The Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe (2010)

Tribal code

Ask Donna

What actually matters in this document.

Text

WIIKWEDONG

DAZHI-OJIBWE

The Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe

Manoominike Giizis - Rice Making Moon - September 2010

Issue 74

Formally known as the GIIKENDAAM CHIWIIKWEGAMAG

Many attend the 32nd Annual Keweenaw Bay Maawaniji’iding

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

held their 32nd Annual Maawanji’iding, July

23-25, 2010, at the Ojibwa Powwow Campgrounds in Baraga, Michigan. “Honoring

Our Legacy” was chosen for this year’s

theme. With 512 registered dancers and 17

registered drums, the 3300 participants and

spectators enjoyed a beautiful weekend of

song and dance. Elvera Lantz, KBIC Powwow’s Committee’s Vice-Chair, stated, “This

year we had more registered dancers for

Friday’s grand entry than we’ve had in many

years.”

KBIC Tribal President Warren Chris

Swartz, Jr., gave the welcome following Friday evening’s grand entry. The Powwow

committee honored four elders this year,

Allen Gauthier, Molly Loonsfoot, Doris Roberts, and Ted Shelifoe. Fifteen-year-old

Gabrielle Picciano was crowned as Keweenaw Bay’s Royalty for the 2010 term.

Gabrielle is the daughter of Tina Messer

and Kerry Picciano of Baraga.

Midnight Express honored the Community as host drum, along with Kingbirds as

co-host drum and two home drums - Four

Thunders and Woodland Singers. KBIC

member Rodney Loonsfoot served as Head

Veteran Dancer, EJ Smith as Head Male

Dancer, Karlene Chosa as Head Female

Dancer, Raistlin Awonohopay (KBIC) as

Head Youth Male Dancer, and Gabrielle

Picciano (KBIC) as Head Youth Female

Dancer. Ted Holappa (KBIC) and Pete Gahbow served as emcees with Stanley

Spruce (KBIC) filling in on Sunday afternoon. Brian Moore served as Arena Director and was assisted by the Assistant Arena

Director, Steven Denomie (KBIC/Bay Mills).

Donald Stolp (KBIC) served as Head Firekeeper. Cultural teachings were delivered

by Karen Drift. Summer Rosebear won the

junior fry bread championship, and Stella

Gibson won the adult division fry bread

championship.

Saturday’s events included a youth and

adult division two-step competition, a drum

competition, a hand-drum competition, and

the family of Lester Drift held a Lester Drift

Memorial Men’s Traditional Dance Competition. Sunday’s events included the New

Warriors for the Earth presenting KBIC with

blue shawls for their efforts of keeping the

purity of Lake Superior. The Office of Violence Against Women held a raffle to assist

in funding with the October 1st Chelsea

LaFernier Memorial Walk in conjunction with

Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Six

purple shawls were presented to the winners Sunday afternoon.

Honored Elder Biographies:

Allen Gauthier — Al was born on January

5, 1942. He has three children and five

grandchildren. Al has worked for the State

of Michigan Parks and Recreation for the

past 16 years. He is also very active in our

tribal community. He serves on the Health

Board Committee as well as the Parks and

Recreation Committee. Al is an army veteran and is an active member of the KBIC

Color Guard. His interests are hiking and

Continued page two.

Tribal Council Members:

Warren C. Swartz, Jr., President

William E. Emery, Vice-President

Susan J. LaFernier, Secretary

Elizabeth (Chiz) Matthews, Asst. Secretary

Eddy Edwards, Treasurer

Toni Minton

Elizabeth D. Mayo

Michael F. LaFernier, Sr.

Jerry Lee Curtis

Frederick Dakota

Gary F. Loonsfoot, Sr.

Isabelle H. Welsh

Newsletter photo.

2009 Miss Keweenaw Bay, Jade Chaudier (right) crowns the

2010 Miss Keweenaw Bay Royalty, Gabrielle Picciano (left).

Below, Gabrielle is shown with her parents, Tina Messer and

Kerry Picciano.

SPECIAL POINTS

OF INTEREST:

•

August 7, 2010 Tribal Council

meeting

32nd Annual Keweenaw Bay

Maawanji’iding

3rd Annual Protect the Earth

KBIC Titling Task Force visit

with Potawatomi’s Vehicle

Registrar

WHIPP Walking Challenge

Winners Announced

KBTNRD — Green Baby Tips,

VALues Volunteers

Drug Conviction Report

New Employees

Deepest Sympathy

Newsletter photo.

Honored elders (left to right) Ted Shelifoe, Molly Loonsfoot, President Warren Chris Swartz, Jr. welcomes

Allen Gauthier, Doris Roberts.

all to the 32nd Annual Maawanji’iding.

New Warriors for the Earth

present blue shawls to Keweenaw Bay for their efforts

to keep the waters pure. (left

to right) Chiz Matthews,

KBIC Tribal Council member

accepts shawl on behalf of

the KBIC Tribal Council;

Gabrielle Picciano, Miss Keweenaw Bay accepts shawl

on behalf of the Keweenaw

Bay Indian Community,

Shauna Pelto and Charlotte

Loonsfoot (members of the

New Warriors for the Earth

and KBIC members) present

the shawls.

Newsletter photo.

(1) Bezhig

AUGUST 7, 2010 — TRIBAL COUNCIL MEETING

The Tribal Council held their regularly

scheduled Saturday Tribal Council meeting

on August 7, 2010, at the Ojibwa Casino

Resort Conference Room. Warren “Chris”

Swartz, Jr. presided over the meeting with

William E. “Gene” Emery, Susan J.

LaFernier, Elizabeth “Chiz” Matthews, Jerry

Lee Curtis, Fred Dakota, Michael F.

LaFernier, Sr., Gary F. Loonsfoot, Sr., Elizabeth D. Mayo, and Isabelle Helene Welsh

present. President Warren “Chris” Swartz,

Jr., shared numerous Thank You and For

Your Information items addressed to Council. The President’s Report was given for

July 2010, by President Warren “Chris”

Swartz, Jr., (page two), the Secretary’s Report was given for July 2010, by Secretary

Susan J. LaFernier (page three), and the

CEO’s Report was given for July 2010, by

the CEO, Larry Denomie III (page four).

Council passed the Department Head Reports for June 2010.

Joe Tormala, Commander of the Copper

Country Chapter of the MOPH, thanked

Council for allowing them to hold the 75th

Annual Military Order Purple Heart Fall

State Convention at the Ojibwa Resort on

October 8-9, 2010, and made a verbal request for a financial donation. Council informed Mr. Tormala they would look at his

request at a later date when they meet to

process donations for the month.

Doreen Blaker and Janice Shalifoe addressed the Council requesting the opportunity to present a draft in the near future of a

Constitutional Amendment Protecting Clean

Water. Council agreed to look at the document and advise the Constitutional Task

Force.

