Today is officially Indigenous Peoples Day in Wisconsin.  For the first time, a Wisconsin governor has issued an executive order declaring Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday in October. In addition to declaring the day, Governor Evers’ executive order commits to other important actions, including:

• Recognizing the immense importance of the Native Nations to Wisconsin, reaffirms the significance of Native Nation’s sovereignty, culture and history;
• Reinforcing an earlier Executive Order #18, where the State of Wisconsin recognizes its unique legal relationship with Native Nations and directs cabinet agencies to engage Native Nations with the same respect afforded other governments;
• Recommits to efforts to promote the well-being and growth of Wisconsin’s Native American communities;
• In addition to the requirements under 1989 Wisconsin Act 32 mandating public school instruction on Wisconsin’s Native Nations, strongly encourages Wisconsin educators to use Indigenous Peoples Day as an opportunity to engage students across the state on the importance of Native American history, culture and sovereignty;
• Strongly encourages all Wisconsinites to be in solidarity with indigenous peoples throughout the state.

Notably, similar bills, declaring Columbus Day to be Indigenous Peoples Day, are being proposed in both the Assembly and the Senate.

Kids Forward wholeheartedly supports Executive Order #50 as well as ongoing efforts by the legislative branch to reinforce this declaration.

In addition, we hope that this is just the beginning of many efforts across the state –  in small rural communities, cities, counties and state government agencies – to redress the historical harm and generational trauma of the past 500 years of genocide, oppression and intentional structural impediments to Native Nations self-determination, sovereignty, and cultural integrity. The injustices perpetuated on native communities in Wisconsin and across the nation have had dire consequences for Native American children, families and communities. It has not only created a harmful and inaccurate narrative about Indigenous Peoples but ignored and discounted critical contributions that these communities have made for hundreds of years to the broader prosperity of our state.

Consequently, it is imperative that we work to address these injustices as they manifest through our state’s policies, structures, and systems:  Native American child poverty, health insurance coverage, educational outcomes, and involvement in complex and notoriously biased systems like the juvenile justice system.

• 31% of Native American children in Wisconsin live in poverty compared to 9 % of their white peers – a ratio of over 3 to 1.
• 17% of Native Americans in Wisconsin do not have health insurance, compared to 4% of whites – a ratio of over 4 to 1.
• 23.9% of Native American fourth graders in Wisconsin scored at or above proficient reading levels on statewide assessments, compared to 51.6% of their White peers (2018-2019 school year).
• Native American youth involvement in the juvenile justice system is over 9 times the rate of white youth involvement. 

These indicators represent one part of the story. A story of Native American well-being that clearly calls upon Wisconsin’s leaders to prioritize remedying the systemic and structural barriers to equity for Wisconsin’s indigenous people. Indigenous People’s Day celebrates and acknowledges the many additional stories. Stories of history, culture, heritage, and dignity too long denied.

Step forward in celebration of Wisconsin’s native children, families, and communities as we all work to correct the historic narrative of this day and its legacy of oppression and injustice.