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Ho-Chunk Nation, Fort McCoy sign historic Memorandum of Understanding |
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A government-to-government relationship regarding tribal
consultation was established between the Ho-Chunk Nation and the U.S.
Army at Fort McCoy, Wis., with the signing of a historic memorandum of
understanding (MOU) Nov. 29. November
is celebrated nationally as American Indian Heritage Month.
Ho-Chunk Nation President Pro Tem Clarence Pettibone and Fort
McCoy Installation Commander Col. Michael R. Staszak signed the
memorandum during an 11 a.m. ceremony, held in the atrium of the
Ho-Chunk Nation Executive Office Building in Black River Falls, Wis.
Also representing the Ho-Chunk Nation were Vice President Wade
Blackdeer and Director of Veterans Affairs Evans Littlegeorge.
In addition to Staszak, Fort McCoy was represented by Lt. Col.
Dennis Emery, installation deputy commander, and Command Sgt. Maj.
Nick Piacentini, installation command sergeant major.
The ceremony began with presentation of the colors by the
Andrew Blackhawk Legion Post of Black River Falls representing the
Ho-Chunk Nation and a five-member military color guard from Fort McCoy
representing the Army. The
Iron Mountain Singers provided the drum for the ceremony.
Chief Clan member and Blackhawk Legion Post Commander Clayton
Winnesheik gave the invocation. Dell Greek, who serves as the Native American Coordinator and
Cultural Resources Program Manager for the U.S. Army Reserve Command,
of which Fort McCoy is a part, provided a brief overview on the
contents of the MOU and its intent.
Members of the Ho-Chunk Nation Traditional Court (Clan Leaders
of the traditional government) were present to witness the event.
An audience of about 150 Ho-Chunk and Fort McCoy personnel also
was present.
The memorandum, initiated by Fort McCoy,
seeks to effectively ensure the appropriate treatment of the
sacred sites and/or traditional cultural properties of the Ho-Chunk
Nation found on land under Army management at Fort McCoy. The Ho-Chunk
Nation formerly was known as the Wisconsin Winnebago.
The signing of the MOU between the Ho-Chunk Nation and the U.S.
Army at Fort McCoy is in keeping with President Clinton's signing of a
Presidential Memorandum in April 1994 that reaffirmed the federal
government's responsibility to operate within a
government-to-government relationship with federally recognized
American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes.
The president's memorandum was intended to establish a
framework for enhanced understanding and cooperation between the
federal government and tribal nations, and commits the federal
government to building more effective day-to-day working relationships
with tribal governments.
Building upon that framework, Secretary of Defense William
Cohen issued the Department of Defense (DoD) American Indian and
Alaska Native Policy in October 1998.
The policy provides guidance to DoD components on addressing
tribal concerns related to protected resources, rights and Indian
land.
The policy is intended to help DoD protect and preserve Indian
religious practices and sites and to accommodate access to and
ceremonial use of sacred sites by Indian religious practitioners.
It also stresses the confidentiality of site locations.
The policy establishes a foundation for developing and
strengthening relationships with tribal nations in addition to
enhancing an understanding and cooperation between tribal nations and
DoD.
"The Ho-Chunk Nation is the sole indigenous society with
established cultural affiliation with the land now occupied and
managed by the U.S. Army Reserve Command at Fort McCoy," Greek
said. "We are here
today to begin the process that will enable Ho-Chunk elders,
traditional religious leaders, and the Ho-Chunk people to once again
return to your ancestral lands on Fort McCoy and visit your sacred
sites, gather traditional herbs and medicines and perform the
religious and ceremonial observances that continue to be the strength
of your ancient and proud cultural heritage."
recognition
by the Ho-Chunk Nation that Fort McCoy has a critical mission to train
Army soldiers to defend the United States of America," Greek
said, paying tribute to the many Ho-Chunk who have served honorably in
the U.S. armed forces. "It
is within the framework of the military mission of Fort McCoy that our
respective purposes must be achieved.
So we ask that today, as we begin our government-to-government
relationship, that we pledge our mutual trust to work cooperatively,
with respect and recognition of our shared future."
Pettibone and Staszak signed a total of four copies of the MOU.
Two remained with the Ho-Chunk Nation and two with Fort McCoy.
"Our memo of understanding offers our governments a way to
communicate," Pettibone said.
"It will prevent the desecration of our cultural resources
and ancestors, as well as maintain and secure our inherent traditional
values and practices."
"This MOU takes us to a higher level of trust and
understanding," Pettibone said. "Before today, we had an informal agreement among a few
people. Now we moved to
formalize our relationship in a government-to-government
agreement."
"From here on, an honest, respectful, appropriate decision
can be made by all parties on how to proceed on discoveries and
circumstances, rather than the desecration that has been known to
happen throughout our history," Pettibone said.
"We thank President Clinton, the Department of Defense and
Fort McCoy for their willingness to forge this
government-to-government relationship."
"As generations before us felt wounds, may the generations
after us feel the healing," Pettibone said.
"I am humbled and honored to serve as an elected official
during this time in our history. By our actions here today, I know we have made a small but
positive step toward healing the wounds of desecration.
We have also forged a path for future relations."
On behalf of the Ho-Chunk Nation, Pettibone presented a
Pendleton blanket and a Ho-Chunk flag to Staszak for the installation
in remembrance of the historic event.
Staszak said signing of the document would enable "land
managers at Fort McCoy to take into consideration the traditional
cultural properties, sacred sites and other areas of cultural
importance to the Ho-Chunk Nation that may be affected during the
day-to-day operations of Fort McCoy."
"Within the context of this agreement," Staszak said,
"we shall mutually establish a working relationship with (the
Ho-Chunk) tribal government so that Fort McCoy can continue to fulfill
its national mission of preparing soldiers to defend our country while
contributing in a meaningful way to the proud traditional heritage of
the Ho-Chunk nation."
"It is my sincere hope that in the coming years, the
people of the Ho-Chunk Nation will regard today as that moment in
their long history when Fort McCoy, acknowledging the importance of
the traditional religious and cultural practices of the Ho-Chunk
people - and in the spirit of cooperation and respect - participated
jointly in this event to help preserve the cultural integrity of the
Ho-Chunk Nation, thus keeping it intact and thriving into the 21st
century."
Staszak presented Pettibone with a handcrafted plaque and a
ceramic eagle statue as gifts from the installation to the Ho-Chunk
Nation in remembrance of the event.
In keeping with Ho-Chunk tradition,
an honor dance was held prior to retreat of the colors, and the
event concluded with the invitation to share a meal organized by
members of the Blackhawk Legion Auxiliary. |
