All You Need To Know About The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (2009)

GIIKENDAAM

CHIWIIKWEGAMAG

All You Need To Know About The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

Manoominike Giizis - Rice Making Moon - September 2009 Issue 63

Tribal Council Members:

31st Annual Keweenaw Bay Maawanji’iding

Warren C. Swartz, Jr., President

The 31st Annual Keweenaw Bay Indian

Community Maawanji’iding was held July

24-26, 2009, at the Ojibwa Powwow Campgrounds in Baraga, Michigan. This year’s

theme was “We Are All Related, it’s time to

come together.” With 443 registered dancers and 14 registered drums, approximately

3,500 participants and spectators enjoyed a

delightful weekend of song and dancing.

Tribal President, Warren Chris Swartz, Jr.,

gave the welcome following Friday evening’s grand entry. The Powwow committee

honored the following four elders this year,

Shirley McKasy, Lena Kuopus, James

Welsh and Tom Chosa, Sr. Sixteen-yearold Jade Evelyn Chaudier was crowned Friday evening as Keweenaw Bay’s Royalty

for the 2009 term. Jade is the daughter of

Aimee Emery and Durwyn Chaudier of

Baraga. Jade was one of three candidates

eligible for this year’s crown.

Little Otter, Minnesota Ojibwa, honored

Sixteen-year-old Jade Evelyn Chaudier was crowned Friday

evening, July 24th, as Keweenaw Bay’s Royalty for the 2009 the Community as host drum along with

term.

Smokey Town, Wisconsin Menominee, as

co-host drum. The Community was also

honored by: Donald Chosa, Sr. (Keweenaw

Bay Ojibwa) as Head Veteran Dancer,

Vince Bender (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwa) as

Head Male Dancer, Lori Muhlig (Keweenaw

Bay Ojibwa) as Head Female Dancer, Leon

Chosa (Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa) as Head

Youth Male Dancer, Tiana Drift (Keweenaw

Bay Ojibwa) as Head Youth Female

Dancer. Ted Holappa (Keweenaw Bay

Ojibwa) and Wabino Awonohopay served

as emcees, Stanley Spruce (Keweenaw

Bay Ojibwa) as Arena Director, Robert Rajacic (Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa) as Assistant

Arena Director, George Gauthier

(Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa) as Specials Arena

Honored elders—(left to right) Shirley McKasy, Lena Kuopus, Director, and Donald Stolp (Ojibwa KeJames Welsh and Tom Chosa, Sr.

weenaw Bay) as Head Firekeeper. Cultural

Susan J. LaFernier, Vice-President

Toni Minton, Secretary

William E. Emery, Asst. Secretary

Jennifer Misegan, Treasurer

Elizabeth D. Mayo

Michael F. LaFernier, Sr.

Elizabeth (Chiz) Matthews

Jerry Lee Curtis

Frederick Dakota

Gary F. Loonsfoot, Sr.

Isabelle H. Welsh

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SPECIAL POINTS

OF INTEREST:

August 15, 2009, Tribal

Council meeting

31st Annual Keweenaw

Bay Maawanji’iding

Protect the Earth 2009

Even Start Literacy Grant

KBIC Weed & Seed and

KBIC Tribal Police crime

prevention efforts

Child Identification Offered at Kids’ Day

August DHHS Superior

Spirit Award Winner

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Aabinoojiiyens

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New Employees

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Deepest Sympathy

teachings were delivered by Paul Halverson (Keweenaw

Bay Ojibwa). Ten-year-old Jerome Muson of Keshena,

Wisconsin, won the junior fry bread championship; and

Levi Rosebear of Minneapolis, Minnesota, won the adult

division fry bread championship. Two-step championship

winners for the youth division were Megan Tucker

(Watton) and Raistlin Awonohopay (Baraga) whose team

name was Team 2 Cute, and in the adult division winner

were Roseann and Jerome Sanapad (Appleton, WI)

whose team name was Newberry Stompers. Saturday

events included a drum competition: 1st place went to

Smokey Town, 2nd place went to Woodland, and 3rd

place went to Ditabisin. The hand drum competition was

also held with 1st place going to MLB drum, 2nd place

went to Little Otter, and 3rd place went to Pipe Stone.

The family of Lester Drift held a Lester Drift Memorial

Men’s Traditional Dance Competition with the following

results: 1st place—Assinis Larson, 2nd place—Lawrence

Williams, 3rd place—Vincent Bender. A pink shawl presentation was held during Sunday’s events.

Honored Elder Biographies:

Shirley McKasy—Shirley was born April 4, 1933, and

is 76-years-old. She has been married to Tony McKasy

Continued on page six.

(1) Bezhig

August 15, 2009 — Tribal

Council Meeting

The Tribal Council held their regularly

scheduled Saturday Tribal Council meeting on

August 15, 2009, at the Ojibwa Senior Citizens

Center. Warren C. Swartz, Jr. presided over

the meeting with Susan LaFernier, Toni

Minton, William E. Emery, Jennifer Misegan,

Jerry Lee Curtis, Fred Dakota, Gary F. Loonsfoot, Sr., Elizabeth (Chiz) Matthews, Elizabeth

D. Mayo, and Isabelle Helene Welsh present.

President Swartz shared numerous Thank You

and For Your Information items addressed to

Council. Reports were given for July 2009, by

President Warren C. Swartz, Jr., (month of

June 2009, as it was unavailable at last

month’s meeting, see page three.), Vice President Susan LaFernier (see page eight), Secretary Toni Minton (see page ten), and CEO

Larry Denomie (see page nine).

President

Swartz indicated that he’d prepare a report for

July in conjunction with his August report for

the September 2009 meeting. Debbie Parrish,

Tribal College President, gave an update on

the accreditation process. The next step in

this chain of events will be a Review Committee meeting held in Chicago in September,

and a Full Board meeting in October. OCC

President Parrish and Treneice Marshall plan

on attending the Review Hearing meeting.

Debbie Parrish informed the Tribal Council

that the College has applied for a grant to add

on to the College. This addition will house a

Community Computer Lab which will allow the

Community access to computers and the internet, and will also allow funding for broadband

connectivity.

Council passed Department Head Reports

for June 2009, prior to moving into closed session with KBIC members present for the

FY2008 Financial Report given by Jennifer

Misegan. Larry Denomie, CEO, was also on

the agenda for a closed session matter.

speeches were given while Summer Cloud

hosted the drum.

Fran Van Zile from Mole Lake led a

“gathering of the waters” from significant lakes,

rivers, and streams that were then poured on

the roots of a tree at the base of Eagle Rock.

Speakers representing KBIC were Tribal

Vice-President, Susan LaFernier, and Yale

grad student, Jessica Koski.

LaFernier spoke at the spot which she said

there was “no greater place for us to appreciate, remember, and honor our great lakes and

rivers, our sacred Migizi Waasin, and our ancestors.” LaFernier said that “taking care of

our earth and allowing it to take care of itself is

not just a responsibility, it is a privilege bestowed upon all of us.” She went on to speak

of the ceded territory that was originally part of

a gift of land “freely given [to the Ojibwe] by

the Great Spirit,” in which “no person had any

right to control such a gift,” and where tribes

“continue to hunt, fish, and gather…and that is

still our destiny today.” She asked that we continue to “pray that our beautiful water and land

remain free of contamination” and told us that

“people everywhere can save the earth!”

Brumleve, the KBIC’s mining specialist, has

“just really lit a passion inside me.” She is already proving herself to be a hard-working,

active, ogichidaakwe.

KBIC Tribal member, Jessica Koski, a Yale grad

student, spoke from the heart on behalf of her

Tribe’s responsibility and desire to protect the

mother earth. Photo credit—Gabriel Caplett.

* Please join us next year in helping to make

Protect the Earth even stronger. And please

do what you can so that we can all continue to

experience mino-bimaadiziiwin (living the good

life) in this beautiful water-rich area. Miigwetch.

Protect the Earth 2009

by Barb Bradley

The Protect the Earth Great Lakes Community Gathering was held on August 1-2,

2009.

