The 2024 Ho-Chunk Nation Annual General Council meeting was held on September 21 at the Kalahari Conference Center in Wisconsin Dells.  The General Council retains the power to set policy for the Ho-Chunk Nation.  The quorum requirement was 1,277 tribal members.  This total was met and exceeded at 12:15 PM, when registration reached 1,819 voting members.  Quorum is twenty percent of the eligible voters of the Nation.

     Registration began at 8:00 AM.  The Master of Ceremonies Rebecca Davis and General Council Advocate Nathaniel Longtail, Jr., made announcements.  The Enrollment Division was on hand to produce Tribal Identification Cards.  The Information Technology Division assisted with registration.  Various programs, departments, and craft venders exhibited booths in the morning.  Verbal and written reports were given while quorum was being established.  Samson Falcon from the Language Division coordinated a game modeled off of Family Feud.

     Buses originating from La Crosse, St. Paul, Green Bay, Chicago, Wittenberg, and Milwaukee delivered and returned individuals.

     Around 9:00 AM, the Sanford WhiteEagle Legion Post 556 posted colors.  James Blackdeer’s drum group rendered appropriate songs throughout the day.

     The registered tribal members voted Wilfrid Cleveland to chair the meeting.  Mr. Cleveland then requested Pamela Wilber to be the meeting Secretary and Carson Funmaker to be the Sergeant at Arms.  Chief Clayton Winneshiek offered an opening prayer.

     The agenda was then established with 18 proposed resolutions.  The resolution titles, motion-makers, and outcomes are as follows:

1         1. Removal of President Greendeer, motion by Robert Funmaker, Jr., seconded by Shane Funmaker.  Motion by Robert Funmaker, Jr. to approve Resolution 09-21-24A, with second by Shane Funmaker, Voting: Yes – 623, No – 916, Abstain – 107, Total – 1,646.  Motion Defeated.

2         2. To Remove District 4 Representative and Vice President Danielle DeLong for Malfeasance, motion by Miriam WhiteEagle, seconded by Shane Funmaker.  Motion by Samantha Skenandore to oppose Resolution 9-21-24B, with second by Rio Greendeer, Voting: Yes – 830, No – 572, Abstain – 216, Total – 1,618.  Motion Carried.

3         3. To Remove District 2 Representative Stephanie Begay for Malfeasance, motion by Christine Funmaker-Romano, seconded by Chelsea Thompson.  Motion by Christine Funmaker-Romano to approve Resolution 9-21-24C, seconded by Robert Funmaker, Jr., Voting: Yes – 582, No – 845, Abstain – 176, Total – 1,603.  Motion Defeated.

4         4. To Remove District 3 Legislator Sarah Lemieux-WhiteEagle for Malfeasance, motion by Miriam WhiteEagle, seconded by Chelsea Thompson.  Miriam WhiteEagle withdraws Resolution 9-21-24D, supported by Chelsea Thompson.

5         5. To Reinstate General Council Agency and Reversal of the Office of General Council Establishment Act, motion by Joyce Warner, seconded by Anisha Decorah.  Motion by Joyce Warner to approve Resolution 9-21-24E, seconded by Anisha Decorah, Voting: Yes – 421, No – 1,067, Abstain – 132, Total – 1,620.  Motion Defeated.

6         6. To ensure Checks and Balances apply to the Office of General Council through Establishment of an Office of General Council Board of Directors, motion by Rita Gardner, seconded by Robert Funmaker, Jr.  Motion by Rita Gardner to approve Resolution 9-21-24F, seconded by Robert Funmaker, Jr., Voting: Yes – 711, No – 773, Abstain – 164, Total – 1,648.  Motion Defeated.

7         7. To Amend the Constitution to allow Descendant Enrollment with Ho-Chunk Nation after Relinquishment from another tribe, motion by Rita Gardner, seconded by Kathy DeCamp.  Motion by Rita Gardner to adopt Resolution 9-21-24G, seconded by Nathaniel Longtail, Voting: Yes – 927, No – 562, Abstain – 135, Total – 1,625.  Motion Carried.

