Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council Holds Board Meeting at Lac Courte Oreilles

By Jennifer Cadotte LCO PR Specialist

The Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (GLITC) convened its Board of Directors meeting on July 16 at the Sevenwinds Conference Center, hosted by the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.

The meeting began with a welcome song by the LCO Singers and an address by LCO Tribal Governing Board (TGB) Chairman Gary Clause. Newly elected LCO TGB members Janet Quaderer and Jordan St. Germaine were also in attendance, representing the new Tribal leadership.

GLITC, a consortium of federally recognized Tribes in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, works to enhance the quality of life for Native people by promoting tribal sovereignty, economic development, health, and education. Guided by the Seventh Generation principle, GLITC advocates for initiatives that ensure a sustainable future for Indigenous communities.

Key topics on the agenda included long-range strategic planning, updates on federal grant funding, and a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Loka Initiative. This partnership supports the film Sacred Wisdom, Sacred Earth, which showcases the strength and wisdom of Indigenous communities in Wisconsin. The film premiered in the Menominee Nation on the same day.

The Board also explored a potential collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections – Division of Juvenile Corrections to develop culturally grounded strategies aimed at reducing recidivism among Native youth. Additionally, leaders shared ideas around improving law enforcement retention in Tribal communities.

Representatives from federal and state agencies provided updates, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Wisconsin Department of Administration, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Planning updates were also shared for the upcoming Seventh Generation Summit, which will be hosted at the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University.

A representative from Senator Ron Johnson's office was also in attendance and our state tribal leaders expressed their concerns regarding the “Big Beautiful Bill” and how these impacted Indian Country, specifically Chairman Clause had discussed the importance of maintaining Tribal College funding while they pick apart the "Big Beautiful Bill."

Take Action Now: Your Voice Still Matters!

 The LCO TGB reminds our community that while the “Big Beautiful Bill” has passed, there’s still time to contact your state and federal representatives to express your concerns and advocate for the protection of our vital funding streams. Make your voice heard!