The Kickapoo Valley Reserve’s Executive Director, Marcy
West, resigns after 24 years. She
dedicated those years preserving Wisconsin’s one-of-a-kind natural resources by
collaborating with six villages, three counties, a sovereign nation, state
agencies, federal agencies, and a board of directors.
The Kickapoo Valley Reserve (KVR) Board and KVR Friends
group sponsored a night of recognition at the beautiful Visitor Center on
Thursday, June 17. Brad Steinmetz emceed
the event and introduced guest speakers.
To set the tone for what Marcy West accomplished, former
State Senator Brian Rude provided a brief history of the KVR. Ten years after the La Farge Lake and Dam project
was halted, there was a gaping wound.
Family farms were destroyed, schools lost students, businesses lost
business, and legal limbo. People felt
betrayed and were angry. The majority of
local people called to finish the dam, but that wasn’t happening. So a citizen’s project was launched to find
an alternative.
Long story short, the project resulted in a concept of a state-owned
but locally managed reserve with benefits of state attachments and public
ownership and access. The Executive
Director position was created. The candidate had to possess abilities in
governance, be a manager, consensus builder, politically well connected,
willing to work long hours, and the person had to create a position out of
nothing. This person had to work with
board members, Friends group, local lawmakers, citizens, political leaders, and
the Ho-Chunk Nation.
“Marcy West was the glue that held all this together and
made it work,” said Rude.
West has been the property’s executive director throughout
its history.
The emcee announced former Representative Lee Harrison and
former State Senator Jennifer Shilling were in attendance and worked on
multiple projects with Marcy West.
Representatives from Congressman Ron Kind’s office spoke next
by reading a letter from Congressman Kind and sharing their working relationship
experience with Marcy West.
State Senator Brad Pfaff and State Representative Loren Oldenburg
shared some words and presented a citation to Marcy West celebrating and
showing gratitude for her service.
President Marlon White Eagle spoke a bit about the history
of KVR and the Ho-Chunk Nation. He
mentioned Ritchie Brown played a role in establishing the Memorandum of
Understanding. Tina Brown, Bill
Quackenbush, and Adlai J. Mann were all in attendance and serve on the KVR
board. Ardith Van Riper is the HCN’s
current Editor and worked on the original land survey that aided the Nation in
deciding which lands they wanted to be transferred. President White Eagle, with
the assistance of Tina Brown, presented a star quilt to Marcy West.
Village of La Farge President Cheryl Purvis spoke about the
last decade Marcy worked with the community.
Purvis listed grants that were awarded as a result of Marcy’s work.
The KVR Board’s current president, Richard Wallin, and first
president, Ron Johnson, spoke next. Together
they presented Marcy West with an honoree lifetime membership certificate.
“One thing that nobody has said - this building (The Visitor
Center) would not have been here, financially, if Marcy hadn’t worked with the
feds,” said Johnson.
The Visitor Center is located 1.5 miles north of La Farge on
highway 131. The 8,300 square feet
building was completed in 2004. A 2,000
square foot exhibit features interactive displays where visitors can learn
about the reserve. Construction of the Visitor
Center totaled 2.5 million dollars and is available for a fee to the public for
meetings, special events, educational workshops, seminars, weddings, family
reunions, and guided tours.
The KVR Friends group president Tom Miron presented Marcy
with a lifetime member certificate.
Brad Steinmetz read a certificate of accommodation to Marcy
West from Governor Tony Evers.
The guest of honor closed out the evening speeches. Marcy West acknowledged that she had a role
to play and that she did not do it alone.
She thanked her husband Dave and mentioned their children, Andy and
Keagan.
“Rex Whitegull first taught, told me that working with the
Ho-Chunk Nation was learning patience. A
couple of very wise people after that told me we will also work to look seven
generations out. I absolutely love that
theory,” explained Marcy West. “The
property is so special and takes vigilance to keep it that way.”
The Kickapoo Valley Reserve is made up of 8,600 acres
between La Farge and Ontario in Vernon County.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs holds 1,200 acres in trust for the Ho-Chunk
Nation and the remaining 7,400 acres transferred to the State of Wisconsin.
Congress authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to
build a flood control dam in the 1962 Flood Control Act. The Corps purchased the land, removed houses
and buildings, and began constructing a large dam across the valley floor. Approximately 149 farms were purchased. Economic and environmental concerns were
raised in the late 1960s and 1970s, causing the dam project to stop in 1975. After that, nature gradually reclaimed the
area.
Congress then passed the 1996 Water Resources Development
Act that directed the Corps to return up to 1,200 acres to the Ho-Chunk Nation
and the rest to the State of Wisconsin.
The act also required the State of Wisconsin and the Ho-Chunk Nation to
enter into a Memorandum of Understanding specifying which lands would go into
trust and how the two entities would jointly manage the property. Additionally, the act required the lands to be
preserved in a natural state and only be developed for outdoor recreation and
educational opportunities.
“Never forget the long history,” said Marcy West. “Now it is time to look ahead. It (the Reserve) is in very good hands.
“We have an awesome board of directors. We have an awesome
Friends group. We have an awesome
staff.
“I hope you will continue to be involved and
supportive. Please give the staff a hand
every once in a while.”