|
Department of Transportation Task Force
In 2005 a historic agreement was signed between Wisconsin Tribe’s and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (Wis-DOT). The agreement established a formal partnership focused on strengthening the relationship between each individual Tribe and the agency. Through this agreement, College of Menominee Nation's Department of Continuing Education office has entered into a contract with the agency to assist in the facilitation of a task force focused upon strengthening the bonds between Wisconsin’s Tribal Communities and the agency.
The partnership was developed pursuant to Governor James Doyle's Executive Order 39, "Relating to an Affirmation of the Government-to-Government Relationship Between the State of Wisconsin and Indian Tribal Governments Located Within the State of Wisconsin". It's purpose is to create and define the processes by which Wis-DOT and Federal Highway Administration will work in collaboration with Wisconsin's eleven sovereign Indian Nations. This agreement acknowledges and supports American Indian sovereignty through the government-to-government relationship among the Indian Nations within the boundaries of Wisconsin, the State of Wisconsin agencies, and Federal Agencies.
A key component of the agreement was the development of a task force to carry out the objectives of the partnership. This group is comprised of Tribal and agency representatives seeking to embark on the journey involved in building and sustaining a true Government-to-Government relationship between the Indian Nations, Wisconsin Division-Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The goal of such a relationship is aimed at moving beyond the agency mindset of simply consulting with Indian Nations as a legal requirement, but instead, working with the Indian Nations as equal partners focused on people, economics, natural, and human environments to improve the quality of life for all people.
|
