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 s (2023)

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 s

(SUMMER)

Nathan Kilger, Air Quality Specialist -

Special points of interest:

• Bad River Youth Harvest

• Sludge Sites and PFTAS Remediation

• Forestry Updates

• Larval Sea Lamprey Assessments

• Lake Superior Days “Save the

Date”

• Nixle Alerts Sign Up

• Earth Day Raffle Winners

Inside this issue:

~MISSION STATEMENT~

Mashkiiziibii Natural

Resources Dep ar t ment

72682 Maple Street

PO Box 39

Odanah, WI, 54806

Phone: 715-685-7840 - 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.

2023 started off with early wildfires, first in western Canada in April and May, then Quebec and Nova Scotia

in the east in May and June.

Were on the Web!

Visit www.badriver-nsn.gov

Continued on page 6...

Bad River Youth Participate in Spring Harvests,

Celebrate with Feast

2

Sludge Sites and PFTAS

Remediation

3

Chronicle of a Museum:

Looking Forward, Looking Back

4

Congratulatory Farewell

to Edith Leoso on her

Retirement

5

Land Office Accomplishments

7

Larval Sea Lamprey Assessment

8

Forestry Updates

9

Staff Introductions

11

Fliers for Upcoming

Events

12

Page 2

COMMON GROUND

Bad River Youth Participate in Spring

Harvests, Celebrate with Feast

Nathanael Secor, IAS Coordinator - IAS@badriver-nsn.gov

M

ashiiziibii’s Indigenous Arts and

Sciences (IAS) program has been busy

with spring harvests! IAS has been col-

laborating with other Youth Services,

Food Sovereignty, as well as UW-Ext,

GLITC, and the SPARK! after school

program to provide Bad River’s youth

with plenty of opportunities to get into

the woods and out on the water to exercise their treaty rights and harvest these

traditional foods. Starting in March, we

helped facilitate this year’s youth sugarbush which involved several dozen youth

in tapping, collecting, and processing the

sap into delicious syrup. We had a lot of

fun and learned together and despite being a slow year, we are grateful for the

bounty that we procured.

Bad River youth also participated again

with spring walleye spearing in an intertribal collaboration with Red Cliff. The

kids traveled down to Lake Namekagon

Page 11

Ya’at’eeh, Tyrease James yinishye, TJ

dashijini. Kin Lichii’nii nishli, Biih

Bitoohnii bashichiin, Hashtlishnii da

shicheii, doo To Tsohnii da shinali.

Window Rock, Arizona dee’ naasha.

Ashland, Wisconsindi shighan. Olta’

wodahdi da bidziiligii Northland College wolyeedi iinishta’ nit’ee’. Ako

t’eego Dine hastiin nishli.

Boozhoo Tyrease James nidizhinikas.

Kin Lichii’nii gaye, Biih Bitoohnii

gaye, Hashtlishnii gaye, To Tsohnii

nindoondem. Ashland nindoonjibaa.

G

reetings, I am Tyrease James,

but people call me TJ. I am

from the Dine (Navajo) tribe in Arizona. I am of the Red House people

clan, born for the Deer Springs people

clan, Mud people clan are my maternal grandfathers, and Big Water people clan are my paternal grandfathers.

I am originally from Window Rock,

Arizona and live in Ashland, Wisconsin. I came up to Ashland and Northland College in Fall of 2019 for college and as of May 2023 I graduated

with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Natural Resources with a double emphasis in Forestry and Ecological Restoration.

Here is a little more about me, I’m

from Arizona, the parts where there

are mountains with forests, valleys

with grass fields, and reddishorange rocks. I fell in love with the

area here in Northern Wisconsin

because it was different yet like

home. In college I adventured

around the woods getting to know

the land in the warmer months and

slide around in the

winter looking for

all the best snowboarding spots up

here. Other activities I enjoy hiking

in all seasons,

snowboarding,

kayaking, camping,

playing video games, cooking,

baking, and swimming in Lake

Superior.

Much of my experience has been

involved with surveying and

monitoring the resources for an

entity or research project.

Through my education and love

for the outdoors I am here today

as the new Forestry Technician

for the Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources. I will be conducting forest inventory surveys across the

Mashkiiziibii Reservation, I hope

to format a plan to reintroduce

ishkode (fire) into our management of the forest, and to promote the overall health of the

natural resources here through

my work. I am more than excited

to get to know everyone in the

department and on the Reservation.

Ahxe hee’ nistaago. Nizhonigo

naashnishgo dooleel. Thank you

for giving me this opportunity

and I look forward to doing

great work.