Protect the Earth began in Wisconsin, in

1986, (on the Mole Lake Reservation), when

northern Wisconsin was being considered as

the site for a nuclear waste dump. In 1987, the

focus of Protect the Earth changed, due to

Kennecott’s mine proposal in Ladysmith and

Exxon’s proposed Crandon Mine project. To

this day, metallic sulfide – and now uranium –

mining has been given prominent attention.

For the past two years, Wisconsin has lent

Michigan the responsibility of hosting Protect

the Earth. The late Roscoe Churchill

(nicknamed “Grandfather of WI’s sulfide mining opposition”) described these gatherings as

an event “where Natives and non-Natives

hook up for the earth and for each other.”

This year nearly 200 people gathered from

around the Great Lakes to strengthen alliances, strategize, rekindle old friendships and

make new ones, while honoring Mother Earth.

A large number of ogichidaag (veterans of foreign mining company wars) came from Wisconsin to speak and just to be amongst other

(old and new) earth protectors.

Many Great Lakes First Nations were represented – including the Little River Band of

Ottawa Indians, Lac du Flambeau, Keweenaw

Bay Indian Community, Mole Lake Sokaogon

Chippewa, Lac Vieux Desert, and Wikwemikong Reserve, Manitoulin Island.

The first day’s activities (at Northern Michigan University) included workshops, music,

hoop dancing, and movies. The second day

took place on the Yellow Dog Plains with a

walk from the Yellow Dog River to Eagle Rock.

At Eagle Rock, a pipe ceremony was held and

(2) Niizh

Continued next column.

Vice President Susan LaFernier spoke on behalf

of KBIC at Protect the Earth. Photo credit—Lisa

Denomie.

Introducing herself at Eagle Rock, Jessica

Koski said that she was born in L’Anse and

grew up in Wisconsin, but came back to “our

wonderful tribal college.” During her college

years [she] “reunited with my Ojibwe tribe” and

“learned about our beautiful tribal culture and

our values for the land.”

Through her college career, Jessica has

worked on research projects and given presentations on two of the biggest issues facing

her tribal community – the protection of the

land and water and protection of sacred sites in particular, Eagle Rock - from international

mining interests. She is concerned not only

with the environmental impacts, but the cultural impacts that metallic sulfide mining would

have on the Anishinaabeg.

Koski spoke of the Anishinaabe prophecy

of how we will be facing two roads, “either the

road to technology and progress or the road to

spirituality.” She told us, “I think we’re really

faced with that question…” She said that the

sacred sites of many tribes [in this country and

around the world] are being threatened by outside interests that want to use this sacred land

for recreation, mining, and logging. Her

speech became an education to those who

may not have realized that Native Americans

do not have equal protection to practice their

religions under the U.S. Constitution. “I think it

is difficult for people to understand because

religion and culture and land are all interconnected.”

Koski said that speaking with members of

her community about the mining issue, with

special help from Susan LaFernier and Chuck

Walk from the Yellow Dog River to Eagle Rock.

Photo credit—Lisa Denomie.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCES EVEN START

FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM

2009 GRANTS FOR INDIAN

TRIBES AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS

The Department is pleased to announce the

awarding of $774,984 in grants for the FY 2009

Even Start Family Literacy Program Grants for

Federally Recognized Indian Tribes and Tribal

Organizations.

Expert peer reviewers reviewed applications submitted by the closing

date of May 4, 2009.

The Department made a total of four

awards to the following: Keweenaw Bay Indian

Community (Michigan); Salt River PimaMaricopa Community Schools (Arizona); San

Pasqual Band of Kumeyaay Indians

(California); and Local Indians for Education,

Inc. (California).

To view abstracts for the four programs visit

http://www.ed.gov/programs/evenstartindian/

awards.html

An Open House is

planned for October 2009.

Watch for flyers.

Back to School

Some tips for

the Coming Flu Season

If you’re a parent, you need to add one

more item to that back-to-school checklist:

what to do if someone in your family gets the

flu.

This fall—as every fall—we not only have

to plan for a new version of seasonal influenza, but in addition, another potentially serious strain, the 2009 H1N1 virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to report higher than

normal levels of flu-like illness and actual

H1N1 outbreaks in some parts of the country.

That’s very unusual at this time of year.

Similar to seasonal flu, with H1N1 you’ll get

a fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, achiness, headache, chills and fatigue. Sometimes H1N1 causes diarrhea and vomiting. Just like seasonal flu, it can be severe

and potentially deadly.

H1N1 can be dangerous for a person with

an underlying medical condition—such as

asthma or diabetes—or pregnancy. So far,

it’s been most contagious among children and

young adults aged six months to 24 years.

Health care workers, emergency responders,

and people caring for infants should be on

guard.

Scientists believe this virus could worsen

with the arrival of school. But if we prepare for

the virus now, it does not have to happen.

Some of these precautions are simple and

personal.

• Make it a routine to wash your hands often

with soap and water.

• Cough into your elbow or into a tissue, not

in your hands.

• Stay home if you’re sick, and start planning now in the event that one of your kids

gets the flu.

Ask yourself these questions: If you work,

have you made arrangements for child care?

Have you talked with your employer about

what to do in case you need to be out?

Get the vaccine when it’s available. No

one knows what the impact of the fall flu season will be until we’re in the middle of it. But

how severe the flu becomes this fall will depend on how seriously each of us takes action

to reduce the risk now.

If you want more information, please visit

www.cdc.gov or www.michigan.gov/flu . The

sites provide guidance to prepare for, prevent,

and respond to an outbreak.

The KBIC Health Department will have

plenty of vaccine when it becomes available.

Orders have been placed in August. Please

watch for further newsletter announcements,

Meet Kayah Marie Loonsfoot, born 06/02/09, to Tiara

Drift and Gavin Loonsfoot.

Kayah weighed 7 lbs. 11 ozs.

and was 19 ½ inches long at

birth.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

MONTH OFJUNE 2009.

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FOR

THE

Activities of the Office of the President for

the month of June 2009.

At the beginning of the month, I approved

sending Council member Dakota to Wisconsin, to research a possible economic

development opportunity. Councilmember

Dakota had discussions with Tribal leaders of the Boise Forte and Fond du Lac

Band of Indians. Council member Dakota

has reported to Council on this matter.

I worked with Powwow Committee Chairman, Tracy Emery, and the Personnel Officer, Pauline Spruce, to produce a list of

workers needed for the powwow. A number of positions were identified and were

able to be filled to help in this successful

event.

We approved Tribal Construction to help

out a Tribal member with their sewer/

septic system.

I have been in contact with representatives of M3 Insurance Company trying to

resolve issues regarding Tribal Construction’s bonding abilities. This is an ongoing

issue and I will continue to monitor to see

when there is an opportunity for TCC to

get needed bond.

I wrote thank you letters to the agencies

that helped during the forest fire near Pinery Lakes.

I called our legislative leaders and asked

them to become an original co-sponsor of

the Indian Health Care Improvement Act

(IHCIA). This message included:

• Health Care Reform is the top priority

for Congress but Indian Country must

not be forgotten.

• The IHCIA is Indian Country’s Health

Bill and must be passed this year.

• Shortly after the call to action, the

House of Representatives introduced

the IHCIA Reauthorization Bill as HR

2708, introduced by Congressman

Frank Pallone, Chairman of the House

Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, with 16 original cosponsors.

• The bill’s substance results from the

diligent work of the Tribal National

Steering Committee, with Tribal

Leader representation from all 12 areas with support from National Tribal

organizations, Area Indian Health

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Boards and Tribal advocates around

the nation including members of the

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.

I attended a meeting in Sault Ste. Marie for

the Michigan United Tribes.

• We met and discussed a number of

issues including the Employee Free

Choice Act, healthcare reform, tuition

waiver protocol, Census 2010, and we

heard a presentation from Sally

Kniffen. She talked about the impacts

of mercury on Great Lakes fish.

I attended the Annual Tribal State Summit

held in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. One of

the purposes of the meeting was to have

Tribes sign the Climate Accord. KBIC

chose not to sign the Accord at this time.

I attended a Gaming Commission meeting

on June 23, 2009.

We are looking into the feasibility of using

wind generated energy as a supplemental

source of power for the hatchery.

I sent out letters of support for Matthew

Fletcher, a Native American Indian, to

serve on the Federal Bench.

