The Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe (2020)

WIIKWEDONG

DAZHI-OJIBWE

The Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe

Namebini Giizi – Sucker Fish Moon - February 2020

REORGANIZATION OF KEWEENAW BAY INDIAN

COMMUNITY TRIBAL COUNCIL, EXECUTIVE BOARD CHOSEN

Issue 187

Tribal Council Members:

Warren C. Swartz, Jr., President

Gary F. Loonsfoot, Jr., Vice-President

Kim Klopstein, Secretary

Toni J. Minton, Asst. Secretary

Doreen G. Blaker, Treasurer

Robert R.D. Curtis, Jr.

Eddy Edwards

Dale Goodreau

Randall R. Haataja

Susan J. LaFernier

Rodney Loonsfoot

Don Messer, Jr.

SPECIAL POINTS

OF INTEREST

Picture by Lauri Denomie.

President Warren “Chris” Swartz, Jr. (right) conducted the oath of office to the elected Council Members:

(left to right) Eddy Edwards, Don Messer, Jr., Gary F. Loonsfoot, Jr., and Rodney Loonsfoot.

Picture by Lauri Denomie.

Picture by Lauri Denomie.

President Warren “Chris” Swartz, Jr. (right) presented

Michael LaFernier, Sr. with departing gifts (center) along

with members of the Wiikwedong Ogitchidaa Society (KBIC

Veterans).

President Warren “Chris” Swartz, Jr. (right)

conducted the oath of office to elected

Associate Judge, Violet M. Friisvall Ayres

(left).

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KBIC Tribal Council Reorganization Held, Saturday

Quarterly Meeting

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Ojibwa Casino Marquette

holds first New Year Eve

Celebration in new facility

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Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Holds 16th Winter

Traditional Powwow

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KBIC’s E.M.I.L.Y. utilized by

MDOT to monitor bridge conditions

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NRD shares 2019 Sea lamprey updates

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Deepest Sympathy

Continued on page two.

OJIBWA CASINO MARQUETTE HOLDS

FIRST NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION AT NEW FACILITY

Ringing in the New Year at the Ojibwa

Casino Marquette’s new facility was amazing. The casino was packed with customers

partaking in a number of entertainment venues. Superior Eats served meals throughout the night. If you haven’t checked out

their delicious burgers yet, you need to they

are fantastic! Hors d’oeuvres were also

available at the Event Center. The Marquette Tavern (Restaurant) located within

the facility is targeted to open in February

2020. The Marquette Tavern has been designed and the menu created by Dave

Anderson, founder of Famous Dave’s BBQ.

Customers enjoyed a complimentary comedy show at the Events Center which can

accommodate 1200 guests. Well-known

Magician/Comedian Nick Paul was chosen

as the first entertainer for the Events Center. Nick is a Los Angeles based magician

and comedian known for his unique combination of physical comedy, magic, and quick

wit. Others ventured to the circular bar

lounge area where the band “Stranded”

played for listening and dancing pleasure.

For customers looking for that lucky slot,

there were 500 to

choose from, along with

the

table

games.

Drawings were held

throughout the evening

including $2,020 at

Midnight and $5,000 at

1:00 a.m.

The Ultimate Bridal

Event 2020 (right) was

the first rental of the Ojibwa Casino Marquette’s Event Center. The Ultimate Bridal

Event was on January 11, 2020. If you are

interested in holding your event at the

Ojibwa Casino Marquette’s Event Center -The Event Center is currently available for a

minimum charge of $1,000.00 per day.

Contact Laura Mayo, Promotions and

Events Manager, (906) 353-6333 for more

information.

~ Submitted by Lauri Denomie, Newsletter Editor.

(1) Bezhig

REORGANIZATION OF KEWEENAW BAY INDIAN

COMMUNITY TRIBAL COUNCIL, EXECUTIVE BOARD

CHOSEN AT FIRST QUARTERLY MEETING continues:

The Quarterly Tribal Council Meeting was held on Saturday, January 4, 2020, at the Big Bucks Bingo Hall in Baraga,

Michigan. President Warren Swartz, Jr., presided over the

meeting with Gary Loonsfoot, Jr., Susan J. LaFernier, Toni

Minton, Doreen Blaker, Robert R.D. Curtis, Jr., Dale

Goodreau, Randall Haataja, Kim Klopstein, Michael F.

LaFernier, Sr., Rodney Loonsfoot, and Elizabeth D. Mayo

present.

President Swartz shared numerous Thank You and For

Your Information items addressed to Council.

President Warren “Chris” Swartz, Jr. gave the Quarterly

President Report (page three), Secretary Susan J. LaFernier

gave the Quarterly Secretary’s Report (page four), and CEO

Sarah Smith gave the CEO Report (page four). Council approved the October 2019 Department Head Reports.

Under new business: Diana Chaudier, Election Board

Chairperson, presented the December 14, 2019, General

Election results for certification. Results for Tribal Council in

the Baraga District were: Rodney Loonsfoot (Inc.), 252

votes; Donald L. Chosa, Jr., 193 votes; Michael P. Lahti, 208

votes; Carole L. LaPointe, 112 votes; and Don Messer, Jr.,

209 votes. In the L’Anse District: Gary Loonsfoot, Jr. (Inc.),

307 votes; Eddy Edwards, 240 votes; Jean Jokinen, 203

votes; and Jennifer Misegan, 214 votes. Associate Judge

was: Violet M. Friisvall Ayres, (Inc.) 284 votes; Tyler Larson,

225 votes. Proposal one — Do you support voting by any

member who lives off of the reservation? Yes — 192 votes

and No — 321 votes. Proposal two — Would you support

term limits for all tribal council members? Yes — 367 votes

and No — 146 votes. There are 740 registered voters, of

whom 517 (70%) actually voted in this election. Of the 823

individuals who are eligible to register to vote, 63% of them

voted in this election. Motion by Toni Minton to certify the

December 14, 2019, General Election results, cosupported by Kim Klopstein and Robert R.D. Curtis, Jr.

Michael F. LaFernier, Sr. Eight supported (S. LaFernier,

Minton, Blaker, Curtis, Goodreau, Haataja, Klopstein, M.

LaFernier), 0 opposed, two abstained (G. Loonsfoot, R.

