At its annual meeting, the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, the state's largest conservation organization named Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, and Bad River Tribal Chairman Michael Wiggins as its Conservationists of the Year.
The federation announced it was outstanding leadership and conservation values during the recent legislative efforts to modify Wisconsin's mining laws that drive the organization's decision.
According to the announcement:
Jauch has long represented northwestern Wisconsin including Ashland and Iron counties, the location of the proposed Penokee iron mine. Schultz has long represented southwestern Wisconsin including the Baraboo hills, another location containing iron ore deposits.
During the year-long legislative debate on mining, Jauch and Schultz, did something unique these days, and reached across party lines to work together to forge a position and ultimately a bill that would assure that mining law changes would address the stated needs of the mining company and create jobs while still protecting Wisconsin's valuable natural resources. These two veteran legislators showed real courage, great savvy and a very healthy respect for public input while working together on this legislation. They faced major pressure and criticism but remained undaunted in their efforts to do the right thing for Wisconsin's economy and natural resources. They held public meetings together in their legislative districts to hear first-hand the position of their constituents on the proposed mining legislation. They also did extensive research and consultation with mining regulation experts before formulating their position on mining law changes.
ADVERTISEMENT
Wiggins is the chairman of the Bad River Tribe of Ojibwe Indians. The Bad River tribal reservation is in Ashland County and immediately downstream of the proposed Penokee Hills iron mine. The Bad River and many of its tributaries flow through the 22-mile long iron ore body. The Bad River then flows through the reservation and is the cultural and religious lifeblood of the reservation and the tribe.
Where the Bad River ultimately intersects Lake Superior adjacent to the reservation lie the Kakagon Sloughs, a vast estuary comprised of highly valued rice beds of great importance to the tribe and internationally recognized.
Wiggins has provided outstanding leadership, along with the Bad River Tribal Council, to assure that any changes in Wisconsin mining law would protect the reservation and ceded territory rights of the Bad River and other Ojibwe tribes and to protect the high quality water resources of the Bad River watershed. He has been a tireless, articulate advocate for the tribe and natural resources. He and the Tribal Council have conducted their advocacy in a very respectful and dignified manner, even though at times there was a lack of knowledge and respect for tribal rights and respect for tribal rights and values by some Wisconsin governmental officials."
The Wildlife Federation is comprised of over 170 hunting, fishing, trapping and forestry-related organizations located throughout the state. The Federation is dedicated to conservation education and the advancement of sound conservation policies.
