Press Release: Gov. Evers Delivers Weekly Radio Address, Celebrates Indigenous Peoples' Day on October 12

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 10/08/2026 09:30 AM CDT
Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 8, 2026
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov 
 
Gov. Evers Delivers Weekly Radio Address, Celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day on October 12
 
Audio File of Radio Address.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered his weekly radio address celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Wisconsin, which will take place Monday, October 12. In 2019, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #50 to annually designate the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and this marks the eighth consecutive year that the state of Wisconsin has formally celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

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. 

A transcript of the governor’s radio address 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.

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

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. 
 
An online version of this release is available here.
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