Debra Parrish, KBOCC President, presented Council with the chosen design and

invoice for a mural to be painted on the

north side of the library/science center by

KBIC Tribal member, Corey Fountaine. Motion by Elizabeth D. Mayo to approve

$1500 for the mural to be painted on the

north side of the library/science center,

supported by Michael LaFernier, Sr., nine

supported (Emery, Curtis, Dakota, M.

LaFernier, Loonsfoot, Mayo, Welsh), two

opposed (S. LaFernier, Matthews), 0 abstained, two absent (Edwards, Minton),

motioned carried.

Debra Parrish, KBOCC President, gave

a College update stating the required July

30th budget for 2011, per the MOU, was

submitted on time. This budget includes a

business office position, which will be hired

on September 1. KBOCC has entered into

a service agreement with Linda Hale for setting up an accounting system and provide

training. KBOCC has received a $27,000

grant for child care. KBOCC will be utilizing

the science center classroom for the eve-

ning child care program. The Environmental Science office will be relocated to

the annex, and the former office will be used

for a classroom. KBOCC has received a

$25,000 Kellogg grant for the new early

childhood center building renovation when

the service agreement for child care is negotiated. HUD TCUP grant has been received for an expansion to the south east

side of the Technology Resource Center of

5300 square feet for a Native American

Studies/Workforce Development Center.

This will house the Native Studies department, student services career component,

and a community job skill center. Negotiations are in preliminary stages for a housing

component with KBIC’s Four Seasons Motel

and a food component with either the KBIC

Daycare or the Eagle’s Nest Restaurant.

KBOCC has recently hired Jay Loonsfoot as

their Native American Studies Department

Chair, Jesse Koenig as an English Instructor, and Chris Anderson as a Math Instructor. Ms. Parrish also requested a letter from

the Tribe authorizing Rick C. Geroux, Jerry

Magnant, and Donald Funke for screening

excess property/equipment. This equipment will be used for setting up automotive

and diesel mechanic training. It was the

consensus of Council for President Swartz

to sign a letter on this matter.

Council adjourned with no further action.

JULY 2010 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

The following is a list of activities that occurred in the office of the President during

the month of July 2010.

•

I attended a Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribe’s meeting (MAST). We heard

from a number of speakers including

Brian Peirson from Godfrey & Kahn,

Diane Rosen, Regional Director from

the US Department of Interior BIA, Matt

Wesaw, Area Representative for NCAI,

and Governor Granholm.

• Topics discussed were guidance on

gaming and fee to trust lands, Midwest health board, seven generations corporation and American Indian Studies program.

• I had a brief discussion with Brian

Pierson from Godfrey & Kahn. We

discussed the Class I Clean Air

status which could be a valuable tool

for KBIC, both in connection with the

MIN mine and for the long term protection of the reservation and ceded

territory. Forest County Pottawatomi

Community (FCPC) has already

used their class I status to push

back against Michigan Iron Nugget’s

attempt to use shortcuts for their

permits.

I met with Governor Granholm and had

an opportunity to briefly discuss with her

an extension of the term of the Compact

to 2033 and a reduction in the amount of

the payments from net win from 8% to

6%. I followed up with a letter describing the details of our request.

I approved the sharing of our Corporate

and LLC Codes and the templates to

start a business, like Articles of Incorporation and bylaws for a corporation and

Articles of Organization and Operating

Agreement for an LLC. Since we benefitted from codes and forms prepared for

us by other Tribes, I thought it was a

good idea for us to share the drafts

Lance Morgan has prepared for use with

Red Lake.

I did an interview with Dick Storm from

our radio station in Hancock.

• Topics discussed included our mu-

(2) Niizh

•

nicipal solid waste transfer station,

Casino in Marquette, adoption of

business codes, the addition to the

Health Clinic, annual fish stocking

program, and the KBIC annual powwow. The interview went well.

I attended the Kid’s Fishing Derby, and

it was a huge success.

We met with the US Attorney’s Office for

our annual meeting. We asked for access to the National Crime Information

Computer (NCIC). We will need to be

able to verify that motor vehicle information is correct when members come in,

and that the vehicle isn’t stolen, or that

they weren’t sold stolen properly.

I contacted our representative Bart Stupak and asked him to support the passage of the Tribal Law and Order Act. I

informed him lives are at stake, and now

is the time to get the TLOA passed to

help remedy the dire public safety situation on Indian lands. This legislation

aims to advance Tribal sovereignty,

empower Tribal law enforcement, reauthorize critical Tribal justice programs, and increase federal accountability.

As we all know President

Obama signed the Tribal Law and Order

Act.

This legislation had broad bipartisan support. A lot of work needs to

be done if we want to benefit fully from

the passage of this new legislation.

Yvette Friisvall continues to work on reviewing the recodification of the Tribal

Code.

I attended an Inter-Tribal Council meeting in Hannahville, Michigan. Topics on

the agenda included Sharon Teeple’s

resignation and the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver (MITW).

Somehow the

MITW verification process is now with

the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.

For as long as I can remember the

MITW verification was done by the InterTribal Council of Michigan. We continue

to monitor this situation to ensure our

Tribal members receive their waivers.

We also accepted the resignation of

Sharon Teeple and agreed to post the

executive director position.

•

We received a draft inspection report

from the Michigan Gaming Control

Board. The Board was here in February

of this year and we are reviewing their

findings. The report is a result of the onsite compliance visit. We intend to respond to their findings.

This concludes my report for the month of

July.

Respectfully submitted,

Warren (Chris) Swartz, Jr., President

32nd Annual Keweenaw Bay

Maawaniji’iding continued:

just staying alive.

Marilyn (Molly) Loonsfoot — Molly was

born April 10, 1946, and grew up in the

Beartown area. She attended the Baraga

Area Schools.

Molly attended Suomi,

Northern and Gogebic colleges. Molly has

worked in many different capacities for the

tribe. She currently is employed at the New

Day Treatment Facility. She also worked

for the BIA and in numerous positions at the

Ojibwa Casino. Molly is involved with our

language program and is serving on three

committees (Enrollment, Language, and

Education) at this time. Molly is also involved with the Ojibwa Seniors Committee,

serving as their Secretary. She has been

married for 39 years to Charles (Chuck)

Loonsfoot, and together they have raised

nine children. She is grandma to 33 grandchildren and six or seven great grandchildren. She enjoys them all. Molly is very

proud of the fact that she has been sober

for 38 years.

Doris Roberts — Doris was born on November 15th (she prefers not to give the

year). She grew up in the Assinins area

and attended the Assinins School until the

7th grade when she attended Baraga Area

Schools. Doris worked at the Tribal Center

then moved to California for two years. She

also ran a restaurant in the Detroit area.

She moved back to Baraga and worked for

Continued page six

SECRETARY’S REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2010

Activities reported by the Secretary, Susan

J. LaFernier, for the month of July 2010.

We all need to commit to do our part to

make a difference to protect our environment and change the world. There are everyday measures we can do to reduce air

pollution, conserve water, reduce/reuse/

recycle/re-buy materials, and prevent pollution in general.

