# The Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe (2011)

> Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more.

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Akeweenaw_bay%3A65149862f426962a

## Record

- **Collection:** Tribal code
- **Document type:** Tribal code

## Text

WIIKWEDONG
DAZHI-OJIBWE
The Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe
Gashkadino Giizis - Freezing Moon - November 2011 Issue 88
RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AND DEDICATION HELD

Tribal Council Members:
Warren C. Swartz, Jr., President
William E. Emery, Vice-President
Susan J. LaFernier, Secretary
Toni Minton, Asst. Secretary
Elizabeth D. Mayo, Treasurer
Elizabeth (Chiz) Matthews
Eddy Edwards
Michael F. LaFernier, Sr.
Jerry Lee Curtis
Frederick Dakota
Gary F. Loonsfoot, Sr.
Isabelle H. Welsh

SPECIAL POINTS
OF INTEREST:


Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and
Dedication Held



Breaking the Silence and Cycle
of Violence—3rd Annual Chelsey LaFernier Memorial Walk



KBIC Hires Third Physician



KBNRD Offers Prize Drawing
For Hunter Participation With
CWD Surveillance



Drug Conviction Report



New Employees



Deepest Sympathy

Picture by Lauri Denomie.

(left to right) KBIC‘S CEO Larry Denomie III, Health Board Chairman Wayne Swartz, Health Director
Carole LaPointe, and Tribal President Warren ―Chris‖ Swartz, Jr.

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community‘s Department of Health and Human
Services celebrated the Community‘s
newly refurbished and expanded Health
Center and the opening of their newest
service, a pharmacy, on Friday, September
30, 2011. After nearly a year of construction, the Community is now enjoying a
beautifully expanded health facility which
includes a much needed service for all
Tribal members, a fully staffed 340B pharmacy.
Carole LaPointe, Health Director, spoke
after the opening. She began with a history of Indian Health Services (IHS), a 90year timeline, ―The appropriation to IHS by
Congress to provide medical services and
health care programs to Native Americans
was made available through the Snyder
Act of 1921. In 1955, the Transfer Act
moved health care from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to the Department of
Health, Education and Welfare, establishing the IHS. When I first came on as the
Health Director, I had the opportunity to
attend an IHS conference regarding Contract Health Services (CHS). I attended
the ‗CHS 101‘ Workshop where they went
on to explain what a Contract Health Service Delivery Area (CHSDA) was and how
CHSDA‘s became determined. I learned
that a meeting was hosted by the National
Indian Health Board (NIHB) at the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Health
Center where area Tribal leaders and
health care persons came together to influence legislation that would benefit all of us.
The Indian Self-Determination and Educa-

tion Assistance Act of 1975 authorized the
Secretaries of the Department of Interior,
Health, Education and Welfare, and some
other agencies to enter into contracts with
and make grants directly to federally recognized Indian tribes. This Act gave tribes the
authority on how they administered the

funds and which gave a greater control over their own welfare. The Indian Health
Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) of 1976 implemented federal responsibility for the
care and education of the Indian people by improving the services and facilities of
Federal Indian health programs. The Indian Self-Determination Act Amendments
of 1988 authorized the BIA to negotiate compacts. Under a Self-Governance
Compact, an Indian tribe can administer and manage programs, activities, functions, and services previously managed by the BIA. It acknowledges tribal authority to redesign those programs and services to meet the needs of their communities, within the flexibility of allocating funds based on tribal priorities. In 1992,
amendments to the IHCIA extended the Title III self-governance demonstration to
the IHS and its programs. In 1994, Congress passed the Tribal Self-Governance
Act, making Self-Governance a permanent authority of the Department Of Interior. In 2002, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community received a Self Governance
Compact. The 2010 Health Reform Law was passed by current administration
Continues page two.

(1) Bezhig

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony continues:
instituting the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care
Act included permanent reauthorization
of the IHCIA.‖
Ms. LaPointe added, ―I came upon a
letter dated October 23, 1997, written to
Wayne Swartz, who was the Tribal
President at the time, authored by Charlotte Hewitt of the Inter-Tribal Council of
Michigan (ITC). The letter was in regards to the Tribal Health Center dedication which was held on October 24,
1997. Ms. Hewitt was unable to attend
this dedication, but four other staff members were able to attend on behalf of
ITC. She sent her regrets for not being
able to attend but offered some historical information which she thought
makes the Keweenaw Bay Health and
Human Services System unique. In the
1970‘s the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community was the first tribe nationally to
establish a tribally operated Health Center outside of the Indian Health Services. It was done with very little, if any,
IHS resources. The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community recruited their own physician without the help of IHS; Dr.
Nanavanti, a physician, who stayed with
the Community for many years. The
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community prepared a proposal for the hiring of the
first Community Health Nutritionist hired
by any Michigan Tribe. The Keweenaw
Bay Indian Community was one of
maybe two or three tribally operated
W.I.C. (Women, Infants, and Children
Nutrition Program) sites nationally. This
was a major accomplishment and a difficult feat to accomplish. The Keweenaw
Bay Indian Community was the first
Tribe in Michigan to establish a tribally
operated Dental Clinic. In the early to
mid 1970‘s, the Keweenaw Bay Tribe
initiated the establishment of the one
and only Native American Substance
Abuse Inpatient Treatment Center,
which is still functioning and one of the
very few in the nation. In the late 1970‘s
-early 1980‘s, the Keweenaw Bay Tribe
was awarded a grant to conduct a major
‗Native American Adolescent Careers
Recruitment‘ project. There were only
three projects funded nationally. This
was a statewide effort.‖
LaPointe closed with, ―Today our services are a result of the IHCIA and Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Highlights of the recommendations incorporated into the Affordable Care Act
include: Exemption from cost sharing;
payer of last resort; and increased workforce opportunities. Our building was
dedicated to the spirit and memory of
my father, Donald A. LaPointe, on October 24, 1997. Throughout his life, he
advocated for access to healthcare for
all Native Americans. He wrote the
original grant for the KBIC Health Center
in the early 1970‘s. It was his dream to
plan for a building that would provide
wraparound healthcare for the members
of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.‖
In addition to Carole LaPointe‘s historical outline, the ceremony included a
welcome by Wayne Swartz, Health
Board Chairman; opening remarks by
Warren ―Chris‖ Swartz, Jr., Tribal President; Introduction of Honored Guest by
Susan LaFernier, Health Board Member
(2) Niizh

and Tribal Council Member; and a
speech by Honored Guest Amy Berglund of Michigan‘s U.S. Senator Carl
Levin‘s Escanaba Office.
Courtney
Clisch performed a selected solo,
‗America the Beautiful’ and a blessing
was offered by Dale Shalifoe and Debra
Williamson.
Lawrence Denomie III,
KBIC CEO, gave closing remarks prior
to a ribbon cutting ceremony for both the
new facility and the pharmacy and
guided tours by staff of the facility.
Mission Statement of the KBIC
Dept. of Health and Human Services
FY 2012
Our mission is to be a leader in Tribal
Health and Human Services Programming and innovative strategies that contribute to building strong, healthy families and patient-centered cared.
Our motto is: “Promoting and Enhancing the Healthcare of the Community.”
Goal — the Tribal Healthcare Facility
has expanded to meet the needs of
our Community.
Our facility expansion is complete and
we have added much needed dental hygiene bays and chairs for preventative
dental cares. We have centralized reception and billing staff, and now have
the convenience of an in-house pharmacy for direct patient care. We continue to implement the electronic health
record to meet our goal of becoming
fully electronic by March of 2012. We
continue to work toward achieving designation as a ―Patient Centered Medical
Home‖ through Blue Cross Blue Shield
of Michigan and in conjunction with Indian Health Services ―Improving Patient
Care‖ program (IPC-4). PCMH designation will increase reimbursement from
Blue Cross Blue Shield by 20% and promote our continuing effort in increasing
quality of care for our community.

