WisDOT: Wisconsin Tribes and WisDOT to sign historic partnership agreement

For more information, contact:

Kelly Jackson, WisDOT Statewide Tribal Liaison

(608) 266-3761, kelly.jackson@dot.wi.gov

Tuesday, October 26, 2010, 9 a.m., Governor’s Conference Room, State Capitol

Representatives from Wisconsin’s eleven federally recognized tribes, the Federal Highway Administration and Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Frank Busalacchi will sign a new WisDOT Tribal Partnership Agreement at the State Capitol Building in Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday, October 26 at 9 am. The original agreement, signed in May 2005, has been updated. Although the spirit of the agreement remains focused on partnership and mutual respect, the revised agreement will include measureable goals and other initiatives designed to strengthen state and tribal economies related to transportation.

The partnership agreement is an extension of the Governor’s Executive Order, which is an affirmation of the government-to-government relationship between the state of Wisconsin and Indian tribal governments located in Wisconsin. The agreement promotes partnership between the state and tribes on transportation related issues. Over the past five years, the partnership agreement has resulted in many successful transportation projects such as the Tribal Task Force; Tribal Historic Preservation Project; Tribal Transportation Conference; the Tribal Transportation Safety Project, as well as the Tribal Road Safety Summit held in the fall of 2009.

What: Signing ceremony of the partnership agreement

When: Tuesday, October 26, 2010, 9:00 am

Where: Governor’s Conference Room, State Capitol Building