Thank you to everyone who cares and

protects our earth and water every day. It is

our responsibility: Tribes, residents, municipalities, businesses, and visitors need to

protect and restore the quality of Lake Superior’s (and all of our lakes) waters, land,

and wildlife. The lakes have always been

and always will be important to the quality of

our life.

Litter gets blown, it gets thrown, and it

gets dumped. PLEASE DON’T LITTER—

PICK UP LITTER AND REPORT LITTERING.

On July 21st our Tribe met with United

States Attorney Donald A. Davis and staff at

Western District of Michigan to discuss issues and concerns and review the draft Indian Country Law Enforcement Operational

Plan.

We continue to have monthly meetings

with our employee W.H.I.P.P. (Wellness,

Health, Intervention, Prevention Program)

Task Force, volunteers and our Blue Cross

Representative/Employee Benefits Agency.

It is never too late to encourage positive lifestyle changes that will help us live longer,

healthier, happier lives.” For the summer

months, the Task Force and volunteers

have promoted the “Walk Your Way To

Wellness” Walking Challenge May 2—

August 7, 2010, with prizes awarded during

each of the five segments and two grand

prize winners. The 4th segment prize winners were announced on July 22nd with

Steven Irwin (Baraga Casino) winning $500

worth of gift certificates for a shopping spree

in Green Bay. The final segment and grand

prize will be awarded in August. Also congratulations to Keweenaw Bay for 1st place

in the 2010 (also in 2009) Annual Tribe-toTribe Walking Challenge! Six tribes participated and Keweenaw Bay walked 743,987

steps per participant. Thank you to the

WHIPP Task Force and great job walkers!

Be watching for special events/healthful information each month. Also thanks to everyone who participated in the 5th Annual

Denise Marth Memorial Family Fun Run on

July 10th.

On March 11th and 12th, KBIC, Huron

Mountain Club, National Wildlife Federation,

and the Yellow Dog Watershed Environmental Preserve, Inc. filed “Petitions for Review of Final Determination and Order of the

Michigan Department of Environmental

Quality Concerning Part 31 Groundwater

Discharge Permit No. GW1810162 and Part

632 Nonferrous Metallic Mineral Mining No.

MP 01 2007” in the circuit court for the

County of Washtenaw in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The oral arguments/briefs were heard

on June 2, 2010, regarding the request for a

motion to dismiss/and a change of venue by

Kennecott. A decision for these requests

should be made in the coming month by the

judge. The final briefs were filed in Washtenaw Circuit Court regarding the Part 632

Mining Permit Case (including Eagle Rock)

and the Part 31 Groundwater Permit Case

on July 20th.

Miigwech and our appreciation to all of

our brave and courageous members and

friends who have been taking care of Migi

zii wa sin throughout the ages.

Please continue to tell/write your elected

officials and everyone that the short term

benefits of the proposed mine are not worth

the harmful long term effects on our health,

rivers, Great Lakes, wood and wild places

because of the great potential for acid mine

drainage. Also challenge your November

election candidates to address issues of

sulfide mining, sulfide and uranium exploration, mineral rights, and landowner rights.

Please call me or write if you would like to

review the National Wildlife Federation’s

DVD “Mining Madness, Water Wars: The

Great Lakes in the Balance.”

Remember to continue to pray for,

honor, and remember all of our veterans,

service men and women, and their families.

Remember those who are ill, all who have

lost loved ones in the last year, and our economic struggles. Let us be thankful for our

beautiful area, and we pray for peace in the

world, good health, and happiness.

We also continue to recognize the richness of Native American contributions, accomplishments, and sacrifices to the political, cultural, and economic life of Michigan

and the United States. Remember “Indian

Country Counts—Our People, Our Nations,

Our Future!”

Remember the Drug Tip Line number is

353-DRUG or 353-3784. The yellow banners are around the reservation with this

drug tip line number displayed. The Drug

Task Force holds monthly meetings. On

July 13th, the task force and other departments met with the U.S. District Court—

Western District of MI, U.S. probation officer

from Marquette regarding drug courts, reentry, and supportive housing issues. The

Drug Force Mission statement: “To promote

education through public awareness with

the specific objective to eliminate the use of

illegal drugs for the betterment of the health,

welfare, and safety of the Keweenaw Bay

Indian Community and our neighboring

Communities.” Be watching for an educational event coming in September on prescription drugs with the Copper Country

Mental Health Department. On July 27th,

the hearing regarding random drug testing

for Enterprise employees was heard at

Tribal Court with Judge Bradley Dakota.

Additional briefs will be filed within 30 days.

During July 2010, the Tribal Council had

one Regular Tribal Council Meeting on July

3, 2010. This meeting is covered in the August 2010 Newsletter. Tribal Council held

five Special Council Meetings. Following

are the unapproved motions from July.

At the council meeting held July 1, 2010,

the following actions were taken:

• Approved the meeting minutes of March

4, 6, and 11, 2010;

• Approved the CEO’s Report for May/

June 2010;

• Motion defeated to cancel the July 3rd

Regular Tribal Council meeting and

have the meeting on August 7th (Chair

broke a tie vote);

• Approved to table the Emergency Fund/

Donations Policy until the Thursday,

July 8th meeting;

• Motion defeated to table the request for

the hoop house funding from USDANRCS (Chair broke a tie vote);

• Approved the hoop house funding for

the smallest model;

• Approved $2050 for the 3rd Annual

“Protect the Earth” Great Lakes Community Gathering and the use of the

powwow grounds on July 30-August 1;

• Approved the low bid from Tribal Construction Company for the addition and

renovation for the Commodity Foods

($33,102);

• Approved the low bid from Ojibwa Builders for the New Day fire safety renovation ($60,095);

• Approved the low bid from Tribal Construction Company for the sewer pipe

installation at the Marina ($14,955.75);

•

Motion to introduce the proposed ordinance 2010-10 to amend sections

18B.303 through 18B.305 of Title 18

Chapter B of the Tribal Code of the

KBIC to require the renewal of the gaming establishment licenses every three

years and waive the first reading;

Approved $7,000 for the Stratus Consulting Contract from the Mining budget.

