Lac Courte Oreilles Councilman Rusty Barber Receives 2012 WisDOT Tribal Excellence Award

Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board Member Rusty Barber is the recipient of a Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Tribal Excellence Award and will be recognized at the Wisconsin Tribal Transportation Conference December 11 at Lac du Flambeau.

Tribal Excellence Awards are presented annually during the WisDOT Tribal Transportation Conferences. Award recipients are recognized for providing exemplary contributions and services to building and enhancing partnerships with WisDOT and the state’s tribal communities.
A December 10 Proclamation issued by the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board and signed by Chairman Gordon Thayer recognized Barber's work and dedication.

"Russell Barber's many contributions to our tribal community are an example of traditional Ojibwe leadership and a positive reflection of his family and members of the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe," the proclamation reads. "Barber is a highly-respected tribal leader and he is hereby publicly recognized and honored for his years of leadership and community service. His efforts will continue to inspire the leaders of our tribe; and the Tribal Governing Board wishes to recognize his efforts and thank him on behalf of the members of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians."

"On behalf of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the WisDOT Tribal Transportation Conference Planning Committee, I extend my sincere gratitude for your outstanding performance and commitment to facilitating a stronger relationship between the WisDOT and Wisconsin tribal nations," said WisDOT Statewide Tribal Liaison Kelly Jackson. "While serving on all three WisDOT advisory groups: the WisDOT Tribal Task Force, the Tribal Historic Preservation Project, and the Tribal Labor Advisory Committee, you have brought a wealth of knowledge to these groups and have provided immeasurable amounts of time to the many areas of concern raised at each of the advisory groups. Your critical involvement has insured that tribal interests are included in WisDOT policy, procedures and projects."