Email: foresttech@badrivernsn.gov

near Cable to spear ogaa during the

spring spawn and got the experience of harvesting as well as processing the

fish to put food on their families’

tables. A great time was had by all

and the tradition of this intertribal

youth event was strengthened. We

celebrate these youth for practicing

this traditional harvest and hope

they continue to learn these skills

for years to come.

As the last of the snow melted, we

set our sights on the spring greens

and all of the awakening plants and

Continued on page 6...

Bo

ozhoo! My name is Jillian Lojas, and I am the new Climate Change Specialist for

the Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Department. I graduated from Northland College in

2021 with a biology degree. I am Inuk (Alaskan Native), so I am proud to work for the

tribe. I have always felt a deep connection with the natural world, and focused on science in

school so that one day I would be able to protect and heal the Earth. Before this, I worked

for the Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department. In college I did a bit of everything. I spend time as a dogsled racer, a sailor, a veterinary technician, a wildlife rehabilitator, and a dairy farmer.

When I’m not working, I’m running around the woods with my thirteen-year-old little dog. She is still somehow far

more active than me. I have high hopes for the future of my position and am excited to be a part of this community. I

can be reached at climate@badriver-nsn.gov or (715) 685-7840 ext. 1617

Page 10

COMMON GROUND

Page 3

By: Andrew Spychalla, Brownfield Program – brownfields@badriver-nsn.gov

If

something gets spilled, say, a glass

of water onto the kitchen floor, usually

you’d grab a towel and quickly clean it up.

What if something gets spilled in a different room, by a different person, and you

aren’t told what was spilled? At that point

you’ve got to grab that towel, a broom,

and a mop, just in case. After decades of

tests, and hundreds of samples taken,

MNRD has a closet’s-worth of cleaning

supplies to pick from at the 3 sludge sites

on the Reservation: Verlyn Clark, County

Rd A, and Government Rd.

These sites have been described here for

quite some time. Sampling for volatile

organic compounds, heavy metals, and

other contaminants has taken place over

taminant movement. These wells

the years at these sites where waste-

were also used for the PFAS sam-

products from papermaking were dumped

pling. 4 of the 5 wells sampled at

almost two generations ago. The choice

County Rd A showed levels of either

was made to have these sites also sampled

the compound PFOA, or PFOS, being

and analyzed for per-and polyfluoroalkyl

above the Health Advisory level set

substances (PFAS), or “forever chemi-

by the EPA. At Government Rd, 3 of

cals.” New regulations on PFAS have

the 4 wells sampled showed levels

been released by the Environmental Pro-

above the Health Advisory level. At

tection Agency (EPA) as recently as

the Verlyn Clark site, homeowners

March 14th, 2023, to determine the Health

around the site were asked if samples

Advisory (HA) levels of these compounds

could be taken directly from their

in the environment, and there has also

home to be tested, as this is the same

been an updated National Primary Drink-

water that comes from their kitchen or

ing Water Regulation released.

bathroom sink. All drinking water

At County Rd A and Government Rd,

samples that were taken from homes

monitoring wells were installed years ago

around the Verlyn Clark site came

to easily take samples and determine con-

back clear from these chemicals,

which is the best-case scenario for

human health and safety.

After all this time, MNRD now has a

plethora of information on what contaminants are at these sites. Since

there is a chance of further movement into groundwater, the best

course of action is cleanup. Funding

has been acquired from the BIA, and

acquaintances made with other

Tribes and businesses has allowed

the focus to shift to determining the

best clean-up strategy at the site. The

summer of 2023 will be spent working on that strategy, to continue to

keep individuals and the environment as healthy as possible. Miigwech.

Page 4

COMMON GROUND

Page 9

Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Forestr y

BY Gena Abramson, Forestry Specialist – Forester@badriver-nsn.gov

By Paula Maday, Museum Manager - p.maday@badriver-nsn.gov

A

E

aniin! The past few weeks

have been monumental, as

Bad River’s Forestry Program has had two full time permanent foresters working to create a

better forest for the 7th generation!

Tyrease James started May 1st as our

Forestry Technician. Check out his

intro article within this newsletter to

find out more about him!

xcitement is building for the opening of the

Moka’aangiizis-iban Tribal Museum in September. It has

taken years of community engagement, planning, capacity

building, and funding development to get to this point. How did we

get here? Let’s look back at some of the important work that’s contributed to the development of Bad River’s first museum.