I sent letters of support for the Drug Court

to Senators Levin and Stabenow.

We have received authorization to bid from

Indian Health Service on the Old US 41

Water Project. This is good news, and

hopefully, customers will have water in the

near future.

I continue to work with Indian Health Service regarding the Knipp site in Zeba. Currently Tribal Construction is determining

the evaluation of the bedrock at the site.

Work should be completed by the end of

July.

I’ll continue to monitor the Internal Revenue Service. They would like to tax health

care benefits that Tribes provide their

members. I’m concerned since we are just

trying to help out our Tribal members by

supplementing inadequate Federal Health

Care and other services. Our Tribal members should not be taxed for supplementing inadequate Federal Health Care.

The Community received a decision in the

Sixth Circuit Court in the Sale Tax Case.

The Court affirmed in part, vacated in part,

and remanded the case back to the Federal District Court for further consideration.

Respectfully submitted,

Warren Chris Swartz, Jr.

CHILD IDENTIFICATION OFFERED

AT KIDS DAY PROGRAM

Saturday, August

15, 2009, Kid’s Day

was held at the

Baraga Marina with

participating agencies

Michigan State Police, Baraga County

Sheriff Department,

Keweenaw Bay Tribal

Police and Conservation Departments, and

the KBIC Weed and

Seed Program.

Besides fun and

food, this year a free

child

identification

Chris Gerard, KBIC Weed program was offered

and Seed Director, assists where each child reCooper Parker with the fin- ceived a dental imgerprinting program.

pression as well as a

CD

containing

a

photo, video, digital fingerprints and their vital information. The Michigan Masonic Child ID Program provides the family with everything needed

for the Amber Alert System.

Cindy Curtis with her young charges, back

row—(left to right), Dana Thierry, Lexi ChosaSimmons, front row—Shantell Simmons, Keyshia Supanich. Baby on lap—Quintan Supanich.

Below—Dana Thierry chooses a face painting

blue heart from Kid’s Day staff, Margo Bier.

(3) Niswi

The Education Department is

pleased to announce the following three KBIC college graduates

for the Summer 09 semester of

the 2008-09 academic year:

• Kristin Mantila Brown, Western Michigan University, Business

Administration/

Management, M.B.A.

• Andrea Leonard, Northern

Michigan University, Sports

Science, B.S.

• Paul Pouttu, Michigan Technological University, Civil Engineering/Business, B.S.

Congratulations to our graduates. We are very proud of you

and your accomplishments!

NOTICE:

The KBIC Council is comprising a list of

Keweenaw Bay Tribal Members who are currently serving in the armed forces and have

been deployed. Please provide names and

addresses to the Enrollment Office at (906)

353-6623, ext. 4113 or 4111 or e-mail

Jennifer@kbic-nsn.gov.

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community placed third

in the Tribe to Tribe Walking

Challenge, sponsored by

Grand Traverse. Over the

time frame of May 19, 2009 July 16, 2009, KBIC had 16

people complete the challenge with a total average of

564,673 steps per individual.

3rd

much of his time with his friends and family.

He had a passion for caring and helping others. He loved telling stories and playing practical jokes. Being with his children was what he

cherished and enjoyed most in life.

Michael is survived and greatly missed by

two wonderful daughters Cassandra Marcotte

of Chicago, IL, and Genevieve Corbett of Escanaba, MI; three sisters Patsy Tuschen of

Chicago, Shirley Corbett of Chicago, and

Clara Corbett of Bark River, MI; nieces and

nephews, Eddy Gray of Baraga, Steve Gray of

Chicago, Christopher Corbett of California,

Andrea Corbett of Chicago, and Garrett Corbett of Chicago; four grandkids, Aviana

Metzger of Escanaba, Adrienne, Joshua, and

Jason Marcotte of Chicago; many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents;

brother James Corbett and loving son Michael

Thunder Corbett.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday,

July 29, 2009, at the Ojibwa Senior Center,

Traditional Ceremonial Room. The Jacobson

Funeral Home of L’Anse assisted the family.

Friends may sign Mike’s guest book or send

condolences at www.jacobsonfuneralhome.com.

Anita Lynn White

May 6, 1971—July 25, 2009

Anita Lynn White, age 38, of Hancock and

formerly of L'Anse passed away suddenly Saturday, July 25, 2009, in Hancock. She was

born in Bismarck, North Dakota, on May 6,

1971, the daughter of Edward T. and Bernadette (Perreault) White. Anita attended school

in Baraga. She was a member of Blessed

Kateri Church and the Keweenaw Bay Indian

Community. Anita enjoyed playing on the

computer, visiting and traveling. She loved

going to the PowWow and enjoyed walking

and spending time with her niece.

Anita is survived by her parents Edward

and Bernadette White of L'Anse, brother, Tim

White of L'Anse, sisters, Kathy White of

Baraga, and Juanita White of Ann Arbor, three

aunts, niece Brenda Malmgren, and nephew

Otis Malmgren both of Baraga.

Graveside services for Anita were held on

Friday, July 31, 2009, at Assinins Cemetery

with Father John Longbucco officiating.

Louella Mae Wood

June 26, 1940—August 4, 2009

Our Deepest Sympathy

Patrick Michael Corbett

March 17, 1951—July 25, 2009

Patrick “Mike” Corbett, age 58, of Covington, MI, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, July 25, 2009, at Marquette General

Hospital. He was born March 17, 1951, in Chicago, IL, son of Francis and Genevieve

(Loonsfoot) Corbett. Michael moved from Chicago to Baraga in 1980. He then began his

career as a Child Protective Service Worker

for the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. He

enjoyed his job very much and helped many

people in his years working there. Eventually

he moved to Escanaba, MI, and then cofounded and directed the Three Fires Halfway

House in Hannahville, MI. Mike worked there

for many years; he then took time off to continue his education at the Northern Michigan

University and Lake Superior State University

in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. He happily became a

wonderful and loving father to three wonderful

children, Cassandra Marcotte, the late Michael

Thunder Corbett, and Genevieve Corbett.

Mike was a very well known and greatly

respected member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. He was very kind, loving,

caring, and generous man. A wonderful father, friend, son, brother, uncle and grandfather. He was a proud respectful and traditional

Native American man. He enjoyed nature,

traveling to spiritual gatherings, Native American singing and dancing, and also spending

(4) Niiwin

Louel la

Mae

Wood, age 69 of

L’Anse, MI, walked

on

following

a

lengthy illness on

Tuesday, August 4,

2009, at her home

with her family by

her side.

She was born on

June 26, 1940, in

L’Anse,

MI,

a

daughter to the late

Archie and Margaret

(Shelifoe)

Knapp.

Louella grew up in L’Anse. She married Richard B. Wood in April 1962, in Indiana. They

lived all over the Midwest states until retirement when they moved back to L’Anse in

1992. She worked for five years at the Lawrence School System in Lawrence, MI, while

her children were growing up.

Louella was a member of the United Methodist Church in Zeba, Eastern Star, Skanee

Wilderness Riders, and Ojibwa Senior Citizens. She loved spending time with her family, four-wheeling, and playing computer

games.

Surviving are her sons Richard Wood of

L’Anse, James Wood of Lawton, MI; daughter

Cindy Knapp of L’Anse; former daughter-inlaws Linda Wood and Tina Owens both of

L’Anse; sisters Nancy Haataja of L’Anse, Margaret Rowloff of Sidnaw, Brenda McKittrick of

Baraga, and Mary (George) Geroux of Baraga;

grandchildren, Heather (Aaron Paquet),

Landis, Blaine, Michelle, Jessica, Jimmy, and

Taylor Wood, Theresa Sirrine, Joseph, Jason,

Jacob, John, and Joshua McMahan; great

grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews,

and cousins.

Preceding her in death are her parents;

husband Richard B. Wood in 1994; daughter,

Ruthie Knapp; brothers, Archie Jr., William,

John, Wallace, and Eugene Knapp.

A funeral service was held on Saturday,

August 8, 2009, at the United Methodist

Church in Zeba, with Rev. John Henry officiating. The Jacobson Funeral Home of L’Anse

assisted the family.

