# M a s h k i i z i i b i i N a t u r a l Re s o u r c e (2020) > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Abad_river_chippewa%3A9f94bd021f477325 ## Record - **Collection:** Tribal code - **Document type:** Tribal code ## Text M a s h k i i z i i b i i N a t u r a l Re s o u r c e Naomi Tillison, MNRD Director - nrdirector@badriver-nsn.gov L ess than a year after an Enbridge helicopter crashed on the Reservation (see article on page 5 for more info), Enbridge had a second helicopter incident on the Reservation. On July 20th, 2019, an Enbridge helicopter accidentally released a load of 6 large poly mats (weighing 7000 pounds) that were being transported to an anomaly dig worksite east of the Bad River. The mats crashed to the ground in a remote area of the Reservation west of Government Road damaging trees and churning up soils. Over a year later, Enbridge has yet to remove the mats or restore the damage to this area. More information about Enbridge can be found at: http://www.badriver-nsn.gov/naturalresources/threats/ Air Quality Infor mation. Anytime! Nathan Kilger, Mashkiiziibii Air Quality Specialist - airquality@badriver-nsn.gov M Photos show some of the visible damages done by the impact of the 7000lb poly mats. ~MISSION STATEMENT~ Mashkiiziibii Natural Resource Depar t men t 72682 Maple Street PO Box 39 Odanah, WI, 54806 Phone: 715-682-7123 Fax: 715-682-7118 Email: NRDOutreach@badriver-nsn.gov The Department strives for resource management which both conserves the natural resources for the future generations and provide for the needs of the present. The departments existence reflects the importance the Bad River Tribe places on its right and ability to exercise sovereignty, self-determination and self-regulation in the area of natural resource management. Were on the Web! Visit www.badriver-nsn.gov onitoring air quality requires many moving parts and can be a challenge, air doesn’t know boundaries, requires specialized monitors, and procedures must be followed to produce accurate and timely information. The Mashkiiziibii Natural Resource Department monitors for several air pollutants in realtime, but our partners also put in a lot of effort and time to operate a statewide network, which is actually one smaller piece of a national Starting 2021 Mashkiiziibii Commonground Newsletter will be making changes to our Edition Distribution to match the seasons and incorporate the Ojibwe Language. Special points of interest: • Wildlife Ma’iingan Article • MNRD New Hires Intros • Tribe Buys-back Land • Forestry Updates • Air Quality Updates • 6 Easy Ways to Reduce Plastic and Landfilled Waste in Your Life Inside this issue: Howling for Ma’iingan: Take Action to Protect Brother Ma’iingan 2 Tribe Buys Back More Land Base in Upper Falls/Cameron’s Creek 3 Air Quality Information. Anytime! ...Continued on page 4... Howling for Ma’iingan: Take Action to Protect Brother Ma’iingan 4 Remediation of Contami- 5 nated Landscapes: Step by Step MNRD New Hire Introductions 6 by Abi Fergus, Wildlife Specialist Wildlife@badriver-nsn.gov Forestry Updates 7 Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Department CoVid19 Contact List 9 Radon Updates 10 M a’iingan (Gray Wolf; Canis lupus) has helped us in countless ways and now Ma’iingan needs our help. Last week the Trump administration announced that Ma’iingan will be taken off the Federal Endangered Species Act List before the end of this presidential term. This change would strip Ma’iinganag of protec…Continued on page 2... Update on Enbridge's 12 July 2019 Helicopter Incident Page 2 COMMON GROUND Page 11 Howling for Ma’iingan continued... chemicals. tions against being killed across Turtle Island and open Ma’iingan’s fate to what individual State and Tribal governments decide. While we updated our Mashkiiziibii Ma’iingan Relationship Plan last year, the State of Wisconsin has not updated its plan since 2007 with the most recent science, improved understanding with Anishinaabe bands, and advancements in carnivore coexistence strategies. The Great Lakes States did not respect the treaties and relationships with the Great Lakes Anishinaabe bands last time Ma’iingan was delisted and wolf hunts took place in the Great Lakes states in the early 2010s. White Earth Elder Zhaashiigid Nooding (Bob Shimek) describes the shared history of genocide and displacement that Ma’iingan and Anishinaabe hold and explains some of the ways Minnesota specifically did not honor Anishinaabeg and the brotherhood with Ma’iingan: The Wolf is My Brother by White Earth Elder Zhaashiigid Nooding (Bob Shimek) In the State of Wisconsin, it is legally mandated that the WDNR host a wolf hunt when Ma’iingan is Federally delisted. This most recent round of proposed delisting is likely to be challenged legally by NGOs and become one of at least 7 Federal cases that have been filed over proposed Gray Wolf delistings since 2005. 