Loonsfoot), one absent (Mayo), motion carried.

President Warren “Chris” Swartz, Jr. recognized Elizabeth

Mayo and Michael LaFernier. Both Council Members did not

submit for reelection. President Swartz said, “As Elizabeth

“Popcorn” Mayo is not present, I still want to say, Popcorn

did this job, which is not easy, to the best of her ability for a

number of years. We do appreciate her hard work and effort.

We are grateful and thankful for her leadership and for everything that she has done here at the Tribal Council. We have

some departing gifts for her which we will deliver to her.”

President Warren “Chris” Swartz, Jr. then said, “Michael

LaFernier, Sr. has been on the Council for 30 years. This

Community has come a long ways in those 30 years, and

Mike, you have been a part of it. Without your leadership and

stability over those 30 years, I don’t think this Community

would be where we are now. You have had a hand in everything in this Community from the ground up; starting at Tribal

Construction with the floor drain, all the way up to putting in

the final beam in at the Ojibwa Casino Marquette’s new facility, and I could not think of anyone else who should cut the

ribbon at our soft opening other than you. We appreciate

everything you have done, and we are grateful for it.” Michael was given some departing gifts. The Wiikwedong

Ogitchidaa Society (KBIC Veterans) also addressed Michael

LaFernier, Sr. with departing gifts, thanking him for his service.

President Warren “Chris” Swartz, Jr. gave the oath of office to Violet M. Friisvall Ayres for the Office of Associate

Judge, and Eddy Edwards, Don Messer, Jr., Gary F. Loonsfoot, Jr., and Rodney Loonsfoot.

Reorganization nominations were made as follows: nomination for President - Warren “Chris” Swartz, Jr., and Robert

R.D. Curtis, Jr., Warren “Chris” Swartz, Jr. was named President; nomination for Vice President – Gary Loonsfoot, Jr. and

Rodney Loonsfoot, Gary Loonsfoot, Jr. was named Vice

President; nomination for Secretary – Susan J. LaFernier

(declined), Kim Klopstein, Dale Goodreau (declined), Doreen

Blaker (declined), Randall Haataja (declined), and Robert

R.D. Curtis, Jr. (declined), Kim Klopstein was named Secretary; nomination for Assistant Secretary – Toni Minton, Toni

Minton was named Assistant Secretary; nomination for

(2) Niizh

Treasurer - Doreen Blaker and Eddy Edwards, Doreen Blaker

was named Treasurer.

Motion by Doreen Blaker to approve the Depository of

Funds with Superior National Bank and Flagstar Bank,

supported by Randall Haataja Ten supported (G. Loonsfoot, Minton, Blaker, Curtis, Goodreau, Haataja, Klopstein,

R. Loonsfoot, Messer, Edwards), 0 opposed, one abstained (S. LaFernier), 0 absent, motion carried.

Motion by Doreen Blaker to have the check signers be

any two Council Members; for the Tribal Court check

signers to be any two of Council Members, Chief Judge,

Associate Judge, and Chief Court Clerk; and the Child

Support Office check signers be any two Council Members, Chief Judge, Associate Judge, Chief Court Clerk,

Child Support Director, and Child Support Specialist, supported by Dale Goodreau. Eleven supported (G. Loonsfoot, S. LaFernier, Minton, Blaker, Curtis, Goodreau,

Haataja, Klopstein, R. Loonsfoot, Messer, Edwards), 0 opposed, 0 abstained, 0 absent, motion carried.

Council adjourned with no further business on the agenda.

~ Submitted by Lauri Denomie, Newsletter Editor

ATTENTION: ALL TRIBAL COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN

Applications for Small Boat and Large Boat Commercial

Fishing Licenses for the Year 2020-2021 Commercial

Fishing Season are available at the Motor Vehicle/

Licensing Department located in the Tribal Center. The

new license year will begin: May 1, 2020. Applications

must be returned to the Motor Vehicle/Licensing Office

by: Friday, February 7, 2020. All applications for licenses

will be reviewed and selected by the Tribal Council. All

Tribal members who apply must have completed the required U.S. Food and Drug Administration Hazard

Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) training

and present a copy of the certificate with the application. A

Boat Safety Fishing Vessel Examination with a certified

official must be completed and that documentation must be

provided before issue of a license. The application also

requests fishing vessel information including the vessel

name, number, and length.

For: Boat Safety Inspections contact the Tribal Police/Conservation Department at

(906) 353-6626 to make an appointment or contact U.S. Coast Guard/Hancock at

(906) 482-1520.

KBIC SENIORS - TAX PREPARATION

REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM

Eligible Seniors: Enrolled KBIC Members 55 years of age and

older residing in Baraga County or on the Marquette Trust

property.

How the Program Works: Eligible seniors will receive reimbursement up to $100 for their 2019 tax return preparation. This year’s program also provides reimbursement up to

$26 for completion of your 2019 Home Heating Credit return.

To qualify for reimbursement, eligible seniors must use a tax

preparer who has been issued a Preparer Tax Identification

Number (PTIN) by the Internal Revenue Service.

The Lake Superior Community Development Corporation

and Sally Snyder are excluded from the program.

To receive your reimbursement, please turn in your original

receipt to the Administrative Specialist in the CEO’s Office. Please allow up to 10 business days for payment processing. (Reimbursement for personal returns only, business

returns are not covered.)

February 2020 Calendar:

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Feb. 7 — Constitution Committee Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Tribal

Center;

Feb. 17 — President’s Day, Tribal Gov’t. Offices closed;

Feb. 18 — Constitution Convention; Zeba Hall, 5:00 p.m.

~ submitted by newsletter editor

President’s Quarterly Report for the Months of October, November, and December 2019

The following is a summary of activities that occurred in the

Office of the President for the months of October, November,

and December 2019.

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Some exciting things have occurred at the Keweenaw

Bay Indian Community’s Natural Resource Department

this past quarter.

 We continue to work on fisherman needs including the

following:

 KBIC Tribal fishermen must have accesses to a

food grade facility to processes and market fish

harvested under reserved Treaty Rights.

 KBIC fishermen will need to develop the business

capacity to develop and market value-added fish

products to maintain a sustainable fishery (i.e. IQF

vacuum packaged frozen, smoked fish products,

and cisco roe).

