Ho-Chunk Membership Map
Ho-Chunk Nation Legislative Districts and Member Enrollment, August 2010
1 Enrollment
3 Bayfield
Douglas Total 7071
9 0 Wisconsin 4971
Ashland
Iron 30
6 Vilas
0 Washburn 37 0
1
Burnett Sawyer Florence
3 2
Price Oneida 15
0 14 1 Forest
Polk
Barron Rusk 7 4
0 Lincoln 3 Marinette
Langlade
18 8 18 Taylor 25
St Croix Chippewa Menominee 3
Dunn 95 Oconto 0
Marathon 167
2 107 66 Shawano
Door
Pierce 0 Eau Claire Clark
Pepin 4 0
310 26
3
3 Waupaca 25 130 Kewaunee
Wood Portage
Buffalo 1138 Outagamie Brown
23 Jackson 2 2
Trempealeau 6
44 Waushara 37 Calumet Manitowoc
275 370 Adams
Monroe 0 Winnebago
Enrollment Distribution La Crosse 283 9 Green Lake 14
Juneau Marquette Fond du Lac 14
20 Sheboygan
Vernon 623 125 13 14
1549 0 5
4
2100 Sauk Columbia Dodge
Ozaukee
2
3 Richland Washington
Crawford 300 42
1 Dane 8 Waukesha 359
1726 8 Iowa Jefferson Milwaukee
528
Grant 20
4 16 35 5
1168 Green
Racine
Lafayette Rock Walworth 11
Kenosha
44
21 0
21
32 448 2
9 2
2 District Legislators
31 4971 61 19
9 5 0 Gregory Blackdeer
1 Clarence Pettibone
109 23 2
51 Doug Greengrass
20 21 7 6
10 187 36 3 James Greendeer
246 71 1 2 John Holst
26 43 25
6 Roberta Decorah
12 Hope Smith
28 3
88 73 Lawrence Walker, Jr.
47 51 6 4 Dan Brown (V.P.)
4 13 15 Greg Littlejohn
Robert Two Bears
62 2 5
Kathyleen Lone Tree-Whiterabbit
AK = 9 Patrick Red Eagle
HI = 23 51
International = 17 Enrollment data from HCN Heritage Preservation
Enrollment Office 08/11/2010. HCN DNR GIS 2010.
Ho-Chunk Economic Impact
In 1963, the Ho-Chunk established the Wisconsin Winnebago Business Committee.Their
main task was improving tribal living conditions by establishing businesses. Today, the
Ho-Chunk Nation carefully balances its dual roles of providing important services to tribal
members, while also managing many sophisticated business enterprises.
The Ho-Chunk enterprises include Class II and
Class III gaming facilities, hotels and confer- Ho-Chunk Enterprises
ence centers, convenience stores, movie
theaters, and health care and fitness facilities. Ho-Chunk Gaming - Wisconsin
Crockett’s Resort and RV Park
Tourism is also a major component of the Ho-Chunk Distribution Center
Ho-Chunk Nation business ventures.The Ho-Chunk Cinemas
Nation’s entertainment attractions helped 5 Whitetail Crossing Convenience & Gas Stations
transform the Wisconsin Dells area from a NiSini Bottled Water
seasonal vacation spot into a year-round Da-xu Organic Coffee
tourist destination where visitors spend close Whirling Thunder Ranch
to a billion dollars each year. House of Wellness Fitness & Aquatic Center
Ho-Chunk Sports and Expo Center
The Ho-Chunk Nation’s economic impact in
Wisconsin is significant. More than 3,200
people are employed by the Nation’s business and community ventures. Approximately
75% of the employees are non-tribal members. As one of the largest employers in the state,
the Ho-Chunk Nation pays out more than $102 million in payroll annually and also provides
health, dental, vision and life insurance to its employees. Ho-Chunk employees pay $8.1
million in taxes to the federal government and another $4.9 million to the state each year.