4. Invest in reusable containers for in your kitchen, including lunch bags, plastic bags, beeswax wraps, and other food storage needs. These types of containers come in a variety of materials and styles. (Personally, I like lidded glass containers for my heat and eat leftovers, reusable plastic sandwich containers for picnics and my son’s school lunches, and reusable plastic pouches for washed veggies and leftovers that don’t require heating.) Even buying reusable plastic containers still take a lot of the unrecycled plastics out of the waste stream. Ma’iingan Photos of Gimiwan (It Rains) the breeding male of the Mashkiiziibii Pack and his mate. Photos by Shannon McNamara and Brian Ross Ever since European colonists, including my own ancestors, came to Turtle Island the treatment of Ma’iingan has been shaped by fear, a lack of understanding, and powerful lobbyists who buy out politicians on both sides of the aisle. In this time of the seventh fire, centering the relationship and knowledge Anishinaabeg have with Ma’iingan is crucial to heading down a good path. In my work with Bad River, I have learned how ways of life, including living in balance with all of nature, are embedded in Anishinaabe language and culture. These perspectives have been overlooked or sup- 5. Buy toothpaste dots or tablets instead of the traditional toothpaste tube. They come either in glass containers or bags, both of which are more environmentally friendly than the traditional tube which cannot be recycled. All you have to do is pop them in your mouth, chew, and then brush. Also, if you tend to overapply toothpaste to your toothbrush, you will now be provided perfectly sized portions for your use. Shampoo bars are becoming more and more popular, coming in a range of products from small homemade crafters to larger company productions. (Image courtesy of https://stylecaster.com/) 6. Buy soap, shampoo, and conditioner in bar form, instead of a liquid. They eliminate all the plastic packaging associated with liquid, and reduce the environmental impacts of shipping by being more packable and lighter weight. Bars for shampoo and conditioner are becoming Reusable drink containers come in a wide variety of styles, materials, and costs. easy to find in stores and online (Image Courtesy of the New York Times.) as they become more popular, and more expensive cost of $.0147 per they come in a range of solutions for all bag (and then you toss it in the trash). types of hair too. (If you’re not sold on So, it might be pricier up front, but in using a bar, you can invest in some reusathe long run you are saving money ble bottles and buy refills that come in and saving the planet—what is a beteither plastic pouches that can be returned ter investment than that? (Also, there to the manufacturer for reuse, tablets that are less expensive reusable bag opyou just add water to in your container for tions out there that are only a Google creating the product, or cardboard cartons search away.) that can be recycled.) Many of the items listed above are described as “investments” because they may be a pricier purchase than the disposable versions, but there are benefits to that upfront cost. For example, ZipTop Containers claim that their reusable bags can replace 5000 plastic bags. If you take the cost of one ZipTop sandwich bag ($12.99) and divide it by its reported number of uses (5000) you get the cost of $.0025 per use. In comparison, if you buys a 300 count box of Great Value Plastic bags from Walmart (which costs $4.42) you get the While I’m still making the switch to some of these products myself, and cannot fully recommend any one brand or product, I would recommend you looking into the options that fit best for you and your family by doing some internet searches for products and reviews (there is a TON out there). Even making a few small changes over time can help the environment and make you feel good about your choices. Forestry Updates continued... Spillerberg Lake in Southern Ashland County. This is actually southwest of Caroline Lake which also serves as the headwaters of the Bad River. Education Director Stephanie Julian admiring the natural beauty in the chunk of moss. Aaron and Brett at the Gile Flowage Page 10 COMMON GROUND Page 3 Tribe Buys Back More Land Base in Upper Falls/C ameron ’s Creek Radon Updates Daniel Wiggins, Radon Specialist, radon@badriver-nsn.gov T By Suzi Smith, GIS Specialist