# © Copyright 2017 White Earth Nation (2016) > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aminn_chippewa_white_earth%3A963fd9f86a30b112 ## Record - **Collection:** Tribal code - **Document type:** Tribal code ## Text © Copyright 2017 White Earth Nation White Earth Nation Mailing Address P.O. Box 418 White Earth, MN 56591 www.whiteearth.com • www.facebook.com/WhiteEarthNation Fiscal Year 2016 White Earth Nation State of the Nation Report To preserve, promote and enhance our quality of life. Boozhoo Greetings from White Earth Nation! As the past has proven, each year brings with it new challenges and struggles; but out of those trials come opportunities and the promise of a better tomorrow. Many accomplishments have been achieved this past year which reflect the commitment to our overall mission to preserve, promote, and enhance our quality of life. It is with this mindset, we, the Tribal Council, strive for prosperity for all of our tribal and community members. The following report exhibits many successes from this past year and reflects upon the hard work and dedication from those invested in White Earth Nation. White Earth continues to recognize the need for economic development to combat poverty and the ever prevalent unemployment rates plaguing our communities. Because of this, we took great pride in the opening of Shooting Star Casino Bagley which has created over 70 jobs for our people. Over the course of time, the casino will also contribute to substantial economic impact on the reservation, while generating significant financial opportunities for White Earth. The additional revenue created for the tribe will help fund our many programs that deal with education, health, substance abuse and addiction, culture and language, human services, natural resources, and most importantly, our elders and our youth. The commitment to our youth has already begun. In our minds, our children and grandchildren represent dreams, innovation, and new opportunities. Simply put, they are the key to future success here at White Earth, and we continue to invest resources into our next generations as the programs and services offered continue to grow. This past year, eighteen COLA students were given the opportunity to go on a college, career, and cultural trip that took them across the country. The Naytahwaush Community Charter School and the Mahnomen Public School each held their first annual Pow Wow, while we also saw the 30th Annual Head Start Pow Wow. These are a few examples on how we extend our culture, values, and beliefs to a new generation to help continue the Anishinaabe way. With commitment and persistence, there has been much progress made this past year and we take great pride in the many accomplishments achieved. We are truly blessed to have so many hard working individuals dedicated to the success of the tribe and all of its members. The future of White Earth is bright and we look ahead with both optimism and enthusiasm. Thank you to all for your continued support. Miigwech, Terrence “Terry” Tibbetts Chairman White Earth Reservation 1 Tribal Council & Directors White Earth Reservation Tribal Council Terrence “Terry” Tibbetts Chairman Steven “Punky” Clark Kathy Goodwin District I Representative Secretary/Treasurer District II Representative Directors Kenneth Fox Jr. Executive Director Tara Mason Eugene “Umsy” Tibbetts District III Representative Mike Fairbanks Deputy Director Jeri Jasken Larry Olson Ben Bement Elizabeth Foster-Anderson Scott Omlid Behavioral Health Human Services Eugene Vivier Public Works Mary Otto Interim Education Michael Neusser Economic Development Joe Plumer IT Mike LaRoque Public Safety White Earth Enterprises Finance Human Resources Housing Nakoa Graff Monica Hedstrom Natural Resources Patricia Butler Health Steven Howard Thomas Bement Marketing & Communications Rae Ann Smith Compliance Judicial Services Vision: The White Earth Tribal Council will be a proactive organization that makes sound decisions promoting mino-bimahdiziwin (The Good Life). The White Earth Nation will be a safe place where all people have access to quality employment, housing, education, health and human services. While we protect our inherent right to self-governance and identity, we are a community of respect where cultural, historical and environmental assets are treasured and conserved for future generations. History Tradition of Giving Gifts Giving gifts always has been an important part of Chippewa life. Gifts at pow wows and ceremonies showed esteem and confirmed family ties and friendships. Elders and sick people depended on gifts to live. Those who had passed were given food and clothing for the next life. Gifts to outsiders were generous. The Chippewa also gave gifts to the spirits and the spirits protected them, giving gifts in return. One gift of the spirit was the wisdom of visions that came through fasting. Often the visions came in dreams, the special gift of Kitchi Manido to the original people. With the dreams came the duty to act according to their wisdom. To the Chippewa, dreams are spiritual perceptions