2022 WIEA Seeds of Sovereignty Conference Wrap Up

The Wisconsin Indian Education Association held its annual conference on May 13-14, 2002, at the Indian Community School of Milwaukee (ICS) at its Franklin, Wisconsin, campus. The event drew over 200 participants from across the state and Great Lakes region. Over the course of the two-day event, the conference hosted 23 workshops, as well as a special performance by the Woodland Sky Dance Theatre, special film showing celebrating the 50th anniversary of ICS, community feast sponsored by the school and annual WIEA awards night. The conference kicked off with an opening ceremony which included a welcome by the WIEA Board of Directors. Following the board welcoming, the ICS School Drum provided an opening song, accompanied by flag/staff procession by the American Native Veterans. ICS Head of School and National Indian Education Association President Jason Dropik and Wisconsin Assistant State Superintendent Duy Nguyen offered opening remarks. Participants enjoyed a wide-array of workshops centered around Indigenous culture, sovereignty, environment, health and wellness, education, arts and crafts and social issues, among other topics. The conference included a Youth Day track for students attending the conference. There were four keynote addresses, as well as a special video welcome by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers during the opening ceremony on Saturday. As part of the opening ceremony on the final day of the conference, the Wolf River Singers provided a welcome song for event participants. As part of the annual conference, a silent auction was held the week leading up to the conference and winners were announced at the conclusion of the final day. The conference culminated with the WIEA awards banquet, where the 2022 award recipients were honored for their excellence in Indian education. "This year's conference was such an exciting and special experience," said newly elected WIEA President Jim Guyaushk Pete. "We had a great turn out and a lot of support from the local community." I want to thank all of our planning committee, volunteers, vendors, ICS and our sponsors. Without all of the dedication and support, none of this would be possible," added Pete. While a date for the 2023 WIEA conference has yet to be set, planning is already underway. The 2023 Conference will be hosted by the South Region and held in Madison, WI.

WIEA membership elects new president As part of its annual elections process, WIEA held regional caucus meetings where nominations are accepted for seats on the board of directors. This year, Red Cliff elder Dr. Jim Pete Guyaushk (Seagull) was nominated and elected as WIEA board president. The annual regional caucuses and board meeting were held at the Indian Community School of Milwaukee on Friday, May 13. Also elected and returning to the board is Brian Jackson (Lac du Flambeau), who fills the position of vice president. Jackson previously served as the organization's president for 14 years before taking a short hiatus prior to his recent return. Jackson moves into the vice president seat, which was vacated by Shannon Chapman (Menominee Nation), who was elected as board secretary - a position she held from 2018 to 2021. Rounding out the executive board is Crystal Lepscier (Little Shell/Menominee/Stockbridge-Munsee), who continues her term as board treasurer. Seat terms are staggered and there are two board seat representatives from each region. Pete will now lead WIEA with the mission to promote education and educationally related opportunities for American Indian people in Wisconsin. One aspect of this relates to scholarships awarded to students on a yearly basis. For a full list of board members, click here. Additional information on the WIEA scholarships, which are due on June 1, 2023, can be viewed here.

WIEA Annual Award Winners

Outstanding American Indian Student of the Year Grade 4-7 Arya LaBlanc   A ten year-old, fourth grade student from Cumberland Elementary made the long trip from St. Croix Chippewa country as the winner of WIEA’s Student of the year, grades 4-7.    She has been described by her teachers as "the student that every teacher dreams of having in their classroom.” She is an avid reader with 82 books already read this year and 217 books read last year. Her state reading and math scores are at the highest level. She is also on the school’s safety patrol and loves art.   Arya comes from a traditional Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) family and participates in traditional harvesting of giizhik (cedar), bashkodejiibik (sage) and manoomin (wild rice). And gratefully, she is committed to her culture and has a vocabulary of over 50 words and phrases in Ojibwemowin (Ojibwe language).    Her nominator writes, “She is a very humble, funny, considerate person.”   Say Boozhoo (hi) to Arya LaBlanc, Student of the Year, Grade 4-7.

Outstanding American Indian Student of the Year Grade 8-10  Yakatahawine Yesenia Zacarias Skenandore   An Oneida sophomore at Green Bay’s Preble High School is WIEA’s Student of the Year- grades 8th-10th.   While active in Diversity Leadership, the future health professions student club HOSA, the school newspaper, the Varsity soccer team and the First Nations Student Group, she maintains a 3.71 GPA in challenging courses like Advanced English, AP US History, and AP Geography.   One of her nominators writes, “She walks with humility and respects others. Her family has been there to support her efforts and has taught her the values passed on from generation to generation.” Her other nominator states, ”She always does what she says she is going to do in a quietly efficient, exceptional way.” Meet Yakatahawine Yesnia Zacarias Skenandore.

Outstanding American Indian Student of the Year Grade 11-12  Kaylyn Perez   The winner of the Indian Student of the Year for Grades 11-12 attends Shawano Community High School, hails from the Menominee Nation and defines resiliency and bravery.   Now on the high honor roll since her Junior year, this young woman was accepted to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to study social work. She feels she can help others because she knows firsthand family disruption and poor performance at school caused by her parent’s struggle with alcohol and domestic violence. She lost her mother to liver complications and showing bravery and determination, fought in court to name her own guardian.   Her nominator writes, “Kaylyn was not letting her personal life battles get in the way of achieving academic excellence. She is a great example of a future leader and helping future generations to overcome their trauma.”   Please give a round of applause to Kaylyn Perez.

