Lawmakers cut a tribal liaison with prisons from the budget. Tribes say they think it would help.
Flags of the 11 Native American tribes of Wisconsin in the Wisconsin State Capitol. (Wisconsin Examiner photo)
At a state prison in Stanley, Wisconsin, participants in a Native American-focused group take part in traditional cultural practices.
According to Ryan Greendeer, executive government relations officer with the Ho-Chunk Nation, Stanley Correctional Institution's chaplain recently reached out to the tribe with requests for the group's programming.
The chaplain wanted teaching materials, as many materials in the current selection were old. He said that men learn songs and Native language with the materials, as well as history and culture.
The chaplain said the men are eager to learn more about all things Native, according to Greendeer. He was also seeking a larger pipe bowl and poles to help build a new lodge. The pipe has a history of ceremonial use.
The prison's annual report for fiscal year 2024 mentions a Native American smudge and drum group. The report says that each month, several religious organizations and volunteers come in to hold various services, and the list includes 'Sweat Lodge (Native American).'
There were 79 American Indian or Alaska Native people at Stanley Correctional as of April 30, according to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC).
Gov. Tony Evers' budget recommendations for corrections included a tribal liaison position for the DOC. The liaison would be responsible for working with Native American tribes and bands on the agency's behalf.
Each of the governor's cabinet agencies has already set at least one staff member to be a tribal liaison. The governor's proposal would create a new position, set aside for the job of tribal liaison for corrections.
Evers also proposed creating a director of Native American affairs in the Department of Administration and tribal liaisons in several other agencies, including the Department of Justice and Department of Natural Resources.
'Gov. Evers' commitment has been—and always will be—to ensure that the state maintains strong partnerships with the Tribal Nations by recognizing and respecting the needs and perspectives of the Nations and Indigenous people,' Britt Cudaback, communications director for the governor's office, said in an email.
The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee removed the proposed positions in May, along with hundreds of other items proposed by Evers.
'Unfortunately, [Evers] sends us an executive budget that's just piles full of stuff that doesn't make sense and spends recklessly and raises taxes and has way too much policy,' Joint Finance Committee co-chair Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) said in May.
Tribes already work with the state, including the Oneida Nation, which is located in northeast Wisconsin. The tribe told the Examiner that it continues to work with the state to make sure incarcerated Native Americans have proper access to culturally based practices and resources.
With a tribal liaison that can help navigate the corrections system, the tribe's efforts to make sure resources are provided and distributed appropriately make better progress, the tribe said.
'These efforts will continue whether or not a tribal liaison position exists, although the impact on incarcerated individuals who use culturally based resources may be greater as efforts take longer,' the tribe said.
The Oneida Nation said it 'supports tribes' efforts to ensure incarcerated members maintain access to appropriate support services as provided by tribal, state, and federal laws.'
Maggie Olson, communications coordinator for the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, said the tribe is not located close to the corrections facilities where their tribal members are incarcerated. This is a significant barrier, she said.
'It would be nice to be able to have a better handle on where our people are within the system to ensure they are having their spiritual and cultural needs met,' Olson said in an email to the Examiner. 'It is much easier (at this time) to meet religious needs (think Christianity) within the correctional system than it is to meet the spiritual and cultural needs of Native Americans within the system.'
A great first step would be having a dedicated person who can build relationships with incarcerated Native Americans, she said.
In a statement, the tribe said the liaison 'would be a start to developing and enhancing tribal input with State initiatives.' The tribe said it wants to work with the DOC on access to supportive services in county jails.
Olson said she met DOC Secretary Jared Hoy at an event on June 5 and that they had a great discussion about the potential benefits of a tribal liaison at the agency.
'With the uncertainties surrounding federal funding, we are hopeful state funding will be increased to tribal programs in Wisconsin,' Olson said.
The tribe's criminal justice work involves partnership with the DOC. In the St. Croix Tribal Reintegration Program, case managers work with tribal members before and after their release from prison or jail, the tribe said. The program has a memo of understanding with the Department of Corrections, providing guidance for working relationships between tribal reentry and probation.
All of the governor's cabinet agencies have consultation policies that say how they will work with tribal governments. Agencies and tribal elected officials have annual consultation meetings to talk about programs, laws and funding that may affect the tribe.
Discussions at the annual state-tribal consultation tend to be about high-level policy, but they can delve into specifics, Greendeer said. He gave an example related to tribal members who are on probation or parole.
'For example, a topic that keeps coming up is re-entry programming for enrolled tribal member offenders,' Greendeer said. 'A concern discussed at a recent consultation was that probation/parole officers might not consider tribal norms/values, citing a lack of eye contact in saying a client is disengaged or disconnected.'
The co-chairs and vice-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee did not respond to requests for comment. DOC communications director Beth Hardtke did not answer a question from the Examiner about the responsibilities and goals of the tribal liaison position.
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