that give meaning to everyday happenings. Significant even to children, dreams provide a guide for life. The ritual of fasting and dreaming in the forest was an important step for the young Chippewa. With proper preparation, the quest would result in a vision for life. Young Boiling maple sap, 1920 people would blacken their face with charcoal, go alone to a Courtesy of The Minnesota Historical Society special area, and fast until the vision came. An adult always watched over a person on a dream quest. No one would think of interfering. Afterwards, a dreamer shared his vision with spiritual members of the tribe who helped interpret it. Ever after, the vision was a source of strength every time it was remembered. The dreamer decorated his possessions with a symbol of the dream and took his name from it. He could even pass on its strength to someone else. Without such a vision, a person was considered a child for life. And life had no meaning. Government saw mill, White Earth Reservation, 1872 Courtesy of The Minnesota Historical Society June 10, 1910 celebration Courtesy of The Minnesota Historical Society 3 Walking Shield Visits Waubun Believing vision is a basic human right, on April 25th Walking Shield visited White Earth Reservation. Working out of the Waubun High School, doctors affiliated with Walking Shield and OneSight gave over 1,934 eye exams and handed out 850 pairs of glasses. During the event, there were two records broken; largest Walking Shield event to ever take place and most eye exams completed in one day. Explosion Rocks Callaway On March 24 at 12:25 p.m., a tanker truck carrying 10,000 pounds of propane collided with a Canadian Pacific Railway freight train in Callaway. Eleven rail cars and one locomotive derailed. Twenty-one fire departments, eight law enforcement agencies, three ambulance services, the State Fire Marshal’s office, and Canadian Pacific Railway officials assisted in the response. Community Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Callaway opened it’s doors to shelter local residents and provided space for a command post for first responders. Firefighters poured water on the burning tanker for about 10 hours after the collision. Later in the evening at 10:20 p.m., the tanker exploded, shooting a ball of flames into the air. No one was injured and the fire blew itself out. Fairbanks Honored for Volunteering Joe Fairbanks was recently honored for his many hours of volunteering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the White Earth Reservation-White Earth Unit. He received a Pendleton blanket and eagle feathers. • • • Transit donates bus to Naytahwaush Community Charter School White Earth Nation’s WECARE system will be incorporating a new strategy called 2-Generational Approach to reduce poverty Vince Beyl named one of top 3 announcers on pow wow circuit • • • • Naytahwaush Nightriders raise funds for RRV Hospice White Earth Tribal & Community College students are honored for accomplishments and academics Tribal Council helps Santa deliver toys Pine Point received community murals White Earth Child Support Making an Impact White Earth Child Support started transferring cases from the State of Minnesota. Since then, there is a total case count of 1,656 closed/opened cases, which is expected to increase through the transfer project. Additional positive impacts White Earth Child Support has or is in the process of completing are: • There has been $602,000 collected in current and past due child support for the fiscal year • 924 out of 1,087 paternities have been established; ranking White Earth at 85% • The four Tribal Child Support Tribes (White Earth, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, and Red Lake) along with Minnesota State DHS counter parts are submitting legislation proposal on Court Jurisdiction regarding Child Support cases Annual Harm Reduction Summit A two-day public health conference was hosted by a collaborative group consisting of tribal, state, and federal partners focusing on eliminating health disparities related to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), viral hepatitis C (HCV), integrated sexually transmitted infections (STI), tuberculosis (TB), and drug use in tribal and rural communities. The 5th Annual Summit had 41 speakers and 38 sessions (34 breakout sessions and 4 plenary sessions). The purpose of this summit was to bring together multidisciplinary experts, consumers or people living with HIV or HCV, community members, various stakeholders, and tribal leadership to explore best practices, current and emerging trends in addressing HIV/HCV/STI’s and drug use to eliminate health disparities for tribal and rural communities. • • The Summit drew a total of 288 registered participants from over 17 states The Summit brought together health care providers including nurses, physicians, and pharmacists, mental health and substance abuse professionals, social workers, community members, and advocates Harm Reduction Services White Earth Public Health Services (WEPHS) expanded harm reduction services to include mobile public health