Outstanding American Indian Student of the Year Graduate/Post Graduate  Rosa Yekuhsiyo King   Rosa Yekuhsiyo King received her doctorate at UW-Green Bay. Her dissertation committee accepted her dissertation, making Rosa the first ever doctorate graduate from UW-GB!   Her dissertation examined the Oneida language teaching and learning experiences of three individuals in the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin.   Dr. King is doing the important work of keeping the language alive. An Oneida Nation member herself, she is a Tehatw^nakhwa Language Nest Instructor.   Her nominator writes, “I continue to be inspired by her courage and her ability to remain true to her Oneida heritage, no matter the circumstances.”

Outstanding American Indian Educator of the Year  Sara LaBarge   The Indian Educator of the Year is from the Menominee Nation. Sara's nomination letter reads in part, "I have had the honor and pleasure of knowing and working Mrs. LaBarge for over five years and have witnessed first-hand not only the impact that she’s created within the Indian education system in Wisconsin, but the impact she continues to make on Indigenous education across the country." As the current Director of Strategic Partnerships for American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC), the oldest and largest Native scholarship provider in the United States, Sara has positioned herself as a prominent voice for Indian education at the national level. Through her efforts over the last two years alone, she has helped raise over $28 million that is going to support Native students across the United States. In 2016, Sara represented her tribe when she was named one of the National Center for American Indian Economic Development's (NCAIED) Native 40 Under 40 for her work in promoting Indian education both inside and outside of Indian Country. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the College of Menominee Nation Board of Trustees. Through her role with the board, she continues to make even greater impacts within her community as a strong voice and leader for Native centered higher education.

Outstanding Indian Elder of the Year Denise Sweet   The accomplishments and lifelong involvement in native issues and concerns, makes Denise Sweet, White Earth Nation, the well deserved recipient of WIEA’s Outstanding American Indian Elder of the Year.   Her nominator writes that Denise "is a writer, a former Wisconsin Poet Laureate, a community organizer, an Emeritus professor with UW Green Bay, soup kitchen cook, mother and grandmother. She supports green politics, art, artists, grassroots development, and is an advocate for peace and social justice.”

Ronald N. Satz – Friend of Indian Education Rick Kitchen In the words of his nominator, Rick "is a citizen who has no connections to Indian Education directly, but has continuously and thoroughly shared and participates in every event he can on important Indigenous topics and programming around the state. He has taken on an advocacy role. He is someone who chooses to learn. Put simply, Rick Kitchen is a true friend of Indian Education who embodies the praxis of a growth mindset, as an empowered Wisconsin citizen, which as Native people, we do not often get to see. Let’s welcome Rick Kitchen.

WIEA Special Honoring David O' Connor   In recognition of his recent accomplishments, WIEA honored Mr. David O’Connor for his work in furthering educational opportunities for Native Americans in Wisconsin. David is a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe) in northern Wisconsin. In the Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe or Chippewa) language, he is known as Bwaakoningwiid. The meaning of the name means he Overcomes” or “Never Gives Up”. His formal education began as a graduate of the Bad River Headstart many years ago. It also included graduating from Ashland High School and receiving a master’s degree in 2013 from the University of Wisconsin School of Education's Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. David is currently an education consultant with the American Indian Studies Program at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Last year, David received the National Indian Education Association’s (NIEA) Educator of the Year award at the organization’s 52nd Annual Convention and was named the 2021 “Indian Educator of the Year” by the Wisconsin Indian Education Association (WIEA). David was also awarded the 2022 Leo Reano Memorial Award. The award is presented to an individual or group whose activities in American Indian/Alaska Native affairs have made a significant impact on education and achievement of equal opportunity for American Indians/Alaska Natives. In the acknowledgment in receiving the Awards, David shared, “This award humbles and lifts my spirit up both personally and professionally. But I must truly share this award with all my family, friends, colleagues, my nation (Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) and communities who have and continue to provide ongoing support.”   He also dedicated the award to his two daughters Ava Marie and Ellie Ann, to his late parents Thomas F. O’Connor Sr. and Georgeann K. O’Connor, to his grandparents, sisters, brother, nieces, aunties, uncles, as well as to all his family, friends and colleagues. Lastly, he dedicates this award to those loved ones who are no longer here with us and those yet to come. David's honoring took place at the WIEA annual Awards Banquet, which was held on Saturday evening, May 14.

Youth Art Contest Winner   The winner of this year's Youth Art Contest was Luis Mercado of Milwaukee. Luis is from the Menominee Nation and is a fifth grader at the Indian Community School. The winning submission becomes the official logo of the 2022 WIEA Conference and is featured on the cover of the event program. For his winning piece, Luis receives a check from WIEA in the amount of $150.

Second Place Submission   The second place submission for the 2022 WIEA Youth Art Contest is Alianna LaBoy. Alianna is from the Oneida Nation and also attends the Indian Community School, where she is in fifth grade. Alianna was awarded a check in the amount of $50 for her second place submission.

Thank You to our Sponsors and Participants The Wisconsin Indian Education Association and it's board of directors would like to thank all of our conference sponsors for their generous support. The annual conference is the biggest fundraising effort of the year. Our sponsors play a vital role in helping us to organize and carry-out a successful event. Without your support, we would not be able to achieve many of our programs, events and initiatives focused on creating educational opportunities for Native people in Wisconsin. Likewise, we are grateful for the continued support from our conference participants - Keynote presenters, Workshop Facilitators, Vendors and Attendees - many of whom are educators, parents and community members. Your attendance and participation at our annual conference is the centerpiece of the event experience and we thank you for sharing your time and energy with us. Thank you for your support!