Bad River tribal members as far back as the 1940s have indicated

the desire for a tribal museum dedicated to our Ojibwe culture and

history. For many years, the tribal library served as a catch-all for

archival and museum materials donated to the Tribe. Exhibits were

few and far between, limited to display cases or photo collages in

hallways of tribal buildings. Everyone always loved looking at the

old photos that Norma Soulier—our previous librarian, would tape

up along the back wall of the Chief Blackbird Center.

To work toward the vision of creating a tribal museum in Bad River, the Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) was awarded a

grant from the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) in

2005-2006. The grant’s purpose was to solicit input from community members and plan the development of a tribal museum/cultural

center. The result of that project 18 years ago, was a 5-Year Strategic Plan that included development of a small Tribal Visitor’s Center. The Tribal Visitor’s Center would allow for installation of a

small exhibit and garner interest, support, and funding for a larger

Tribal Cultural Center. The former Tribal Clinic was identified as

the prime location for the Tribal Visitor’s Center. However, as time

progressed, various challenges occurred, and the building sat vacant for years.

To continue taking steps forward, THPO applied for and was

awarded another IMLS grant from 2014-2016. This grant brought

me on in a consultant capacity to write a Quality Exhibit Management Plan to guide exhibit development and management across

tribal facilities. It also supported tribal staff

training in the basics of exhibits. Through

this project, we were able to put up four

exhibits in various tribal buildings, including

one at the Moccasin Trail Center, one at the

Community Center, and two at the Chief

Blackbird Center.

In 2018, tribal leadership held a series of

community listening sessions to develop a

10-Year Tribal Strategic Plan. At that time,

the goal of developing a tribal museum remained in the heart of the community. The

first goal of that Tribal Strategic Plan is to

prioritize language and culture. Development of the Moka’aangiizis-iban Tribal Museum is one of the key initiatives that support fulfillment of that goal.

In 2021, the Tribe completely renovated the

former Tribal Clinic location to develop

space for the Moka’aangiizis-iban Tribal

Museum. We now have a place for exhibits,

programming, and collection storage. With

- work cell: 715-685-8929

While initiating the non-trust lands

inventory training took up most of the

month, we were able to fit in some

other work to serve the Bad River

Community.

Rising Sun: The Moka’aangiizis-iban (Rising Sun) Tribal Museum is located in the heart of the former Tribal Clinic building. The

fully renovated space was named in honor of the late Joe Rose, Sr., a well-respected Elder of the Bad River Band. (MNRD photo)

help once again from IMLS, the Tribe hired me full-time as the

Museum Manager in 2022. My current priorities are to get the

museum operational and organized, and to develop an exhibit

dedicated to the Kakagon Sloughs.

After many years, we have the space, the staff, and the support

to move our museum forward. As the Moka’aangiizis-iban

Tribal Museum comes to life as the Tribal Visitor’s Center that

was dreamed up all those years ago, it is the perfect time to

assess what has been accomplished and re-engage with the

community on institutional planning and policy development

that will guide our museum into the future. To that

end, I have applied for additional funding from

IMLS to create a new 5-Year Strategic Plan for the

museum. There is a lot of dreaming to do and work

to be done toward creation of a larger, standalone

museum/cultural center that will share our history,

our culture, our language, and our stories, in our own

way. I hope you will join me on the journey.

Gena standing by a beautiful birch tree

(miikawaadizi-wiigwaasaatig)

Baapaagimaak is under threat from the Emerald Ash Borer which is

expected to kill all ash. In January of 2022, the forest pest was discovered

on the western edge of the Bad River Reservation.

Genetic modification is being pursued by universities and USDA to

develop black ash that will be resistant to EAB.

Around mid-May we

helped April StoneDahl harvest some

black ash

(baapaagimaak)

logs from the soonto be BRHWC clinic

expansion.

April and her friend,

Ani, TJ, and I cut and

hauled logs out of a

hummocky, wet ash

swale that will be

transformed into a

developed area

soon. Ash logs are

not lightweight!

April shows TJ a baapaagimaak basket

that she made with strips that were

pounded from an ash log. We’re hoping

to have the opportunity to help pound

some this summer!

TJ hauls a log by himself, showing his

dedication to the job at hand.

If you see us hitting a log with a rubber

mallet out in front of the Chief Blackbird

Center, please feel free to stop by and

help. It’s a lot of work and it helps to be

reminded of how the ancestors lived.

Seeing sugar maple regeneration (ziinzibaakwadoons) provides

a good feeling for future generations’ gathering opportunities.

Successful regeneration transforming into a sugarbush comes

from tending the forest (mitigoog gitigaan) responsibly.