At the council meeting held July 8, 2010,

the following actions were taken:

• Approved Resolution KB1766-2010

(transfer Anthony R. LaFernier’s recreational lease to Kathleen J. Manning);

• Approved Resolution KB1767-2010

Rose Martin’s allotted interest acquisition for $975.33;

• Approved an additional $17,575 to the

Summer Youth budget;

• Approved a donation for $500 for the

Eagle’s Women’s Fishing Derby;

• Approved $500 to Ann Degenaer for a

transport to the Keystone Treatment Facility on July 9th;

• Approved assistance to Leslie Haataja

for medical travel funds to New York

(per a travel advance);

• Approved a donation of $500 to Eleanor

Nieskes for her daughter’s international

trip;

• Approved a donation to the Tribal member parents of children (descendents)

for the international trip;

• Approved the Community Needs Assistance Program Policy;

• Approved the KBIC Donation Policy with

the changes;

• Defeated a motion for Gunlach Champion’s proposal for a potential building at

the Baraga Lakeside Inn and to work

with the existing marketing advisors;

• Approved the construction contract with

KBIC and Ojibwa Builders for the New

Day project scope of work;

• Approved the construction contract with

KBIC and Tribal Construction Company

for the Commodity Food Building (scope

of work).

At the council meeting held July 15,

2010, the following actions were taken:

• Approved Robert Voakes, Jr.’s request

for a laptop computer;

• Approved four donations for June 2010

(American Red Cross, Baraga County

Whitetail Deer Herd/8-21 Banquet, Island Resort Casino/Charity Golf Tournament, and Great Lakes Center for Youth

Development;

• Approved the appointment of Dale

Goodreau and Amelia Sapcut to the

Parks & Recreation Committee;

• Approved moving the regular September 4th Tribal Council meeting to September 11th;

• Approved moving the 3rd Reading of the

Titling Ordinance to September 11th.

At the council meeting held July 22,

2010, the following actions were taken:

• Approved the meeting minutes of March

18, 19, 25, and April 1, 2010;

• Denied a request for $2,500 additional

funds for the 3rd Annual “Protect the

Earth” Gathering for Joanne Shenandoah;

• Defeated a motion to leave the funeral

policy as is (three days leave, whatever

three days means);

• Defeated a motion to extend the funeral

leave to 40 hours;

• Approved changes to the funeral leave

policy: Up to three days leave (a maximum of eight hours per day or a total of

24 hours) and “if the employee requestContinued page four.

(3) Niswi

•

ing funeral leave is working an approved

Flexible Work Arrangement (policy

7.10), it may be necessary for the employee to adjust their schedule or utilize

annual or sick leave for unpaid time”;

Approved Resolution KB1765-2010 Affordable Care Act to complete a needs

assessment and plan to improve the

health and well-being of youth, tribal

children;

Approved the renewal business license

for Stacey Koski as Koski’s World of

Wheels;

Upheld the decision of the CEO in the

Government employee termination

cases #003-10 and #004-10;

Approved the authorization for the purchase of the Marquette property for 1.5

million;

Approved hiring Robert Mudd (Baraga

Ojibwa Casino-General Manager) pending the approval of the employment

agreement changes.

At the council meeting held July 29,

2010, the following actions were taken:

• Approved the bid from Northern Auto for

a seven-passenger Dodge caravan for

$22,445 for New Day;

• Approved the bid from Copper Country

Ford for a 2010 15-passenger van for

$31,900;

• Approved Resolution KB1769-2010

“Identifying our Needs: A Survey of Elders” for the North Dakota National Resource Centers on native aging;

• Approved the funding (proposal) for the

Baraga Casino’s 25th Anniversary Celebration (November 6-13, 2010);

• Denied a new business license to Paul

Smith and Joseph Rantanen “First

Catch” (business is located in Ojibwa

Housing);

• Approved a new business license to Joseph Dowd “Zeba Jewelry & Pottery”;

• Approved a new business license to

Richard A. Geroux/Baraga American

Legion Post 444 for food sales;

• Approved two July 2010 donations:

Mary Wright/Pine Mountain Music Festival and Congressman Dale Kildee;

• Approved the marketing contract

(Casino) with the Michigan Tech Athletic

Department (Hockey Program) sponsorship for three years at $10,800;

• Approved the purchase agreement between KBIC and Clark Lambros for the

purchase of the 3 Amigo’s property in

Marquette for 1.5 million with a deposit

of $100,000;

• Approved the consultant agreement with

Fischer Biological Consulting, LLC

(Hatchery water supply improvement);

•Approved the President to sign the agreement/contracts with Wirth Entertainment

Agency (Gersh Agency) for the three comedian acts and the producer fee of $3,000 for

the Baraga Casino’s 25th Anniversary Celebration;

• Approved to post the 2009 Audit Reports.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan J. LaFernier, Secretary

To be added to the mailing

list or to correct your

mailing address, contact

the enrollment office at

(906) 353-6623 ext. 4113.

To place an ad, submit an article,

or relate information or ideas on

possible articles contact Lauri Denomie

at (906) 201-0263, or

e-mail newsletter@kbic-nsn.gov.

(4) Niiwin

CEO REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2010

The month of July is always a time of

year when staff enjoy the summer weather

and take vacations, as I did during the 4th of

July holiday.

We have received draft reports from

Gaming Market Advisors regarding options

for the Tribe’s Casinos. The Casino Projects Task Force will be meeting in early

August to review the reports. Once the final

reports are in, the task force will present

them to Council for review and consideration.

Robert Mudd, the new General Manager

for the Ojibwa Casino Resort began working

on July 26th. Mr. Mudd’s first 90 days will

include an evaluation of current options.

The first round of random drug testing

took place mid-July after Council reinstated

that portion of the Drug Free Work Place

policy. The random testing had been suspended since June of 2007.

Sarah Smith, Assistant CEO, and President Swartz traveled to the Hannahville

Tribe to attend an Inter-Tribal Council of MI

board meeting. One of the topics discussed

was KBIC’s request of a relinquishment of

our service area, so that KBIC may reapply

for direct funding to operate the programs

without the Inter Tribal Council of MI oversight." A directive was passed to have the

Board Chairman, Derek Bailey, send a letter

to the DHHS’ Office of Head Start requesting a clear process for KBIC to follow for the

relinquishment of our service area.

Construction of the new Early Childhood

Education Center will soon be breaking

ground. Council approved the low bid of

Ojibwa Builder’s as contractor for the project. The bid totals just over $1.5 million

and will generate much needed jobs in the

area. The current timeline has completion

of the project set for January of 2011.

The Health Center construction and

renovation project is progressing, and Project Manager, Bruce LaPointe, indicated

that the completion date of September 30th

is realistic. Contractors have encountered

unforeseen problems but are working

through them and will extend their work

hours to aid in completing the project on

time.

The Annual Governmental Employee

Picnic took place at the L’Anse Golf Course

on August 6th. Tribal Government offices

closed at 11 a.m. Employees enjoyed great

food prepared by the Tribe’s Migizi

Wadiswan staff, games, and prizes and a

sunny day. A big Miigwech goes out to the

planning task force for organizing the

memorable event.

Planning for the Ojibwa Casino Resort’s

25th Anniversary continues. With Council’s

approval of nearly $200,000 for the event, it

should prove to be very exciting. The nearly

week long event will close with a grand

prize drawing for $25,000 in cash.