services in addition to services in the White Earth Public Health Clinic located in the Tribal Health Building. Services include syringe services, HCV screening, linkage to care, overdose prevention education, and referrals for supportive services including “Rule 25” and WECARE assessments. In 2017, WEPHS will continue to expand these services and continue to provide community-based overdose prevention education and naloxone (Narcan) distribution to combat the opioid overdose epidemic impacting the United States. • • • • Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar visits Callaway Festival for Fathers & Families is a big hit with community members White Earth Diabetes Project Run/Walk to fight diabetes White Earth Tribal & Community College • • students take first place at UMD Ojibwe Quiz Bowl Annual Halloween themed Health Fair held in Naytahwaush Transit donates buses to Pine Point Elders and the Boys & Girls Clubs of White Earth Reservation 5 White Earth Fisheries Program Continues Work with Sturgeon The White Earth Fisheries program is in year 17 of a 20-year Lake Sturgeon re-introduction plan for White Earth, Round Lake, and the Wild Rice River. Each year staff work with several agencies and travel to Manitou Rapids to assist in sturgeon egg collection and fertilization. After this process, the eggs are then delivered to various hatcheries throughout the region and held until they reach 6-8 inches in size. When the fish reach this size, the they are ready to be placed into White Earth’s waters. White Earth, with the assistance from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, monitors the fish on an annual basis to check growth rates and to implement a digital tagging system to monitor the fish. These numbers are used to complete next year’s stocking rates and management plans. To date, this has been a very successful effort and White Earth is looking forward to the days of a self-sustaining sturgeon population. Enhancing Wild Rice Beds Community White Earth Natural Resources Department has been working towards restoring and enhancing wild rice beds around the Reservation for three years. Wild rice beds that have been losing their integrity or have nearly lost their self-sustaining status have been prioritized for initial treatment. With the help of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), White Earth has seeded nearly 6,000 lbs. of rice on Roy Lake and Little Elbow Lake. In the fall of 2016, 5,000 lbs. of wild rice were seeded in Shuckart Lake, Little Rat Lake, and Little Vanose Lake. Future seedings will continue as beds reach sustainable wild rice growth and new water bodies are identified for restoration. White Earth Mii-gii-way Advisory Board Last fiscal year, the Donations Committee, comprised of White Earth Nation and Shooting Star Casino employees, approved 116 donation requests for a total of $105,000. Some of the approvals include: • • • • • • • • • • • • White Earth Elders Christmas Party White Earth Elderly Nutrition Program White Earth Job and Career Fair Local Community Councils Ogema Fire Department White Earth Fire Department Waubun School Mahnomen School Circle of Life Academy Naytahwaush Community Charter School Sah-kah-Tay Indigenous Preservation Society (Wild Rice Camp, Maple Syrup Camp, Winter Camp and Berry Camp) Mahnomen/NTW JOM Program • • • • • • • • • • • • • Mahnomen Women of Today Waubun Summer Rec Program Mahnomen Area Youth Baseball Program Baagosendan Program Local Food Shelves Waubun Preharvest Festival Ogema Community Days White Earth DOVE Program Sobriety Pow Wow Detroit Lakes School, Native American Awareness Week White Earth Indian Child Welfare White Earth Early Childhood White Earth Tribal and Community College White Earth Police Gather for Oath of Office & Swearing in Ceremony An Oath of Office and Swearing in Ceremony was held December 2nd for the new White Earth Chief of Police/Director of Public Safety, Mike LaRoque, and all DPS/WEPD police officers, sergeants, investigators, and lieutenants at the Rice Lake Community Center. Minnesota Post Board requires that when there is a new chief of police hired, everyone has to be sworn in by him. The new chief must also be sworn in by a higher official. White Earth Police Department Welcomes New Community Service Officer The new Community Service Officer, Curtis Rogers, will be a liaison for the police department with all the Community Councils, Boys & Girls Clubs, and the Elders Committee. Rogers will be planning and organizing events in each community with the youth and community members. Rogers is a White Earth enrollee and he is also a community member of White Earth Reservation. 