Friends may sign

Louella’s guest book or send condolences at

www.jacobsonfuneralhome.com.

We would like to thank everyone who

helped with the luncheon, sent flowers or donations. Everything is greatly appreciated.

Chi Miigwetch.

~ The family of Louella Wood.

Nellie C. LeMaire

August 2, 1910—August 9, 2009

Nellie C. LeMaire, age 99, of Marquette,

walked on into eternal life Sunday morning,

August 9, 2009, at home.

Nellie was born August 2, 1910, in Baraga, a

daughter of August and Margaret (Forcia)

Madosh. She was raised in Baraga and

moved to Marquette with her family as a young

girl. In Marquette, she helped care for her

younger siblings and this was to set the tone

for her future years when she was a caregiver

to her husband, other family members, and

friends. At age 17, Nellie was employed for a

time as a seamstress, sewing for government

projects. Following her marriage to Henry LeMaire, Nellie worked at the former Holy Family

Orphanage as a housekeeper for many years.

Nellie lived during a time when Native American traditions and culture were suppressed.

She took great pride in her Native American

Indian heritage and sought to learn more

about it. Later in life, she would learn the traditions and customs and pass them on to her

relatives and friends, thus becoming an Anishinaabe culture-bearer. In 1954, St. Christopher

Parish was formally established in Trowbridge

Park by the Catholic Diocese of Marquette.

The first church was situated where the Bonanza Family Restaurant now stands. Nellie

was among the first charter members who

worked vigorously to support the new church

and make provisions for construction of a larger facility. Countless dinners, bazaars, rummage sales, and promotions were held to support the church and Nellie was at the helm of

most of them. For many years she was president of the altar society and coordinated dinners, funeral luncheons, bazaars, receptions,

pasty sales, and assisted with fish bakes. She

and her ladies could always be depended

upon for excellent service. The church would

not be where it is today were it not for the efforts and sacrifices of early members like

Nellie. Today, Leonard Bur and Hazel Hulverson remain as the last surviving charter members. In addition to her membership at St.

Christopher Church and its altar society, Nellie

was a member of the Kateri Tekakwitha Circle,

and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.

Since 1963, Nellie had been a member of the

St. Anthony of Padua Fraternity of the Secular

Franciscan Order. She enjoyed craftwork and

belonged to the Knit Wits, a group at church

composed of Sr. Gloria Schultz, Cindy Fassbender, Verna Bur, Estelle Brisson, Dorothy

Lainhart, and Teresa Feltner who met to knit

and crochet items for church fund raisers. After the second meeting, the group escalated

into doing whatever needed to be done for the

church from decorating, cleaning, organizing,

etc. A loved and well respected elder of her

community, Nellie is survived by greatgrandsons, Robbie (Theresa) Garrow of Channing, Roger (Marge) Garrow of Randville, and

Michael Garrow of Sagola; several great great

Continued on page five.

Continued from page four.

and great great great-grandchildren; her niece,

Hazel Hulverson of Marquette; numerous

nieces and nephews; and her caregiver and

special friend, Corrine Britton of Marquette;

and many other relatives and friends too numerous to mention. In addition to her parents

and husband, Nellie was preceded in death by

her sisters, Mary Honcharuk and Genevieve

Spruce; and brothers, Jacob Cadotte, Leander, Richard, and Peter Madosh; and many

other

family

and

friends.

Services were held at St. Christopher

Catholic Church on Wednesday, August 12,

2009. The Secular Franciscan Order held a

prayer service and Native American Ceremonies with drumming followed. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated with Rev. Lawrence

Gauthier celebrant, with The Most Rev. Alexander K. Sample, bishop of the Diocese of

Marquette in attendance. Burial services were

held in the Holy Cross Cemetery with Robbie

and Roger Garrow, Dave Croschere, George,

Leander, and Peter Madosh serving as pallbearers. Memorials may be directed to St.

Christopher Catholic Church, 2372 Badger

Street,

Marquette,

MI

49855.

The Fassbender Funeral Home assisted the

family.

KBIC Weed & Seed and KBIC Tribal Police

continue youth crime prevention efforts

with Tribal Police Athletic League and

T.E.A.M. School Liaison Program

KBIC Weed & Seed and KBIC Tribal Police

in Baraga and Marquette continue their collaborative efforts in youth crime prevention

through the Tribal Police Athletic League

(TPAL). Tribal Police officers have started the

2009 paintball league and have seen a rise in

the number of participants this year. Chris

Gerard, KBIC Weed & Seed Coordinator

states, “The Tribal Police Athletic League was

implemented as part of the Weed & Seed Initiative to promote crime prevention efforts between law enforcement and area youth. It is a

goal of ours to lessen the number of criminal

incidents involving youth. The Tribal Police

Athletic League is one of our programs that

has been put into place to help achieve this

goal. The Tribal Police Athletic League allows

our law enforcement officers to interact with

area youth in a positive and fun setting.” The

paintball league has proven to be very popular

and will continue through the end of summer.

The schedule for paintball events is dependent

upon the officers work schedule, so there are

no set dates. The best way to find out about

future paintball event dates is to contact Sgt.

Duane Misegan or Sgt. Dale Goodreau at the

Tribal Police Department (906) 353-6626. The

Tribal Police Athletic League is also starting up

in Marquette and will be lead by Officer Anthony Carrick. Contact Officer Carrick for future paintball event dates at (906) 249-0901.

KBIC Weed & Seed and the KBIC Tribal

Police are excited to continue their working

relationship with the Baraga Area Schools during the 2009 school year. Chris Gerard, KBIC

Weed & Seed Coordinator states, “Last year

we implemented the Gang Resistance Education And Training (GREAT) school liaison program. This year because of familiarity with

the program, we decided to send Officer Tyler

Larson to the Teaching Educating And Mentoring (T.E.A.M.) officer training at the Michigan

State Police Training Academy. Officer Larson will teach the elementary T.E.A.M. curriculum to the fourth and fifth grade students at

Baraga Area Schools. It is possible that this

program will also be taught in the fourth and

fifth grades at L’Anse Area Schools during the

2009 school year.” The T.E.A.M. law enforcement school liaison program can be taught at

any of the three levels of education – elementary, middle school or high school. The elementary curriculum teaches students basic

safety rules such as bicycle and pedestrian

safety, the proper use of 911, fire and gun preContinued bottom next column.

CDC Advisors Make Recommendations

for Use of Vaccine Against Novel H1N1

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met recently to make

recommendations for use of vaccine against

novel influenza A (H1N1).

The committee met to develop recommendations on who should receive vaccine against

novel influenza A (H1N1) when it becomes

available, and to determine which groups of

the population should be prioritized if the

vaccine is initially available in extremely limited

quantities.

The committee recommended the vaccination efforts focus on five key populations. Vaccination efforts are designed to help reduce

the impact and spread of novel H1N1. The key

populations include those who are at higher

risk of disease or complications, those who are

likely to come in contact with novel H1N1, and

those who could infect young infants. When

vaccine is first available, the committee recommended that programs and providers try to

vaccinate:

•

•

•

•

•

pregnant women,

people who live with or care for children

younger than six months of age,

health care and emergency services personnel,

persons between the ages of six months

through 24 years of age, and

people from ages 25 through 64 years who

are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because

of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

The groups listed above total approximately

159 million people in the United States.

The committee does not expect that there

will be a shortage of novel H1N1 vaccine, but

availability and demand can be unpredictable.

There is some possibility that initially the vaccine will be available in limited quantities. In

this setting, the committee recommended that

the following groups receive the vaccine before others:

•

•

pregnant women,

people who live with or care for children

younger than six months of age,

•

health care and emergency services personnel with direct patient contact,

• children six months through four years of

age, and

• children five through 18 years of age who

have chronic medical conditions.

The committee recognized the need to assess supply and demand issues at the local

level. The committee further recommended

that once the demand for vaccine for these

prioritized groups has been met at the local

level, programs and providers should begin

vaccinating everyone from ages 25 through 64

years.

Current studies indicate the risk for infection among persons age 65 or older is less

than the risk for younger age groups. Therefore, as vaccine supply and demand for vaccine among younger age groups is being met,

programs and providers should offer vaccination to people over the age of 65.