During August, the Ojibwa Casinos will

be making a change to the Double Eagle

Player’s club. Currently patrons are issued

a player’s card which should be able to be

used at either casino. Many ongoing issues

with the module that controls the single card

system have been ongoing and don’t allow

player’s points to combine.

Since the

manufacturer doesn’t have a plan for fixing

the problem, the module will be removed

and players will then have separate player’s

cards for each casino. Staff is currently

planning the switch over and will make the

change as seamless as possible for the

customers.

The Community Assistance Program office is in the process of performing weatherization audits on community member’s

homes. The grant funded project, which will

take place over the next year, provides

funding for the initial home audit followed by

weatherization repairs and replacement. If

members would like more information or

would like to apply for the program, they can

contact the Community Assistance Program

office.

The Tribe’s Annual Powwow took place

the weekend of July 23rd. In recognition of

the event, Tribal Government offices were

closed on the 23rd, and it was deemed a

Cultural Day, so our employees could participate in the event.

As always, if anyone has questions, concerns, or issues that the CEO’s office can

assist with, please don’t hesitate to stop, email, or call.

Respectfully submitted,

Larry J. Denomie, III, CEO

Kristin Belair has been hired as the Director

for the Office of Child Support. Kristin was born

in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, CA. When she was

in third grade, her family moved to Marquette, MI.

Kristen attend NMU and graduated in 2006 with a

Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice

with a Minor in Psychology, and belongs to PsiChi, the collegiate Psychology Honor Society.

Kristen completed the Master of Science program

for Criminal Justice Management and is currently

working on her Thesis to obtain the Master’s Degree in full. Prior to accepting her new position

Newsletter photo.

with KBIC, Kristen worked as a Victim Advocate

dealing primarily with victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking. Kristen states, “In my spare time I enjoy spending time

with family and taking part in community events.”

ATTENTION KBIC MEMBERS:

The following Committees/Boards have

vacant seats:

Youth Committee – four (4) seats

Application due date is September 17,

2010, 4:00 p.m.

Please submit an application (located in

Peggy Minton or Janice Halverson’s office) by the due date to:

Warren C. Swartz, Jr. – President

16429 Beartown Rd.

Baraga, MI 49908

Catholic Community of

Baraga County

Pastor

Father John Longbucco

Holy Name of Jesus

Blessed Kateri

Tekakwitha

353-6565

saintann@up.net

Confessions: Sunday before Mass

Sunday Mass 11:30 a.m.

2010 Ann Misegan Memorial

Scholarship Recipient Chosen

Michelle

Maki,

Finlandia

University

sophomore

from Baraga,

has been selected as the

fourth recipient of the

Tribe’s Ann

Misegan Memorial ScholThe

Newsletter photo. arship.

Tribal Education Committee, along with a member of the

Health Board, reviewed the applicants and

selected Maki to receive the scholarship.

Michelle is majoring in Nursing. She is a

graduate of John Carroll High School and

has worked as an Admitting Clerk and Administrative Assistant at a hospital in Florida. She has also enjoyed being a stay at

home mom, raising her three daughters.

She began attending Finlandia during the

2009-10 academic year and was placed on

the Dean’s list for both semesters.

Ann Misegan was a long time Tribal

Council member whose priority was the

health of the Tribal membership. She was

adamant that Tribal members be trained for

as many positions as possible within the

Tribe, and she also encouraged members to

seek further education, especially in health

fields. She was a member of the Tribe’s

Health Board as well as their Dental Assistant for many years. She held an LPN certificate from Northern Michigan University

and worked as a nurse for Baraga County

Memorial Hospital before coming to work for

the Tribe. This scholarship seeks to reward

members who have the same passion for

health care that Ann did.

This scholarship amount is $1,000 twice

per year for up to six years and will be

awarded to a new student each fall. Applicants must meet the following criteria: be

an enrolled Tribal member, attend an accredited college/university as a full-time student; pursue a degree in a Health Care field

documented by their college (preference will

be given to students either in a nursing or

dental program); and be a resident of

Baraga or Marquette County. Applications

for the 2011-12 academic year will be available in June 2011. For more information

about this scholarship, please contact Amy

St. Arnold, KBIC Education Director at 906353-6623, ext. 4117.

Tribe-to-Tribe Challenge —

Keweenaw Bay wins

for the second time!

KBIC… we walked over 50,219 miles

and averaged over 9,000 steps per person

per day. Keep up the good work and stay

active. The final results are below.

Thank You to all Participants of the 2010

Annual Tribe-to-Tribe Walking Challenge!

Tribe

TRIBAL HEALTH ANNOUNCES

CHANGES TO BE MADE TO

YOUR PRESCRIPTION CARDS

FOOD DISTRIBUTION

PROGRAM ON

INDIAN RESERVATIONS

Changes in your prescription benefit

management (PBM) card for those KBIC

Tribal members and descendants who are

uninsured, are coming on September 1,

2010. The KBIC Department of Health and

Human Services and UPHP have switched

Pharmacy Benefits Management from 4D

Pharmacy, Inc., to Catalyst RX.

New member identification cards will be

mailed out during the end of August and our

uninsured patients will be receiving them

before September 1st.

Our uninsured patients should not notice anything, except for receiving a new

PBM card to use when they pick of their

prescriptions. We have chosen to go with

UPHP and the new PBM because of current

and projected costs savings to our CHS

pharmacy budget. There will still be a $4.00

co-pay for generic and preferred prescriptions.

NET MONTHLY INCOME STANDARDS* FOR THE 48 CONTIGUOUS

UNITED STATES AND ALASKA

(Effective October 1, 2009)

You can visit the Cataluyst Rx website

at www.catalystrx.com to review the KBIC

Benefits, search for lower-coast prescription

alternatives, access health and wellness

information, and more!

Ojibwa Community Library News

The library has purchased the following:

• Six acrylic, magnifying rigid sheets,

good to up 2x power. The size is comparable to a magazine page.

• Two Bausch & Lomb Sight Savers

Magna Visor with three interchangeable

lenses for different magnification needs.

William Kent Krueger, an author from St.

Paul, MN., donated seven books to the library. The books are a series about Cork

O'Connor, a former sheriff of a fictitious

county in Minnesota; part of the county is an

Ojibwa Indian reservation.

Author Steve Hamilton has donated eight

of his mystery books to our library. They

are based on the character Alex McKnight

who is a private detective. Mr. Hamilton's

stories take place in Sault Ste. Marie and

Paradise.

New books @ Ojibwa Community Library:

• Oprah, by Kitty Kelly

• True Compass, by Edward "Ted" Kennedy

• The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest.

by Stieg Larsson

• The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. by

Stieg Larsson

Contiguous

United States

Alaska

Household

Size

Income

Limits

Income

Limits

$1,044

$1,369

$1,356

$1,759

$1,667

$2,149

$1,991

$2,539

$2,329

$2,929

$2,666

$3,334

$2,978

$3,724

$3,290

$4,114

Each additional member

+ $312

+ $390

*The net monthly income standard for each household size is the sum of the applicable Supplemental

Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) net monthly

income eligibility standard and the applicable SNAP

standard deduction.