gspec@badriver-nsn.gov he Tribal Quality Air Radon Program sponsored a Radon Test initiative in Bad River this summer! We outreached to 41 tribal homes with 13 returned Radon kits. The 13 returned kits had no high levels of Radon. As part of the testing initiative, residents were encouraged to do in-home radon testing and be entered for a giveaway raffle. Pictured is our Door Prize winner with his picnic table win! Congratulations Leo & Raylin! B oozhoo Anishinabedog of the Bad River Rez. Howah! I am Dan Powless, Bad River Tribal member and have recently been hired on as the Manoomin Oshkaabewis for the Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Department. Oshkaabewis can be defined as a messenger of traditional and ceremonial knowledge. This project will incorporate a wider range of effort by bringing together Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western Science practices. The ceremonial component will reach out to elders, language speakers, and youth. I have experience as a program coordinator with a natural resource background in wetlands biology from an earlier position held with the tribe. It included office and field activities to address wetland management and inventory concerns of the tribe on various projects. At different periods I have been active in traditional life ways, gardening, gillnetting , spearing, , hunting, trapping, ceremonies, lodge, Ojibwemowin and singer rounds out who I am culturally. Plus an avid Packer and Brewer fan. I have met many teachers, educators and mentors be it friend, family or acquaintance in my journeys to share in the discussions, hard work, laughter, good times and sometimes not to explore interests. Being a ricer in the Kakagon Sloughs is a pretty special In July, Bad River Band closed on over 400 acres of forest land in the Upper Bad River Falls and on Cameron ’s Creek. One of the 11 parcels includes a hunting cabin and outbuildings, and many feature extensive shooting lanes and access trails. Waawaashkeshiwag (deer) here grow big and will feed and help provide for families long into the future from these properties. Access to the Mashkiiziibii (Bad River) is also increased with one parcel adjacent to the river providing fishing opportunity. This purchase was completed with funds from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (BIA GLRI) grant and Bad River Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) activities. It was formerly owned by Mike Noskoviak and his business Superior Outfitters, LLC. We hope you take a ride or hike there soon to enjoy the setting and share in the beauty of nature. time for all of us as witnessed again this year. New young faces, fall-ins, socializing are good medcine hey! We like to tease. We were in Big Slough. Someone said how come you and your boy wear the same kind of shirt. I said Yeah! come on son put on your best shirt we’re going ricing. Talk about the grins and chuckle. Notably, we have been seeing the decline of the manoomin along with other species taking over. We’ll revisit that later. I can be contacted at (manoomin@badriver -nsn.gov) to answer any questions for you. Jessica Strand, Environmental Specialist - environmental@badriver-nsn.gov 1. Invest in several reusable water bottles, whether they are glass, plastic, or stainless steel. Refilling a reusable water bottle means that you are recycling (or throwing away) less single-use plastic bottles. Reusable water bottles come in a wide variety of materials, colors, and styles—there is sure to be one the works for you! If you have more than one, you will be more likely to always have a clean one to fill quickly as you rush out the door, eliminating another excuse to grab a single-use bottle. 2. Invest in several travel mugs for your temperature-dependent beverages (e.g., coffee, tea, iced beverages) and fill them at home or on the go to eliminate using disposable cups, many of which are not able to be recycled. Just like reusable water bottles, reusable travel mugs come in a variety of materials and styles. 