 Tribal members need the capacity to process, vacuum pack, and freeze produce from the Tribal garden.

 KBIC must develop food processing capabilities to

more effectively meet food processing needs for

berry jam production, maple syrup processing, and

wild rice packaging.

 KBIC has a need to support efforts to develop tribal

businesses producing food products that can capitalize on growing local tourism markets.

 There are a number of options to consider in moving

forward with this. We have uncovered the Recover

America’s Wildlife Act. There is an opportunity of a

grant through this Act. The Michigan Natural Resources Panel voted 26-6 to report out the bipartisan

"Recovering America's Wildlife Act," H.R. 3742, which

would make about $1.4 billion available to state, territorial, and tribal wildlife agencies to protect and restore

thousands of species vulnerable to extinction. The

money would come from the U.S. General Treasury.

The legislation would amend the 1937 PittmanRobertson Wildlife Restoration Act, the Landmark Law

that funds wildlife conservation projects through taxes

on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment.

I attended the Tribal State Summit in Mount Pleasant,

Michigan. The summit was attended by all tribes in Michigan, and we discussed briefly on general topics including

internet gaming, concerns about Consultation policies

with tribes, and we heard from the Governor’s cabinet.

This was Governor Whitmer’s first summit, and hopefully

we get an opportunity to meet with the Governor soon to

discuss issues specific to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. We later met again with the Governor’s Office at

Lac Vieux Desert to draft up a consultation policy for the

Governor’s State Departments and autonomous agencies.

We took the opportunity to sit down with Alan Walts from

the Environmental Protection Agency. We talked about

our upcoming Treatment as a State for Water and Air

Quality. Topics of discussion included ways to educate

the public on our TAS and capacities. In mid October the

Community received its official letter regarding approval of

its application to regulate the Clean Air Act Program eligibility for Sections 105 and 505(a)(2).

I attended a couple of U.P. Energy Task Force meetings.

We continue to meet and seek alternatives to U.P. energy

needs and focusing on propane and what it means to rural customers here in the U.P.

I continue to attend the Marquette Area Public School

Board meetings. The purpose is to help them understand

the negative impacts the logo and the mascot has on our

Native students attending their schools. A committee was

appointed and made a recommendation to the Board to

change the name because of its negative impact to its

students.

We continue to monitor the Leaking Underground Storage

Tank at the BP gas station. Reports indicate that the leak

occurred a few decades ago and was being monitored

over the years. Regulators wanted to close out the site

but prior to closing they wanted to do a site visit. During

that site visit regulators noticed that one of the under-

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ground storage tanks was near the lake and needed to be

looked at. We did an initial assessment and decided to

decommission the problem tank and do some shore line

stabilization. The shore line stabilization was recently

completed. During shoreline stabilization sheen developed on the water. The sheen was later determined to be

from the old leaking underground storage tanks. We will

continue to monitor and evaluate this situation because of

its proximity to the lake.

Our Natural Resource Director was recently appointed to

the Governor’s Task Force on Michigan’s mining future.

Congratulations to Evelyn Ravindran and we are glad she

will be serving in that role.

I signed the MOA with KBOCC with a few suggested

changes. The MOA is for a three year period.

We should have a discussion in the near future on another moratorium on mining here at the L’Anse Indian

Reservation. I think mining activity may pick up in the

near future, and we should be prepared to regulate those

types of activities.

Also, I think it’s time to start working on a State of the

Tribal Nations Address for the Keweenaw Bay Indian

Community. I’ve heard of other Tribal Nations doing this,

and it is very informative and appreciative of its membership. I’ve seen some successful Indian Nation Addresses. I believe the Oneida Nation, Saginaw Chips,

and Lac du Flambeau have them. We want to consider

keeping the membership informed during the course of

the calendar year of the Council’s activities. We should

update our Strategic Plan and include the State of the

Tribal Nations Address within it.

We should convene a Constitutional Convention for the

purposes of updating our Constitution. Topics of discussions should include term limits and off reservation voting.

As usual the holidays are a busy time, and this year was

no exception. All of us were busy during this time, and a

lot has happened in the last few months. We owe a lot of

gratitude to our employees for all of the hard work they

have done for us, not only the last quarter of this year, but

for the whole year. I, for one, have noticed all the sweat

and hard work that goes into keeping a Community open

for business. To all of the hard working employees, I

want to say Chi Miigwech for all the work you have done,

and all of the staff who have pitched in over the years and

did what they have done to help this Community stay

afloat and to be the best we can be to our abilities. There

is a lot of work to be done, and I think we can get it done!

Council, along with a number of employees, attended the

Soft Opening of our new facility at the Ojibwa Casino Marquette this past month. We are very proud to have

opened these doors to continue to meet the gaming

needs of the central Upper Peninsula for many generations to come. In the future we want to continue to work

towards phase two which is looking at a motel development to include a motel at the facility for the convenience

of our gaming customers.

Respectfully submitted,

Warren C. Swartz

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Is your charitable organization planning on holding a raffle

or selling raffle tickets on the L’Anse Indian Reservation?

Federal law, through the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act,

granted Tribes exclusive right to regulate gaming activity on Indian

lands. Even if you or the members of your organization are not

tribal members, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Gaming

Commission has the authority to regulate your raffle. It is unlawful

to game without a license.

Please contact the KBIC Gaming Commission Office at (906)

353-4222 or stop by the office located at the Tribal Center for an

application and a copy of the rules and regulations.

Application deadline for submission of

ALL Class I Drawings is 30 days and

Class II Raffles is 60 days prior to your

event. License Fee will be waived when the

16429 Bear Town, Rd.

Baraga, MI 49908

application is received within this timeline.

(906) 353-4222

(3) Niswi

Tribal Council Secretary’s Quarterly Report

for the Months of October, November,

and December 2019

Anin! We honor the greatness in you.

Remember: “Indian Country Counts”

“Our People, Our Nations, Our Future”

We 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.

Our wish to you is for a happy, healthy New Year!

It has been my pleasure to serve the Community as the

Tribal Council Secretary. Mike and I thank everyone for all of

your good wishes and thoughts throughout the years. “If you

want to get somewhere, you have to know where you want to

go and how to get there. Then, never, never give up!”