Income Deductions—see 7 CFR 253.6(f)

Dependant Care Deduction — Households that

qualify for the dependent care deduction are allowed

a deduction of actual dependent care costs paid

monthly to a non-household member.

Earned Income Deduction — Households with

earned income are allowed a deduction of 20 percent

of their earned income.

Medicare Part B Medical Insurance and Part D

Prescription Drug Coverage Premiums — Households that incur the cost of Medicare Part B medical

insurance and/or Part D prescription drug coverage

premiums are allowed a deduction for the monthly

cost of the premiums.

Child Support Deduction — Households that incur

the cost of legally required child support to or for a

non-household member are allowed a deduction for

the amount of monthly child support paid.

∗

Cannot be on food stamps.

PLEASE BRING BOXES, CRATES,

BASKETS, ETC...

•

The Girl Who Played With Fire. by Stieg

Larsson

• I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced, by

Nujood Ali

• Angelina, An Unauthorized Biography,

by Andrew Morton

Audio Books on CD:

Catherine Coulter: Whiplash and Blind Side

Nicholas Sparks: A Bend in the Road and

Dear John

Danielle Steel: A Good Woman and Big Girl

David Baldacci: Evil

Tami Hoag: Alibi Man

Dean Koontz: Your Heart Belongs to Me

Robert Ludlum: Ambler Warning

Kristin Hannah: Angel Falls

~ submitted by Mary Bergerson, Library Director,

Ojibwa Community Library

Total Steps # of particiSteps/

pants

participant

Keweenaw

Bay

100,438,284

135

743,987

Huron Potawatomi

30,260,877

738,070

Saginaw

Chippewa

9,254,544

616,969

Grand

Traverse

15,295,304

527,424

Gun Lake

3,688,665

409,852

Bay Mills

39,754,000

104

382,250

One mile = 2,000 steps.

~ Heather Wood-Paquet, Health Promotions Educator

3rd Annual Protect the Earth:

Re-energizing Our Commitments to

Protecting Aki and the Great Lakes

for Future Generations

On July 30th through August 1st, Native

and non-Native people from the local community and across the Great Lakes region

joined together for the 3rd Annual Protect

the Earth gathering at the Keweenaw Bay

Ojibwa Community College and the Yellow

Dog Plains. The three-day event consisted

of presentations, music, a film screening,

food, prayer, and an annual walk to Eagle

Rock.

The event was a wonderful opportunity

to hear from some of the most prominent

environmental and indigenous rights leaders

from across the region including Winona

LaDuke, Al Gedicks, Lee Sprague, Stuart

Kirsch, and more. On Friday, July 30, an

opening workshop was held on the National

Historic Preservation Act by Ho-Chunk Traditional Court Member Preston Thompson

and archaeologist Will Gilmore, followed by

student poster presentations and a workshop on KBIC’s Strategic Energy & Sustainability Initiatives by Char Spruce, KBIC EnContinued page nine.

(5) Naanan

32nd Annual Keweenaw Bay Maawaniji’iding

continued:

the Tribal Center as well as the Housing

Authority. Doris has been married for 38

years and her 39th anniversary will be August 11, 2010. She has two children, Mike

Dowd and Melinda Roberts. Doris has six

grandchildren, Davina, Troy, Allyson, Michael, Jonah, and Gregory James. Doris

also has one beautiful great granddaughter,

Aubrey Marie. Doris is active in the tribal

community and is involved with the Ojibwa

Senior Citizens.

Ted Shelifoe — Ted is a man of few words.

He was born October 28, 1944. Ted grew

up in Beartown and has two children, both

boys. He is a veteran and is an active

member of the KBIC Color Guard.

~ Submitted by Newsletter Editor

Newsletter photo.

Three princess candidates (left to right) Savannah Sey- KB Powwow Committee Vice Chair Elvera Lantz (left)

mour, Gabrielle Picciano, Sierra Ayres.

presents Stella Gibson with Adult Fry Bread Award.

KBIC Color

Guard

pictured in front

of the Marine

Corps League

statue

displayed in

vendor alley.

Kneeling

Head Veteran

R o d n e y

Loonsfoot,

(2nd row l-r)

Tim othy

Gauthier,

J o s e p h

L a B e a u ,

I s a d o r e

“Blue” Misegan, Eugene

“Cowboy”

Newsletter photo.

Loonsfoot.

(Back row, l-r) Ted Shelifoe, James “Jay” Loonsfoot, Sr., Joe Jacker, Glenn Bressette, Sr., Pete Shelafoe, Warren “Chris”

Young shawl dancers enjoying grand entry Friday

Swartz, Jr., Matthew Shalifoe, Sr., and Virgil Loonsfoot.

evening.

REPORT THE ILLEGAL SALE OF

PRESCRIPTION

DRUGS TO THE

DRUG TIP LINE!

All calls are confidential

and anonymous!

353-DRUG

(6) Ningodwaaswi

BUILDERS

Residential Building Specialists.

353

353--7127

BUILDING

SUPPLY

PLUMBING &

HEATING

For all your building supplies.

For all your maintenance needs.

353

353--8850

353

353--6967

Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa

Housing Authority

"Owned and operated by the

Ojibwa Housing Authority.

All proceeds go to

affordable housing activities

in our community."

Newsletter designed ad

(7) Niizhwaaswi

Green Baby Tips

Are you a mom or mom-to-be? Do you know

someone who is? Having a baby can certainly have

an impact on the environment, but there are many

ways to reduce that impact. One of the easiest and

most effective things you can do is to not ‘buy’ in:

you really don’t need all that baby ‘stuff’ they say you do. For the

essential items you must have, try to buy secondhand and local

items and avoid disposable items. Disposable means more resources are consumed and more waste ends up in landfills. Instead

choose sturdy, long-lasting products. Stray away from petroleumbased products and products containing environmental toxins such

as phthalates, chlorine, and parabens and instead look for products

made with less-toxic, environmentally friendly materials such as

bamboo, hemp, and organic cotton. Here are some tips for welcoming and raising your baby in a more earth-friendly fashion.

Diapering

Give reusable diapers a try. Modern reusable cloth diapers are

not the cloth diapers of the past. Most modern reusable diapers are

fitted with snap or Velcro closures that function much like a disposable. There are many types – from all-in-ones to pocket diapers, to

covers and prefolds. For more information, check out: http://

greenmomhappymom.com/overview-of-cloth-diaper-styles/. Reusable diapers, once soiled, can be washed and used again, reducing

the amount of waste sent to the landfill and can be found in environmentally friendly materials like bamboo, hemp, and organic cotton.

In the United States, about 3.4 million tons of diapers are landfilled

each year and a typical diaper takes 200-500 years to decompose.