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.

Goal — To offer and implement a
wide variety of Prevention and Educational Health Programs for members of the KBIC.
Supplemental grant funding will allow us
to offer quality prevention and education
Health Programs, in areas such as: Diabetes Prevention, Cancer Awareness,
Obesity Prevention in Adults and Children, Domestic Violence prevention,
Psychological services for Fathers and
Children, Community Emergency Preparedness, Immunization, Women/Men
Health Care, Tobacco Cessation,
Healthy Eating, and Physical Activity.
Goal — Quality, Affordable Healthcare is available to all tribal members.
With implementation of meaningful use
in the electronic health record, we will
obtain status as a Patient-Centered
Medical Home to increase the quality of
healthcare provided to our community
members. We will constantly review
and assess services to increase patient
satisfaction and improve customer service. We will continue to educate our
community on CHS and other health
benefits to maximize funding streams
designed to enhance and improve the
healthcare of our people. We will begin
to organize the KBIC Health Care Foundation to meet the unmet health needs
of our community.

KBIC TRIBAL PHARMACY NOW A REALITY

Picture by Lauri Denomie.

The KBIC Pharmacy opened for business on Wednesday, September 7, 2011.
Pharmacist James Vollmar (pictured above), was brought on as a consultant to organize and implement the opening of the new pharmaceutical services offered at
the Donald LaPointe Medical Facility. He will remain contracted for his services.
Cindy Anderson, Pharmacist Technician (pictured above), was recently hired in a
full-time position. Plans are to hire an additional full-time Pharmacist and a second
Pharmacist Assistant in the near future.
All Tribal members and descendants are eligible for prescription services, however, you MUST be a patient of our Tribal physicians to have your medications filled
by the KBIC Pharmacy.
Please bring all medical cards, insurance cards, and other prescription coverage
cards you may have available to add to your patient record. There will be no copay required from patients who are using the KBIC pharmacy. Hours of Service will
be from 8:00 - 4:30 p.m., M-F. Phone number to the Pharmacy is 906-353-4555.

KEWEENAW BAY TRIBAL MEMBER
DOCTOR WORKS FOR KBIC

THIRD PHYSICIAN HIRED FOR KBIC
DR. BRIDGET REIDY RETURNS TO KBIC MEDICAL CLINIC
(Pictured below) Dr. Bridget Reidy,
MD, Board certified physician in family
Practice and Hospice and Palliative
Medicine, returned to the Keweenaw
Bay Indian Community on October 20,
2011, with her regular clinic business
hours beginning on Monday, October
24, 2011.

Picture by Lauri Denomie.

KBIC member, Dr. Dan St. Arnold is
the son of Samuel St. Arnold, nephew of
Lori Rasanen (St. Arnold), and cousin of
Jim St. Arnold. His parents, Samuel and
Audrey live in Maryland and raised their
children there.
Dr. St. Arnold, resides in Albuquerque, NM. He stopped in last summer
and said he was visiting the area and
wouldn't mind filling in sometime for our
physicians while they are on summer
vacation. Dr. St. Arnold stated, ―I knew
Donald LaPointe, and he was instrumental in getting me a recommendation
for a scholarship which helped me to
attend medical school.‖
Carole LaPointe, Health Director, said, ―We were
very happy to have Dr. St. Arnold fill-in
for us for three-weeks last September.
He has informed us that he would come
again but would prefer to come when
the weather is warmer and would like to
have notice at least a year in advance, if
and when this does occur.‖
Carole LaPointe added, ―At a goodbye luncheon held by the department for
Dr. St. Arnold, he told us that Dr. Zobro
and he attended the same residency
program, only five-seven years apart, at
Michigan State University.‖
Dr. St. Arnold and his wife, a Physician‘s Assistant, are both retired from
the Indian Health Service. They have
been married since 1984, and have
three sons and one daughter.
His
daughter is looking into becoming a physician in the future.
Daniel St. Arnold received his Doctor
of Medicine degree from the George
Washington School of Medicine in
Washington DC in 1983. He received a
Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medicine
from Pennsylvania State University in
1979. His post-graduate training was
from July 1983 to June 1986 in the Family Residence Program at St. Lawrence
Hospital through Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan.
His professional certifications include: American Board of Family Practice, Advanced Cardiac Life Support,
Basic Life Support, and Pediatric Life
Support Certifications. Dr. St. Arnold is
a member of the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) since
1986. He serves as volunteer faculty at
the University of New Mexico School of
Medicine.
Dr. St. Arnold added, ―My brother,
Dale, worked in the accounting department at one time for the Tribe.‖

Dr. Reidy worked for the Tribal
Health Clinic in the early 90s when out
of residency school in Marquette. Dr.
Reidy states, ―My forte is diabetes.‖ For
the last nineteen years she has held positions in house call practice, part-time
Hospice Medical Director for Hospice of
Michigan, and family practice and urgent
care assignments through Vista Staffing
Solutions. She also worked at Northern
Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, New
Mexico.
―We envision a women‘s health
clinic and continued dedication to a
comprehensive patient-centered medical care approach for diabetics and
other chronic illnesses. Home visits will
be an option in the future on a scheduled basis,‖ stated Carole LaPointe,
Health Director. ―I hope Dr. Reidy will
be with us for a long time. We have
seen an increased need for another
physician since the pharmacy opened in
early September. We are working to
meet the needs of our increasingly
growing caseload.‖ You can make an
appointment with Dr. Bridget Reidy by
calling 353-8700.

Dawn Kemppainen has been hired
as the Dental Receptionist at the Donald LaPointe Health Center.
Dawn is
a KBIC member, the daughter of Dorothy and Bob ―Red‖ Mayo. Dawn states,
―I was born and raised in Baraga, and I
now reside in Zeba with my husband of
28 years, Robert Kemppainen. Robert
has worked at the Baraga Maximum
Prison for the past 23 years. We have
two adult children and one granddaughter, Kaylee, the apple of my eye.‖
To make dental appointments, contact Dawn at 353-8787.
Picture by Lauri Denomie.
New Employees continues page four.

CANDIDATES APPROVED FOR
TRIBAL PRIMARY ELECTION
At a Tribal Council meeting held on
October 10, 2011, Council approved the
L‘Anse and Baraga District candidates
for the 2011 Primary Election.
Baraga District candidates are:
Robin Lee Chosa, Robert D. Curtis, Jr.,
John F. Davis, Janice M. Halverson,
Carole LaPointe, Gary F. Loonsfoot, Sr.,
Dominic Picciano, and Isabelle Helene
Welsh. L‘Anse District candidates are:
Lyndon Ekdahl, William E. Emery, Jean
―Halverson‖ Jokinen, and Elizabeth C.
Matthews.
A primary election will NOT be held
in the L‘Anse District for Tribal Council.
It is not necessary as the number of
candidates did not exceed twice the
number of offices to be filled. These positions will appear on the Ballot during
the General Election on December 17,
2011.
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!

