Ho-Chunk Nation
The Ho-Chunk Nation, or “People of the Sacred Voice,” is a federally recognized tribe with ancestral lands spanning Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. In honoring the legacy of its ancestors, the nation strives to build a future grounded in cultural identity, community empowerment, and sustainable growth for generations to come.
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Ho-Chunk is dedicated to preserving its language and traditions while advancing initiatives in housing, health, education, workforce, financial wellness, and economic development. To identify and address current and future needs, the Division of Planning and Development initiated a community needs assessment to learn from tribal members and honor Ho-Chunk culture. Through advisory board engagement and data collection from tribal members, stakeholders, and key resource providers, our role was to provide findings to guide strategic planning, improve resource allocation, and inform culturally grounded programs and policies.
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Gather community voices and lived experiences that reflect the needs and priorities of the Ho-Chunk people.
Collect and analyze data on demographics, lifeways, culture, identity, housing, health, youth, education, financial literacy, employment, economic development, and governance.
Disaggregate data to give Ho-Chunk leaders a clear understanding of the current state of each of the four districts.
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In total, 1,495 Ho-Chunk members from nearly all 50 states answered the comprehensive, 33-page survey. Findings from the study highlighted the importance of housing, health, economic development, and cultural revitalization to strengthen community well-being. The final report provides the Ho-Chunk Nation with data-driven strategies that strengthen communities, preserve traditions, support a sustainable future, and create a roadmap for long-term growth and resilience.
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Apr 2025–May 2026
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Michael Brydge — Project supervisor, client communication, and data collection
Jackie Carter — Tool development, survey build, data collection and analysis, literature review, and report writing
Mairi Creedon — Quantitative data analysis and report writing
Max Van Oostenburg — Secondary data and analysis
Jodi Wolfe — Survey tool design, creative direction, and graphic and layout design