The committee also stressed that people

over the age of 65 receive the seasonal vaccine as soon as it is available. Even if novel

H1N1 vaccine is initially only available in limited quantities, supply and availability will continue, so the committee stressed that programs and providers continue to vaccinate unimmunized patients and not keep vaccine in

reserve for later administration of the second

dose.

The novel H1N1 vaccine is not intended to

replace the seasonal flu vaccine. It is intended

to be used alongside seasonal flu vaccine to

protect people. Seasonal flu and novel H1N1

vaccines may be administered on the same

day.

Mary P. Macqueen, MSA

Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator and Manager, Bioterrorism Preparedness and Infrastructure Development Section,

Michigan Department of Community Health

Office of Public Health Preparedness,

201 Townsend Street

Lansing, MI 48913

Office: 517-335-9401

Cell: 517-331-2393

Fax:

517-335-9434

macqueenm@michigan.gov

To place an ad, submit an article, or relate information or ideas on possible articles,

contact: Lauri Denomie at newsletter@kbic-nsn.gov. or 906-201-0263.

To be added to the mailing list or to correct your mailing address, contact

the enrollment office at (906) 353-6623 ext. 4113.

Paintball continued:

vention and being safe on the internet. Gerard

states, “This is a way to form and continue

partnerships with schools, parents, communities and law enforcement agencies which help

promote safety for all area youth.”

The DHHS Superior Spirit Award

Winner for August 2009

Zena Huhta is

the DHHS Superior Spirit Award

Winner for August

2009. Zena was

nominated by a

patient

who

stated, “Zena has

always

been

pleasant and very

willing to help out

with any of my

needs. She does

this with a pleasant smile and

f r i e n d l y

tone. When I deal

with Zena, I don't

ever feel like I am

bothering her no

matter how small my need or question is."

Zena received a beaded lanyard for her

name badge, and is able to park in the

awardees’ parking spot August 14—Sept 14.

Congratulations Zena!

(5) Naanan

31st KBIC Maawanji’iding continued:

for 20 years. Shirley has three children, Deb,

Myron, and a daughter Lynn who has passed

on. Shirley has nine grandchildren and eight

great grandchildren. Shirley has a college degree in social work. She worked many years

at a factory in St. Paul, Minnesota. Shirley is

very active with the Ojibwa Senior Citizens

and had previously served as their president.

She loves gardening, reading, taking daily

walks, and she swims several times a week.

She also loves knitting, sewing, and after living

on a farm for eight years, canning.

Lena Kuopus— Lena was born on June 1,

1928, and is 81-years-old. She had previously

worked at the Big Bucks Bingo for ten years.

Elvera Lantz presents Joe Riley (a talented

Lena is very active with the Ojibwa Senior Citiyoung artist) with a gift on behalf of the KBIC

Otter Lake, Host Drum

zens and a active member of the Zeba MethPowwow Committee.

odist Church. Lena loves to read and make

quilts.

James Welsh—Jimmy was born on February 13, 1939, and is 70-years-old. He is the

son of the (late) Herbert and Helene Welsh,

and was born and raised in L’Anse, Michigan.

Jimmy has worked many years in our community. He was an educator at the New Day

Treatment Center, a bus driver and dispatch

for the Baraga Public Transit, a welder for Bob

Selkey, and he once worked at the Wigwam in

Zeba, Michigan. Jim has a degree in small

business from Michigan Tech and he also attended school in Oakland, California.

His

many interests include playing cards, fishing,

Team 2 Cute, Youth Diviriding his lawn mower and visiting with his

sion, two-step championship

many family and friends.

Elvera Lantz presents Fry Bread Awards to (left) Jerome Muson of

winners—Megan Tucker

Tom Chosa, Sr.—Tom was born on April 9, Keshena, Wisconsin, who won the junior championship; and (right) Levi (W atton) and Raistlin

1944, and he is 65-years-old. Tom has four Rosebear of Minneapolis, Minnesota, won the adult division championship. Awonohopay.

children and 17 grandchildren. Tom is a four

year Navy veteran, and he served in the Vietnam war. Tom worked for the BIA for sixteen

years. He has a degree in Forestry from

Michigan Tech. Most recently, Tom worked

for the Ojibwa Builders under their senior program. Tom loves hunting, fishing, and music.

He also loves to read. His special hobby is

making traditional bows.

Trash Talk: 2009 Spring Cleanup

Collects 45 Tons of Waste

Each year, KBIC holds Spring Cleanup, a

free waste collection event as a way to provide a convenient disposal service and to reduce the cost of waste disposal to enrolled

tribal members. This service is also provided

in hopes of preventing some open dumping of

waste which helps protect the environment.

This annual event, sponsored by the KBIC

Tribal Council and KBIC Natural Resources

Department, collects bulky waste, such as furniture, toys, and bagged trash, from Tribal

households. Prior to 2008, KBIC cosponsored the Village of Baraga Spring

Cleanup, whereby residents hauled their

waste to a designated drop-off site. Since

then, we have coordinated our own Spring

Cleanup offering curbside collection which has

proved to be very successful.

This year, Spring Cleanup successfully collected and properly disposed of approximately

45 tons of waste from Tribal households

within the L’Anse Reservation, including the

Villages of Baraga and L’Anse. The Natural

Resources Department coordinated the event,

and Tribal Construction Company provided

waste collection and hauling. The Natural Resources Department also conducted visual

waste volume and characterization in order to

help determine the type of wastes present in

the KBIC waste stream. Knowing what type of

waste is in the waste stream helps us identify

recycling and reduction opportunities. Recycling could help lower future disposal costs

and keep waste out of landfills. Metal was the

highest waste type at 27% followed by plastics

at 19%. The results are presented below:

(6) Ningodwaaswi

Lori Muhlig (Keweenaw Bay 0jibwa),

Head Female Dancer, and Vince

Bender (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwa),

Head Male Dancer.

Women’s Traditional

Tiana Drift (Keweenaw Bay

0jibwa), Head Youth Female

Dancer, and Leon Chosa (Lac du

Flambeau Ojibwa), Head Youth

Male Dancer.

Men’s Traditional

Newberry Stompers, Adult

Division, two-step championship winners—Roseann and

Jerome Sanapad (Appleton).

Donald

Chosa,

Sr.

(Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa),

Head Veteran Dancer.

We also compared the waste volume with previous Spring Cleanup waste volumes. The waste

volume data shows that the bulky waste collected from tribal households has decreased

over time. The annual waste volumes are presented in table on page eleven.

Our Spring Cleanup once again proved to be

a successful event, resulting in proper waste

management, and it appears to be reducing the

overall annual KBIC waste stream. If you have

questions or comments, please call us at the

Natural Resource Department (524-5757).

Continued page eleven.

KEWEENAW BAY INDIAN COMMUNITY

OFFICE OF CHILD SUPPORT

SERVICES

Dr. Dennis Beaufait is

the new Clinical Psychologist for KBIC Health & Human Services program. As

to an introduction to the

Community, Dr. Dennis

Beaufait states, “I am relocating to the community

from the mountains of Colorado where I have been

working as a Clinical Psychologist for the Prouder

Valley Hospital. I graduated with my Doctoral Degree from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, in 1992. I have been

practicing Psychology since 1976, in a variety of settings in both

Michigan and in the Southwest (Arizona & Colorado). I have specialized in working with individuals who have relationship problems

and other adjustment issues (i.e., depression/anxiety, grief/loss,

interpersonal/family conflict, men's issues, marriage problems,

school/academic problems, and other wellness issues). I like

working with all age groups -- I offer individual, couple, and family

counseling. I am especially interested in spiritual issues and in

American Indian Culture. I ‘love’ the outdoors -- I enjoy hiking in

the mountains and the woodlands in the summer and x-country

skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. I enjoy music, art, and

dancing too!

I am looking forward to working with Keweenaw Bay Indian

Community and to be of help when people are struggling with various problems in living. I can be reached by calling the Department

of Health and Human Services @ 906/353-8666, ext. 4535 to set

up an appointment— Looking forward to meeting you."

Dr. Dennis M. Beaufait

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Licensed Professional Counselor

New Employees continues

on page eight.

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

• Location of Custodial and

Modification of Child Support Orders

Non-Custodial Parents

• Paternity Establishment

• Community Education

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

DARE TO DREAM

Enroll Today! — Call 353-8161

755 Michigan Avenue, Baraga

(7) Niizhwaaswi

New employees continued.

Tyler Larson, a

KBIC member, has

recently been hired

as the newest member of the KBIC

Tribal Police Department. Tyler recently

served the Community as the KBIC

Youth Director after

graduating

from

Northern Michigan

University with a

Bachelors of Science in Criminal

Justice.

While in Honorable Violet M. Friisvall Ayres, Associate

college,

T y l e r Judge, presents the Oath of Office to newly hired

played football for KBIC Tribal Police Officer Tyler Larson.

NMU and served on

the Student Athletic Advisory Committee.

Tyler states, “Criminal Justice is something that has always interested me and to be able to take advantage of

this opportunity is very exciting. I hope that I can offer to

the KBTPD everything that is expected from me and more.”

Welcome aboard, Officer Larson.

VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT FOR THE

MONTH OFJULY 2009.

Activities Reported by the Vice President

Susan LaFernier for the month of July 2009.

We all need to commit to do our part to

make a difference to protect our environment

and change the world. I hope that you have

been learning how to save and conserve energy to protect our Earth if you are able. I will

continue to emphasize that every month is

“Energy Awareness Month” and our theme for

the year will be a “Commit to Conserve” Campaign. There are simple, everyday measures

we can do to reduce air pollution, conserve

water reduce/reuse/recycle/re-buy materials,

and prevent pollution in general. All of this

information is available on the EPA.gov and

energy.gov websites.

On July 6, 2009, I attended the sentencing

of Robert Genschow in the U.S. District Court

in Marquette for the theft and unlawful cutting

of trees in Ontonagon.

On July 8, 2009, a very important meeting

was held with various persons from the BIA,

the Bureau of Land Management, and Keweenaw Bay in regards to acquiring federal

land on Manitou Island. We are very interested in protecting the natural and cultural resources on these public lands. We are in the

process of reviewing options in acquiring this

property.

Thank you to everyone who attended,

sponsored, and gave gifts to the Fourth Annual Denise Marth Fun Run on July 11, 2009.

The Baraga County Community Foundation

looks forward to next year’s run as we remember and honor her life passion and philosophy

for everyone to have a better life and better

heath. It is also a way to help raise money for

the Foundation’s operations and programs,

and the Tribe’s donation is and was greatly

appreciated.

On July 22, 2009, I participated on our

“Keep It In The U.P.” radio show with Gabriel

Caplett and Jack Parker, Rock Mechanics/

Mining expert who is world renown and has

worked on many mines around the world and

in the U.P. He talked about the rock mechanics issues and his concerns with the proposed

mine on the Yellow Dog Plains. We also gave

information regarding the 2nd “Protect The

Earth” Great Lakes Community Gathering that

was held on August 1-2, 2009, at NMU and at

Eagle Rock. (More information will be in the

August report).

It was another wonderful 31st Powwow this

year, and congratulations to our honored elders: my Aunt Lena Kuopus, Shirley McKasy,

Tom Chosa, Sr., and James Welsh.

On July 31, 2009, I participated on a conference call with John Baker and Todd Warner

(8) Ishwaaswi

Cheryne

(LaPointe)

Clements — Youth Director. Cheryne’s introduction

states, “I am a KBIC member

and have recently moved

back to the area after living in

Marquette for the last four

years. I attended Northern

Michigan University and received my Bachelor's Degree

in Management of Health and

Fitness. I am very excited to

have been hired as the Youth

Director for the KBIC. I hope I

can provide the opportunity

for the youth to have fun and

to also have a positive impact

in their success as they

grow. In my spare time I enjoy being with my family and working out.”

regarding developing a Great Lakes multi-year

Restoration Action Plan that is part of President Obama’s initiative. Meetings have been

held at various sites in Michigan and other

states. The President’s 2010 budget proposes

$475 million for the U.S. EPA to lead the initiative which will target the most significant environment challenges in the Great Lakes Basin

with the strategy to restore and protect the

Great Lakes. The five major focus areas are:

toxic substances and areas of concern, invasive species, near shore health and nonpoint

source pollution, habitat and wildlife protection

and restoration, and accountability, monitoring,

evaluation, communication, and partnerships.

“It is our responsibility—Tribes, residents, municipalities, businesses, and visitors to protect

and restore the quality of Lake Superior’s (and

all of our lakes) waters, land, and wildlife. The

lakes have always been and always will be

important to the quality of our lives.”

Gene Emery and I toured our new Walleye

Ponds on July 31, 2009, in L’Anse with Todd

Warner and Gene Mensch. I must say they

are a work of art, and our Natural Resources

Department staff has done a wonderful job.

The ponds are very unique. We saw where

the water comes from, where it goes, and how

they capture the walleye to transplant them.

We are planning to map the Pinery Cemetery the week of September 21, 2009. We are

asking if anyone has information regarding

forgotten graves and information on graves

that do not have identification to please call

me or Summer Cohen if you can help. You

will also see landscape changes because of

the May 20, 2009, fire that consumed 685

acres around the Pinery Lakes area and Linden Creek. It is still not know how many trees

will be lost.

The results of the wellness interest survey

that was taken at the employee meeting on

June 24, 2009, have been compiled and a

condensed version of the results and the winners of the survey will be included in the employee’s paychecks next week. We will also

be having another task force meeting to discuss the next steps and recommendations

now that the survey has been completed. It is

never too late to encourage positive lifestyle

changes that will help us live longer, healthier,

happier lives.

We also still have not yet been informed of

a decision from the administrative hearing officer in our contested case hearing regarding

the mining permits for the Yellow Dog Plains.

A proposed decision on the Humboldt Mill

application has also been delayed a third time

until late Summer or Fall because we understand more information was required and is

being reviewed by the DEQ. Under Kennecott’s reuse proposal, the Humboldt Mill would

process 1,500 tons of ore per day from the

Eagle Mine. Please continue to call/write your

elected officials and tell them that the short

term benefits are not worth the harmful long

term effects on our health, rivers, Great Lakes,

and wild places because of the great potential

for acid mine drainage. Please call me or

write if you would like to review the National

Wildlife Federation’s DVD “Mining Madness,

Water Wars: The Great Lakes In The Balance.”

Remember to continue to pray for and

honor all of our veterans and service men and

women and their families. Also remember

those who are ill, have lost loved ones (there

have been many in the last few weeks) and for

our economy struggles. Let us be thankful for

our beautiful area and the warm Summer

days… and have a safe Labor Day weekend.

Remember the Drug Tip Line number is 353DRUG or 353-3784.

Miigwetch.

Susan LaFernier, Vice President

EDUCATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM

The Keweenaw Bay Education Committee

offers the Education Incentive Program to local

KBIC tribal students. Monetary incentives are

awarded at the end of each of the four marking

periods of the academic year. Awards are

given for Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance.

Students must meet the following criteria:

1. Must be enrolled KBIC members.

2. Must reside in one of the following four

counties: Baraga, Houghton, Ontonagon or

Marquette.

3. Must attend a public or private school.

A student’s Honor Roll status is defined according to the regulations of their school district. Students in grades four through twelve

are eligible to receive this award.

Perfect Attendance follows the school policy

also but time for doctor or dental appointments

and funerals may be allowed. Please contact

the following people for more information:

•

L’Anse Area Schools – Shellie Denomie

524-0367 shdenomi@laschools.K12.mi.us

• Baraga Area Schools – Helen Jondreau

353-6661 hjondreau@up.net

• All others contact Amy St. Arnold 353-4117

amy@kbic-nsn.gov

Houghton, Ontonagon and Marquette students must provide a copy of the student report

cards. If attendance is not noted on the card,

please have a school official document by signature. Report cards may be mailed to Keweenaw Bay Tribal Center, Education Office,

16419 Beartown Rd., Baraga, MI 49908.

SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL

CHOLESTEROL EDUCATION MONTH!

