November is Native American Heritage Month—a time to acknowledge and celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Native Americans. Non-native people should recognize the trauma Native communities have experienced at the hands of the federal and state government. They should also make an effort to seek out information about tribal communities in Wisconsin and throughout the United States. The new Native Nations report is meant to bring more information about Native American communities to non-Native Wisconsinites.

The United States has a long history of using policy as a weapon against Native communities. All people who live in the United States live on Native land, so it’s imperative that non-Native people understand the legacy of trauma and continued threats to the livelihoods of Native Americans. There have been, and continue to be, systematic efforts to erase the culture, language, and traditions of Native people, including the forcible removal of Native Americans from their homelands and paternalistic policies regarding the education and health care of Native Americans. Today, tribal lands are at risk of government-supported pipelines, dams, and mining. Efforts leading up to the 2018 midterm election to disenfranchise Native Americans demonstrates there are still threats to the political power of Native communities.

The Native Nations report presents a short overview of tribal nations in the state of Wisconsin. The Terminology section gives some background of important policy, cultural practices, and organizations that are important in understanding the history and present state of affairs of Native communities. While Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate Native people and communities, we must honor the traditions of tribal communities every day of the year. Non-native Wisconsinites should take time this month to learn more about Native communities in the state and how we can all work together to promote the well-being of Native people and communities.

Alexa DeBoth