- REWARD -

I am offering a reward for the return of
my camera‘s SD card which was in my wallet that was taken out of my office on August
19th. There are very important pictures on
this SD card to me, and they won't mean
anything to anybody else. Please return
this SD card, and there will be no questions
asked.
Elvera Lantz, CHS Clerk KBIC Dept. of
Health and Human Services/Donald A. LaPointe Health and Education Center, 102
Superior Ave., Baraga, MI. 49908. 906-353
-4537.
(3) Niswi

New Employees continues:

FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM ON
INDIAN RESERVATIONS (FDPIR)
NET MONTHLY INCOME STANDARDS*
(Effective October 1, 2011)
*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.
48 Contiguous
United States:
House
hold
Size

Use this
amount

SNAP Net
Monthly
Income
Standard

SNAP Standard Deduction

1

$ 908

+

$147

=

$1,055

2

$1,226

+

$147

=

$1,373

3

$1,545

+

$147

=

$1,692

4

$1,863

+

$155

=

$2,018

5

$2,181

+

$181

=

$2,362

6

$2,500

+

$208

=

$2,708

7

$2,818

+

$208

=

$3,026

8

$3,136

+

$208

=

$3,344

Each additional member

FDPIR Net
Monthly
Income
Standard

+ $319

Picture by Lauri Denomie.
Alaska:

Three newly hired employees join the Tribal Court staff. (left to right) Emily Evans, Tyler Larsen, and Beth Fish.

Emily Evans
Emily Evans has been hired as a
Deputy Court Clerk. Emily is the daughter of Mathew and Nancy Shalifoe.
Emily said, ―I live in Baraga with my husband and two children. I have lived here
most of my life with the exception of living in Albuquerque for four years. My
husband, Aaron, my son, Noah, and I
moved back to the area two-and-a-half
years ago. We also have an elevenmonth-old daughter, Madyson. I enjoy
spending my free time with my family.
I have worked for the community in
different positions, most recently the Pre
-Primary Program. I am honored to
work for the Tribal Court. I am enjoying
my new position here at the court office.‖
Beth Fish
Beth Fish has been hired as a Deputy Court Clerk. Beth says, ―I live in
Baraga with my husband, two kids, and
two step kids. I am a 2002 graduate of
NMU with a Bachelors Degree in Business/Marketing. I enjoy spending time
with my family and friends, cooking, and
gardening. I am very excited to be back
at work for the KBIC Tribal Court. Since
my last hire with them in 1997-2001,

WOW! Things have changed. Many of
these duties were non-existent or duties
performed by the clerks. Now there is a
department for Child Support, Drug
Court, two Probation Officers, a Court
Advocate, a Court Clerk, and two Deputy Clerks. I am looking forward to
working hard and being part of the team
here at the Court.‖
Tyler Larson
Tyler Larson has been hired as a
Probation Officer at the KBIC Tribal
Court. Tyler, a KBIC member, previously
worked as the Weed & Seed Coordinator. Tyler said, "Unfortunately, the Weed
& Seed program is at the ending stages
of the grant life, but I am happy to be
able to move into a more permanent position. Probation was something I was
interested in doing when completing my
Criminal Justice Degree at NMU, and
now an opportunity has come up. I
have work experience with all the partners involved, and I'm excited to continue working to help strengthen our
Justice system.‖
―When I'm not working, I like to
spend time with my daughter and fiancée and as well as watching the Packers dominate on Sundays."

Thurza Mathes was hired on September 15, 2011, as the new Prevention
Worker at KBIC Tribal Social Services.
Thurza will be providing prevention services to families with children and adults.
Thurza previously worked in Hancock at
Teaching Family Homes, as a Families
First worker. Prior to that she worked in
the Metro Detroit area at Vista Maria as a
residential worker and in Specialized Foster Care. Thurza obtained her Bachelor‘s
Degree in Social Work through Michigan
State University in 1989. Thurza said, ―I
am very happy to work for KBIC Tribal Social Services and be given the opportunity
Picture by Lauri Denomie. to help families in the local area.‖
Thurza comes from an Air Force family
and until the age of 16, has lived in many different states and as well as three years
in Germany. Thurza‘s father is from the Calumet area, and she states that she always visited the Calumet area to see her grandmother every year. Thurza is currently engaged and has an eight-year-old daughter. She says, ―I enjoy quilting,
camping, being a Girl Scout Leader, and going to Bingo with my sister and parents.‖
Isabelle Welsh, the previous Prevention Worker, recently accepted the Foster
Care Coordinator position with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.
(4) Niiwin

Household
Size

Use this
amount

SNAP Net
Monthly
Income
Standard

SNAP Standard Deduction

1

$1,134

+

$252

=

$1,386

2

$1,532

+

$252

=

$1,784

3

$1,930

+

$252

=

$2,182

4

$2,329

+

$252

=

$2,581

5

$2,727

+

$252

=

$2,979

6

$3,125

+

$260

=

$3,385

7

$3,524

+

$260

=

$3,784

8

$3,922

+

$260

=

$4,182

Each additional member

FDPIR Net
Monthly
Income
Standard

+ $399

FDPIR Income Deductions—see 7 CFR 253.6(f)
Earned Income Deduction — Households with
earned income are allowed a deduction of 20 percent
of their earned income.
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.
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.
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.
FDPIR Resource Standards—see 7 CFR 253.6(d)
$3,250 for households with at least one elderly or
disabled member.
$2,000 for households without any elderly or disabled members.

Congratulations to Keith Lofquist on receiving his G.E.D. Best of Luck in the
future, from the staff and students at
KBIC Even Start.

NCAI Statement on Passing of Elouise
Cobell
Organization calls Indian Country to
honor tireless leader's advocacy work
with continued action on rights protection
and cancer awareness
Washington, DC - The President of
the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), Jefferson Keel, has released
a statement on the passing of Elouise
Cobell, calling for Indian Country to
honor the legacy of one of Indian Country's most influential advocates by continuing to protect the rights of American
Indian and Alaska Native people everywhere.
NCAI also called for Indian
Country to honor her life by confronting
the quiet but devastating force of cancer
which took the life of Elouise Cobell and
is the second leading cause of death
among American Indian women and Natives older than 45.
"Elouise Cobell represented the indelible will and strength of Indian Country, and her influence and energy will be
greatly missed. Her passing on from this
world must be honored by reaffirming our
resolute commitment as Indigenous peoples to protect the rights of our citizens
and our sovereign nations," said Keel,
President of NCAI, the nation's oldest,
largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native advocacy
organization. "NCAI joins all who mourn
the loss of this great individual. She
committed her life to strengthening Indian Country, and she contributed
greatly."
Elouise Cobell, a member of the
Blackfeet Tribe in Montana and lead
plaintiff in the historic Cobell v. Salazar
litigation, was presented with NCAI's Indian Country Leadership Award soon after the Cobell Settlement was finalized in
2010. The award recognized her years
of work as the spokesperson and moral
force behind the effort to restore justice
to American Indian account holders.
NCAI has also passed resolutions
strongly supporting the Cobell settlement.
"From her life, we have lessons of resilience and commitment, and in her
passing, we have lessons that will inspire
us to continue improving the health of
Native people," continued Keel. "Just
like Elouise taught us, we must not shy
away from taking on what seems impossible. We must acknowledge cancer's
vicious assault on Indian Country's most
valuable resource, our people. We will
honor her with a promise to the future
generation of leaders that follow in
Elouise Cobell's footsteps, to continue
the fight for the health of our people."
According to Native American Cancer
Research (NACR), cancer is the second
leading cause of death among American
Indian women and among American Indians older than 45 years of age. In 2008
the American Cancer Society released
the first large-scale national study about
cancer rates of American Indians and
Alaska Natives. The report stated "For
all cancers combined: Incidence rates
among American Indians in the Southwest, the Plains, and for Alaska Natives
were 50 percent higher than the rates for
non-Hispanic whites."

