Gov. Evers Marks Indigenous Peoples’ Day at LCO, Signs Order on Tribal Treaty Rights and Wild Rice

By Joe Morey

News Editor

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers joined the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe and the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission to sign Executive Order #277 on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, advancing public education on Tribal Treaty Rights and creating a new Wild Rice Stewardship Council to protect manoomin across the state. The order was signed at the Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Institute on the LCO reservation.

“In celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, I signed a new executive order to help bolster the education and awareness of Tribal Treaty Rights and sovereignty and to create a new Wild Rice Stewardship Council to promote the protection of wild rice resources in Wisconsin,” Evers said at the event. “Strengthening our government-to-government relationships, respecting Tribal sovereignty and Treaty Rights, and building stronger communities together has been a top priority of my administration, and I am proud to take another step forward in our commitment to that work today.”

He added, “Wisconsin wouldn’t be what it is today with the vast historical and cultural contribution of the state’s Indigenous people.”

Executive Order #277 directs state agencies to work with Tribal governments and GLIFWC to expand public education on treaty rights related to hunting, fishing, and gathering; requires the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop mandatory treaty rights training for DNR employees; and instructs DNR to present a plan by May 2026 to incorporate Indigenous languages and public education on signage at Wisconsin state parks. It also establishes the Wild Rice Stewardship Council, including representatives from each of Wisconsin’s 11 federally recognized Tribes, DNR, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the Office of Environmental Justice, and GLIFWC. Beginning in 2026, the first week of September will be observed statewide as “Wild Rice Week.”

“Wild rice is a culturally significant crop and important food source to the Native Nations of Wisconsin,” Evers said, noting that changing ecological conditions are putting Tribes’ ability to grow, cultivate, and harvest manoomin at risk on ceded lands and waters. “So we’re creating a new wild rice stewardship council … to help promote the protection of wild rice in Wisconsin and ensure its presence for future generations.”

The order explicitly ties wild rice stewardship and treaty education to the LCO v. Voigt decision, which affirmed Ojibwe off-reservation treaty rights in the Ceded Territory. By formalizing training, signage, and a council structure, the administration says the state will be a “stronger partner” in honoring those rights and traditions.

Evers also highlighted recent state investments: “Thanks to our work, each tribe in the state will receive $1 million dollars for the next two years to help support tribal programs and language revitalization efforts… I was also proud to direct $3 million dollars to support the tribal food security program, which provides critical assistance to organizations that purchase and distribute food to tribal elders.”

Evers emphasized that “our work to ensure the prosperity, health and well-being of every kid, family and community, including tribal citizens and communities, is far from over.”

Wisconsin first formally recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day in 2019, when Evers signed Executive Order #50 designating the second Monday in October each year. This year’s celebration and the signing of EO #277 took place on Oct. 13 at Lac Courte Oreilles.