2016 Calls for Service Information • • Within the White Earth Reservation boundaries, there were 22,274 calls for service. The White Earth Public Safety Division responded to 15,270 or 68.56%* of those calls Motor Vehicle Department issued more than 2,426 new vehicle registration and registration renewals, 792 picture and descendant ID cards, and approximately 3,339 hunting, fishing, and gathering licenses 42 marijuana plants seized $63,000 507 g processed marijuana $2,000 24 g cocaine $515 73 g crystal methamphetamine $108,486 219.2 g heroin $144,075 46 dosage units LSD, other hallucinogens $9,000 40 g hash oil $3,900 37 g unknown powders Unsure Total street value of all drugs seized $330,976 Vehicles seized: 14 Firearms off the streets: 26 Amount of drug arrests: 205 Anonymous Tip Line: 1-877-410-8550 *Other emergency services responded to the remainder. 7 Lifetime Achievement Award Georgianna Adams was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Pine Point Elders Appreciation day in April. Community members gathered as Adams was honored with a plaque and a Pendleton blanket. Annual Elders Picnic More than 270 elders registered for the event. It was a gorgeous day and there were many compliments from elders on the food, service, and support. White Earth Chairman Terry Tibbetts and White Earth District III Representative Umsy Tibbetts attended and visited with the elders. Elder Sisters Graduate Together at White Earth Tribal & Community College It has been said that learning keeps the mind sharp. Two sisters have decided to do just that by achieving their associate degrees a bit later in life at White Earth Tribal and Community College. Carol “Jean” McDougall, 76, and Lois “Petey” Olson, 70, may be sisters and have different interests, yet both of them felt it is never too late to get that college education they had always thought about achieving. Elders McDougall’s degree is in Native American Studies and Olson’s degree is in Humanities. Both are proud of their accomplishment and did not plan to graduate at the same time but glad it happened that way. These two senior ladies are an inspiration to many because they feel if they can do it, so can others. They both had challenges along the way, yet persevered. For anyone putting off their education because it is perceived as “too late in life,” think again and forge ahead. Achieving that personal educational goal can be rewarding and fulfilling. Just ask the ladies who recently graduated from WETCC and got their degrees regardless of age. Elder Honored at the Head Start Pow Wow Former District I Representative Irene Auginaush was recently honored at the 30th Annual Head Start Pow Wow in Rice Lake. Auginaush has been credited for starting the tradition of holding an annual Head Start Pow Wow. Wisdom Steps Program for Elders More than 25 White Earth elders attended the 16th Annual Wisdom Steps Conference held June 14th-16th in Hinkley, Minnesota. Attendees who gathered learned about health education and participated in various activities. There are 31 participants in the Wisdom Steps program with a total of 244 health screenings received and over 25,877,170 steps walked. Jean Lotvola Retires Jeanne Lotvola, White Earth Senior Store and Caring for Kids Store Coordinator, has retired. Jeanne was one of the original elders who kept the Senior Store going for more than 10 years. In 2007, Jeanne agreed to help the White Earth Early Childhood Initiative by managing the reservation’s first ever Caring for Kids Store and housing it within the Senior Store. Jeanne did a wonderful job of managing both stores, keeping the shelves stocked, working with parents/caregivers, programs and staff. In between doing all of that, Jeanne stayed busy making blankets, teddy bears, or pot-holders for both store. Jeanne was a wonderful asset and will be missed at the stores. 9 Boys & Girls Clubs of White Earth Reservation Making a Difference With the mission statement of: to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens, White Earth Reservation’s Boys & Girls Clubs are having a profound impact on our youth. All clubs are driven by a passionate belief that we all have a responsibility to our youth and the communities in which they live. Boys & Girls Clubs locations can be found in Rice Lake, Naytahwaush, Mahnomen, White Earth, Pine Point, and Callaway. In fiscal year 2016, club leaders began the process of partnering with the Waubun/ Ogema School District to open clubs in Ogema and Waubun. What the Boys & Girls Clubs Mean to our Youth and Leaders Donavan Age: 6 I like to play games like wii with my brother and friends at club. Aj Hill Age: 7 You get to meet a new best friend, play electronics, have fun and eat healthy food. LeAundra Rojas Age: 10 Club is so fun because there is always something new to do and you get to play with your friends. Ryan Madigan Jr. Age: 9 I like club because we get to play games with our friends and my cousin goes there. I stay strong by playing football at club. Youth Cali Mason Age: 5 We get to learn how to bead and learn the Ojibwe language during power hour. Because club is fun and I like learning. Terese Madigan (unit lead) For me working as a Unit Lead at the BGC OF W.E.R, is very important. I see it as an opportunity to connect with our kids through culture and language, and to me they are our future. The next future generation need to be educated and being a part of that is my goal. To educate the youth to be more healthy, successful in all areas of life more than what