8         8. To Allow Secretarial Elections to be held at General Council Meetings, motion by Rita Gardner, seconded by Rose Walker.  Motion by Rita Gardner to adopt Resolution 9-21-24H, seconded by Adrienne Thunder, Voting: Yes – 693, No – 668, Abstain – 196, Total – 1,557.  Motion Carried.

9         9. Defining Supervisory Authority of the Vice President, motion by Rita Gardner, seconded by Rose Walker.  Motion by Rita Gardner to approve Resolution 9-21-24I, seconded by Shane Funmaker, Voting: Yes – 588, No – 720, Abstain – 221, Total – 1,529.  Motion Defeated.

10       10. Reversal of Legislative Resolution to Remove District 2 Legislator Robert Funmaker, Jr., motion by Rose Walker, seconded by Chelsea Thompson.  Rose Walker withdraws Resolution 9-21-24J, supported by Chelsea Thompson.

11       11. For Freedom of Speech with Open and Transparent Governance, motion by Cindy Tack, seconded by Chelsea Thompson.  Motion by Cindy Tack to approve Resolution 9-21-24K, seconded by Jesse Decorah, Voting: Yes – 840, No – 550, Abstain – 180, Total – 1,570.  Motion Carried.

12       12. To Resolve the General Council to Abolish the Organization/Entity known as “12 Clans” forthwith, motion by Marlys WhiteEagle, seconded by Miriam WhiteEagle.  Motion by Marlys WhiteEagle to approve Resolution 9-21-24L, seconded by Miriam WhiteEagle, Voting: Yes – 677, No – 503, Abstain – 229, Total – 1,409.  Motion Carried.

13       13. To Reverse the Actions that were made in regard to Rental Agreements and the Terminating of Rental Agreements towards Tribal Members, motion by Vanverd Dick III, seconded by Rose Walker.  Motion by Vanverd Dick III to adopt Resolution 9-21-24M, seconded by Nathaniel Longtail, Voting: Yes – 535, No – 727, Abstain – 216, Total – 1,478.  Motion Defeated.

14       14. To Set Time Parameters on General Council Resolutions with Limited Exceptions, motion by Nathaniel Longtail, seconded by Bridgette Schulz.  Motion by Nathaniel Longtail to adopt Resolution 9-21-24N, seconded by Bridgette Schulz, Voting: Yes – 761, No – 589, Abstain – 158, Total – 1,508.  Motion Carried.

15       15. To Amend the Ho-Chunk Nation Department of Justice Establishment and Organization Act (1 HCC 8) Limited to Include any Legislatively Created Independent Agencies whom are funded within the Branches Budgeted Bills and share the Ho-Chunk Nation Employee Identification Number as Governmental Employees within Section 4. Functions (b) and Adding an Exclusive Office of the General Council Attorney within Section 5. Internal Organization (e), motion by Nathaniel Longtail, seconded by Bridgette Schulz.  Motion by Nathaniel Longtail to adopt Resolution 9-21-24O, seconded by Bridgette Schulz, Voting: Yes – 586, No – 660, Abstain – 330, Total – 1,576.  Motion Defeated.

16       16. For Declaration of Deficiency and Vote of No Confidence for the current Attorney General William Gardner with Legal Representation, motion by Nathaniel Longtail, seconded by Bridgette Schulz.  Motion by Nathaniel Longtail to adopt Resolution 9-21-24P, seconded by Bridgette Schulz, Voting: Yes – 549, No – 673, Abstain – 273, Total – 1,495.  Motion Defeated.

17       17. For the Ho-Chunk Nation General Council to Request a Secretarial Election to Amend the Ho-Chunk Nation Constitution to Include 1/8 of Anther Tribe to meet the Total 1/4 Blood Quantum, motion by Bridgette Schulz, seconded by Claire Maisells.  Motion by Bridgette Schulz to approve Resolution 9-21-24Q, seconded by Claire Maisells, Voting: Yes – 342, No – 1,041, Abstain – 108, Total – 1,491.  Motion Defeated.

18       18. Limit Powers of Executive, motion by Marlys WhiteEagle, seconded by Bridgette Schulz.  Motion by Marlys WhiteEagle withdraws Resolution 9-21-24R.

     John Stacy moved to adjourn with a second by Rose Walker.  The voting was Yes – 1,235, No – 85, Abstain – 33, Total – 1,353.  The motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 7:06 PM.