Chi-miigwech to our former Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Edith Leoso for her vision, work, and

dedication to the museum. From the time it was just

a seed, thank you for nurturing this dream.

*Funding for this project was provided in part by

the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) administered by the National Park Service.*

A Blank Canvas: The museum prepares for installation of an exhibit

dedicated to the Kakagon Sloughs and manoomin. (MNRD photos)

*This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.*

The Falls at Mashkii-ziibii were a mighty sight to see in May

of 2023!

TJ looking at a portion of old growth in a ravine near Birch Hill – a survey corner was found nearby, and we recorded the location using a GPS.

Page 8

Page 5

Jacob Rodmaker, Fisheries Specialist - fisheryspecialist@badriver-nsn.gov

F

or two weeks

starting August

15th, 2023, the

United States Fish and

Wildlife Service

(USFWS) along with

MNRD fisheries staff will

be conducting larval Sea

Lamprey assessments

within the Bad River watershed. The purpose of

this assessment is to identify the extent of the

range of the larval Sea

Lamprey within the Bad

River tributaries such as

Potato River, Vaughn

Creek, and Marengo River. This assessment is designed to ensure that

USFWS does not unnecessarily treat sections of

streams that do not have

Figure 2: 2021 Sea Lamprey treatment map.

larval Sea Lamprey inhabiting them. The assessment is done by

wading in streams and backpack electrofishing for the larvae (As Pictured in Figure 1). The information gathered through

this assessment will update the treatment

map (Figure 2) from the last treatment.

The last treatment was conducted in late

September of 2021. The next treatment is

likely to occur in 2024. If you have questions on this assessment or how Sea Lamprey interact within the Bad River and

Lake Superior either call or email Jacob

Rodmaker; Fisheries Specialist at 715-6827123 ext. 1552 or fisheryspecialist@badriver-nsn.gov

Figure 1: Laval Sea Lamprey from 2019 larval assessment

A

a range of audiences.

t the end of

She’s been an advocate

2022, Edith (Bardo) Leoso

for our Indigenous Arts

retired from the Mash-

and Sciences (IAS) pro-

kiiziibii Natural Resources

gram, engaging youth

Department after working

and educators with tra-

17 years as the Tribal His-

ditional knowledge.

toric Preservation Officer

Edith has done so much

(THPO). Edith was hired in

more than this, such as

2005 as the first ever THPO for the Bad

helping to start a museum in the commu-

River Band. Over the years, she reviewed

nity (see article written by Paula Maday,

numerous projects proposed and engaged

our Museum Manager for more details).

in ways to protect the cultural and natural

Congratulations to Edith on her retire-

resources. Edith taught countless lessons

ment and chi miigwech (thank you) for

about Nibi (water), manoomin (wild rice),

her 17 years of hard work, dedication,

and the history and culture of the Tribe to

and leadership serving as Bad River’s

THPO!

Mashkiiziibii NRD is seeking applications for our full-time

Deputy THPO position along with some seasonal positions. To

learn more about these positions and other opportunities with

the Bad River Band, please visit our career's webpage:

Careers – Bad River Tribe (badriver-nsn.gov)

Page 6

COMMON GROUND

Page 7

COMMON GROUND

Wildfire Smoke continued...

Smoke has already moved across the Lake Superior region,

producing MODERATE air quality on three days so far in

2023 and Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups air quality on two

days so far. A calendar view helps show which days had

elevated air quality values.

Please download the Wisconsin AQM app and bookmark

the Wisconsin DNR page that collects all the air monitoring

data in Wisconsin:

https://airquality.wi.gov/home/map

The real-time air quality index

measured in Odanah can be accessed at this page, there are different graphs there that show current

and recent air quality index values:

https://tinyurl.com/3e6a6kff

Charles Connors, Land Office Manager- landmanagement@badriver-nsn.gov

Normally we are

impacted by

wildfire smoke,

but since we

have already

seen extremely

early wildfires in

Canada, we have

to expect that the

warm summer

months will

bring more periods of smoke

into our area.

Sub-Total Acreage = 160.0 acres

1: 022-00473-0000

Creek)

2: 022-00581-0000

Named Creek)

3: 022-01472-0000

Creek)

4: 022-00768-0100

(Morrison Creek)

SW1/4 SE1/4 T46N R3W SEC. 9 - 40.0 acres (Elm

Government Road West side:

SE1/4 SE1/4 T46N R3W SEC. 17 - 40.0 acres (UnGovernment Road West side:

NE1/4 SW1/4 T48N R2W SEC. 35 - 40 acres (Newago

East of Madigan Rd:

NE1/4 NW1/4 T47N R2W SEC. 11 - 40.0 acres

North U.S. 2, East Madigan Rd:

Sub-Total Acreage = 74.4 acres.

