Wisconsin's state agencies have a unique and effective system for communicating, collaborating, and consulting with the 11 federally recognized tribes in the state. One of these agencies, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), is noted for consulting with Tribes through a variety of means, including regular consultation meetings, Tribal liaisons, the Tribal Historic Preservation Project, and the WisDOT Inter-Tribal Task Force. These efforts have helped to strengthen the agency's relationships with Indian Tribal Governments.
It Takes a Nation
It Takes a Nation is a safety campaign that originated through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Tribal Affairs office and the WisDOT Inter-Tribal Taskforce in 2010. A tribal transportation safety coalition was formed through partnerships with the 11 Tribes, WisDOT, Indian Health Service, Bureau of Transportation Safety, WI State Patrol, and others who created culturally relevant marketing materials to assist with a communication and outreach strategy to improve the motor vehicle crash statistics for Native Americans in Wisconsin. The initial poster was on creating awareness that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for Native Americans in Wisconsin between the ages of 1 and 44. The first poster highlighted tribal members from many WI Tribe's and portrayed Elders, youth, health professionals, law enforcement, and tribal leaders – that each of us has a responsibility to create safer tribal communities. A survey was developed and approved by the coalition for feedback on the most critical transportation safety issues facing WI tribal communities. This series of poster themes was based on the results of that survey. The most critical issues facing all 11 Tribal communities included: distracted driving, seat belt usage, and drinking and driving. The survey results were also confirmed through communication with the Tribes' law enforcement agencies, injury prevention coalitions, and EMS services. Copies of the poster were mailed to multiple tribal entities in each Tribal community (schools, administration, health centers, etc.) and distributed at Indian Summer Festival. All copyrights reserved with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
2017 PSA
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation in partnership with the WisDOT Inter-Tribal Task Force is excited to bring this unique media program to your community. We look forward to working with your children during our One Day Media Camp. With professional instruction students will not only learn about film creation but will create a transportation safety public service announcement (PSA) which will be shared statewide. Students will also learn about critical information regarding Native American transportation safety. Students will create the safety message, design the production and conduct the filming. The safety campaign message will contain a youth perspective about one of several safety topics which may include; distractive driving, driving under the influence or seat belt use. This will be a full day of training in creative development, audio/visual techniques, including filming, lighting, production, dialog creation, acting and other aspects of videography including editing.
Safe driving public service announcement (PSA) YouTube (02:25)
Developed by students participating in the National Summer Transportation Institute Program through the College of Menominee Nation and Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College in Wisconsin.
- More info. on the Transportation safety project
Online Resources