my generation has, so on and so forth. It’s very rewarding knowing I am giving back in a positive way and that my time is being used wisely. To see our youth having something to smile about, well that’s the highlight of it all. 11 Club Highlights • • • • • There were over 20,000 meals served to the youth Boys & Girls Clubs youth were given a tour of the new Viking Stadium before completion in March 2016 Kelly Concho-Hayes, Director of Organizational Development, Boys & Girls Club Native Services Unit, announces that the Boys & Girls Club is now a newly formed Charter under the White Earth Tribal Council The Annual Golf Fundraiser Tournament was held at Forest Hills in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota Staff and youth went to Valley Fair Mahnomen Teen Named Boys & Girls Clubs of the White Earth Reservation Youth of the Year The Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed, and inspire. 11 As the new Youth of the Year for Boys & Girls Clubs of the White Earth Reservation, 17-year-old Josh Zornes is a true example of an extraordinary young adult recognized by BGCA. Zornes is recognized for his leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle. Zornes has been a Club member for 10+ years, is an active youth council representative, and is currently employed by the Club as a junior staff member. He contributes many of his accomplishes to his family, friends, and mentor Brenda Weaver, Unit Lead of the Mahnomen unit. 11 Circle of Life Academy Students Take a College, Career, and Culture Trip The Circle of Life Academy students were given the opportunity to go on a once in a lifetime college, career, and cultural trip in April. Eighteen of the COLA 9-12 grade students left COLA on April 25th at 7 a.m. They made the three-hour journey to the University of Minnesota Morris Campus and toured the grounds and classrooms. After lunch, they made their way to Lawrence, Kan., where they toured Haskell Indian Nations University. The group spent the next few days touring different landmarks, including the Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo, Texas, and the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe, N.M. The grand finale to the trip was attending the Gathering of Nations PowWow on April 29th -30th in Albuquerque, N.M. Students returned to White Earth on May 3rd with new dreams, souvenirs, and many memories. Tribal Police vs. Naytahwaush Youth Naytahwaush youth challenged the White Earth Tribal Police to a basketball game in May in Naytahwaush. The youth won 89-50. More than 40 Students Attend 18th Annual White Earth Academy of Math and Science Youth In June, more than 40 White Earth Nation students were introduced to a variety of transportation topics in a day long session offered by the Roadway Safety Institute (RSI). The camp focuses on hands-on learning and uses Ojibwe culture and heritage as a vehicle for studying math, science, and engineering. It is offered in partnership by the White Earth Nation and the University of Minnesota. • • • First Thunder being House naming ceremony COLA received the federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court & the Dually Involved Youth Program sponsors Potato Dance • • • • COLA Booster Club raised funds for athletics White Earth Natural Resources staff take Head Start students ice fishing 8th Annual COLA Snowsnakes Tournament White Earth Police play COLA students in a basketball game Pine Point Shines Again at the 8th Annual White Earth Amercan Indian Regional Science Fair Youth Pine Point School brought home six winning projects with 1st place in every category. The top science fair projects included “Flowing Touch,” by Aurora Annette and Linda Diaz, where energy went through people’s body to make a circuit on an electric key board, “Dirty Talk,” by Angela Greenfeather, where iPhones were tested for germs, and “My Eyes Are Playing Tricks On Me,” by Bridgette Basswood. Students Gather for Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Progressive Agriculture Safety Day was held May 17th at the Shooting Star Casino Event Center. More than 110 students from Naytahwaush Community Charter School, Circle of Life Academy, Waubun, St. Michael’s, and Mahnomen learned about electrical, vehicle, chemical, fire, ATV, internet, grain, animal, and farm equipment safety along with first aid. Hill-Murray School Students Visit the Reservation Hill-Murray once again visited White Earth. Spending the week of June 7th-11th on the reservation, students were able to volunteer their time creating 32 large and 74 small raised garden beds for various communities around White Earth Reservation. Continuing to make this trip possible for Hill-Murray students are Ron and Marilyn Mitsch. Ron and Marilyn live in the Twin Cities area and have a special connection to the White Earth Reservation. It is their personal mission to continue to make White Earth a better place for all. • • • • • COLA implements the Backpack Program 5th Annual Shooting Star Scholarship Golf Tournament raised $49,340 for youth White Earth hosts annual lacrosse camp Native STAND