How do you make history?
Walter Bresette worked passionately to educate others on issues like sovereignty, American Indian treaty rights, and environmentalism. A member of the Red Cliff Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe), Walter emerged as a leader during the Northern Wisconsin spearfishing controversies of the 1980s; organizing rallies, making speeches, and publishing his writings on the causes he cared about.
Meet Walter Bresette
Questions to Consider
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Walter began his activism while he was a teenager, when he attended rallies for civil rights and against housing discrimination. How are these causes part of our lives today? Are there more causes that people are rallying for now? How might you take action about what is important to you?
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During the Walleye Wars in the 1970s and 1980s, Walter documented some of the conflicts between community members having to do with treaty rights to hunt, gather, and fish. What have you learned about Wisconsin’s First Nations and treaty rights? What questions do you have?
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Through his work, Walter sought to recognize and protect the lands and rights of First Nations people. How do you think his work is being continued today?
Peek Into the Past
Holy Family School
Holy Family Catholic School was built in 1910. Walter attended the school from Kindergarten to eighth grade.
Image courtesy of Wisconsin Historical Society.
March on Washington
Almost 300,000 people gathered in Washington, DC, on August 28, 1963. They rallied to end segregation.
Image courtesy of National Archives. Identifier 542045.
Effigy Mound
Walter helped protect American Indian artifacts like effigy mounds.
Image courtesy of Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-39007.
Walter Speaking
This photo shows Walter speaking at a rally in Madison, Wisconsin, on May 7, 1989.
Image courtesy of Cass Joy.
Walter and Children
Walter with three of his children (from left to right: Katy, Robin, and Claudia).
Image courtesy of Cass Joy.
Walter’s Speeches
Walter gave many speeches about protecting the earth and American Indian rights.
Image courtesy of Cass Joy.
Walt Bresette Poster
A poster commemorating Walter’s life and accomplishments.
Image courtesy of Cass Joy.
Treaty Text
Ojibwe (left) and English statement to the US government, noting that promises made to the Ojibwe were not in the treaties (1864).
Image courtesy of Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-113058.
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Read On
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Walter Bresette: Treaty Rights and Sovereignty
Get the full story with this biography book. Audio files are available on each page if you’d like to listen along!
Project Credits
Producer
Becky Marburger
Associate Producer
Joe Young
Animation
The Brave Union
Illustration
The Brave Union
Animation Narration
Audio recordings of Walter Bresette courtesy of Catherine Joy
Audiobook Narration
Jonathan Horne
Audiobook Editing
Kerman Eckes
Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Vicki Way Kipp
Translation Services
University of Wisconsin-Madison Cultural Linguistic Services
Educator Support Materials
Mia Forslund
Web
John Vieth
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Tim Schneider
Design
Charles Barrows
Executive Producer
Dan Kaplan
Special Thanks
Peggy Garties
Kristin Leglar
Story Advisors
Brenda Autz
Park Elementary School
Middleton, WI
(2015)
Pam Dempsey
James C. Wright Middle School
Madison, WI
(2021)
Charlene Dupler
Lakeview Elementary School
Wind Lake, WI
(2015)
Kurt Griesemer
Wisconsin Historical Society
Madison, WI
(2015)
Lisa Husnick
Lodi Elementary School
Lodi, WI
(2021)
Michelle Johnson
Hammond Community Library
Hammond, WI
(2021)
Kristen McDaniel
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Madison, WI
(2015)
David J. O’Connor
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Madison, WI
(2015)
Susan Plewa
Gaenslen School
Milwaukee, WI
(2021)
Amanda Price
Marshall Elementary School
Marshall, WI
(2015)
Corey Thompson
Cardinal Stritch University
(2015)
Stephanie Unertl
Lake Mills Area School District
Lake Mills, WI
(2015)