Mino-Bimaadizin “Live Well”

Respectfully, Susan J. LaFernier

Our Regular Saturday Council meetings are now held

quarterly. The Regular meeting was held on October 12,

2019, in Harvey, Michigan. There were six Special Meetings

during October which included a Work Session on October 8,

2019, five Special Meetings during November, and two Special Meetings during December.

It was exciting to attend the tour and ribbon cutting on the

first day of operations at our new Ojibwa Casino Marquette

on December 20, 2019! Mike was honored to be able to cut

the ribbon. It is beautiful and please visit soon. Thank you to

everyone who worked so hard for many years on this project.

It is a wonderful dream come true.

Remember to vote in all elections in 2020 and in the future

(Tribe, Local, State, Presidential). Voting is a crucial, meaningful way to express yourself and support the issues you are

about. Voting is your choice. It’s your opportunity to back the

candidates you think can effect the changes you desire.

Whether or not you participate in the elections, you can be

sure that the political officials elected into office and the policies they implement will impact your life in the future.

Our voter turnout at the General Elections since 2012 has

ranged from 54% to 78%. Voting is the expression of our

commitment to ourselves, one another, our Community, and

our World.

For your information: New pocket size Tribal Constitutions

with the Judicial Amendment are available at the Enrollment

Office. The Constitution Committee is continuing to work on

proposed amendments, and we urge everyone to become

more familiar and informed on our Constitution.

This report will be published in the KBIC “Wiikwedong

Dazhi-Ojibwe” newsletter, and the Keweenaw Bay Indian

Community Website.

October 8, 2019 Tribal Council Work Session with our Department of Natural Resources (Presentations):



Valoree Gagnon, Research Scientist, MTU Great Lakes

Research Center: Water Quality Standards, Fish Consumption Rates, survey/report results, and fish consumption rates options for KBIC.



Cory McDonald, PhD, MTU Environmental Engineering:

Calculation of Ambient Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Human Health.

October 12, 2019 Regular Tribal Council Meeting:

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Motion to approve the FY 2020 Budgets.

November 21, 2019 Special Tribal Council Meeting:

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Motion to approve the new Enterprise wage system effective November 24, 2019, with a guaranteed minimum

wage of $12.00 for the Baraga Enterprises and a guaranteed minimum wage of $13.00 for the Marquette Enterprises. Sarah Smith, CEO is working on a draft Wage

Analysis for the Government.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan J. LaFernier

To place an ad, submit an article, or relate information,

ideas, or possible articles contact: Lauri Denomie at

(906) 201-0263, or e-mail: newsletter@kbic-nsn.gov.

(4) Niiwin

CEO’s Quarterly Report for the Months of October,

November, and December 2019

1. MISSION STATEMENT: To provide exceptional services

for our membership; a safe, positive work environment for

employees; and sustained economic prosperity while protecting our sovereignty and preserving our culture and

natural resources for future generations.

VISION STATEMENT: A Tribe that preserves the Anishinaabe culture, advances economic diversity, provides opportunities to enhance independence, and promotes the

health and well-being of our Community.

2. Updates: I held one department head meeting. During

this meeting, there was a discussion of the proposed

changes to the Travel Policy. The Travel Policy was revised and approved during this month also. During the

past quarter, I worked with the casino and both Personnel

and Human Resources on soliciting bids for the wage

study. After review of the proposals, Council asked that it

be worked on internally instead. That is being continued.

With a tool provided by VAST called HR360, we were

able to obtain many of the positions wages within the Upper Peninsula. In addition, we are collecting comparable

information through REDW. They were one of the consultant companies that provided a proposal and each

year collect wage survey information from Tribes, so that

Tribes may compare wages. Part of this is that the wage

information has to be entered for the past year. This is

about 40% complete. This tool will be used in addition to

the HR360. An emergency response meeting has been

scheduled for the upcoming week on the 8 th to have departments meet to discuss the various emergencies that

can occur and work on plans to address those. There

have been meetings held this past year with WUPPDR as

the facilitator. A plan will be forthcoming in the future.

3. Meetings/Conferences: I attended a BIA Partners in Action meeting during the past quarter. This included participation in the budget formulation process; a one on one

meeting with Michelle Corbine, Awarding Official; a presentation on the history of the BIA; and a presentation on

the effects of different substances on the mind and its

long term effect. Met with the Community Policing group

for a discussion on bringing in TA to do a Tribal Action

Plan. This will be forthcoming to the Tribe from our Substance Abuse Programs and Health Department. Attended a dinner with Alan Walts from EPA for a roundtable discussion about educating the public about KBIC’s

capacity for Treatment as a State for Air and Water. Participated in the MICARES webinar. This was a kickoff

meeting regarding a subcontract the Tribe is participating

for looking at barriers, challenges, and opportunities for

renewable energy development. I will be going to the national meeting with this group on January 12 th-16th in Virginia. Also participated in a webinar for the Child Care

and Development fund.

4. Employee Changes: Over the past quarter, the Education Director retired. A retirement party was held on December 19 at noon. This employee worked for the Tribe

for 43 years. The Education Director’s position was

posted internally and interviews have been held, and a

candidate was chosen. In addition, the Administrative

Specialist has resigned. The government currently has

304 employees, with 221 Native American, as of December 22, 2019. The last three weeks are provided as requested.

5. Statistical Data/Case Load Information:

tionary performance review was completed.

One proba-

6. Financial Update: Budgets were passed at the last quarterly meeting and distributed to department heads. This

included the 2% raise for employees. Budgets have been

entered by accounting. The October financials have been

distributed that provide departments with the new fiscal

year budgets. Program changes to the Senior Program,

Youth Program, CAP program, water/sewer rates, and

Education programs were all communicated to departments.

Grants awards are trickling in, with over

$7,000,000 received to date.

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah Smith, CEO

KBIC Natural Resources Department 2020 Tribal Water Day Event

On March 13, 2020, the Natural Resources Department

(NRD) will be hosting its second Tribal Water Day. This community forum is an opportunity to come together and talk

about the NRD efforts in protecting our water resources both

in and around the reservation. At last year’s event, the watershed, state of the waters, wetland program developments,

monitoring and research, fish consumption, honoring Lake

Superior, and partnerships were discussed. We also had a

media and art gallery that celebrated water, handouts, and

refreshments. Last year’s event attracted over 100 participants, and we hope to surpass that number this year.