3. Invest in some reusable spray bottles and buy concentrated cleaning solutions or refills in plasticfree packaging to refill them. More and more compa- nies are eliminating or reducing plastic packaging two ways: 1) by providing cleaning products that are concentrated so that they are shipped in Plastic trash fills our landfills, pollutes our landscapes and waterways, increases our dependence on fossil fuels, and leaches chemicals harmful to us and the animals and plants that share this planet with us. ("Plastic-Trash-Floating_River_Water-Pollution__IMG_8879" by Public Domain Photos is licensed with CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/) smaller plastic packages and is best for you—either way you are you add the water yourself at home reducing the number of empty spray when putting it in your spray bottle; or bottles you are disposing of when you 2) providing refills in a waxed cardrefill a reusable one. Just make sure board carton (think school milk carton) you are keeping the bottles labeled and from which you refill your spray bottle. designated for a specific chemical, as Spray bottles are easy to get in glass you do not want to mix incompatible and plastic these days, so choose which Page 4 COMMON GROUND Air Quality Information continued from pg. 1 Nathan Kilger, Mashkiiziibii Air Quality Specialist - airquality@badriver-nsn.gov monitoring network. Of the 39 air monitoring site across Wisconsin, 37 are operated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and 2 are operated by Tribes. With the majority of sites across Wisconsin operated by WDNR, WDNR coordinates Wisconsin’s monitoring network and the Bad River Band is a partner to that network. WDNR worked hard to updated their website last year and developed a mobile phone app at the same time. I was looking forward to showing everyone this app and the useful information it shows. You can search for the app on your app store, just search for WisconsinAQM, and I’ll paste links for more information at the end of this https://airquality.wi.gov/home/map https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/ article. Explore the app, there’s lot of information there. Besides pollutants, it shows the current temperature and which way the wind is blowing to. Many thanks go out to our partners at the WDNR for pulling this project together and working very hard to keep Wisconsin’s air quality monitoring network running and easy to access! The color system is called the Air Quality Index. This chart explains each color. Page 9 Page 8 Howling for Ma’iingan continued... pressed in the past and if we want a new path forward for Ma’iingan, Anishinaabe voices need to be heard. I wanted to offer some ideas for what tribal members can do as delisting of Ma’iingan seems eminent by the Federal government. *Help Track and Understand Ma’iingan Every fall the Mashkiiziibii Wildlife Program conducts Ma’iingan howl surveys to understand how the 3-5 reservation packs are doing. In the winter, we keep tabs on Ma’iingan with track surveys on the snowy Rez roads. With such a large Reservation and such a small wildlife program, it’s impossible to get the full picture without engaging with the Bad River community. This fall we intend to do outreach specifically with hunters and trappers to learn more about what the people out on the land are seeing and learning (without anyone having to give up their hunting spots). Stay posted for the development of an official wildlife sighting reporting form we will make available on the wildlife program page of the Bad River website. In the meantime, please reach out if you would like to be trained in to conduct howl surveys. There is no feeling like the joy that comes hearing pups howl back at you with their tiny, quivering voices or the unexplainable mix of emotions that overcomes you when you hear a whole pack harmonizing with voices weaving Page 5 Remedia tion of Contamina ted Landscapes: Step by Step Andrew J. Spychalla, Brownsfield Specialist brownfields@badriver-nsn.gov R emediation efforts began again for the site of the Enbridge helicopter crash of October 29, 2018. This fatal accident lead to the release of numerous fuels and other hazardous materials into the ground in a remote area of the Bad River Reservation. From an ecological standpoint, it is important to clean up this site and try to remediate the soil of the area to pre-accident conditions. Contaminated soils and subsurface materials can be remediated in many ways. Soil can be washed of toxins, heated to separate toxins from soil, or simply incinerated to destroy contaminants. These processes all have their place but are oftentimes difficult to execute or prohibitively costly. Enbridge’s original proposal was to create an access route to bring in equipment to excavate the contaminated soil and either haul off-site for disposal or treat on-site. Enbridge then in and out from one another. Email Abi at wildlife@badriver-nsn.gov to get involved with tracking and understanding Ma’iingan. *Use Social Media Platforms Fear often comes from a lack of understanding. Most of my knowledge about who Ma’iingan is is thanks to all the teachers who have gifted me with their time and energy here in Bad River. Your voice matters and many of us have social media