KBOCC News Update
Ojibwa Community College was recently awarded two $500,000 grants
from the U.S. Department of Education
under the Tribal College and University
Title III programs. The first grant will focus on four areas: program development, acquisition of a student information system, expansion of student services, and establishment of an Office of
Sponsored Programs, while the second
grant will be used for construction.
Under the first activity, three new
programs will be developed: Associate
of Applied Science degree in Business;
Associate of Arts degree in Native
American Studies; and Associate of
Fine Arts in Art.
The second activity to be funded is
acquisition of a digitized student information system. The Student Information System will serve as a single storage point for all student information.
The system will enable better data
driven decision making to improve student achievement by facilitating the institutional assessment process and by
providing informational access to stakeholders important in directing student
learning. The system will improve all
areas of the College including admissions, enrollment, financial aid, billing,
grants, reporting requirements, student
services, donor relations, and other
planning.
The third activity funded for expansion of student services will be provided
through career guidance, counseling,
and placement efforts that will increase
student success and retention. Support
staff will be hired to better serve students in these areas. Counseling will be
available to students for identifying career opportunities, developing portfolios,
enhancing communication skills, perfecting interviewing skills and techniques, and performing an aggressive
job search.
The final activity funded under this
project is the establishment of an Office
of Sponsored Programs to serve as a
central resource to support externally
funded educational endeavors.
The second grant will be used for facility expansion which may be used for
new construction or renovation of an existing facility. Plans for renovation of the
former Baraga County Memorial Hospital have been put on hold until the
county and hospital board reach a decision. Meanwhile, the College is working
with Gundlach Champion to develop
plans for an addition to the main campus building on Beartown Road. The
expansion will include additional classrooms, office space, and storage.

WARREN C.‖JERRY‖ SWARTZ, SR.
(March 5, 1939—October 3, 2011)

Warren C. ―Jerry‖ Swartz, Sr., age 72, of
L‘Anse, passed away suddenly, October
3, 2011, at Baraga County Memorial
Hospital. He was born in L‘Anse, MI on
March 5, 1939, the son of the late John
and Clara (Knapp) Swartz. Jerry graduated from L‘Anse High School in 1957
and served in the US Army. He married
the former Sandra Curtis in Zeba on
April 21, 1962. He had worked for the
Celotex Corp. Jerry then was supervisor for the Tribal Construction Company, Baraga.
He worked for the
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Construction
Company as manager and trainer.
Jerry then owned his own construction
company, Swartz Construction Company from 1989 until his retirement in
2001. He was a member of Zeba Indian
Mission United Methodist Church,
Ojibwa Senior Citizens, the L‘Anse
American Legion Post #144, and he
was a lifetime member of the Covington
AMVETS. Jerry also was a member of
the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
where he had served on the KBIC
Council from 1968 until 1970, and in
1970 he was the KBIC Vice President.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing
cribbage, and distributing candy to the
children and was known as the ―Candy
Man‖ in the Zeba area.
Mr. Swartz is survived by his loving
wife Sandy; son Warren
―Chris‖ (Jacqueline) Swartz, Jr. of
Baraga; daughters: Joanne (Gregory)
Clement of Chassell, Jeanette ―Jean‖
Swartz (Greg Tinsdale) of Granite City,
IL, and Robin Roe of Baraga; grandchildren: Brandon, Chrystal, Stuart, Nicole,
Cody, Keith, Stacey, Logan, and Grayson ―Trouble‖; brothers: Wayne (Ann)
Swartz, Ward (Nancy) Swartz, Roland
(Cheryl) Swartz, and William (Anne)
Swartz; sisters: Pearl Thoresen of
L‘Anse, and Amelia ―Dolly‖ Sapcut of
Baraga. Numerous nieces, nephews,
and cousins also survive. He was preceded in death by his brother Clyde and
his trusty dog ―Rusty‖.
Funeral services for Mr. Swartz were
held Thursday, October 6, 2011, at the
Reid Funeral Service and Chapel,
L‘Anse with Pastor Steve Rhoades officiating. Baraga County area veterans,
under the direction of the Baraga American Legion Post #444, conducted military honors at the funeral chapel. The
Reid Funeral Home assisted the family.

The PWPL Literacy Project
Starting Immediately!
The Peter White Public Library
217 N. Front Street, Marquette
The PWPL Literacy Project wants you!
Do you sometimes struggle to read the newspaper, puzzle over written instructions, or
mistake directions on medicine bottles? If so, the PWPL Literacy Project has ten trained
literacy tutors ready to help you, or someone you know, become a better reader.
Call 226-4311 today to sign up for confidential, one-on-one tutoring at the Peter White
Public Library. The PWPL Literacy Project is seeking adult students over the age of 18,
and no fee is charged to participants.
The PWPL Literacy Project is supported by the Peter White Public Library and the
Friends of the Peter White Public Library.
Call 226-4311 for more information. Ask for Lisa.
(5) Naanan

―BREAKING THE SILENCE AND CYCLE OF VIOLENCE‖
3RD ANNUAL CHELSEY LAFERNIER MEMORIAL WALK

Picture by Lauri Denomie.

(Above) The family of Chelsey LaFernier are joined by the Community in
the 3rd Annual Chelsey LaFernier Memorial Walk.

