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Tribal Affairs

Governor Jim Doyle has issued an Executive Order calling on all state agencies to work cooperatively with Native American tribes on efforts that strengthen regional and statewide economies. In May of 2005, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) entered a first-of-its-kind Tribal Partnership Agreement with Wisconsin's 11 tribal governments that promotes communication and cooperation between the state and tribes on transportation issues. The agreement establishes a WisDOT Tribal Task Force comprised of WisDOT and tribal officials that will serve as a forum to discuss transportation issues and policies impacting tribes.

"This historic agreement will serve as a model for other state agencies to demonstrate how state and tribal governments can partner together in ways that support job growth," said WisDOT Secretary Frank Busalacchi. "It also shows that the relationship between the state and the tribes goes beyond gaming issues to encompass broader economic development strategies that benefit us all."

• Governor Doyle's Executive Order
  (An affirmation of the government-to-government relationship between the state of Wisconsin and Indian tribal governments located in Wisconsin.)
• WisDOT/Tribal partnership agreement
• Tribes of Wisconsin (reference book)
  (The purpose of this manual is to serve as an educational tool when working in Indian country. It provides a very general overview of issues and information affecting the Tribes in Wisconsin. The areas of American Indian history and American Indian law are extremely complicated. This manual is to serve only as a reference guide.)

WisDOT Secretary Frank Busalacchi and Deputy Secretary Ruben Anthony, Jr. met with Wisconsin tribal leaders on October 15, 2007, for the second tribal consultation meeting.

WisDOT Secretary Frank Busalacchi and Deputy Secretary Ruben Anthony, Jr. met with Wisconsin tribal leaders on October 10, 2006 for the first of what will become an annual tribal consultation meeting.

Over the past year, WisDOT and tribes have met to craft policies on historic preservation, business capacity building, and training of WisDOT staff on Indian sovereignty and law. The Partnership Agreement between WisDOT, Federal Highway Administration (FWHA) and 11 Tribal Governments in Wisconsin, was signed in May 2005 and is one of the few written agreements between a state Department of Transportation and Indian Nations.

Wisconsin Tribal leaders and WisDOT Secretary Frank Busalacchi at the May 24, 2005 State Capitol ceremony to sign the Tribal Partnership Agreement.

For more information contact:

Alyssa Macy
Tribal Liaison
Bureau of Equity and Environmental Services
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Rm. 451 Hill Farms
Madison, WI 53707-7965
Phone: (608) 266-3761
E-mail: alyssa.macy@dot.state.wi.us

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Questions about the content of this page:
Alyssa Macy, alyssa.macy@dot.state.wi.us
Last modified: October 16, 2008