1: 022-01469-0000

GOVT LOT 3 V 679 PG 959 SEC. 35 T48N R2W 27.8A

Lake Road East Side on Lake

Shore:

2: 022-01470-0100

46.6A

GOVT LOT 4 (V 679 PG 959) SEC. 35 T48N R2W

Lake Road East Side on Lake Shore

More information for preparing

and dealing with wildfire smoke

can be found at:

https://www.badrivernsn.gov/wildfire-smoke

Sub-Total Acreage = 26.7 acres.

1: 022-01478-0000

GOVT LOT 2 SEC. 36 T48N R2W 23.4A

Madigan Road East Side on Lake Shore:

2: 022-00711-0200

GOVT LOT 2 SEC. 6 T47N R2W 3.3A

Pine Flats Road W Side, W Side Bad River:

Sub-Total Acreage = 60.6 acres.

1: 022-01147-0000

GOVT LOT 8 SEC. 13 T47N R3W 18.5A

2: 022-01145-0000

Lake Road East Side on Lake Shore:

GOVT LOT 6 SEC. 13 T47N R3W 42.1A

Lake Road East Side on Lake Shore:

Sub-Total Acreage = 239.47 acres

the food they have to offer. We provided

1: 022-00678-0000

NESW Section 3 T47N-R02W 40.0 acres PFCL 75' (Un-named Creek)

Madigan Road West side:

2: 022-00705-0000

NWSE Section 5 T47N-R02W 40.0 acres PFCL 77' (Demonie Creek)

South side U.S. 2 across from Lake Road:

3: 022-01769-0000

NENW Section 32 T48N-R03W 39.47 acres PFCL 80' (Bear Trap Creek)

South U.S. 2, West of Bear Trap Rd. on Railroad Grade

4: 022-00765-0000

SWSE Section 10 T47N-R02W 40.0 acres (Morrison Creek)

North U.S. 2, East Madigan Rd:

5: 022-01214-0000

NESW Section 22 T47N-R03W 40.0 acres (Silver Creek/White River)

South & East Government Rd. on corner:

6: 022-01803-0000

NESE Section 34 T48N-R03W 40.0 acres (Un-named Creek/White River)

East of County A by the cemetery:

Sub-Total Acreage = 220

several opportunities for youth to harvest

both on and off reservation. Together, we

harvested zhiigagawanzh (wild onions) as

well as learned about fiddleheads, tried

Solomon’s Seal shoots, wood violets,

basswood leaves, and other tonic greens.

The youth helped harvest these foods for

1: 008-00013-0000

our spring feast which celebrated the sea-

sonal bounty of this time of year. On May

26th, we met up at Food Sov and brought

the kids and various programs together to

reflect on what we learned and feast on

the foods that we’ve been harvesting. A

number of the youth played lacrosse, Nate

Ante drummed for those assembled, and

Maria Nevala offered words of gratitude

for the bounty and encouragement for the

youth to continue with these practices. It was a fun and beautiful cele-

2: 008-00014-0000

3: 008-00038-0000

bration and the food was phenome-

4: 008-00041-0000

nal! Chi Miigwech for all the youth

5: 008-00042-0000

and youth workers for making this

6: 008-00082-0000

spring’s harvests a success!

NE1/4SE1/4 T47N R3W Sec.4

40 acres

East of Beaugard Road and South of Old Odanah Road (County A).

NW1/4SE1/4 T47N R3W Sec.4

40 acres

East of Beaugard Road and South of Old Odanah Road (County A).

SE1/4SW1/4 T47N R3W Sec.6

40 acres

West of Stones Road on the North side of the Power Line.

SW1/4SE1/4 T47N R3W Sec.6

40 acres

West of Stones Road on the North side of the Power Line.

W1/2SE1/4SE1/4 T47N R3W Sec.6 20 acres

West of Stones Road on the North side of the Power Line.

SE1/4NW1/4 T47N R3W Sec.17

40

acres

East side of Stones Road and just North of Line 5 Pipeline.

Did You Know?

As of June 2023,

we have 3 full-time

employees in our

Land Office!

Total Acres Purchased through 2022: 781.17 Acres of Private Land purchased for the Bad River Tribe utilizing BIA / GLRI Funding.