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community recognizes October
as Domestic Awareness Month, and in doing so held their 3rd
Annual Chelsey LaFernier Memorial Walk on October 7, 2011.
With over 400 registered for the day‘s events, the attendees
began their day participating in four breakout sessions:
―Dynamics and History of Violence‖ and ―Advocacy for Native
Women‖ by Ruth Oja, a Victim‘s Advocate from the Hannahville Indian Community, and ―Impacts of Violence on Children‖
and ―Safety Planning‖ by Beatrice Jackson and Anita
Sherman of the United Three Fires Against Violence.
Walkers gathered for the 1.8 mile walk on the corner of Lyons and McGillian Street, in Baraga, Michigan, near the home
where Chelsey LaFernier, a KBIC member, was murdered by
her domestic partner. Chelsey‘s life was taken on January 22,
2009, through a devastating act of domestic violence. The
group proceeded through the tribal neighborhoods onto M-38
to Beartown Road where participants gathered at the Niiwin
Akeaa Center in the Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College. Participants received purple shirts to wear on their journey. Purple is not only the color which represents domestic
abuse awareness, it was also Chelsey‘s favorite. The evening‘s events began with Chelsey‘s sister, Lily Leinonen, citing
a poem she wrote for Chelsey, followed by a release of balloons to signify and acknowledge survivors of domestic violence. Proceeding a Feast, Four Thunders Drum presented
the Honor Song for the occasion, followed by an opening
prayer by elder, Myrtle Tolonen. Tribal Council Secretary
Susan LaFernier gave the welcome, opening remarks, and
introduced the keynote speaker, Mildred Muhammad.
Mildred Muhammad, is the ex-wife of John Allen Muhammad, the DC Sniper. A powerful speaker, Mildred Muhammad
told her story of how she was the intended target. ―John told
me, ‗I don't mind because you don't matter.‘ At one point, he
told me, ‗You have become my enemy and as my enemy, I
will kill you.‘" John Allen Muhammad, the DC Sniper was sentenced to death in September 2003. He took part in the
Washington sniper attacks during a three-week period in October 2002. On November 10, 2009, Muhammad was executed by lethal injection. Investigators also believed Muhammad intended to kill his ex-wife Mildred, who had estranged
him from his children. According to this theory, she would appear to be just another random victim of the snipers. Muhammad frequented the neighborhood where she lived during the
attacks, and some of the incidents occurred nearby.
This year‘s event were planned by the KBIC Ojibwa
Women Survivor Advisory Committee, the OVW (Office of Violence Against Women) Programs and Services, and the
Baraga County Shelter Home. They received assistance from
the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community‘s: Tribal Council, Language Program, Weed and Seed Program, Tribal Social Services, Youth Programs, New Day, and Cultural Committee,
and the Ojibwa Casino and Resort.

(6) Ningodwaaswi

Picture by Lauri Denomie.

(Above) The family of Chelsey LaFernier are shown with the event‘s keynote speaker. (left to right), Lily Leinonen, Mildred Muhammad, Roberta
(Birdie) Sheldon, and Harry LaFernier.

―Gone But Not Forgotten,‖
written by Kelsy Y. Sheppard, cited by Lily Leinonen
You were so full of life,
Always smiling and carefree,
Life loved you being a part of it,
And I loved you being a part of me.
You could make anyone laugh,
If they were having a bad day,
No matter how sad I was,
You could take the hurt away.
Nothing could every stop you,
Or even make you fall,
You were ready to take on the world,
Ready to do it all.
But god decided he needed you,
So from this world you left,
But you took a piece of all of us,
Our hearts are what you kept.
Your seat is now empty,
And it’s hard not to see your face,
But please always know this,
No one will ever take your place,
You left without a warning,
Not even saying good-bye,
And I can’t seem to stop,
Asking the question why?
Nothing will ever be the same,
The halls are empty without your laughter,
But I know you’re in Heaven,
Watching over us and looking after.
I didn’t see this coming,
It hit me by surprise,
And when you left this world,
A small part of me died.
Your smile could brighten anyone’s day,
No matter what they were going through,
And I know everyday for the rest of my life,
I’ll be missing you.

November is Native American
Heritage Month

NOVEMBER 2011
Calendars Events
Nov. 4: Constitutional Committee
Meeting, 1 pm, Council Chambers;
Nov. 5: Baraga District Primary Elect i ons;
Don Burnsti ck Show—
Empowering Our Youth;
Nov. 6: Don Burnstick Show—
Empowering Our Youth;
Nov. 11: Veteran‘s Day—Gov‘t offices
closed;
Nov. 12: Reg. Sat. Council Meeting, 10
am, Harvey Community Building;
Nov. 16: Veteran‘s meeting 7 pm;
Nov. 24: Thanksgiving—Gov‘t offices
closed;
Nov. 25: Native American Heritage
Day—Gov‘t offices closed;
~ submitted by newsletter editor
Events occurring throughout KBIC are welcome to be listed on the Calendar of Events.
Contact newsletter@kbic.nsn.gov to list your
events. Some events are more detailed FYI
within the newsletter. For up-to-date event
listings, visit www.ojibwa.com and click on
calendar.
For Youth events, see @
www.ojibwa.com, click on youth club, or contact 353-4643/Main Office at Youth Club, or 353
-4644 for the facility attendants or the Kitchen/
craft rooms.

SPEAKER: Jim St. Arnold, Great Lakes Indian
Fish and Wildlife Commission
Wednesday, November 2 at 6 p.m.
Mead Auditorium, West Science Building
11th annual First Nations Food Taster
Friday, November 4 from 5 - 7 p.m.
D.J. Jacobetti Center
the NMU Native American Student Association.
FILM: ―Barking Water‖
Wednesday, November 9 at 7 p.m.
Jamrich Hall 102
MUSIC WORKSHOP: with guest,
Roots
Friday, November 11 at 10 a.m.
Reynolds Recital Hall

Digging

WORKSHOP: Making Wild Rice Sticks with
guest, Roger LaBine
Saturday, November 12 at 8:30 a.m.
Beaumier Heritage Center, First Floor Cohodas
Contact the Beaumier Heritage Center at 2273212 to sign up for this workshop.
CONCERT: Digging Roots-Anishinaabeg Blues
Friday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Peterson Auditorium, 39 East Division Street, Ishpeming
FILM: ―Older Than America‖
Wednesday, November 16 at 7 p.m.
Jamrich Hall 102

INFORMATIONAL GATHERING: Decolonizing
Diet Project
Learn about an Indigenous foods research project.
We are seeking participants!
Friday, November 18 at 11 a.m. - Mead
West Science Building
Ojibwa Community Library Auditorium,
Monday, November 21 at 5:30 p.m. . Marquette Commons, Third St. Marquette
409 Superior Ave., Baraga, MI 49908

353-8163

www.oclib.up.net

Hours:

Funded by:

Monday—Thursday 11am-7pm
Friday—closed
Saturday—10am—3pm

BUILDERS
353
353--7127

and the Keweenaw Bay
Indian Community

BUILDING
SUPPLY
353
353--8850

Ojibwa BP & Deli
353-BP4U

For all your maintenance needs.

353
353--6967

Ultrasonic Touchless Automatic Car Wash

Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa
Housing Authority

Owned & Operated by Ojibwa Housing
Authority; all proceeds go to Affordable
Housing Activities.

"Owned and operated by the
Ojibwa Housing Authority.

Now serving whole pizzas and football specials… call for the details!

All proceeds go to
affordable housing activities
in our community."

Receive an additional 10¢ off per gallon of
gasoline with purchase of an ultimate car
wash. *See Cashier for details!

Plumbing &
heating

FEATURING

Tribal Gas Discounts Honored Inside
Pay-at-Pump features for your convenience
Lotto & Lottery Tickets Now Available.
— EBT Cards accepted here —

Business Deliveries Available (call for details).

For more information about these programs call
the NMU Center for Native American Studies at
906-227-1397 or visit us at www.nmu.edu/
nativeamericans.

Ojibwa Car Wash
& Laundromat

ATM, Sporting Goods

Daily Lunch Specials
Whole Pizzas Made To Order

PUBLIC READING: Voice on the Water:
Great Lakes Native America Now
Wednesday, November 30 at 7 p.m.
Jamrich Hall 105

Your car will sparkle and shine line NEW!

Open 24 Hours a Day
7 Days a Week
Ojibwa Car Wash & Laundromat
US 41, Baraga

Owned & Operated by Ojibwa Housing
Authority; all proceeds go to Affordable
Housing Activities.