And while cloth diapers have more upfront costs, they are cheaper

over the long-run than disposable diapers. The average baby will

use 6,000 diapers before potty training, costing an average of

$2,500. Washing diapers in cold water, using non-toxic detergent,

and line-drying help reduce the impact (and cost) associated with

laundering reusable diapers. The next best option to cloth diapers is

biodegradable diapers, made with plant-based plastics that are

compostable. While these have been found not to break down under landfill conditions, there are other options to compost them such

as using a composting toilet, an earthworm system, or a highly active and properly conditioned composting area. Hybrid diapers,

like gDiapers, have removable inserts that can safely biodegrade

when flushed. As a last resort, if you must purchase disposable diapers, try to buy chlorine-free diapers, like Seventh Generation chlorine-free diapers.

Feeding

Breastfeeding is best - it's free, has health benefits for mother

and baby, has no environmental impact, and is a precious bonding

experience. Breastfeeding requires no plastic bottles, rubber nipples, or the water and energy to heat up, cool down, or mix formula.

For breast pads, try re-usable organic cotton or wool felt pads.

While there are many great, organic nipple creams available, some

locally produced olive oil or organic lanolin does a great job. If bottle

feeding becomes a necessity, pumping your own is the first choice.

Make sure to use glass or BPA-free bottles. If pumping is not an option, using a fair-trade organic infant formula is preferable. If this is

neither affordable nor accessible, then the next best thing is to en-

KBIC Natural Resources Department VALues Volunteers

KBIC Natural Resource Department has, over the years, community members and organizations volunteer for such things as hatchery operations, fin clipping and fish stocking, wildlife inventory, kid’s

derby and environmental fair assistance. One volunteer, Valoree

Gagnon, stands out as exceptional and the NRD wishes to thank

her for her generous service.

Val has volunteered over 350 hours since April with the NRD.

She has assisted with the environmental fair and the Kids Fishing

Derby, fin clipped, helped with fish stocking and mammal surveys,

frog surveys, and even rolled up her sleeves to help dig out the septic system for routine maintenance. She most diligently assists with

the new greenhouse including landscaping, planting and maintaining plants within the greenhouse.

Who is this woman you may ask? Adopted from South Korea

and raised in Fort Worth Texas, Val has lived in the area for the past

five years. She is married with three children. She and her husband Alan were full time foster parents for eight years before moving here from Texas to be near Alan’s parents who are local residents.

Val has a teaching degree from Michigan Tech University and is

currently a graduate student attending MTU in the Social Science

Department. She is studying the cultural significance of fish contaminants for native people here on the L’Anse Reservation. She

will be interviewing community members about their experiences

with fishing; she will look at the historical perspective as well as the

current perspective and how fish contaminants are perceived by the

community. She hopes that her thesis will provide regulatory agencies with important insight as to how they should increase efforts to

(8) Ishwaaswi

sure the brand of formula you buy is from a company not profiteering from marketing their product to developing countries.

At about six months, babies start to eat real food. The best option is

to make your own homemade baby food. Cook up veggies, casseroles, and fruit and freeze it in tiny containers or ice cube trays

ready to take out and defrost when needed. You can even reuse

baby food jars from a friend or relative. Or mash up or puree whatever is on the dinner menu that night (be sure you discuss any concerns over dietary requirements with your health professional). For

those occasional situations when you must buy baby food, purchase

organic or fresh frozen baby foods.

Clothing

Not only does a baby grow out of clothes extremely fast, they are

constantly sending bodily fluids flying onto those precious outfits.

Second-hand clothing is the cheapest and most sustainable option.

Get hand-me-downs from friends and family or look in thrift shops,

Craigslist (check out http://up.craigslist.org/), or Freecycle (check out

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Baragacountyfreecycle/). Organic hemp

or cotton, bamboo or wool fabrics made without toxic chemicals are

best against sensitive skin and last longer with the constant washing.

Washing

Studies have shown that children brought up in over-cleaned

houses are more likely to develop allergies, asthma, or eczema. The

best thing you can do for sensitive baby skin is not to cover it with

synthetic chemicals. Wash with pure soap and warm water. Check

out www.cleanbabyup.com for locally-made natural baby care products. For household cleaning, make your own non-toxic cleansers

with simple ingredients such as baking soda and vinegar.

Play Time

Get back to basics and try long-lasting, old-fashioned wooden

toys and organic cotton or homemade teddies. Because babies put

most things in their mouths, go as natural as possible, and when

baby is a little older, get hold of second-hand toys. Also aim for toys

that helps build a child’s bond with nature.

Furniture and accessories

Babies don't need much—a secure place to sleep, a car seat, a

high chair, and a way to be carried around. Opt for second-hand

furniture, everything except mattresses (some research suggests a

link between second-hand crib mattresses and sudden infant death

syndrome) and car seats, which can have invisible accident damage. If you buy new furniture, purchase high quality, durable pieces

made of sustainable, low-toxicity materials. Think about some alternatives to the regular old wooden baby bed; try using an organic

cotton baby hammock or a crib that extends into a bed and lasts 6-7

years. When decorating the nursery, use natural and low-VOC

paints as well as carpeting.

For more information, check out the following resources:

• “The Eco-Nomical Baby Guide: Down-to-Earth Ways for Parents

to Save Money and the Planet” Stuart, Tebori, & Change. February 2010.

• The Green Baby Guide: http://greenbabyguide.com/

• Planet Green: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/

~ Submitted by Char Spruce, KBTNRD Environmental Specialist

clean up the environment rather than simply post consumption

warnings for the public. All information gathered will be reported

anonymous without any personal information revealed.

Val is not only very discreet and professional, but she has shown

a genuine “habit of the heart” in wanting to serve people in the communities wherever she lives. She is the perfect example of American volunteerism. In fact, the Corporation for National and Community Service recently released volunteer statistics for 2009, and

across the country, 63.4 million Americans volunteered to help their

communities. This number represents an additional 1.6 million volunteers when compared to 2008. U.S. volunteers contributed 8.1

billion hours of service, which has an estimated dollar value of

nearly $169 billion (http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/

index.cfm). Val has certainly done her share here with the KBNRD!

Val is a hard working and

generous volunteer from

whom we can all learn a lesson in graciousness.

sure to say a warm hello as

you see her interacting in the

community, you’ll be glad to

know her. We surely appreciate her dedication and feel

extremely fortunate to have

her dependable and ever

cheerful assistance at the

Natural Resource Department. Miigwech Val!

~ Photo and article submitted by Pamela Nankervis, Wildlife Biologist

KBOCC STUDENTS DISPLAY POSTER

AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM

OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN

On August 6, 2010, KBOCC environmental

science students, Karen Andersen and Shelly

Danielson, and faculty member, Erin Johnston

traveled to Washington, D.C. to the National

Museum of the American Indian. Their research poster titled “Plant Communities Along

the Historic L’Anse-Lac Vieux Desert Trail in

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula” was selected to

be displayed in the museum’s Living Earth

Symposium under the program “Tribal College

and University Climate Research: A Seven

Generation Vision for the Living Earth.” The

research poster was one component required

for the completion of a ten week internship

funded by NASA and AIHEC.

