Indigenous Justice

The ACLU of Wisconsin seeks to uplift Indigenous people, communities, and tribes through community-focused and integrated legal and advocacy work. We aim to support tribal communities – and follow their lead – as they work to uphold their sovereignty, dignity, and autonomy.

Indigenous Justice ACLU logo

Wisconsin is home to 11 federally recognized tribes: Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Ho-Chunk Nation, Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin, Oneida Nation, Forest County Potawatomi, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, St. Croix Chippewa, Sokaogon Chippewa (Mole Lake), and Stockbridge-Munsee, in addition to other tribes.

State and federal governments fail to adequately address how the legacy of colonization continues to harm Indigenous people. Since the founding of the United States, Indigenous people have faced systemic injustice and inequality in all aspects of our society. The ACLU of Wisconsin recognizes that Indigenous Justice is not racial justice alone, but a complexity of political and sovereignty issues.

The Latest

News & Commentary
For Indigenous societies, complex gender systems existed within tribal cultures since the beginning of time. Everyone in the community belonged."

Two Spirit: Gender Diversity Within Indigenous Communities

This Pride Month, Menominee historian Kaméwanukiw, Paula Rabideaux Fernandez, reaffirms that Two Spirit youth deserve to feel safe and loved.
News & Commentary

Protecting the Indian Child Welfare Act at the State Level

The Supreme Court issued a landmark victory for tribal sovereignty in Brackeen v. Haaland, enacting federal protections to join Wisconsin and 13 other states.
News & Commentary

Native Families' Right to Stay Together is at Stake at the Supreme Court

Theodora Simon Since Europea
Court Case
Feb 01, 2022

Protecting Northern Wisconsin from Oil Pipeline