Potawatomi Tribe becomes first in Wisconsin to win self-governance in transportation needs

The Forest County Potawatomi Community just became the first tribe in Wisconsin and the fourth tribe in the country to win autonomy in deciding its transportation needs.

Tribal officials signed the Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Program compact with the U.S. Department of Transportation this month at the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino in Milwaukee.

“We are gathered to celebrate an achievement of profound importance, one that touches the very core of our identity – our sovereignty,” said Potawatomi Chairman James Crawford during the Aug. 19 signing ceremony. “For generations, our ancestors thrived by governing themselves, according to their own laws, customs and traditions.”

He said self-governance had been stripped away by the federal government. But tribes have been winning autonomy back through the courts, hard negotiations with federal officials, and lobbying for certain bills.

Crawford said the compact allows the tribe to take control of the infrastructure needs on tribal land rather than have federal planners decide what will be constructed.

“It moves us away from a ‘one size fits all’ approach that’s often been imposed upon us,” he said.

Many of the infrastructure projects would still be federally funded, but tribal officials will also use funding won from grants and its own revenue, mostly from gaming, to pay for transportation improvements.

“(The compact) sends a powerful message to the world that we are not passive recipients of aid or services, but active participants in shaping our destiny,” Crawford said.

Arlando Teller, assistant secretary of for the U.S. Department of Transportation and member of the Navajo Nation, attended the signing ceremony and said Potawatomi officials have been doing “extraordinary work” in securing grants for infrastructure projects.

“A healthy transportation system provides a healthy nation,” he said.

With this new compact Potawatomi officials are looking to implement the tribe’s 2025 infrastructure project along U.S. Highway 8 in Forest County. The plan includes enhancing crossing points for ATVs, building a tunnel under the highway for ATV and pedestrian traffic, as well as building new walking and biking paths in the area.

Frank Vaisvilas is a former Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank .

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Potawatomi Tribe becomes first in Wisconsin to win self-governance in transportation needs