Tribal partnerships grow in Wisconsin through Rotary’s cultural work
From Conflict to Connection: The Legacy of the "Walleye Wars"
Wisconsin’s Rotary Clubs are rewriting the script—moving past routine meetings to cultivate meaningful relationships with neighboring tribal nations. These efforts aren’t merely social gestures; they seek to dismantle decades-old tensions rooted in historic land disputes and contentious fishing rights.
At a recent convention, stories laid bare the depth of the divide. Greg Biskakone Johnson, a speaker and survivor of the "Walleye Wars" of the late 1980s and early 1990s, recounted witnessing outright racism as a student. Ojibwe tribes, following treaties, secured off-reservation fishing rights—rights many non-Native residents dismissed as unfair privileges. What followed were protests that turned violent, leaving scars on both sides.
Yet today, Johnson doesn’t just recount history—he reshapes it. He guides students in harvesting manoomin (wild rice) on public waters, teaching Ojibwe culture through action. On one occasion, after enduring a public insult, he and his students returned with gifts of processed rice, transforming confrontation into dialogue. The audience’s reaction underscored a painful truth: hate hasn’t vanished—it’s merely migrated online, where it festers in subtler, more persistent forms.
Economic Powerhouses with Unkept Promises
Legal and tribal leaders highlight a critical, often ignored reality: many Wisconsin tribes are economic powerhouses in their regions. The Ho-Chunk Nation, for instance, employs over 2,500 people statewide, with the majority of its workforce non-Native. These nations were promised healthcare, education, and housing in exchange for land—promises that remain only partially fulfilled.
This disparity isn’t ancient history; it directly impacts daily life.
Samantha Skenandore, a tribal attorney, urged Rotarians to recognize that tribal nations are not relics of the past—they are active partners in shaping Wisconsin’s future—if others choose to listen and act.
Building Bridges Through Action
Roger Utnehmer, a former radio leader and Rotary district governor from northern Wisconsin, has made reconciliation his life’s work. Decades ago, he witnessed the protests firsthand; today, he leads cultural exchanges and volunteer initiatives between Rotary clubs and tribal nations.
An upcoming trip to Lac du Flambeau will feature visits to tribal museums and candid conversations with elders. The mission? To unlearn stereotypes, not just observe them.
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The Long Road to Change
These Rotary-led efforts won’t overhaul communities overnight. Overt racism has waned, but subtle exclusion and digital hostility persist. Even small acts—like offering wild rice as a peace offering or engaging in uncomfortable conversations—carry weight.
The real question isn’t whether change is possible—it’s whether people will show up consistently, not for photo opportunities, but for genuine partnership in justice and understanding.
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A Land That Was Never Empty
The treaties signed here still matter. The land we meet on was never empty. The question remains: Will we honor the past by building a better future?