Newsletter designed ad

(7) Niizhwaaswi

PRIZE DRAWING FOR HUNTER
PARTICIPATION WITH CWD
SURVEILLANCE
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
Natural Resource Department will be
monitoring deer harvested in the 2011
hunting season for Chronic Wasting Disease. Deer heads from hunter harvested deer are sought for sample collection. Our goal is to reach 100 heads
again this year. We successfully collected 103 heads last year (all tested
negative), and we‘d like to offer a big
―thank you‖ to all who participated!
Funding for collection and processing
is provided by Animal Plant Health Inspection Service through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A prize drawing will take place for all participants
again this year thanks to funds provided
through the KBIC Natural Resource
Committee.
Winners of last year‘s
prizes were:
Freddy Dakota (deer
blind), Dan Hochstein (ladder stand),
Joe Spruce (GPS unit), Tommy Ross
(binoculars), Kyle Seppanen (snow
sh o e s) , a n d Ma r l e n e L a Pl a n t e
(Backpack). One prize ticket is given
for each head donated, and up to two
entries are allowed per participant.
Prizes this year are: pop-up deer blind,
snowshoes, portable heater, spotting
scope, cold weather sleeping bag, and a
high quality thermos.
A staff member from KBIC Natural
Resource Department is available to
collect heads from Tribal Members at
your camp location or place of residence, if you provide detailed directions
(call 524-5757 x 18 for pick up). If you
prefer to deliver the head yourself, drop
off receptacles are located at: the back
door of Indian Country Sports on Front
Street in L‘Anse and KBIC Natural Resource Department (Fish Hatchery) in
Pequaming (note: we can age your deer
at the NRD on Monday-Friday, 8:30 am
to 4:00 pm). If you drop off a head after
hours, be sure to include your name/
address/phone so that we can enter a
prize ticket for you.
We appreciate your assistance to
protect the health of our deer population. In the past four years, about 300
heads have been tested and none were
positive. Thank you for your continued
support and participation. Prize drawings will take place in early January. If
you have any questions, please call the
KBIC Natural Resource Department at
524-5757 x18.
~ submitted by Pam Nankervis,
Wildlife Biologist

KBNRD STAFF COLLECT ASH SEED

Chris Chosa climbing an ash tree to collect seed .

Early fall is prime time to collect seed
for propagation and preservation of native species in our area. Of particular
interest for collection by KBNRD staff is
seed from ash trees. Ash is culturally
significant to the Anishinaabe people
and is used to make many items including bows, sleds, snowshoes, and baskets. Collection of ash seed is ongoing
in an effort to preserve and protect the
ash resource in our area from the emerald ash borer, a small green exotic beetle that has already killed tens of millions
of ash trees throughout the Eastern U.S.
(including Michigan) and parts of Canada. KBNRD is part of a cooperative
effort with BIA Forestry and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for
collecting ash seed. Collections have
been completed from scattered sites on
approximately 96 acres of tribal land.
This year, seed was collected from over
30 individual trees at nine sites.
To collect the seed, which is typically
at the very top of the tree, requires
climbing the tree or using extended
reach branch trimmers. Collection occurs during the fall after the leaves of
the ash tree have fallen and seeds are
exposed. ―It‘s a good thing we went out
when we did,‖ remarks Plant Technician
Karen Andersen, ―with this recent wind
much of the seed is probably gone
now.‖ Although there are 65 members
of the ash family in North America, we
are concerned with black and green

Prizes - Chronic Wasting Disease Collection - Prizes
We all win with healthy wildlife!
We‘re monitoring the deer for Chronic Wasting Disease again this
year, and our goal is to reach 100 samples. PLEASE donate your
deer heads. Thanks to the KBIC Natural Resource Committee,
prize drawings are set for January: deer blind, snowshoes, portable
heater, spotting scope, cold weather sleeping bag, and a high quality thermos. Call us and we‘ll pick it up! 524-5757 x18 or drop it off
at KBIC Natural Resource Department in Pequaming or at the back
door of Indian Country Sports in L‘Anse.
DONATE -- WIN -- DONATE -- WIN -- DONATE -- WIN -- DONATE -- WIN
(8) Ishwaaswi

Ash tree with seed at top.

Ash tree marked with numbered
tag after collection.

ash, which both occur on the reservation. Black ash is often more difficult to
locate and more difficult to collect from
as the seeds are often out of reach,
even for a climber. This year we were
lucky to find several stands of black ash
with seed in reach.
The USDA Agricultural Research
Service in Colorado will hold ash seed
collected from tribal lands in long-term
storage. There is a memorandum of understanding between the Tribe and
USDA that the seeds will not be genetically tampered with or given away without KBIC approval. The Department of

Agriculture continues to monitor for the
presence of emerald ash borer in our
area. One of the ways we can help reduce the spread of emerald ash borer is
to stop the transportation of firewood
onto or out of tribal lands. For further
information please contact KBIC Natural
Resources Department at (906) 5245757.
~ submitted by Erin Johnston,
Lake Superior Program Coordinator

KBNRD Staff Assist Local High
School Students with
Macroinvertebrate Sampling
on the Huron River
On Friday, October 7th and Thursday,
October 13th KBNRD staff assisted local
volunteers Dave and Marcy Cella and
Baraga and L‘Anse high school students
in collection and identification of macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects, insect
larva, crawfish, clams, snails, etc.) in the
Huron River. These efforts are part of
the broader MiCorps Volunteer Stream
Monitoring program that takes place annually in the spring and fall.
Why macroinvertebrates? As it turns
out, macroinvertebrates are excellent
indicators of water quality. Identifying
macroinvertebrates present in a water
system can help determine the health
and quality of the water body for larger
organisms such as brook trout. In addition to looking at the macroinvertebrate
community, volunteers also collect information on stream depth, substrate, and
fish and wildlife. ―We had a great time
with the students and you could tell they
were having fun and learning too! We
would be happy to help out again in the
future,‖ remarked KBNRD Water Resources Technician, Kit Laux.
KBNRD water and fisheries staff collects similar data on rivers and streams
throughout the reservation in order to
monitor water and habitat quality for fish
and wildlife. This information also helps
protect reservation waters from any contamination or disturbance. For further
information please contact the KBIC
Natural Resources Department at (906)
524-5757.
~ submitted by Erin Johnston,
Lake Superior Program Coordinator

Students from Ben Johnston’s Advanced
Biology class at Baraga High School using
kick-nets to collect macroinvertebrates

KBNRD Staff Assist in
Contaminated Soil Clean-up
on Indian Cemetery Road
Last November KBNRD staff responded to a call about a front-end
loader that had overturned at the sand
pit on Indian Cemetery Road. The machine was leaking fuel, coolant, hydraulic oil, and transmission fluid into the
soil. KBNRD staff quickly responded by
Continues page eleven..