Tribal Water Day is free and open to the public with lunch

and prize raffles included. In the upcoming weeks, we will

post an agenda with presenter names and times. This year’s

discussions will include: the status of the KBIC’s Treatment

as a State Application for Water Quality Standards, the current Community Environmental Monitoring Program (CEMP)

agreement with Superior Watershed Partnership, collaboration efforts with Michigan Technological University, and a

brief history and overview of the NRD Fisheries Program.

The water resources of the Reservation are invaluable

and have provided subsistence, cultural, and spiritual benefits to many generations of KBIC Ojibwa. Tribal members

use and depend upon quality water for a variety of purposes

including fishing, trapping, swimming, boating, gathering,

drinking and residential use, and for spiritual and cultural purposes as they have since ancient times. The relationship between Tribal members and the land, water resources, and

area ecosystems is part of the KBIC identity. The health of

the water is directly related to the health of KBIC.

To help the NRD efforts in protecting our waters, we believe that your contributions are very important. We rely on

our community members to provide us their experiences to

create a richer foundation for decision making into the future.

In our effort to continue protecting the waters on and near the

reservation, we would like to invite you to this free event.

Space is available for displays, and all ages are welcomed. If

interested in reserving table space or you have questions,

please contact: Stephanie Cree, Water Resources Specialist,

(906) 524-8700 or scree@kbic-nsn.gov.

To be added to the mailing list or to correct your

mailing address, contact the enrollment office at

(906) 353-6623 ext. 4113.

(5) Naanan

(6) Ningodwaaswi

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Holds 16th Winter Traditional Powwow

Picture by Lauri Denomie.

Lead Dancers and KBIC Royalty: (left to right) Devin Connor, Junior

Head Boy Dancer; Dalana Connor, Junior Head Girl Dancer; Donald

Chosa, Jr., Head Veteran Dancer; Emanuel “Doc” Poler, Head Man

Dancer; Lisa Denomie, Head Lady Dancer; Avery Miller, Youth Head

Boy Dancer; Alana Schofield, Youth Head Girl Dancer; Sara Dakota,

Junior Miss Keweenaw Bay; Deija Dakota, Miss Keweenaw Bay; back

row — Members of the Wiikwedong Ogichidaa Society/KBIC Honor

Guard.

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community held their 16th Winter

Traditional Powwow on Saturday, January 25, 2020, at the Niiwin

Akeaa Community Center in Baraga, MI. The event was organized by the KBIC Cultural Committee. Grand Entries were held

at 1 pm and 6 pm with Donald Chosa, Jr., Head Veteran Dancer,

leading the KBIC Wiikwedong Ogichidaa Society (KBIC Veteran

Honor Guard) into the arena. Bernard “Bud” Biron served as

Master of Ceremonies, Rodney Loonsfoot as Arena Director, and

Glenn Tolonen as Assistant Arena Director. Woodland Singers

were this year’s Host Drum. Invited drums were: Four Thunders

and Loon Travelers. Also honored were Deija Dakota, Miss Keweenaw Bay; Sara Dakota, Miss Junior Keweenaw Bay; and

Tribal Elders: Janice H. Shalifoe and Richard “Dicky” Shalifoe. A

Pink Shawl Honor Dance was held honoring Michelle St. George.

A grand feast was held between grand entries.

Continues on page eleven.

Picture by Lauri Denomie.

Honored elders: Janice H. Shalifoe and

Richard “Dicky” Shalifoe

(7) Niizhwaaswi

KBIC’S E.M.I.L.Y. Utilized by MDOT to Monitor Bridge Conditions

Scenario: It has been raining hard and the water levels in

local rivers and streams are rising, and there are concerns

about the impact on highway bridges. Michigan Department

of Transportation (MDOT) inspectors need real-time data on

what's happening beneath the turbulent surge but getting into

the water for a visual inspection is risky. ''Any time we have

a major storm event, inspectors are required to go out and

monitor these bridges to make sure they're safe, and nothing

catastrophic is going to happen to them,'' said Chad Skrocki,

Assistant Bridge Engineer for MDOT's Bay Region.

Scour, the erosion or degradation of the streambed

around a bridge's substructure, is a leading cause of bridge

failure. Scour happens when fast-moving water carries off

sediment around the substructure of a bridge, typically exposing the footings or piles. When the streambed is washed

away, bridge support can be compromised creating a hazard.

MDOT has identified more than 400 bridges on the state

highway system and around 1,200 on local roads that are

''scour critical,'' and in need of close monitoring during highwater events.

MDOT routinely inspects bridges for scour around abutments and piers. Typically, this involves inspectors launching

a boat and probing the channel bottom with metal rods,

weighted tape measures or sonar devices. During high-flow

events, this can be a dangerous task. ''In the past, scour inspections were difficult, especially during periods where water was surging,'' Skrocki said, ‘‘We wanted to come up with a

method that was safe and easy for inspectors to use.''

The challenges and risks have the department evaluating

small remote-controlled boats for safer and more efficient

bridge inspections. MDOT began a research project in 2016

to look for alternatives that met the agency's needs. One

promising alternative emerged: an unmanned surface vessel

(USV), a remote-piloted drone boat equipped with sonar and

a camera to allow inspectors to take measurements and capture images from the shore. MDOT deployed USV units in

the field to measure bridge scour and inspect bridges and

culverts where access is limited. Results show it could be

safer, less labor-intensive, and in some cases, less costly

than traditional techniques.

After reviewing available devices, interviewing vendors,

and conducting site visits, investigators recommended a USV

called Sonar EMILY (EMergency Integrated LanYard). This

powerful, durable, maneuverable water-jet-powered buoy is

about 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and a foot tall, and is equipped

with a sonar unit that can measure water depths and produce

side-scan and down-scan images of bridge substructures and

streambeds. The system also has a topside camera to view

the underside of bridges.

''The environment this vessel is going to operate in is fairly

extreme,'' said Brian Schroeder of Ayres Associates, the principal researcher, ''It needs to go fast, gather the data we

want, and be reasonably durable. EMILY checked all the

boxes.''

EMILY, an outgrowth of a partnership between the U.S.

