Midwest Environmental Advocates

Joining the Waters: A Forum on Tribal Sovereignty and Water Quality in Wisconsin October 21 and 22, 2005 Lake of Torches Conference Center Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin Thank you to everyone who made Joining the Waters a success! On October 21st and 22nd, 2005 conservationists both native and non-native from near and far came together at the Lake of Torches convention center in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin, to discuss a wide range of issues concerning water quality and the importance of tribal sovereignty. Final Agenda for the Forum Photos Speaker Biographies
Forum Topics
Topics discussed at the forum included: Tribal Sovereignty and the History of Indian Tribes in Wisconsin; Cultural Uses of Water (spearfishing, wild harvesting, and the spiritual power of water in religious ceremonies); Overview of Emerging Threats to Water Quality in Wisconsin (mining, mercury deposition, shoreland development, water privatization); The Role of Community Groups in Supporting Tribal Sovereignty and Overcoming Cultural Differences ; The Role of Tribes in Acquiring Land to Preserve Watersheds; Tribal and DNR Co-Management of Natural Resources; Protecting Northern Rivers from New Sources of Water Pollution

	Sponsorships
	The Forum was generously sponsored by: Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Brown & LaCounte, LLP Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger Clean Wisconsin Environmental Leadership Program Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission HONOR Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Oneida Nation Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians River Alliance of Wisconsin Wisconsin Association of Lakes
	Steering Committee
	MEA has enlisted the help of a diverse Steering Committee to organize the Forum. Members include: Carol Brown Board Member, Midwest Environmental Advocates Partner, Brown & LaCounte Enrolled Member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Doug Cox Environmental Specialist, Menominee Nation Environmental Services Department Lori Grant Water Policy Program Director, River Alliance of Wisconsin Jennifer Hill-Kelley Director, Oneida Tribal Department of Environmental Quality Board of Trustees, Environmental Leadership Program Ann McCammon-Soltis Policy Analyst, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Melissa K. Scanlan Executive Director, Midwest Environmental Advocates Board Member, River Alliance of Wisconsin Robert Shimek Special Projects Coordinator, Indigenous Environmental Network Larry Wawronawicz Board Member, Midwest Environmental Advocates Deputy Administrator of Natural Resources for the Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians