Gerald Danforth, the chairman of the Oneida Nation and president of the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, delivered the second annual State of the Tribes address to the Wisconsin Legislature on Tuesday.

Danforth laid out an agenda for the tribes and the state to work on together. He cited health care, law enforcement, economic development, education, veterans and the environment as top priorities.

On health care, Danforth said the state should help tribes win reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and obtain more funding for the Indian Health Service.. He said tribes need adequate resources to prevent state and local health care agencies from being overburdened.

Wade Blackdeer, the vice president of the Ho-Chunk Nation, also spoke to lawmakers yesterday. He said tribes play an important role in the state economy.

Get the Story:
Danforth: Collaboration is critical (The Green Bay Press-Gazette 3/8)
This time, tribes push legislation (The Wisconsin State Journal 3/8)
Legislators hear tribes' needs (AP 3/8)
Tribes say state not getting 'fair share' (The Capital Times 3/7)
Tribal Leaders Speak To Legislature (WISCTV 3/7)
State of the Tribes could be much better (Wisconsin Radio Network 3/7)

Text of Speech:
State of the Tribes (March 7, 2006)

Relevant Links:
Great Lakes Inter-tribal Council - http://www.glitc.org

Related Stories:
Oneida chairman to deliver State of the Tribes (3/6)
Wisconsin tribal leader seeks end to Indian mascots (3/9)
Wisconsin tribal leader seeks end to Indian mascots (03/09)
Ojibwe leader sees tribal speech as positive step (02/17)
Wisconsin tribes to deliver State of the Tribes (02/15)