The picture (l-r) shows Erin Johnston Environmental Science Department Chair, Karen Andersen, and Shelly Danielson.

KBIC TITLING TASK FORCE

MEMBERS MEET WITH PRAIRIE BAND

POTAWATOMI’S VEHICLE REGISTRAR

Jeanne Kauppila, Licensing Clerk, Elizabeth Mayo, Council Member, and Jennifer

Misegan, Enrollment/Licensing Director, traveled to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in

Mayetta, Kansas. The Task Force members

met with the Potawatomi’s Motor Vehicle Registrar to review the Prairie Band’s motor vehicle titling process. The Task Force members

also met with the Prairie Band’s Attorney and

Council Treasurer to discuss the PBPN ordinance.

Jennifer stated, “The trip was extremely

informative. We were able to see the process

first hand. We definitely have our work cut out

for us. We have to make sure that the Ordinance that is approved fits the Keweenaw Bay

Indian Community and doesn’t impose unnecessary restriction on our members, but protects their interests. They also took us on a

tour of their beautiful reservation. We met a

lot of helpful and friendly people. It is always

nice to get a different perspective.”

Jeanne, Elizabeth, and Jennifer are part of

the Titling Taskforce that is working on establishing vehicle titling for our Tribe. Other members of the Taskforce include Christoph Geiger, Deputy Attorney; Fred Dakota, Council

Member; Stacey Koski, Business Owner; and

Miranda Voakes, Police Officer. An ordinance

was introduced on April 29, 2010. The final

reading will be held at the Tribal Council meeting on September 11, 2010.

~ Submitted by Jennifer Misegan, Enrollment Director

Left to right: Micki Martinez, PBPN Motor Vehicle

Registrar; Vivien Olson, PBPN Attorney; Elizabeth

Popcorn Mayo, KBIC Council member; Jennifer

Misegan, Enrollment/Licensing Director, Jim Potts,

Veteran Affairs Coordinator; Jeanne Kauppila,

Licensing Clerk.

3rd Annual Protect the Earth continued:

vironmental Specialist.

On Saturday, July 31, there was a focused session on mining in the U.P. with

expert perspectives on active mineral exploration taking place throughout the region, treaty rights, cultural concerns, local

grassroots efforts, international movements, and lessons from Wisconsin's Native-environmental alliance to stop the

Crandon Mine.

Winona LaDuke was the keynote

speaker Friday night and Saturday. LaDuke is Anishinaabeg from the White Earth

reservation in Minnesota. She is a mother,

author, former Green Party vice presidential

candidate, Harvard graduate, and activist.

Winona is a founding director of both the

White Earth Land Recovery Program and

Honor the Earth.

LaDuke spoke about the importance of

creating greater resiliency and selfdetermination within our communities. In

an era of unsustainable economic growth,

food and energy sovereignty are important

steps we can take to achieve environmental

and economic self-determination and also

decrease our dependency on multinational

corporations. New Warriors for the Earth

honored LaDuke with a blue water shawl

for all of her support and inspiring words.

E Halverson, opened the Saturday evening Protect

the Earth Concert. Photo by Kalvin Hartwig.

On Saturday evening, a Protect the

Earth Concert opened with local KBIC upand-coming musician “E”. The featured

musical guest was Grammy Award winning

artist Joanne Shenandoah, an Iroquois

singer, composer, actress, and acoustic

guitarist. The concert also included Wisconsin folksinger Skip Jones, and Ojibwe

folksinger Bobbie Bullet.

Protect the Earth gatherings started in

1986, when the U.S Department of Energy

was considering northern Wisconsin as the

site for a nuclear waste dump. Jim SchlenContinued page eleven. (9) Zhaangaswi

website: www.kboha.com

Mission: To provide affordable and attractive housing opportunities

in a safe and healthy environment to qualifying tribal members of

the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, encourage self-improvement

of the community’s low income families, and provide employment

opportunities.

Programs and Services provided by the KBOHA:

• Low income rental homes and apartments

1. 158 Homes/apartments in Baraga

2. 50 Homes in Zeba

3. 40 Homes in Marquette/Harvey;

• Supportive housing/transitional housing to help address family

issues;

• New, custom built, super-insulated homes for homeownership

on Bear Town Road;

• Home buyer training to prepare members for home ownership;

• Financial literacy training to improve members’ financial skills;

• Home maintenance training to improve members’ ability to maintain homes;

• Home rehabilitation program to improve the condition of member

-owned homes;

• Home emergency assistance program to remedy negative con-

ditions in the home;

• Individual development account program – a 4:1 matched savings program for member goals that include:

1. Down payment assistance for home purchase;

2. Business expansion/start-up expenses.

•

Low cost home improvement loan program for qualifying Tribal

members;

Low cost tax preparation program for residents and Tribal members;

Affordable curbside trash service for residents and members;

Ojibwa Building Supply Do It Best—providing Tribal employment, quality affordable building supplies and profits for housing

programs;

Ojibwa Builders Construction Company—providing Tribal employment, quality affordable construction, and profits for housing

programs;

Market rate rentals—five rental properties in Baraga and one in

Negaunee- providing profits for housing programs;

Ojibwa BP, Car Wash and Laundry- providing Tribal employment, superior products and service, and profits for housing programs.

September 2010

Calendars Events

WHIPP WALKING CHALLENGE

WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Congratulations to Steve Irwin from the

Baraga Casino who was our segment four

winner. Steve received $500 worth of gift

certificates for a shopping spree in Green

Bay.

Congratulations to Vicky Mleko, Tribal

Center Receptionist; Amanda Savoula,

Baraga Casino Guest Services; and Sandy

Tahtinen, Marquette Casino Cage; who

were selected as the WHIPP Walking Challenge segment five winners. They each

received $200 in Nike apparel.

Congratulations to Kristyn Gabe, Baraga

Casino Accounting; and Angie Olson,

Baraga Housing; who were selected as the

Grand Prize Winners. They each received

a health related prize valued at up to $750.

Congratulations to all WHIPP Walking

Challenge Participants! We had 176 total

participants with 81 completing every single

segment. The final total steps we recorded

was 119,131,354. Keep up the good work,

and let’s continue walking and maintain the

positive changes we have made in our

lives.

All Tribal Veterans’ Meeting at the Lighthouse, Sand Point, will be held every

third Wednesday of the month at 1900

hours. All Tribal Veterans Welcome!

PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

IN BARAGA COUNTY

September 15th, 6:30 pm

Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa

Community College

Open to the Public

A panel of local professionals

will discuss the issue and

field audience questions