The Ho-Chunk Nation welcomes a new Gaming Commissioner

By Tim Wohlers



On the first of the month, Ho-Chunk tribal members welcomed newcomer Heather Cloud to the gaming commission.  To make the move official, a swearing-in ceremony was held at the Tribal Office Building in Black River Falls.  The commemorative ceremony honoring Ms. Cloud was held on July 1, 2016, at 10 a.m.  The purpose of the celebration was to recognize the new commissioner and all that she has done for the tribe heretofore.  To honor Commissioner Cloud, guest speakers talked about her and all of her accomplishments.  During his address, the commissioner’s brother Sheridan Cloud had perhaps the most praise to give his newly-appointed sister. 
“There are four C’s that I see in my sister – commitment, courage, candor, and competence,” Cloud stated.  “She had a lot of courage and candor from the beginning.” 
The role of gaming commissioner proves to be a new challenge for Ms. Cloud, but definitely not the biggest one she has faced.  Commissioner Cloud gained the most notoriety in 2013, when she became the first female vice president of the Ho-Chunk Nation.  Prior to that, she also served as a district legislator in District 3.  Yet her resume stretches far beyond her time as a legislator.  Throughout her years serving the nation in a professional role, Ms. Cloud occupied several gaming-related positions. 
“I worked in bingo and the IT department,” Cloud tells.  “My first job in gaming was when I was 18, [performing] floor sales at Ho-Chunk bingo in the Dells.” 
With her great wealth of experience, Cloud hopes to make the Ho-Chunk Nation proud by embodying the ideal gaming commissioner.  To this end, she follows the book to a T.  But Cloud does more than that.  The new commissioner thinks before she speaks, organizing and formulating her thoughts before expressing them.  These qualities prove important for one in such a high office.  With these attributes, Cloud shows great potential as gaming commissioner.  She looks forward to helping the tribe in her new role. 
“It’ll be my pleasure serving the Ho-Chunk Nation again,” the new commissioner concludes. 


Home