KBIC Partners in Adult Tobacco Survey
The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
in partnership with the Inter-Tribal Council of
Michigan, Inc. is conducting a survey of the
knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related
to commercial and traditional tobacco use.
The Adult Tobacco Survey (ATS) is being
done among KBIC members, 18 years and
older living in Baraga, Houghton, and Ontonagon Counties. The goal is to recruit 275
randomly selected people to participate in
the survey. Those selected have been sent
a letter asking if they would like to participate in the survey. If they chose to participate they will be contacted to arrange a time
and date to conduct the face-to-face interview. The survey interview takes about 2030 minutes. The information collected is
combined to help develop a profile of com-

munity smoking/health behaviors and attitudes. Results from the survey will help us
to identify tobacco use problems and needs
specific to our community. It will also help
to improve services and programs aimed at
preventing or decreasing commercial tobacco use.
Community members who have been
trained to conduct survey interviews are
Debbie Arens, Michelle Wood, Ruth Keller,
Heather Wood, and Kathy Mayo. If you
would like more information about the Adult
Tobacco Survey, please contact either
Kathy Mayo (353-4519) or Heather Wood
(353-4546) at the Donald A. LaPointe
Health Center, or Inter-Tribal Council of
Michigan ATS contact person Lisa Abramson at 906-632-6896.

DRUG CONVICTION REPORT

2. Defendant must obtain a substance
abuse screening and follow the recommendation of that screening until successfully discharged.
3. Jail 180 days. Credit for ten days
served. Defendant is financially responsible for the costs of lodging and any
expenses incurred while incarcerated.
(Concurrent with Case # 11-144)
4. After successfully completing the Drug
Court Program, the Court may entertain
a motion to reduce fines up to half.
5. 12-18 months of standard alcohol and
drug restricted probation with the $10.00
monthly fee. Defendant is financially responsible for the costs of drug and PBT
testing, if any.
Cheryl Denomie, case # 11-144, controlled substance (altering – prescription) – 4th offense
Sentenced on 09/19/2011 to:
1. $2000 fine.
2. Defendant must obtain a substance
abuse screening and follow the recommendation of that screening until successfully discharged.
3. Jail 180 days. Defendant is financially
responsible for the costs of lodging and
any expenses incurred while incarcerated.
4. After successfully completing the Drug
Court Program, the Court may entertain
a motion to reduce fines up to half.
5. 12-18 months of standard alcohol and
drug restricted probation with the $10.00
monthly fee. Defendant is financially responsible for the costs of drug and PBT
testing, if any.

In a continuous effort to
reduce the illegal use of
controlled substances in
our community, the Drug
Task Force has requested
the publication of pertinent
information regarding any
convictions of the Controlled Substances
section of the KBIC Tribal Code §3.1706.
The Tribal Court has agreed to comply with
the Drug Task Force‘s request and will publish a Drug Conviction Report on a routine
basis.
Amanda Strong, case #11-092, controlled
substance (use – morphine) – 1st offense
Sentenced on 09/15/2011 to:
1. The Court will refer the Defendant to the
Drug Court.
Helene Shalifoe, case #11-156, controlled
substance (use – marijuana) –1st offense
Sentenced on 09/19/2011 to:
1. $150 fine.
2. 180 days jail, suspended upon successful completion of Drug Court Program.
Credit for two days served.
3. Defendant is responsible for all lodging,
drug, and alcohol costs and fees.
4. Probation 12 to 18 months with a $10
per month fee.
5. Standard alcohol and drug restricted
probation with random PBT and drug
tests.
Cheryl Denomie, case #11-143, controlled substance (possession – Hydrocodone) – 3rd offense
Sentenced on 09/19/2011 to:
1. $1500 fine.

(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.


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

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.

KEWEENAW BAY OJIBWA LIBRARY NEWS...
MeL. What is it? It‘s the Michigan e Library, the ―e‖ is for electronic.
What will it do for me? It has data bases
on every subject imaginable, such as full
text magazines and newspapers, GED and
ACT, careers, etc. tests and tutorials, Job
and Career Acceleration to name just a few.
You can start a genealogy project, find information to fix your car, truck, etc… There is
legal information, health and wellness, business and jobs, and sites for kids and teens.
The possibilities are endless.
Is there a cost? There is no cost for using
(10) Midaaswi

MeL. There is no cost to print from your
home computer. The site will ask you for
your Michigan Driver‘s License number, this
is for them to keep track of usage.
How do I find MeL? It‘s easy. Go to
mel.org, no ―www‖ is necessary.
What if I don’t have a computer and
internet? Visit the Ojibwa Community Library. We can assist you. If you need to
print, we charge $.10 a page.
~ Mary Bergerson, Ojibwa Community
Library Director

NATIVE AMERICAN ART SHOW
Gallery 325, located at 315 McGillan
Street in Baraga, Michigan, will open their
third annual Native American Art Show with
a reception on November 4, 2011, 7-9 pm.
Artwork for the Native American show
can be dropped off at the Gallery on
Wednesday, Nov. 2, 12-4 pm, and Friday
Nov. 4, 1-3 pm.
The public is welcome and urged to attend the reception, or view the art for a
number of weeks (Wed 12-4 pm, Sat 10-12
noon).

September 6, 2011
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN::
Greetings! I am writing to share information about two programs of great importance to Tribal communities and Native
households — Lifeline and Link Up. These programs help to
provide telephone service to low-income consumers living on
Tribal lands for as little as $1 a month. Lifeline and Link Up,
run by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), help
eligible low-income consumers establish and maintain telephone service by discounting services provided to them by
wireline and wireless providers. These programs are part of
the Federal Universal Service Fund, or USF. I would like to
share some important news and new developments about
these programs with you.
The Office of Native Affairs and Policy (ONAP) is your official, one-stop point of contact at the FCC for all of your questions about communications services, including traditional
wireline telephone service, wireless telephone service, broadband service, and radio and television licensing. The FCC established ONAP in August of 2010 to promote the deployment
and adoption of communications services and technologies
throughout Tribal lands and Native communities. My staff and
I are available to help you with all of your questions.
Background on the Lifeline and Link Up Programs
There are additional Lifeline and Link Up discounts available to low-income consumers living on Tribal lands. That is,
enhanced Lifeline and Link Up benefits are provided to lowincome consumers who live on a Federally recognized Indian
Tribe‘s reservation, pueblo, or colony; on a former reservation
in Oklahoma; within an Indian allotment; or within an Alaskan
Native region established by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
Enhanced Lifeline for Tribal Lands provides qualified
telephone subscribers living on Tribal lands with discounts of
up to $35 per month on basic monthly telephone charges. As
a result, qualified subscribers on Tribal lands may receive basic local phone service for a little as $1 per month. Enhanced
Link Up for Tribal Lands provides qualified low-income subscribers living on Tribal lands with a one-time discount of up to
$100 on the initial installation or activation of a wireline or
wireless telephone for the primary residence.
Eligibility for Enhanced Lifeline and Link Up for Tribal
Lands
There are two ways to qualify for Enhanced Lifeline and
Link Up for Tribal Lands — based either on household income
or on participation in one of a number of income assistance
programs. A low-income consumer living on Tribal lands
wishing to qualify based on household income must have an
income that is at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty
Guidelines. The 2011 Federal Poverty Guideline information
appears below.
135% of the 2011 Federal Poverty Guidelines1
Persons in Family or
Household

