As a result of Public Law 83-399 passed by Congress on June 17, 1954, the Federal government terminated all federal responsibility for the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. Joint Resolution No. 72 A was approved by the Wisconsin State Legislature on June 17, 1955, creating the Menominee Indian Study Committee (MISC). The resolution directed the committee to study problems arising from the transition from federal control to local self-government in areas such as taxation, public welfare, education, highways, forest lands, and law enforcement. The committee was also directed to develop specific recommendations and legislative proposals for the Joint Legislative Council in order to assist the legislature in making the necessary statutory adjustments for an orderly transition.
Another function of the committee was to help the tribe develop a plan for the future control of tribal property and for the governmental and business operation of the Reservation and its forest. A plan for termination was submitted and approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1959. State legislation implementing the plan was enacted the same year and took effect in 1961. This plan established Menominee Enterprises, Inc. (MEI) as the tribal corporation. All assets held in trust by the federal government were transferred to the corporation.
To conduct studies and surveys to help formulate a termination plan with the Menominee Tribe, the committee called upon the University of Wisconsin and state agency personnel for assistance. The University established several advisory groups: a Tribal Economic Study Group, a County and Local Government Study Group, the Business Advisory Group, and the Law and Order Group. These advisory groups assisted the MISC by conducting research and preparing reports on a variety of subjects. Following finalization of the termination plan in 1959, these groups were discontinued.
MISC was initially composed of three members of the Menominee Indian Tribe; one member each from the Oconto County Board and the Shawano County Board; six members representing the state departments of taxation, public welfare, public instruction, highways, conservation/natural resources and the Attorney General (who served as chair of the committee); and three legislators (one senator and two assemblymen). It was later expanded to include representatives from the State Board of Health, the Governor's Commission on Human Rights (Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations), and the Menominee County Board.
From 1961 to 1976, the Legislative Council hired a consultant to assist the Menominees in establishing a county government. The consultant helped plan the installation of the new government, provided the governor with factual data to make appointments to the new posts, and helped develop a training program for the new officials and local government employees. Following the formation of the new governments, the consultant served as a liaison between federal, state, and local government. The consultant also made recommendations concerning additional federal funding.
The status of Menominee County was provisional and was subject to legislative reviews in 1965 and 1969. Based upon the success of MEI and the subsequent broadened tax base of Menominee County in 1969, MISC recommended that the county status become permanent. Although it had been anticipated that the committee would cease to function with the permanent establishment of Menominee County, the committee decided to continue to serve as a liaison between the Menominees and the federal government.
Prior to the Termination Act and during the entire period of termination, there were factions of the tribe which opposed the policy. The DRUMS (Determination of Rights and Unity of Menominee Shareholders) organization considered the repeal of the Termination Act and the restoration of the tribe to former trust status to be the only real solution for the Menominees. Although strong opposition existed to the proposed restoration of the tribe, a Menominee Restoration Bill was introduced in both the House and the Senate in 1973, and signed by President Nixon on December 22, 1973.
Following restoration, state and local officials were concerned about the transition of the tribe and county to pre-termination status. Studies were conducted and meetings held in order to clarify the division of responsibility between state and federal programs and funding to the county. MISC held several meetings with county officials and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to review tax concerns, law and order services, and general issues involved with returning jurisdiction to the tribe and federal government. In 1975 the committee's activities began to taper off, and the last meeting of MISC was held November 18, 1975.
On July 1, 1976 MISC was replaced by the Native American Study Committee (NASC), which reported to the Wisconsin Legislature. This committee was responsible for studying the problems of the Menominees as well as those of other native Americans in Wisconsin. The NASC was also authorized to develop specific recommendations and proposals to the Legislative Council.
See the Agency History in the catalog.