Navy's Small Business Technology Transfer program and a

private company, was originally developed for marine mammal research. However, it can be configured as a lifesaving

device, for water sampling, underwater mapping, and many

other potential uses. The manufacturer, Hydronalix, has outfitted the platform with sensors to conduct a variety of missions.

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s, Great Lakes Unmanned Systems Center (GLUSC), is a subsidiary of

Aanikoosing Inc., which is an Economic Development Corporation, who entered into an exclusive sales and distribution

agreement with Hydronalix, the Arizona based manufacturer

of the EMILY currently retails this equipment.

The system, along with post-processing software called

SAR Hawk, was found to be the most effective and costefficient setup to meet MDOT's requirements. The cost of the

USV, laptop control unit, and running gear was estimated at

$50,000.

''Using the USV is much safer and less labor-intensive

than traditional inspection methods for detecting scour,'' said

Skrocki, MDOT's project manager for the research. ''It provides a great deal of information, in real time, to the inspector

about what is occurring to the channel bottom below the water surface around the bridge substructures.''

MDOT strategically placed four USVs equipped with sonar

(8) Ishwaaswi

units throughout the state to inspect bridges for scour during

high-flow events. In addition, the agency plans to use the

technology for other applications as appropriate: getting images of bridge substructure below water, viewing the underside of bridges, and documenting performance characteristics.

Reference: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDOT/

bulletins/26b9f3a

~ Submitted by Lauri Denomie, Newsletter Editor.

2019 Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon

marinus) updates

Sea lamprey continue to be a major threat to the Great

Lakes fishery, and currently they are the only invader that is

controlled basin wide. KBIC-NRD Fisheries/AIS crews conducted our annual Sea lamprey surveys in three river systems

where adult lamprey migrate to spawn. Fyke nets were used

at the Firesteel and Silver rivers, and two cages were set at the

Misery River. KBIC-NRD coordinates with the Great Lakes

Fishery Commission, and along with other agencies, all data is

submitted via an online database system. The Fishery Commission then analyzes the data to determine Sea lamprey

population estimates.

2019 KBIC-NRD numbers were down with only 69 captures/

recaptures versus in 2018 where our numbers were over 200.

I attended the January winter meeting of the Lake Superior

Technical Committee held in Marquette, MI. Below is the information I obtained on Sea lamprey results for 2019 from the

Technical Committee:



Total adult assessments produced 1517 of the invasive

lamprey captures in tributaries (seven index locations).

 Sea lamprey larval assessments: 191 tributaries were assessed (97 in Canada, 93 in the U.S.) with 25 performed in

lentic areas. Surveys were also performed to detect

whether there were any new larval populations, and a new

population was discovered in Chippewa County, MI, at Mill

Creek.

 Sea lamprey distribution’s in Bad River has a significant increase in numbers since a 2016 treatment there.

 Ontonagon River: The United States Forest Service began

removal of a Sea lamprey blocking structure on the East

branch of the Ontonagon River. This site will continue to

operate as a seasonal barrier until a new location is identified lower in that system.

Submitted by:

Karen Andersen-AIS

Specialist, KBIC-NRD

Census 2020: An Introduction

~ By Hayg Oshagan, Wayne State University Director of New Michigan Media

What is the census?

The U. S. Constitution requires that the

Federal Government count every person

living in the U.S. The U.S. Census has

been conducted every 10 years since

1790.

Why is the Census important?

Every year, the Federal Government

gives money it has collected from taxes

back to the states. How much money a

state gets depends on how many people

live in that state. The count of how

many people live in a state is determined every 10 years by the Census.

So if a state has a low Census count, it

will get less money from the Federal

Government every year for the 10 years

after the Census count.

Recently,

Michigan has gotten about $30 billion a

year based on the 2010 Census. In addition to federal funds, how many representatives a state has in the U.S. Congress also depends on a state’s population which is determined by the Census.

Because of a low Census count, Michigan lost a Congressional seat in 2010,

going from 15 Congressmen and Congresswomen in the U.S. House of Representatives, to the current 14.

What is the money used for?

The $30 billion Michigan gets every year

is used by the state, used by counties,

used by Native American tribes, and

used by cities for programs that serve

our communities. This is money that

funds our kids’ education (student

loans, Pell grants, school lunches and

breakfasts, Headstart, school funding),

helps with health care (Medicare, Medicaid, Urgent Care, children’s health insurance/MI Child), is used for food assistance (Supplemental Nutrition,

Bridge Cards, Meals on Wheels), housing loans, road construction, transit,

and any program that helps our communities grow and prosper.

What happens if the count is low?

Michigan, and every county and city in

Michigan, gets a lot less money for all

the programs the Census pays for. As

an example, for Detroit, every person

not counted would cost the city $5,500

every year for 10 years. If 3% of Detroiters don’t get counted (about 20,000

people), Detroit would lose $1 billion

over the next 10 years.

Who should be counted?

Anthony Michael McKasy

(October 5, 1943—January 7, 2020)

Anthony Michael McKasy, age 76, of

Baraga, MI, passed away on Tuesday,

January 7, 2020, at U.P. Health System in

Marquette, MI.

He was born October 5, 1943, in St.

Paul, MN, the son of George and Eleanor

(Friedmann) McKasy.

Tony graduated

from Benilde High School in St. Louis

Park, MN, and received a Bachelor degree

in Business from the College of Santa Fe,

New Mexico. He served in the U.S. Army

in 1967, and remained Patriotic throughout

his life. Tony owned United Rental in

Richfield, MN, for 15 years, then worked

for St. Paul Pioneer Press for four years.

He also worked with disabled patients in

Everyone. The Census counts everyone who is living in America. It doesn’t

matter if you are a citizen or not, if you

have a Green Card, a visitor visa, or an

expired visa, a student with an F1 visa,

or an employee with an H-1b visa, if you

live in the U.S., you count for the Census.

The only people not counted are those

who are here as tourists, and are planning to return to their home country.

Everyone else counts. Make sure to

count everyone in your household, including children and newborns. If you

sublet to anyone, you need to count

them too.

What is a household?

For the Census, a household is an address. The Census does not have

names, it only has addresses. There

are about 140 million addresses in the

U.S., and the Census is sent to each of

those addresses. People who live in

groups with a single address (jails, hospitals, nursing homes, school dormitories, etc.) are also counted.

