The Ho-Chunk Nation, state leaders, and community members gathered at the House of Wellness in Baraboo to unveil new dual-language highway signs.

     The signs feature both Ho-Chunk and English place names, marking an important step in restoring Ho-Chunk language and visibility across the state.

     “Today, we honor our ancestors and celebrate our enduring presence on this land,” President Jon Greendeer said. “These dual-language signs are more than markers along the highway, they are a restoration of our Ho-Chunk identity, our language, and our responsibility to future generations.”

     The newly unveiled signs include “Maa Wakacak” (“Sacred Earth”) and “Zaagi ciinak” (“Sauk Village”), with English translations placed beneath the Ho-Chunk language. Each sign also carries the Ho-Chunk Nation seal.

     Gov. Tony Evers joined the Nation for the unveiling, highlighting that the work stems from ongoing collaboration between the state and Tribal governments.

     “Every dual-language sign we install is a shared decision,” Evers said. “Wisconsin is strongest when we recognize and respect the people and Nations who have shaped this land for generations.”

     The Ho-Chunk Nation became the ninth Tribe in Wisconsin to participate in WisDOT’s dual-language sign initiative, launched in 2021. The program works directly with Tribal Nations to place road signs on Tribal lands in both English and Indigenous languages, an effort that supports language revitalization while also making Indigenous presence visible to the wider public.

     WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman said the signs are part of a broader commitment to Tribal sovereignty and cultural preservation.

     “When travelers see the Ho-Chunk language on these new highway signs, they are reminded that the Ho-Chunk Nation’s resilience and thriving presence will continue to inspire and shape generations to come,” Boardman said.

     The unveiling follows other recent collaborations between the Ho-Chunk Nation and the state. Earlier this year, state and Tribal leadership celebrated the naming of Interstate 90 between La Crosse and Tomah as the Ho-Chunk World War II Code Talkers Memorial Highway, honoring Ho-Chunk veterans whose contributions remained unrecognized for decades.

     It also comes after Gov. Evers used his line-item veto authority in the 2025–27 state budget to ensure each of Wisconsin’s 11 federally recognized Tribes will receive $1 million per year for the next two years to support Tribal programs, including language revitalization.

     “By placing our Ho-Chunk names back onto the landscape,” Greendeer said, “we ensure that our story continues to be seen, spoken, and remembered throughout Wisconsin and along the Mississippi River.”