The address took place at 1:00pm in the legislative chambers and was well attended by both legislators and the public, who packed the gallery.  It was delivered by Laurie Boivin, the newly elected (youngest ever) Charwoman of the Menominee Nation.  She covered a huge range of topics from culture, society, and economics to health, economy, and the environment.  One key point that she mentioned relating to the environment was how many native peoples choose to live far from grocery stores and other places deemed necessary for life and that what was truly necessary for their lives was the ability to go into the woods and find food, medicine, and water there by which they could sustain themselves.  For native people, a walk in the woods is not simply to take in scenic beauty or to get exercise, but it is a way of life and a cultural practice deeply rooted in tradition and practicality.  She praised preservation and stewardship and sustainable ways of making a business, but avoided directly mentioning frac sand mining, or Gtac’s proposed mine in the Penokees.
The rally on the steps was, attended by roughly 35 wonderful people who braved the cold to reinforce the message to the representatives in the capitol that their policies are wrongheaded and are leading us down the wrong path toward devastated landscapes and depleted and polluted waters.  CSP Co-coordinator Forest was humbled to speak between President Jon Greendeer and Chairman Mike Wiggins, two leaders of sovereign first nations.  The speeches were impassioned and articulate and pulled no punches, accusing those in power of abandoning their mission to represent the people of the state in favor of their corporate cronies and calling for a grassroots up-welling to resist the flawed policies coming out of Madison.  Other speakers included Andi Cloud (the main organizer of the event and founder of Migizi Advocates for Turtle Island), Joe Kruse (member of the Rye House – a Catholic Worker House in Minneapolis), Thistle Petersen (Madison Action for Mining Alternatives), John Peck (Family Farm Defenders), Dena Eakles (Echo Valley Hope/Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice) and others.