48 Contiguous
States and D.C.

Alaska

Hawaii

1

$14,702

$18,360

$16,929

2

$19,859

$24,813

$22,856

3

$25,016

$31,266

$28,782

4

$30,173

$37,719

$34,709

5

$35,330

$44,172

$40,635

6

$40,486

$50,625

$46,562

7

$45,644

$57,078

$52,488

8

$50,801

$63,531

$58,415

For each additional
person, add

$ 5,157

$ 6,453

$ 5,927

A low-income consumer living on Tribal lands wishing to
qualify for Lifeline and Link Up based on programs must participate in one of the following income assistance programs:
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


Medicaid;
Food Stamps;
Supplemental Security Income (SSI);
Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8);
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP;
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF);
The National School Lunch Program‘s free lunch Program;
Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance;
Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TTANF);
Head Start (if income eligibility criteria are met); or

 State assistance programs (if applicable).
Restrictions on the Lifeline and Link Up Programs
Qualifying low-income consumers, whether living on Tribal
or non-Tribal lands, may receive a Lifeline and Link Up discount on either wireline or wireless phone service, but
they may not receive discounts on both kinds of service
at one time. That is, Federal government rules prohibit qualifying low-income consumers from receiving more than one
Lifeline and Link Up discount at that same time.
This has been the rule for a long time, but the FCC is just
starting to launch a new initiative to eliminate duplicates going
to the same person. I wanted to make you aware of this new
initiative, and I am asking for your help in getting the word out
to your community. Here is how the new initiative is going to
work:
 The FCC and the Universal Service Administrative Company, or USAC, are working together to implement this
new initiative. USAC is the non-profit company that administers the Universal Service Fund, of which Lifeline and
Link Up are a part. USAC works for the FCC.
 The FCC and USAC have identified 12 states in which
many customers appear to be receiving duplicate Lifeline
discounts. Those 12 states are: Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
 The FCC has put USAC in charge of notifying consumers
who are found to have more than one Lifeline discount and
making sure that they receive only the one discount they
are allowed to receive. Here is how the process will work if
a consumer if found to have more than one Lifeline discount:
 USAC will send a letter to the consumer, who will
be given 35 days to select one of their current carriers to be their only Lifeline provider.
 USAC will send a postcard reminder ten days later,
and the consumer may also receive a phone call if
they fail to make a selection.
 If the consumer still does not make a selection,
USAC randomly assign the consumer to one of
their current carriers. The consumer will then be de
-enrolled from the Lifeline program of their other
carrier. This means that the consumer will continue receiving a Lifeline discount from one carrier only and will stop receiving a Lifeline discount from any other carrier.
Even if your Tribe is not located within one of the 12 states
targeted for this new initiative, it is still very important for the
members of your community to understand the Lifeline and
Link Up rules. These important programs are critical to communications services in Indian Country. Every eligible consumer needs to be aware of them. And everyone needs to
understand that they may receive only one Lifeline and
Link Up discount at the same time.
Again, ONAP is here to ensure that your voices are heard and
your concerns are addressed. Please feel free to contact me
and my staff at 202-418-2930 or native@fcc.gov.
Thank you and best regards,
Geoffrey C. Blackwell
Chief, Office of Native Affairs and Policy
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
Federal Communications Commission
____________________
1

Source: www.usac.org/_res/documents/li/pdf/Income_Requirments.pdf

Contaminated Soil Clean-up continues:
using a spill kit and absorbent pads to absorb as much of the
pooling liquid as possible and contain fluid that was still leaking from the overturned machine.
After the machine was turned upright and remaining pools
of fluids were cleaned up, the contaminated soil was excavated to about one foot below the surface. KBIC Tribal Response Program provides for emergency response by KBIC
staff in situations like this one. Testing after the initial excavation indicated that the soil was still contaminated and a second
excavation took place in December 2010. Following completion of the second excavation, soil testing indicated that contaminants had been cleaned up and remaining soil was clean.
A total 30 tons of contaminated soil were excavated and recently disposed of at the K & W Landfill. For further informaContinues page twelve.

(11) Ashi bezhig

Contaminated Soil Clean-up continues:
tion please contact KBIC Natural Resources Department at (906) 524-5757.
~ submitted by Erin Johnston,
Lake Superior Program Coordinator

Excavation of contaminated soil at the sand pit on
Indian Cemetery Road.

KEWEENAW BAY INDIAN COMMUNITY

OFFICE OF CHILD SUPPORT
SERVICES
427 N. Superior Ave. • Baraga, MI 49908
In Tribal Court Building
Phone: 906-353-4566 • Fax: 906-353-8132
• Email: ocss@kbic-nsn.gov

―Your Children…Our Priority‖
We provide the following services:
 Establishment, Enforcement and
Modification of Child Support Orders

 Location of Custodial and
Non-Custodial Parents

 Paternity Establishment

 Community Education

Zeba Indian Mission
United Methodist
Church
―We welcome each of you to our
worship services, at 9:00 a.m. each
Sunday.‖
Pastor: Rev. Stephen Rhoades
Church office 524-7939
Parsonage 524-7936

Catholic Community of
Baraga County
Holy Name of Jesus
Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
Pastor
Father John Longbucco
Father Antony Lukka

Confessions: Sunday before Mass
Sunday Mass 11:30 a.m.

353-6565
saintann@up.net

tp://www.kbic-nsn.gov/html/ocss.htm

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Employment Opportunities
http://www.kbic-nsn.gov/html/personnel.htm
* Cleaning Supervisor — November 3

On

lp
Cal

tio
osi

ns:

* Community Service Supervisor
* Unit Manager
* LPN
* RN
* Account Executive/Sales
*

* Cashier
* Receptionist/Clerical Worker
* Pre-Primary Teaching Assistant
* Youth Program & Facility Attendant
* Family Aide

For current job listings, complete job announcements, applications and closing dates contact: KBIC Personnel Department, 16429 Bear Town Road, Baraga, MI 49908-9210 or 906-353-6623, ext 4176 or 4140 or
visit: www.ojibwa.com.

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 STARDARD

(12) Ashi Niizh

ATTENTION:
Information on the
Marquette Senior Citizen’s Christmas Party will be made available
when Tribal Christmas checks are
distributed, or for more information
contact Patricia Brown at 273-0318.
TAYLOR DRIFT, CYNTHIA THIERRY, AND APRIL NIEMI
AWARDED CHILD CARE CREDENTIAL
Taylor Drift, Cynthia Thierry, and April Niemi of KBIC Head
Start and Early Head Start, L‘Anse, have been awarded a Child
Development Associate (CDA) credential in recognition of outstanding work with young children. The Council for Professional
Recognition (www.cdacouncil.org) in Washington DC awards credentials to early childhood educators who demonstrate the ability
to constructively work with young children in group settings.
―It takes special knowledge, skills, and expertise to be an effective teacher of young children,‖ says Valora Washington, CEO of
the Council. ―It‘s a great honor to earn a CDA and it shows a commitment to quality early childhood education.‖
The CDA is a nationally recognized credential for excellence in
early childhood education. Each CDA candidate is observed
working with young children and is assessed on his/her ability to
develop the physical, emotional, and intellectual capabilities of
young children.
The CDA community nationwide is having a positive effect on
the quality of early childhood education by helping preschools, day
care centers, and family child care programs hire qualified and
competent professionals who ensure the best care for our nation‘s
youngest.
Child care staff and parents wanting more information on CDA
should visit www.cdacouncil.org.

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Akeweenaw_bay%3A65149862f426962a. Public record. Not legal advice.