A tribal representative of the Wisconsin Ojibwe nation called on state legislators to address a “breakdown in communication” between state government and tribal leaders during the annual state of the tribes address in the state Assembly chambers Tuesday.
Gordon Thayer, chairman of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, addressed issues ranging from the recent debate over Wisconsin’s controversial mining bill to tribal spearfishing quota rights.
His message during the speech centered on mending tribal-state communication, specifically after Wisconsin tribal leaders have increasingly found themselves in opposition to a number of measures introduced by state Republicans.
But the speech did not seem to sit well with everyone, as state Rep. Bill Kramer, R-Waukesha walked out of the address during Thayer’s discussion of the mining bill.
Still, Thayer said he was optimistic about future communication.
“It’s something we can work through as long as we sit down [together],” Thayer said.