Is the Census confidential?

The United State has a law specifically

for the Census to make sure it is 100%

confidential. The Census Act, Title 12,

of the United States Code, has the

strictest confidentiality laws on the federal books.

The information collected by the Census

CANNOT be shared with ANY other

agency. It cannot be given to ICE, to

the FBI, to Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, the IRS, local police, the sheriff, social service agencies,

insurance companies, businesses, or

anyone. For any reason. Over the last

50+ years, this law has never been broken not even once.

How many questions are on the Census?

The Census is nine questions. That’s it.

There is no question about your citizenship or visa status. The Census only

cares to know if you live in the U.S.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM ON

INDIAN RESERVATIONS (FDPIR)

FY 2018 NET MONTHLY INCOME STANDARDS*

(Effective Oct. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2020)

*The net monthly income standard for each household size

is the sum of the applicable Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) net monthly income standard and

the applicable SNAP standard deduction.

48 Contiguous United

States:

Household

Size

Use this

amount

SNAP Net

Monthly

Income

Standard

SNAP

Standard Deduction

FDPIR Net

Monthly Income Standard

1

$1,005

+

$160

=

$1,165

2

$1,354

+

$160

=

$1,514

3

$1,702

+

$160

=

$1,862

4

$2,050

+

$170

=

$2,220

5

$2,399

+

$199

=

$2,598

6

$2,747

+

$228

=

$2,975

7

$3,095

+

$228

=

$3,323

8

$3,444

+

$228

=

$3,672

Each additional member

+ $349

Alaska:

Use this

amount

Household

Size

SNAP Net

Monthly

Income

Standard

SNAP

Standard Deduction

1

$1,255

+

$273

=

$1,528

2

$1,691

+

$273

=

$1,964

3

$2,127

+

$273

=

$2,400

4

$2,563

+

$273

=

$2,836

5

$2,999

+

$273

=

$3,272

6

$3,435

+

$285

=

$3,720

7

$3,870

+

$285

=

$4,155

8

$4,306

+

$285

=

$4,591

Each additional member

FDPIR Net

Monthly Income Standard

+ $436

and send back. People can also call in

and complete the Census on the phone.

The Census is mailed on March 12. If

you don’t respond, you will get reminders on March 16, March 23, April 8, and

April 20.

Will someone knock on my door?

If you don’t send the Census back by

the end of April, Census workers will

come to your door. They have badges

and identification from the Census Bureau, and they will ask you to complete

the Census. It is much better to fill it out

on your own and not wait for the Census

workers to come by. We get a much

better count that way.

What comes in the mail?

In the past, the Census was a paper

questionnaire. This year, most people

will get a card in the mail with a unique

ID that you use to fill out the Census

online. Where the internet is slow, people will get the paper version to fill out

We only have one chance to get

counted. There is a lot of funding tied to

the U.S. Census that helps everyone in

our communities, from our children to

the elderly. Make sure to fill it out when

you get it. The ten minutes we spend

filling out the Census now will affect our

communities for the next ten years.

Stillwater, MN, helping them with transportation. He married Shirley Shelafoe on May

7, 1989.

Tony enjoyed golfing, duck hunting, collecting beer steins, and was an avid Vikings

fan. He was a member of the Yuller's Ski

Club and volunteered at the Ojibwa Seniors

delivering pasties. Although he was not

native he loved to say "he was married to

one". Tony will be remembered for his

great sense of humor.

Surviving are his wife: Shirley McKasy of

Baraga; brothers: Tom (Lynn) McKasy of

Burnsville, MN, and Joe (Ann) McKasy of

Mahtodi, MN; sister: Helen (Jim) Dingle of

Dellwood, MN; step children: Myron

(Connie) Williamson of Oakdale, MN, and

Debra Williamson of Baraga; 10 step grand-

children; and numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death are his parents

and step daughter Lynn (Tim) Sokolik.

Visitation was held on Tuesday evening,

January 14, 2020, at Jacobson Funeral

Home. The Baraga County Area Veterans

conducted military rites at 6:30 p.m. followed by parish prayers by Deacon John

Cadeau officiating.

Visitation continued

Wednesday morning, January 15, 2020, at

the Most Holy Name of Jesus Church in

Assinins, followed by a funeral mass at

11:00 a.m. with Fr. Corey Litzner officiating.

Burial will be in the Assinins Cemetery in

the spring. A luncheon followed at the

Ojibwa Seniors. The Jacobson Funeral

Home of L’Anse, MI, assisted the family.

(9) Zhaangaswi











Tax Pro Solutions will hold a tax

preparation seminar at the

Ojibwa Casino and Hotel in a

conference room on February

11th and 12th from 9 a.m. - 9

p.m., by appointment (sign up on

days of) or drop off service

Low Tax preparation Fees for all

tribal members.

Base Rate examples —

Single, Married, employed

and no children — $75.

Single, Married, employed

with children and EIC —

$175.

Retired, no children — $100.

Retired with children and

EIC — $150.

Investments, Rentals, and

self employed are extra

fees.

Cash and credit cards accepted,

or for a low fee of $20 we can

withhold your tax prep fees from

your refund.

May also apply for a free Tax Refund Advance of up to 25% of

your refund based on Metabank's

underwriting criteria and approval

and have funds directly deposited to your account or have a

printed check within 48 hours.

Call Jamie at Tax Pro Solutions

for questions or an appointment (906) 281-4091.

(10) Midaaswi

Making Winter Meals that are Hearty and Healthy

with an Instant Pot or Crock Pot

~ By Dr. Dale Schmeisser

At this time of year we like stick-to-the-ribs meals. When

we come in from shoveling snow, there’s nothing better than

sitting down to a hot meal of stew, chili, bean soup, or a casserole. But those of us who cook know that those meals can

take a lot of time. We’re all busy, so too often we just go

without. Crock pots and Instant pots can help solve the timecrunch problem.

An Instant pot is simply an electric version of the timehonored pressure cooker. Elders probably remember using a

stove-top pressure cooker to shorten the cooking time for pot

roasts, stews, and bean soups. Meats turn out tender, and

beans are soft. Anyone who has canned vegetables also

knows the process of high heat pressure cooking. The advantage of the new electric instant pot is the built in technology, which includes precise settings for heating up, cooking,

and cooling down. This improves safety of operation, which

has always been a concern with this type of cooking.

