In his speech, Holsey addressed a wide range of issues centering on his statement, “When the tribes succeed, the state of Wisconsin succeeds.”

“Removing barriers to Native American political participation would improve socioeconomic status, self-determination, land rights, water rights, and health care,” she said. “Loss of the right to vote is loss of voice in the democratic process.”

Democracy itself is at stake, she said. This is because some people would “break our nation rather than divide it.”

Enbridge, a Canadian company that owns the Line 5 pipeline, is working to reroute the pipeline. But many Native American nations believe the pipeline will still endanger the environment. Holsey referred to Enbridge’s Line 5, which runs through northern Wisconsin, upper Michigan and under the Strait of Mackinac.

“The pipeline crosses more than 280 streams and rivers that flow directly into the waters of the Great Lakes which provide drinking water to more than 40 million people,” she said.

Holsey called for the protection of wolves. Native American spiritual teachings say that soon after humans appeared on earth, humans and wolves became closely associated. Later, although they lived separately, the wolf remained a brother; it is a belief that is still valid today. It is taught that what happens to wolves happens to Native Americans – and then happens to the rest of humans on earth. A federal judge reinstated protections for some wolves in the United States in February.