platforms we can use for positivity and education rather than fear mongering and the spread of misinformation. If you’d like to follow some accounts on social media that might help inspire you to spread good knowledge about Ma’iingan, look up and follow the Voyageur’s Wolf Project and the Wood River Wolf Project on Facebook and Instagram. *Provide Input to the Voigt Task Force The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission receives direction from the Voigt Intertribal Task Force with representatives from 11 Anishinaabe bands. If you have input or ideas regarding how GLIFWC should be involved with Ma’iingan conservation in the ceded territories, proposed a third option of in situ-bioremediation, which is the I can assist you in getting this message to the task force. Email Abi at wildlife@badriver-nsn.gov or contact Bad River’s representative. *Learn More About Ma’iingan Read the Mashkiiziibii Ma’iingan Relationship Plan and other Ma’iingan information here: http://www.badriver-nsn.gov/wildlife/ Read the Scientist Reviews of the Current United States Fish and Wildlife Service proposal to remove Ma’iingan from the Endangered Species Act List Read the following books (contact Abi to see if a copy is available to borrow) Mishomis Book by Edward Benton Banai Ojibwe Heritage by Basil Johnston The Wolf’s Trail by Thomas Peacock I am honored to work to do my part in healing the history of Ma’iinganag and Anishinaabeg surviving genocide at the hands of European colonists. I am available to the community to engage and learn more about these issues and to take action so please don’t hesitate to email me. Miigwech, Abi Fergus option that MNRD requested they implemented. In hard to access, remote sites (dependent upon the extent of a spill, or area of dumped hazardous materials) a process called bioremediation can be used. This process is less intrusive and degrading to the landscape and it is also generally more cost effective. By amending the soil with fertilizers and other nutrients, microorganism growth is encouraged. With this heightened microbial activity, these microorganisms can utilize these hazardous materials as a source of energy. Additionally, overturning soil exposes a larger amount of the soil to oxygen. This will allow gasoline, for example, to volatilize or evaporate from the soil more quickly. More oxygen Soil being turned, soil amendments added, and straw cover strewn, July 22nd also allows those microorganisms to better grow and utilize those hazardous materials. This process is called aerobic biodegradation. triple superphosphate fertilizer (energy conversion of nutrients for plant Thirdly, because of the high-oxygen, tilled environment, these microorgan- growth), and muriate of potash (cell wall growth/drought resistance) were all isms, and soil amendments lead to better plant uptake of water and other used. chemicals in the soil. This means that the natural system of plant growth is removing contaminants from the soil organically, a process called phytoremediation. On July 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, soil was dug by hand to 18 inches in the area surrounding the impact zone, and to 24 inches in the center of that zone. Urea fertilizer (supports vegetative growth/protein formation), Because this process is relying on the natural growing season to remediate the contamination, the process needs to be done multiple times throughout the summer, as plants are taking up nutrients at a faster rate as to reproContinued on page 7….. Page 6 COMMON GROUND Page 7 COMMON GROUND Remediation of Contaminated Landscapes: Step by Step continued... Deputy Director, Russell Corbine Jr. “Charlie” - nrdeputy@badriver-nsn.gov H ello, My name is Russell Corbine Jr. I am from Bad River and grew up in Diaperville. I was recently hired as the Deputy Director for the Mashkiiiibii Natural Resources Department (MNRD). Prior to serving in my current role, I worked for the United States Army. I held two military occupation specialties, one as an Infantryman and the second as a Counterintelligence Special Agent. During my 20 years of service, I led organizations in times of peace and conflict. I deployed several times to Afghanistan, Iraq and the Republic of Korea. I spent a total of 10 years, out of 20, overseas and am happy to finally be home. As the Deputy Director of MNRD, I am charged with helping the Director lead a diverse group of technical experts and carry out the policy set by the tribal government. I do not take this task lightly and hope to use my experience, knowledge, skills and abilities to better the department and posture it for continued success. My leadership style is grounded in transformational leadership principles. I believe in setting a positive example and investing in people through teaching, training, coaching and mentoring. I choose to empower people and help them grow both professionally and personally. done again. With drier conditions, and the soil having been In addition to my military background, I am also trained in the field of Industrial – Organizational (I-O) Psychology. