers to help improve rural health care, fight the opioid crisis and tackle environmental issues. Additionally, Chairman VanZile called on state lawmakers Tuesday to work with tribal leaders as they craft their budget this year. “Every budget cycle, there is an opportunity for local, county, state, and tribal governments to collaborate on critical services and investments to bring greater efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of those services,” VanZile said.
Another moment of pride for the Brothertown Indian Nation was the recognition of the Tribe by Chairman Robert VanZile to Jessica Ryan Vice -Chair who was in attendance. Also attending and representing the Tribe were Dawn Kraintz-Council and Melissa Kavonius-Secretary The entire State of the Tribes can be viewed here…
WI Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez with Jessica Ryan-Vice-Chair), Dawn Kraintz-Council, Melissa Kavonius-Secretary
WI Tribal Nation’s Veterans posted with Eagle Staffs and Colors around the rotunda
Gathering around the drum and preparing to start grand entry on the east side of the capitol
‘March 13, 1773’ as envisioned by a Brothertown Youth – Copyright Brothertown Citizen
250 years ago today, on March 13, 1773, our ancestors gathered in Mohegan to discuss plans to form their own Native town, away from the decimating and demoralizing influence of the Europeans. Joseph Johnson (Mohegan/Brothertown), “the first mover of this design”1, called the Indians of Mohegan, Montauk, Narragansett, Niantic, Farmington, Stonington, and Groton together.
It was decided to ask the Oneida, our northwestern brethren, for a tract of land upon which we and our children could live in peace. Then, as now, our Oneida brothers welcomed us. In 1774, a land agreement was signed.
Image Credit/ Wikipedia
In March and April of 1775, the ablest individuals left their homes in Farmington, Montauk, and Narragansett, and went on ahead to forge the new town. They built homes and planted corn. Among them were Joseph Johnson, Elijah Wampy (Tunxis/Brothertown), David Fowler (Montauk/Brothertown) and Samuel Niles (Narragansett/Brothertown)2. More people followed.
A couple of years later, forced to flee for their lives amidst the dangers of the Revolutionary War, the majority of our people found temporary shelter with the Stockbridge in Massachusetts. After seven years, when the fighting had ceased, we returned to our Oneida home, bringing our Stockbridge brethren with us. Since then, our two tribes have been inseparable.
Shortly after their return, through the help and pen of Reverend Samson Occom (Mohegan/Brothertown), our formal naming and founding was memorialized. On Monday, November 7, 1785 Occom wrote in his journal, “But now we proceeded to form into a body politick, we named our Town by the Name of Brotherton, in Indian Eeyawquittoowauconnuck.”
Be sure to tune in to the State of the Tribes address next Tuesday, March 14, which will be delivered by Robert VanZile Jr., Chairman of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
The State of the Tribes address will be held Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at 1:00 pm in the Assembly Chambers of the Wisconsin State Capitol.
The Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc. (GLITC) has announced that Chairman Robert Van Zile of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community will provide the 2023 address. The State of the Tribes address is open to the public and will be livestreamed on WisconsinEye (https://wiseye.org/) and Wisconsin Public Radio (https://wpr.org/).
The May 2023 Tribal election is fast approaching! This year, the Secretary position, two Council seats, and a Peacemaker position are on the ballot. Per the Tribe’s constitution, the Elections Committee will provide a report at the March Council meeting, identifying nominees. Nominations may also be taken from the floor at that meeting.
If you would like to learn more or express interest, you can contact Shaun Nadolny at shaunnadolny@hotmail.com. The March Council meeting will take place on Saturday, March 18th at 10am at the BINCC.
April 4 race for open seat on state Supreme Court likely to sway court’s ideology
FRANK VAISVILAS Green Bay Press-Gazette
Allison Neswood, a Navajo staff attorney for the Native American Rights Fund, talks to Native voters at the Ho-Chunk Nation office in Milwaukee about the importance of the April election in Wisconsin.
Although most laws in Indian Country are determined by tribal and federal courts, voting advocates are trying to inform Native voters about the importance of the April 4 Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
Indigenous analysts estimate about 71,000 Native voters are in Wisconsin and the race for the open seat on the Supreme Court between Janet Protasiewicz and Daniel Kelly will likely sway the ideology of the seven-justice court.
Native Americans were not granted the right to vote in the U.S. until 1924.Allison Neswood, who is Navajo and a staff attorney for the Native American Rights Fund, went on to say ” state laws still made it difficult — or impossible — for Indigenous people to vote in many places until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
We are grateful for this recent snow! Because of this, the 2nd Annual Snow Snake Event is a go! Please join us Saturday, February 25, 2023 at Old Indian Point on Lake Poygan!
Rebecca Pelky, member of the Brothertown Indian Nation and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Clarkson University
Rebecca Pelky: Following her accolades and success of her 2021 book, “Through a Red Place” (winner of the Perugia Press Prize), this January, Clarkson’s Rebecca Pelky receives the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship.
“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support this group of poets and provide them with the means to focus on their writing,” said the NEA’s Director of Literary Arts Amy Stolls. “Their poetry explodes with originality in form and content, offering powerful reflections on the pain and joy of our modern times.”
Learn more about Rebecca (who is a member of the Brothertown Indian Nation and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Humanities) and her new endowment enabling her to continue her work – available here….
Additionally, in 2022 she helped create the language section of the new website Brothertown website / Language with the help of fellow Brothertown Tribal Member Robert Tryon – many thanks go to them from our members, striving to learn our native languages from this very detailed resource.
On Tuesday, January 3rd, Governor Evers was sworn in for his second term in office. Governor Evers continues to include the Brothertown Indian Nation as one of the 12 tribes in Wisconsin. Chairwoman Phyllis Tousey attended the ceremony.
L-R: First Lady Kathy Evers, Governor Evers, BIN Chairwoman Phyllis Tousey, and Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez.