About

half

of

Americans have elevated cholesterol levels—either high or

borderline-high, according to the American Health Association. Artery-clogging

cholesterol is a major

risk factor for heart

disease, the #1 killer

of American men and

women. But because

there are often no

symptoms, many people with high cholesterol may

not know they have it. Call you physician’s office

and schedule a cholesterol checkup today!

CEO’S REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JULY

2009.

Activities Reported by the CEO Larry Denomie for

the month of July 2009.

Fiscal year 2010 budget preparation season has

begun. All Tribal departments, governmental and

enterprise, received notice regarding the timelines

for preparing and submitting their budgets. If all

goes as planned, Council will be meeting to review

and approve budgets by mid-September.

The Anishinaabe Anokii Business Center located in the Tribe’s Industrial Park had closed temporarily in July. The grant that funded the program

ended the end of June but a special request was

approved by Council in mid-July to fund the continuation of the program through the remainder of

the fiscal year which runs through the end of September. Gregg Nominelli, Economic Developer,

and staff of the business center are continuing to

seek grant funding to continue the program beyond

September.

On July 17, 2009, bids submitted for the Old US

41 water main extension project were opened. The

project has been awarded to Danielson Contracting. The project has come in under budget, and

the grant award leaves just over $100,000 in excess funds that must be utilized for other needy

water projects by the end of the fiscal year. A list

of potential projects will be brought before Council

at their meeting on August 20, 2009, for consideration.

An organizational change has taken place within

the Tribe. After review and consideration of demand for internal HVAC and Electrical staff, if was

determined that a reduction of one full time employee would occur. Additionally, there were two

departments operating separate of one another

where they have been now condensed into one.

The HVAC and Electrical department now fall under the Maintenance Department at both the Casino and Governmental operations.

The new Early Childhood Education Center project continues to be worked on. Terri Denomie,

Head Start Programs Director, presented at last

month’s regular Council meeting options in moving

forward with an alternate project. We have met

internally and continue to work on options for the

proposed addition onto the Community Center in

Baraga as well as the option of expanding the current Head Start facilities in Zeba. The Inter-Tribal

Council of Michigan has applied for expansion

grants to have the ability to serve additional children as well as upgrading the facility in Zeba to

accommodate the increase.

Since the initial meeting, we have learned that

KBIC has been awarded an additional $600,000

ICDBG grant through stimulus funding but was denied a $2M grant application through the Native

American Housing Block Grant. The additional

funding received puts a total of nearly $1.3M toward the project. At the direction of Council, we

have formally requested the ability to utilize the

awarded funds to expand at the Zeba location.

Additionally, the Inter-Tribal Council has not received word yet whether their grants have been

approved. Once we know the outcome of their request, we can better decide on which option to

move forward with.

The Tribe’s Grant Office has been working very

hard to meet demanding deadlines for numerous

grant opportunities. They are to be commended for

their efforts and congratulated on the number of

grants they have been able to get out and also get

approved. Along with the additional $600K ICDBG

grant approved for the Early Childhood Education

project, they have recently worked on and successfully written grants totaling in excess of $2M. Some

of the grants haven’t been officially noticed yet, so I

am not able to list them specifically. We will provide a list to Council at their next meeting and will

formally report to the Community next month.

The Health Center has a new addition to staff.

Dr. Dennis Beaufait has been hired as the Psychologist and began office hours the week of August 10, 2009.

Tyler Larson who served as the Tribe’s Youth

and Facilities Coordinator has transferred to the

Tribal Police Department. Shellie Denomie was

hired as Interim Coordinator and will continue in the

position through the end of August to complete the

annual youth trip which this year is to the Chicago

area. Cheryne LaPointe Tolonen Clements was

hired by Council as the permanent coordinator at

their meeting on August 13, 2009. Cheryne will

begin her new job on August 17, 2009.

As always if anyone has questions, concerns or

issues, the CEO’s office can assist with please

don’t hesitate to stop by, e-mail or call.

Ojibwa Community Library News

Come into the library and check out the MEL

(Michigan "e" library) databases that are available

on-line. You can research any topic that is in

printed form, i.e. books, magazines, newspapers,

articles in journals. Once you find what you need,

the information can be printed for $.10 a page.

Once again, I am offering amnesty (late fines

are waived) on books, movies, etc. that have been

checked out of the library and are grossly overdue. This offer is good for one month, anything

returned after September 30, 2009, will be

billed. These items can be dropped off at the book

drop bin at the entrance to the college. Remember

to be courteous when checking out items, return

them on time so others can enjoy them too!

~ Mary Bergerson, Library Director

Miigwetch.

Larry J. Denomie III, CEO

(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 memberowned homes;

• Home emergency assistance program to remedy negative conditions in the home;

• Individual development account program – a 4:1 matched savings

program for member goals that include:

SECRETARY’S REPORT FOR THE MONTH

OF JULY 2009.

In July 2009, the Tribal Council had one

Regular Tribal Council Meeting, two Special/

Finance Meetings and four Special Council

Meetings. The Regular Council Meeting was

held on July 11, 2009, and is covered in the

August 2009 Tribal Newsletter.

The first Finance/Special Council Meeting

was held on July 9, 2009. Actions taken:

• Approved funding projects with the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources

Conservation Service for Sand Point capping and building the walleye ponds;

• Approved the bid of Fischer Biological Services for Hatchery Improvements Feasibility Analysis;

• Approved Resolution KB1695-2009 –

Community Service Block Grant American

Recovery and Reinvestment Act Plan;

• Renewed the Property & Liability insurance with M3 effective July 1, 2009;

• Finance – Reviewed audits of Government, Casino’s, Businesses, Tribal Construction and Ojibwa Housing.

A Finance council meeting was held on

July 14, 2009. Council:

• Financed – Reviewed financials of Casino’s, Businesses and Government;

• Reviewed the FY 2010 Budget timeline;

• Agreed to close the Wildcat Fence checking account and to put the balance towards

the payroll funds due;

• Agreed to post the Youth Director position.

The next special council meeting was held

1. Down payment assistance for home purchase;

2. College tuition and expenses for residents;

3. Business expansion/start-up expenses;

4. Home repair for member-owned homes;

5. Credit repair for homeownership;

6. Vehicle purchase for work/school.

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Low cost home improvement loan program for qualifying tribal

members;

Low cost tax preparation program for residents and tribal members;

Surplus FEMA mobile home program for tribal members;

Stipend program covering mileage and child care expenses for

residents attending college;

Affordable curbside trash service for residents and members;

Prescription subsidy program to reimburse tribal elders and disabled households for prescriptions purchased;

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.

on July 16, 2009. Council:

• Approved the meeting minutes of March

12, 19, 20, and 26, 2009;

• Approved the bid of WRR Environmental in

the amount of $3,621.40 for the Clean

Sweep Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event;

• Approved the bid of Larson Pump Co. in

the amount of $19,000 for 2009 well abandonments;

• Approved Resolution KB1696-2009 – Title

IV-B Grants for Social Services;

• Overturned the termination in Case #01509 and stipulated the employee have six

months probation and attend EAP;

• Agreed to move forward with a News Program for the Radio Stations and to have

the General Manager temporarily appoint a

News Director and develop a job description.

Council met next on July 17, 2009. Actions

taken:

• Agreed to apply for and ICDBG grant for a

gas station in L’Anse;

• Approved a budget modification in the

amount of $25,000 for funding of the

Anokii Center through September 2009;

• Approved the HVAC job description

changes and reassigned the HVAC employee and Electrician from the Enterprises

to the Government;

• Approved the Service Agreements with

Joe Brazeau, Building Inspector and Dominic Picciano, Electrical Inspector.

•

On July 23, 2009, a special council meeting

was held. Actions taken:

Respectfully submitted,

Toni Minton, Secretary

•

•

•

•

•

•

Approved the bid of Danielson Contracting

for the Old 41/Mission Road Water Main

Extension Project;

Donated $100 and a tank of gas to Courtney Swartz for funeral travel;

Donated $300 to Mary Campioni for medical travel assistance;

Donated $250 to the Superior Alliance

fundraiser;

Agreed to open a new account at Superior

National Bank for the Guaranteed Loan

Program;

Approved the M3 Insurance Consultant

Agreement for $30,000;

Agreed to move forward with a CLEC.

