MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day with a video message honoring the Native Nations in Wisconsin and reaffirming the state’s commitment to respecting Tribal sovereignty and fostering strong government-to-government relationships to build a brighter, more prosperous future for the state and Indigenous communities.

The governor’s 2026 Indigenous Peoples’ Day video message is available on YouTube and below:
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In 2019, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #50 to annually designate the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Today marks the eighth consecutive year that the state of Wisconsin has formally recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and to celebrate, the governor will join Tribal leaders, citizens, and communities for celebrations across the state.

In addition to recognizing the annual observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Wisconsin, in 2021, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #136, issuing a formal acknowledgment and apology for Wisconsin’s historical role in Indian boarding schools. The governor’s order also included a formal declaration of support for the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative.

Further, last year on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #277 to build upon previous efforts of the Evers Administration to reaffirm the state’s commitment to respecting Tribal sovereignty and fostering strong government-to-government relationships by bolstering the education and awareness of Tribal Treaty Rights and sovereignty and promoting stewardship to protect cultural wild rice resources, including creating the Wild Rice Stewardship Council and designating the first week of September as “Wild Rice Week” to raise awareness of and appreciation for the value of wild rice in the state.

The Evers Administration, through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), has also worked to support Tribal Sovereignty and Indigenous language and cultural preservation through WisDOT’s Dual-Language Sign Program, which launched in 2021 to collaborate with Native Nations in Wisconsin to install road signs on Tribal lands in both English and Indigenous languages. In June, the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians became the 11th and final federally recognized Tribe in Wisconsin to install dual-language signs under the Evers Administration initiative.

Last year, Gov. Evers also signed the 2025-27 Biennial Budget, in which he used his broad constitutional veto authority to ensure that all 11 federally recognized Tribes will receive $1 million each year for the next two years to help support various Tribal programs and efforts. Additionally, Gov. Evers secured $3 million in continued funding for the Tribal Elder Food Box Program, $2 million in increased funding for the Tribal high-cost out-of-home care placement program, $120,000 to support an intergovernmental training program led by the Oneida Nation, $445,600 for the American Indian Language Revitalization State Grants, and $4 million to provide grants to each county in which the headquarters of a federally recognized Tribe is located.

A transcript of the governor’s video message is available below:

Hello. Governor Tony Evers here.

On Monday, October 12, we’re celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day all across Wisconsin.

Indigenous communities have called this area home since long before Wisconsin was ever a state or territory, and Wisconsin wouldn’t be the state it is today without them.

That’s why, during my first year as governor, I was proud to sign an executive order designating the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Wisconsin.

Now, every year on that day, we celebrate the generations of Indigenous peoples and the rich cultures, languages, and traditions that have endured for centuries.

Since Day One, my administration has been dedicated to respecting Tribal sovereignty, strengthening our government-to-government relationships, and honoring Treaty Rights.

And it has been an honor to partner together with the 12 Tribal Nations in our state over the past seven-plus years to advance many critical shared goals.

Over the years, we’ve reinvigorated the state’s commitment to Tribal language preservation, including through our state’s innovative Dual-Language Sign Program and investments in educational programs.

We’ve brought much needed support and attention to the issue of Tribal food sovereignty and supported food access for Tribal elders.

We’ve supported clean energy projects on Tribal lands to build energy sovereignty and ensure Tribal communities have the sustainable, reliable, and resilient energy infrastructure needed to thrive.

We’ve also been proud to partner together to invest in research and protect wild rice, including through our new Wild Rice Stewardship Council.

In fact, just last month, we celebrated the first-ever Wild Rice Week to raise awareness of this culturally significant crop and important food source.

And of course, we’ve invested millions to support access to healthcare, child care, education opportunities, new capital projects, affordable housing developments, and so much more.

Together, we have accomplished a whole lot to support Tribal kids, elders, families, and communities, but our work is far from over.

The Tribal Nations play an incredible role in our culture, our economy, and our communities, so we must continue to invest in their success and prosperity because when Tribal communities thrive, our entire state thrives.

Wisconsin is home to 12 proud Native Nations that call every corner of our state home, and each one has their own unique history, culture, language, and traditions.

Today, I encourage Wisconsinites to take a moment today to recognize and acknowledge the land you are on, to learn about the people who have protected that land for centuries, and to honor the immense history of those who came before us.

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Wisconsin.

Thank you, and take care.