Ho-Chunk Community Contributions
The Ho-Chunk Nation is committed to supporting local communities in Wisconsin. By donating
funds and services to neighborhoods, charitable organizations and service groups, the Nation is
able to help strengthen area communities.
The Ho-Chunk people are proud of their commitment to supporting worthy causes and
contributing to the success of local community events.
The Nation is also giving back to local communities in 11 Wisconsin counties by giving each
a portion of its earnings from Ho-Chunk gaming and entertainment facilities.The Nation will
award nearly $2.2 million annually to the counties for the next 25 years.That’s a contribution of
more than $55 million to local economies.
The counties will use the additional funds to improve their communities with projects such as
road maintenance, parks and bridge improvements, law enforcement patrols, human services
funding and economic development centers.
The Ho-Chunk Nation is also committed to sharing its culture, history and customs with its
neighbors. It is important to the Ho-Chunk to sustain their culture and that they maintain their
identity.
To share its rich heritage with others, the Nation provides tours of various cultural sites and
Ho-Chunk attractions in south-central Wisconsin.These first-hand accounts from cultural experts
offer a unique glimpse into the Ho-Chunk people and culture.
Ho-Chunk Education
Education is a priority for the Ho-Chunk Nation. Preserving the Ho-Chunk language is a high
priority for the Nation since less than 4% of Ho-Chunk members speak the Hocak language. In
an effort to revitalize the language and spark interest in learning the native tongue, the Nation
is pouring resources into efforts to educate tribal members of all ages about the language and
culture it represents.
The Hocak Wazija Jaci Language and Culture Program teaches the Hocak language in the
Ho-Chunk Nation’s Head Start centers in 14 Wisconsin counties. Plus, language classes,
immersion camps, distance learning classes, Hocak language books, audio tapes, videos, and
computer programs are also provided by the Hocak Wazija Jaci Language and Culture Program
to give the younger generations of Ho-Chunk members the skills needed to keep the Hocak
language alive for years to come.
Tribal leaders believe investing in education is imperative to the long-term success of the tribe.
The Ho-Chunk also consider education to be a major contributor and positive influence on the
Wisconsin economy and helps build stronger local communities.
The Ho-Chunk Education Department works tirelessly to give young Ho-Chunk members the
opportunities to gain the skills and character values to become life-long learners. Ho-Chunk
students are eligible for many scholarship and grant programs provided by the Nation.
The Nation has also embarked on a new avenue for education by opening its first charter school
in Nekoosa,Wisconsin. In addition to required school subjects, the Nįįkuusra Community School
also gives students the opportunity to learn more about the Ho-Chunk culture, history and
language.
Ho-Chunk Environment
The Ho-Chunk people take great pride in their environmental conservation efforts. With a long
history of living off the lands in Wisconsin, the Ho-Chunk have set priorities to continue to
shepherd local wildlife, preserve remaining natural spaces, and restore land and water to its
natural state… all in an effort to protect the environment.
Helping Wisconsin stay green is a cultural value within the Ho-Chunk Nation at both the
individual level and as a Nation-wide priority.They have enacted policies and programs to
conserve energy, limit waste, and help keep Wisconsin green.
Some of the Nation’s conservation success stories include the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, the
White Otter Restoration Area, the Badger Ammunition Plant, and the Whirling Thunder Ranch.
These areas are great examples of the Ho-Chunk Nation’s commitment to protecting historic
lands and wildlife.The Nation also utilizes solar energy strategies, hybrid vehicles and recycling
programs.
The Nation is also working with environmental leaders to preserve some ancient land forma-
tions created by the Ho Chunk people long ago.Their ancestors left their mark on Wisconsin
land in the form of large effigy and conical mounds.These unique and scarce landmarks can
be found along southern Wisconsin’s waterways and lakes.The effigy mounds appear in the
shapes of animals and birds and many contain burial remains.