The final special council meeting was held

on July 30, 2009. Council:

• Approved the meeting minutes of June 3,

and June 8, 2006;

• Reviewed the draft of the Code of Ethics;

• Approved the purchase of the Voyager

Plus Carpet Extractor for the Casino in the

amount of $9,125.00;

• Approved Resolution KB1698-2009 –

ICDBG grant application for a gas station

in L’Anse;

• Renewed Morin Fireworks Permit;

• Approved the Employment Agreement of

Dr. Beaufait;

• Approved July donations totaling

$1,500.00;

• Approved the Consultant Agreement with

the 106 Group, Ltd.

NOTICE

To all Tribal Seniors 55-years of age and older, and permanently physically

handicapped persons:

SNOW PLOWING REQUIREMENTS

1. Keweenaw Bay Tribal member;

2. Head of household;

3. Reside on reservation (Baraga Co.);

4. Address and phone number;

5. Proof of age and/or PERMANENT physical disability;

6. Sign up at the front desk at the Tribal Center with proof of each item

listed above or mail information to: Tribal Maintenance Department,

16429 Bear Town Road, Baraga, MI 49908.

(10) Midaaswi

HEALTH CARE FOR AMERICA NOW!

Brownfield Program Environmental Property Assessment

Natural Resources Department Brownfield Program

staff recently completed environmental site investigation

and underground storage tank removal activities on a

KBIC-owned property located on Keweenaw Bay across

from the intersection of US 41 and Third Street in

Baraga. A property assessment revealed past ownership by Standard Oil and interviews with knowledgeable

people found that a gas station once occupied this property. A geophysical survey of the property was conducted by Environmental Protection Agency staff in

2008, to attempt to locate any buried materials of the

property.

Following the geophysical survey, a scope of work

was prepared to complete an environmental investigation

at the property. The scope of

work included completing excavations in select areas to see if buried wastes or underground storage tanks from the former gas

station were present.

Tribal Construction was then

hired to complete the excavations.

Excavation activities began in

June 2009, and uncovered a point

well, scrap metal debris, and two

small underground storage tanks.

The tanks were investigated, emptied of liquid contents, and removed from the property. A waste

disposal firm was hired to pump

out storage tank contents which

consisted mostly of water with

trace amounts of petroleum product and to remove a small amount

of contaminated soil found during

the tank removal. After the tank

removal, soils remaining in the excavation were sampled for laboratory analysis. Down gradient groundwater and surface waters were sampled for laboratory analysis. Laboratory testing of samples collected

after all tank removal activity was completed, indicated that contaminants were not a concern in the tank

excavation, and no further actions were required. The excavation was then filled in with clean fill.

The Brownfield Program in the Natural Resource Department is supported using funds from the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency. For more information on the Brownfield Program please contact us at

524-5757 or visit the Brownfield Program website at: http://www.ojibwa.com/html/NR/ERP/erp.htm

2009 Spring Clean Up continued.

Year

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Event

Unit

VOB Spring

Cleanup

VOB Spring

Cleanup

VOB Spring

Cleanup

VOB Spring

Cleanup

KBIC Spring

Cleanup

VOB Spring

Cleanup

KBIC Spring

Cleanup

474 (loads)

Total

(tons)

180

410 (loads)

160

359 (loads)

158

320 (loads)

200

80 (households)

40

97 (members)

60

116 (households)

September 2009

Calendars Events

Sept. 3 — OCC orientation 5pm.

Sept. 7 — Labor Day—Tribal Gov’t businesses closed.

Sept. 8 — KBIC Head Start/Early Head

Start Open House 11am-2pm; first day of

classes at OCC.

Sept. 9 — First day of classes at KBIC

Head Start/Early Head Start.

Sept. 12 — Saturday Council Meeting, 9am.

Sept. 25 — Michigan Indian Day—Tribal

Gov’t businesses closed.

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-today 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.

Thanks for taking time to stand up for a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for all. Call 1888-436-8427 to be connected to your members of

Congress. Don’t forget to call three times, one for

your Representative and once for each of your

Senators. Please be polite. Ask to talk with someone who can speak to the Senator or Representative’s position on health care. Samples of what to

say:

If your member of Congress has not decided

which side he or she is on: Encourage them to declare their support by using the following example.

“I am calling as ask (Senator/Representative _____)

to support health care reform that guarantees quality, affordable health care for everyone. I want a

choice: to be able to keep my private insurance, or

join a public insurance plan based on a family’s ability to pay. I also want rules to regulate the insurance industry so that health coverage would actually

be there when I need it.

If your member of Congress is with us: Give

thanks and reinforce your support by using the following example text when you call. “I am calling to

thank (Senator/Representative ____) for standing

up for real health care reform. Please let him/her

know I am glad to hear that (Senator/Representative

_____) is with us for a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for all in 2009.”

If you member of Congress is with the insurance

company: Share your disappointment and encourage them to join us for quality, affordable health

care for all by using the following example test when

you call. “I have heard that (Senator/Representative

_____) is opposed to a comprehensive health care

solution that makes quality, affordable health care

for all.

Please let (Senator/Representative _____) know

that private insurers have dominated the health care

debate for too long and their solutions don’t work.

Don’t leave Americans alone to fend for themselves

in the bureaucratic, unregulated private insurance

market. We want a choice to keep our private plans

with fair rules to protect us from being denied, or to

choose a public plan that is affordable and accessible to all.”

Ten Reasons To Support

The Health Care Reform Bills

The health reform debate is in full swing, and

proposals are taking shape. Even though key decisions are still being made, it is clear we have

gained significant ground. There is much to be excited about it these proposals. Millions more people will gain health insurance, coverage will be

more affordable, and people will have access to the

health services they need. These provisions will

improve the lives of millions of Americans and give

us the peace of mind that comes with knowing that

we have coverage no matter what. But the road

ahead will not be easy. We must continue to work

for improvements and we must ensure that we do

not lose the gains we have made so far—they are

worth fighting for. Below are some highlights in the

health care reform proposals.

What we’ll get from heath reform:

100

45

1. A major expansion of Medicaid coverage—fully

Bowling is starting at the Pressbox.

Join a league! New

bowlers/teams

are

welcome.

Call the

Pressbox for information 353353-9904.

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

Employment Opportunities

On Call positions:

Board Operator

(Sept. 4)

On-Air Announcer

(Sept. 4)

* Community Service Supervisor

* LPN

* RN

* Unit Manager

* Account Executive/Sales

* Cashier

* Receptionist/Clerical Worker

* Pre-Primary Teaching Assistant

* Youth Program & Facility Attendant

For current job listings, complete job announcements,

applications and closing dates contact: KBIC Personnel

Department, 16429 Bear Town Road, Baraga, MI 499089210 or 906-353-6623, ext 4176 or 4140 or visit:

www.ojibwa.com.

http://www.kbic-nsn.gov/html/personnel.htm

federally funded—for millions of low-income

working families who currently fall through the

cracks.

2. A regulated marketplace that clamps down on

insurance company abuses so people can no

longer be denied coverage.

3. Requirements that insurance companies spend

more of the premium dollars they collect on patient care.

4. Sliding-scale subsidies so middle-class, working families can afford the coverage they need

to keep their families healthy.

5. A strong public plan option that will provide

choice, stability, and an honest yardstick to

keep costs down.

6. Limits on out-of-pocket spending, giving Americans real health security and peace of mind.

7. Much-needed relief for small businesses so

they can afford to offer coverage to their employees.

8. Improvements to Medicare that will help seniors

and people with disabilities afford their drugs

and their cost sharing.

9. Better access to coverage for uninsured children so they can get the care they need.

10. Long overdue steps to modernize the system,

improve the quality of care provided, and curb

unnecessary spending, so our American health

care system delivers the best possible care.

(11) Ashi bezhig

Making friends...

353

353--7127

"Owned and operated by the Ojibwa

Housing Authority. All proceeds go to

affordable housing activities in our

community."

(12) Ashi Niizh

Permit No. 5

Calumet, MI

PAID

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

16429 Bear Town Rd-Baraga, Mi 49908-9210

U.S Postage

PRESORTED STD