Tribal partnerships grow in Wisconsin through Rotary’s cultural work

Wisconsin’s Rotary Clubs are stepping beyond usual meetings to build real connections with nearby tribal nations. More than just social events, these efforts aim to break old tensions tied to historic land rights and fishing disputes. Stories shared at a recent convention showed just how deep the divide has run. One speaker, Greg Biskakone Johnson, told how he witnessed racism firsthand as a student during the “Walleye Wars” of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Back then, Ojibwe tribes legally confirmed their off-reservation fishing rights through treaties—rights widely ignored by many non-Native residents who saw them as unfair advantages. Protests turned ugly, sometimes violent. Yet today, Johnson does more than share history—he teaches Ojibwe culture by taking students to harvest wild rice, manoomin, on public waters. Once, after a heated public insult, he and his students returned with gifts of processed rice to turn a bad moment into dialogue. The audience reaction revealed how much healing still needs to happen. Hate hasn’t disappeared; it’s just moved online, where more subtle but persistent racism lingers.Legal and tribal leaders point out a truth often overlooked: many Wisconsin tribes are major employers and economic engines in their regions. The Ho-Chunk Nation, for example, employs over 2, 500 people statewide, with most of its workforce non-Native. Tribal nations were promised healthcare, education, and housing in exchange for land taken long ago—promises still only partially kept. This gap isn’t ancient history—it affects daily life. Samantha Skenandore, a tribal attorney, reminded Rotarians that these nations remain partners in shaping Wisconsin’s future—if others are willing to listen and act. Roger Utnehmer, a former radio leader and Rotary district governor from northern Wisconsin, has made bridge-building a mission. Influenced early on by what he saw in protests decades ago, he now leads cultural visits and volunteer projects between clubs and tribal nations. One upcoming trip to Lac du Flambeau will include tours of tribal museums and open conversations with elders. The goal isn’t just to visit—it’s to unlearn old stereotypes. These Rotary-led efforts aren’t transforming entire communities overnight. Overt racism has softened, but subtle exclusion and online vitriol remain. Even small acts—like offering wild rice as a peace gesture or stepping into uncomfortable conversations—matter. The big question isn’t whether change is possible, but whether people will show up consistently, not just for photos, but for real partnership in justice and understanding. The land we meet on was never empty. The treaties signed here still matter.