The Office of the Governor of the State of Wisconsin

06/30/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/30/2026 15:47

Gov. Evers, Stockbridge-Munsee Community Celebrate Unveiling of Dual Language Highway Signs

Press Release: Gov. Evers, WisDOT Join Stockbridge-Munsee Community to Celebrate Unveiling of Latest Dual Language Highway Signs, Marking Historic Milestone in Evers Administration's Efforts to Support Tribal Sovereignty in Wisconsin

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 06/30/2026 02:30 PM CDT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2026
Contact: [email protected]
Gov. Evers, Stockbridge-Munsee Community Celebrate Unveiling of Dual Language Highway Signs
Historic milestone reached as program created under Evers Administration celebrating and honoring Native citizens and languages now serves and supports all 11 federally recognized Tribes in Wisconsin
STOCKBRIDGE-MUNSEE RESERVATION - Gov. Tony Evers, together with Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians President Shannon Holsey and Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Secretary Kristina Boardman, today celebrated the newest set of dual-language highway signs unveiled for placement on state highways as part of WisDOT's Dual-Language Sign Program.

Today's unveiling, which took place at the North Star Mohican Casino Resort, marks a historic achievement and culminating effort of the Dual-Language Sign Program, which was established and launched by Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration in 2021. Part of Gov. Evers and his administration's broader efforts to bolster Tribal sovereignty and language preservation statewide, today's announcement marks the 11th and final federally recognized Tribe in Wisconsin to participate in the program. The new signs identify the Stockbridge-Munsee community, three lakes, and the Red River crossing in both the Mohican and Munsee and English languages.

"These dual-language signs are more than markers on a roadway-they tell a story of our people," said President Holsey. "Though we were displaced from our original homelands, we have always carried our language, our culture, and our identity with us. Today, these signs reflect both where we come from and the place we now call home, honoring our continued presence here as we celebrate our journey, our resilience, and the pride we carry in our culture and languages."

"Today, the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians becomes the 11th federally recognized Tribe in Wisconsin to install dual-language signs, which has been a project my administration has been proud to partner on with the Tribal Nations over the last several years," said Gov. Evers. "Every dual-language sign we've installed is a shared decision, built through collaboration, consultation, and mutual appreciation and respect. Since Day One, my administration and I have remained committed to supporting efforts like this that promote Tribal sovereignty and language preservation for Tribal citizens and communities across our state. These lands have been home to Native Peoples and Nations since time immemorial, generations of whom have made an immeasurable impact on the state of Wisconsin as we now know and love it-and, today, our road signs reflect that basic fact and help tell that important story."

The Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians is the 11th and final federally recognized Tribe in Wisconsin to install dual-language signs, along with the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Forest County Potawatomi Community, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Ho-Chunk Nation, Oneida Nation, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, and the Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

"Transportation connects people to places, and these new signs help connect Wisconsinites and visitors alike to the history and cultural identity of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community," said WisDOT Secretary Boardman. "Through our dual-language sign program, we're proud to partner with Tribal leaders to recognize and celebrate this important part of Wisconsin's history. These dual-language signs do more than guide travelers-they help tell the story of the people who have called this land home for generations and strengthen public awareness of Wisconsin's rich Indigenous heritage."

The new dual-language signs feature the Stockbridge-Munsee seal next to the Tribal name. The translation is in both Mohican and Munsee, "Wãapana'keyak Weetkãandowãakan" (Mohican) and "Waapanahkiiwak Wiitahkaaltuwaakan" (Munsee). The English translation is "People of the dawn lands. A Living-Together-as-Neighbors." The Tribe also received dual-language signs for Big Lake, Beaulieu Lake, Big Turtle Lake, and the Red River.

In addition to the Evers Administration's efforts to support Tribal Sovereignty and Indigenous language and cultural preservation through the Dual-Language Sign Program, in July, 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 Tribal programs and language revitalization efforts.

ADDITIONAL EVERS ADMINISTRATION EFFORTS TO HELP PRESERVE TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY, TRADITIONS, HERITAGE, AND LANGUAGE STATEWIDE

Wisconsin is home to 11 federally recognized Tribes, including the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Forest County Potawatomi Community, Ho-Chunk Nation, Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Oneida Nation, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians.

Since Day One, Gov. Evers has promised to always meaningfully consult Tribal leaders and governments on matters directly impacting each respective Nation. The governor has repeatedly asserted his commitment to ensure the state of Wisconsin is not making decisions for and about 11 Tribal Nations without all 11 Tribal Nations.

The governor's first action after being sworn into office was signing Executive Order #1, which prohibited discrimination and harassment based on race, age, religion, color, disability, military or veteran status, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression, etc., in state employment, public services, state contracts, and grants. Executive Order #1 also directed state agencies to develop policies to ensure all people are afforded equal opportunity, along with other measures to prohibit discrimination and harassment.

In his first year as governor in 2019, Gov. Evers also signed Executive Order #18, reaffirming Tribal sovereignty across the state. Executive Order #18 directs each state agency to consult Tribal governments on matters that may indirectly impact Tribal nations and develop an updated consultation policy that does the following:

  • Ensures the state government workforce is educated on Tribal Nations and sovereignty;
  • Strengthens the day-to-day working relationships between Tribal and state government agencies;
  • Provides for at least annual consultation meetings with Tribal and state leaders; and
  • Identifies at least one agency staff member to serve as a liaison between the agency and the Tribal Nations.

Following this, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #50 to annually designate the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples' Day, and Oct. 13, 2025, marked the seventh consecutive year that the state of Wisconsin has formally celebrated Indigenous Peoples' Day. A copy of the 2025 Indigenous Peoples' Day proclamation is available on Gov. Evers' website.

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.

 Executive Order #136 built on these 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.

In 2025, in celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day, Gov. Evers joined the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) to take action on Executive Order #277, which advances on a number of issues around Tribal Treaty Rights and stewardship, including preserving cultural resources and languages and ensuring sustainable food production like wild rice. Since then, Gov. Evers has appointed 24 individuals to serve on the state's new Wild Rice Stewardship Council, which include representatives from each of the 11 federally recognized Tribes in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), the Office of Environmental Justice, and GLIFWC, as well as other individuals appointed by the governor.

Most recently, in April 2026, Gov. Evers signed Assembly Bill 601, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 247, to allow a broader collection of Tribal Nations in Wisconsin to reap the benefits of increased gaming revenues through statewide mobile events or sports wagering. Wisconsin Act 247 represents an opportunity for revenue paid into the state to support mental health programs and to combat the opioid crisis, two issues that plague both Tribal Nations and communities across the state.

In his signing statement for Wisconsin Act 247, Gov. Evers asserted his obligation to uphold the rights of the state's Tribal Nations. "I promised I would always meaningfully consult Tribal leaders and governments on matters directly impacting each respective Nation," wrote Gov. Evers. "To me, keeping that promise has been the most important part of this process-to ensure the state of Wisconsin is not making decisions for and about 11 Tribal Nations without all 11 Tribal Nations."

An online version of this release is available here.
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Office of the Governor • 115 East Capitol, Madison, WI 53702
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The Office of the Governor of the State of Wisconsin published this content on June 30, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 30, 2026 at 21:47 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]