Another feature of electric instant pots is that they can

also be used as a slow cooker. A different setting on an instant pot turns it into a crock pot. One advantage of using an

instant pot as a slow cooker is that you can brown meat right

in the same pot (not possible with a ceramic crock pot) and

then change the setting for a nice slow-cooked meat or bean

dish.

But are instant pot and crock pot meals healthful? Yes, of

course they can be. The biggest challenge with any meal is

to start with healthful ingredients. If you just add noodles and

sausage, then what you’ll get is a dish with a lot of refined

starch and salty, high fat meat. How about a pot roast with

lots of carrots, onions, and a few potatoes, that’s ready in one

hour instead of three. What you have is a protein rich meal

with lots of vitamin A, potassium, and antioxidants that protect you from the winter respiratory infections. Even better, a

navy bean soup that’s ready when you get home from work,

a protein meal rich in fiber and B vitamins that protect your

immune system and lower your cancer risk.

The KBIC Health System will offer a four week program

on Healthy Cooking with Instant Pots, beginning Thursday,

February 27 and continuing on Thursday, March 5, March 12,

and March 19. The series of classes will be held at the Senior Center, from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. We’ll be demonstrating

how to get the most out of an instant pot, with health and

convenience as the focuses. The class is limited to 12 participants. If interested, please contact Kim LeClaire at 3534524.

Healthy Winter Meals using Instant Pots

and Crock Pots

A Four Week Program sponsored by KBIC Health System

Dates: Thursday, February 27, March 5, March 12, and

March 19, 2020.

Time: 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm.

Location: Ojibwa Senior Center, Mission

Road, Baraga.

Open to all adult Tribal members, limited to 12 participants.

To register or get additional information, please contact Kim

LeClaire at (906) 353-4524.

The Indian Child Welfare Committee and Tribal Social

Services would like to thank the following for the

monetary donations for Christmas Gifts

for our children in care:

Chuck Miller

Cindy and Michael Jones

Everett Ekdahl, Jr.

Paul Mooney

Tony Loonsfoot

Dale Dakota

Nancy Voakes

Duane Misegan

Thank you also to all of those who chose a child and individually purchased presents requested by that child.

You all put a smile on a child’s face this past

Christmas, and we are so appreciative.

Chi Miigwech!!!

Mid-winter Powwow continues:

Honored Elders:

Janice H. Shalifoe, was born to Richard Shalifoe, Sr., and

Sarah Shalifoe (Whetung) on 09/26/1940, one of ten children.

Her siblings are: Richard “Dicky” Shalifoe, Fred Shelifoe, Molly

Loonsfoot, Ginny Ann Jermac, Danny Shelafoe, Myrtle “Babe”

Miller, Ted Shalifoe, Matty Joe Shalifoe, and Donny Shalifoe.

Janice has seven children: Emily, Helen, Petie, Janice, Jean,

Paul, and Colin. She has 12 grandchildren: Joshua, Tony,

Nicole, Chalsea, Ethan, Sheila, Sheena, Sage, Alyssa, Joanie,

Autumn, and Jaxon. Janice has 15 great grandchildren: Blake,

Nickolas, Amari, Ava, Anjeni, Aydin, Devin, Laniceya, Brooklyn,

Anthony Jr., Antonio, Alijah, Sonny, Vada, and Ezra.

Janice loves spending time with her family, crafting, playing

cards, board games, watching TV/movies, bumming on long

rides, bingo, gambling, and Elvis.

Richard James “Dicky” Shalifoe was born to Richard

Shalifoe, Sr., and Sarah Shalifoe (Whetung). His siblings are:

Janice Shalifoe, Fred Shelifoe, Marilyn “Molly” Loonsfoot,

Ginny Ann Jermac, Danny Shelifoe, Myrtle “Babe” Miller, Ted

Shalifoe, Matty Joe Shalifoe, and Donny Shalifoe. Richard has

nine children: Richard, Victoria, Michael, John Paul, Shawn,

Robin, Nora, Shanna, and Autumn. He has seven grandchildren: Johnny Renfro; Leia Mix; Ashley Shalifoe Smith; Michael

Shalifoe; Dylan, Brandon, and Darren DeCota.

Richard

worked for the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community for 24 years.

He is a member of the Ojibwa Senior Citizens, KBIC, and the

L’Anse Golf Club. His hobbies include: golfing, football, basketball, tennis, and bowling.

Pink Shawl Honor Dance in recognition of Michelle St.

George, a cancer survivor was held prior to the feast.

Michelle St. George is the daughter of Robert St. George

and Nancy Thoreson Shannon. Michelle’s siblings are: Becky

Tumminello, Jennifer “Peeky” St. George, and Kerry Varline.

She resides in L’Anse with her significant other of 19+ years,

Eric Ketola. Michelle has three children: Ashley Seppanen,

Amber Soli, and Kyle Soli. She has three grandchildren:

Kadynce Loonsfoot, Aaliyah Loonsfoot, and Xander Seppanen.

Michelle has been employed with the Keweenaw Bay Indian

Community since 1990 as a bingo employee and then began

employment with the KBIC Health System in 2001, where she

remains continues to work. Michelle is a member of the KBIC

Health Board. Her hobbies include: camping and hanging out

with her grandchildren.

Michelle said, “In April of 2017, I was diagnosed with Stage

1 breast cancer and I had a mastectomy in May. My recurrence numbers were low enough that I did not have to have

chemo or radiation. I do have to take an estrogen blocker for

at least five years as my cancer was estrogen fueled. Early

detection definitely saves lives!”

(11) Ashi bezhig

Keweenaw Bay Indian

Community

Office of Child Support

Services

P.O. Box 490, Baraga, MI 49908

Phone: 906-353-4566

Fax: 906-353-8132

“YOUR Children …

OUR Priority”

We provide the following

services:

• Paternity Establishment

• Establishment of Child Support

• Outreach Services

• Mediation

Permit No. 62

U.S Postage PAID

Big Rapids, MI 49307

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

16429 Bear Town Rd-Baraga, MI 49908-9210

PRE-SORT STANDARD

(12) Ashi Niizh