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from American Military University in 2017. I earned a Master of Science in I-O Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University in 2020. I am also a PhD candidate at Walden University and hope to earn my doctorate in I-O Psychology by 2022. My training helps me better understand the human aspect of organizations; specifically, organizational development, leadership, and motivation. I look forward to working with each of you in the future and helping our department meet and exceed operational goals. concentrations of hazardous materials. In October 2019, 11 MNRD Lease Specialist, Charles Connors Sr. B oozhoo Wi- idanokiimaaganan, My name is Charles F. Connors Sr. (Chaz), I was hired as the new Lease Specialist for the Bad River Tribe’s Land Office in June 2020. I am looking forward to starting my new position as the Bad River Tribe’s Lease Specialist, working with my MNRD Staff Co-workers, and assisting the MNRD Staff in the development of the Tribe’s Land Office. I am excited to learn this new profession that assists our Tribal Community in their endeavors in locating an area for constructing a new home within the Bad River Reservation for their family. I am a Bad River Tribal Member who was raised and have lived within the Bad River Reservation for most of my life. I have attained my BS Degree in Management and Leadership from Northland College duce. On August 25th and 26th, this soil turning process was as well as A.A.’s in Office Administration and Network Support Specialist from LCO Community College. I have worked for the Bad River Tribe in multiple position since being Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Army in 1989. For the past 8 years I was a Grant Writer within the Tribal Administration Department. During this time, I had successfully written and have been awarded multiple grants for Tribal Programs to assist our Tribal Members. The knowledge and experience I have gained over the last 30 years I look to bring into my new position within our Tribe and continue to assist our Tribe in expanding for the betterment of our community. Charles F. Connors Sr Lease Specialist Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians Phone: (715) 682-7111 Ext. 1588 Fax: (715) 682-7118 E-mail: Lease@badriver-nsn.gov turned one month prior, the soil turning went smoothly. Soil sampling results we received have showed a decline in sampling areas showed concentrations of hazardous sub- stances above the Tribe’s Environmental Response and Remediation Code’s cleanup standards. As of July 2020, only 3 sampling areas had results above cleanup standards. While the process is taking some time to sort itself out, this site is well on its way back to the condition it was in, nearly 2 years ago. In addition to contaminating the soil and water, Enbridge’s helicopter crash damaged trees, traditional plants, and impact- Pre-turning on August 25th, grass coming up through the straw since July ed the wildlife in this area. Conservation Warden Angelina Godinez H i, I’m Angelina Godinez. I’m 21 years old and a member of the Bad River Tribe. I applied for the Conservation Warden Position because it is one of my dream jobs. I love to be outside, checking out the new places, and now that I get to do that everyday for work is amazing. *You can reach me at one of the options below: Email: BRNRWarden@badriver-nsn.gov Cell Phone: 715-979-1511 By Gena Abramson, Forestry Specialist Forester@badriver-nsn.gov I n early August, Mashkiiziibii Forestry hosted Stephanie Julian’s tribal youth on a Bad River watershed tour. Various sites within and on the outskirts of the watershed were visited. Maps were distributed and history was discussed. Stops included Potato River Falls, Little Girl’s Point, Gile Flowage, Plummer Headframe, Upson Falls, Spillerberg Lake, and Bibon Swamp State Natural Area. This is the map that was distributed to the youth at the beginning of the day-long trip Here, the young men are exploring the Potato River at Upson Falls. Little Girl’s Point in Northern Gogebic County, Michigan --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Abad_river_chippewa%3A9f94bd021f477325. Public record. Not legal advice.