The Ho-Chunk Nation

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The tribal members of the Ho-Chunk Nation are far spread throughout the United States, but most members currently live in Wisconsin. As of 2016, out of the 7,650 members, around 5,392 of these members reside in Wisconsin. Ho-Chunk Nation members are scattered throughout the state, a majority of members live in Jackson County where there are over a thousand members and Sauk County with over 600 members. The Ho-Chunk Nation has around 3,535 acres of trust land spread throughout the counties of “Adams, Clark, Crawford, Dane, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marathon, Monroe, Sauk, Shawano, Vernon & Wood...” (Ho-Chunk Nation 2) The Ho-Chunk Nation started their life in Wisconsin. With it’s rich lands and diverse animal population, Wisconsin …show more content…

Tribal members were then forced to move to Minnesota to put a cushion between the tribes of the Lakota and Ojibwe. Being in the middle of a war between the two tribes, Ho-Chunk Nation members were being attacked. The Ho-Chunk Nation members were then moved again to South Dakota due the the white resistance. The tribe then split when members were offered to trade their land in South Dakota for land in Nebraska. Some members took the offer while others still yearning for their original home, made their way back to Wisconsin. In 1873, members of the Ho-Chunk Nation were forced to go back to Nebraska from Wisconsin in the harsh winter. Many members died throughout the move. Eventually, through much resistance, the members were allowed to buy their own land back from the people who stole it.
The Ho-Chunk Nation members take part in the Native American Church, otherwise known as NAC to most tribal members. The NAC is a peyote based religion. This religion first came in contact with the tribe during the 1900s. Peyote is a hallucinogen that comes from the flower of a thornless cactus. Members of the NAC believe in the Great Spirit who controls the waterbird and thunderbird spirits. Taking peyote is believed to allow people to communicate with the Great Spirit for guidance and …show more content…

They include; Executive, Legislature, General Council, and Judiciary. The General Council was created to create policies for the tribe, to look over the policies and amendments from the Legislature and Judiciary branches and to change any of the legislature decisions. Meetings are held once a year where members that are 18 and older come together to vote on policies and amendments. The Legislative branch was formed to create laws and . This branch also has the authority to buy land. The Executive Branch is assigned to the President of the tribe. This branch is made up of many administrative departments such as “Administration, Business, Education, Health, and Social Services, Heritage Preservation, Housing, Justice, Personnel, and Treasury.” (Ho-Chunk Nation 3) The Judiciary branch is primarily associated with the Tribal Court. The court is made up of a Chief Judge and fellow judges, how have the power to enforce the tribe’s constitution and it’s laws. The President of the Ho-Chunk Nation, currently Wilfrid Cleveland, represents the tribe as a whole. The President serves four years and during these four years makes the decisions on votes, to manage and dispose of laws, and to lead all meetings concerning the

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