In July, Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court Associate Judge JoAnn Jones ’86 retired at age 83. But she’s not done “working” by any means.
Sure, Jones wants to travel more, hence her recent trip to Peru and her goal of making it to Alaska, the only state she hasn’t visited.
But she also wants to give presentations and help younger generations preserve their cultural and historical background. Plus, she will have more time to devote to a book about her term as the first female leader of the Ho-Chunk Nation, a role in which she served from 1991-95.
“I wanted to represent my people,” she said. “I really admired my ancestors for enduring such harsh treatment by the United States government, keeping the Ho-Chunk Nation spirit, traditions and ceremonies alive in spite of everything.”
Jones said she never thought she would be the president, but the elders encouraged and supported her.
This follows a pattern for many of the big roles she has taken on.
“Everything I’ve done, I’ve been asked by the people,” she said. “From the beginning, it was a spiritual journey. There has to be a meaning to guide us in a way to benefit people, and that’s what I did. I wanted to serve my Ho-Chunk people.”
Jones said her proudest accomplishment as president was getting the constitution revised to reflect the Nation’s modern-day challenges. Setting up their own tribal judicial system to resolve disputes helped them retain their sovereignty.
“We kept fighting to preserve and protect our nation,” she said.
She is also proud of the extensive effort that opened the door to gaming as well as the memorable 1994 meeting of more than 300 tribal leaders with President Bill Clinton on the South Lawn of the White House. That day, Clinton issued a directive calling on his administration to treat Native governments with the same deference given to state governments.
“I was the only woman who was asked to speak at that meeting,” said Jones. “I was honored.”
Jones originally did not pursue law as a career path. While taking undergraduate courses in Florida, she wanted to go to medical school — until realizing chemistry and organic chemistry gave her a “headache.”
Jones, who grew up in the Black River Falls area, was asked by her uncle to join the medicine lodge, which drew her back to Wisconsin.
“Everything I’ve done, I’ve been asked by the people. From the beginning, it was a spiritual journey. There has to be a meaning to guide us in a way to benefit people, and that’s what I did. I wanted to serve my Ho-Chunk people.”
On her way north, she stopped in Madison to see if she could finish her studies in social work and political science because she wanted to work with her people and teach. It was summertime, past the application deadline, but “they accepted me for the fall semester with full scholarship.”
Jones interned in the governor’s office and the Department of Health Services, then went on to earn a master’s degree in social work and attend University of Wisconsin Law School.
“When I used to be walking up Bascom Hill, I would be mad because they built buildings on or near burial mounds and leveled some of them,” she said. “They didn’t respect or appreciate my culture. Now, I’m seeing change with the younger ones coming behind us and people becoming more aware and making students aware of the land’s cultural significance.”
While she is happy to see increased hiring of Native Americans, she would like to see more, plus visible recruiting programs.
Jones is doing some of that work herself by encouraging Ho-Chunk youth to go to law school.
“There’s a critical need for them in all areas of our government,” she said. “There are so many laws affecting the Indian people. I’d like to see our young people grapple with the ins and outs of our government, existence and lives.”