Chris McGeshick, chairman of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community, spoke to the state Assembly and Senate Thursday urging greater cooperation between the Legislature and Native Americans.
The annual State of the Tribes address is designed to bring together the 11 federally recognized Native American tribes in Wisconsin to talk with state lawmakers.
On the heels of Gov. Scott Walker's rejection of the Kenosha casino proposed by the Menominee tribe and the closing of Gogebic Taconite's office in Hurley for mining projects, McGeshick called on legislators to collaborate with the tribes to tackle specific Native American issues.
"We consider the relationship with the state of Wisconsin to be a covenant that needs to be strengthened," said McGeshick.
The chairman listed more job opportunities, access to health care and protection of the environment as issues of top priority.
"By virtually every measure, the condition of American Indians rank at the bottom," said McGeshick. "We may be small but what we suffer is the same as the rest of the state, just magnified by our isolation."
McGeshick also criticized the stalled progress on the use of Native American cultural symbols as school mascots, calling it a "disgrace."
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, thanked McGeshick and the tribes for their address in a statement Thursday.
"It is necessary that we keep an open line of communication between the tribal government and state government and discuss our mutual goals," Vos said in the statement. "Although we may, at times, disagree, we can continue to work together to make a better future for everyone."