came to COLA Pine Point had a 12% increase in the number of students passing the MCA tests • • • • COLA has a fully integrated and staffed Ojibwe Language and Culture Program Pine Point students built dog houses COLA held 1st Annual COLA Moccasin Game Tournament Rice Lake Boys & Girls Club held a 3 on 3 basketball tournament 13 Highlights • • • Government • White Earth officials met with presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in Hibbing, Minnesota White Earth Nation was named as best-suited to manage conservation project 2016 Inauguration of Terrence “Terry” Tibbetts and Eugene “Umsy” Tibbetts Peggy Flanagan became the first Native woman to address the Democratic National Convention White Earth Delegates Meet with Federal Stakeholders in D.C. Government A White Earth delegation led by Chairman Terry Tibbetts and District III Representative Umsy Tibbetts attended meetings with Federal stakeholders July 11th- 13th in Washington, D.C. Discussions were focused on funding for the Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) distribution, land surveying of trust property, and formal introductions to the Federal government. • • • • Kenneth “Gus” Bevins retires after 16 years as District III Representative White Earth Tribal Council was awarded a $5,500 grant from Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless Governor Dayton names first American Indian Supreme Court Justice; White Earth descendant Chairwoman Erma Vizenor resigns Secretary/Treasurer Testifies in D.C. White Earth Secretary-Treasurer Tara Mason and Lorena Vogt, White Earth Land Acquisitions Manager, testified March 16th at the Environment and Natural Resource Policy and Finance Committee Hearing at the State Capital in St. Paul. White Earth has been approved for full funding for a 2,034 acre conservation land acquisition using Legacy Amendment Funding two years in a row. White Earth Nation Welcomes State Funding Government White Earth Nation received $5.18 million from the Minnesota Legislature for essential tribal programs. Funding will support Human Services, Indian Child Welfare, and the White Earth Integrated Businesses Development System (WEIBDS). An additional $1 million government aid appropriation will also support the tribe. White Earth RTC Creates a Compliance Division The White Earth Compliance Division was created in March 2016 and is a combination of newly created departments and reorganization of existing Tribal Government and Casino Operations areas. The division is comprised of Gaming Regulatory, Compliance Adjudication, Casino Surveillance, Risk Management, Quality Assurance, and Drug Testing. Some major highlights include Gaming Regulatory, Surveillance and Risk Managements involvement in the planning and execution of the opening of Shooting Star Bagley facility in August. The opening of a new gaming facility takes research and planning to ensure that all of the gaming regulatory components have been met along with ensuring that all of the environmental and health and life safety codes are adhered to. Compliance Adjudication is a combined government / casino operations backgrounds adjudication processing division for new hires, licensing and renewals. Combining these areas streamlines the processes for both the associates and hiring areas. Quality Assurance is a newly created area that assists departments in drafting policy or procedures to ensure they are compliant with regulations pertaining to specific programs or governing documents, concentrating on implementing best practices. Drug testing is a servicing division for the government and casino operations conducting the testing requirements in accordance with the governing documents of those entities. This division has now outsourced and is providing testing services to outside agencies and school districts. 15 First Traditional Men’s Gathering Event Working to end the battle of addiction on the reservation, the Drug Task Force created the first annual Traditional Men’s Gathering event in August. The conference illustrated the Anishinaabe culture by depicting men’s roles, traditional healing, legal rights, addiction, and much more. The goal of the event was to help men understand their past, how to overcome current struggles, and what they can attain in the future. It was the overall objective of the gathering to ensure every man has the opportunity to be heard and recognized. Devoted to Culture We are devoted to infusing culture across the board internally and externally throughout all divisional programs and resources. Cultural activities include: • • • • Cedar wiping Sweat lodges Naming ceremonies Pipe ceremonies Ojiwbe Signs Spotted on the Reservation Culture Part of ingraining culture in everyday life on White Earth Reservation, new signs have been posted around various lakes. The news signs depict the Ojibwe spelling of the lake with the english spelling below. This project was brought forth by White Earth’s Cultural Coordinator. Lacrosse Bringing Together Culture and Youth Veterans White Earth Housing Authority Receives HUD & VA Grants to Help Native Vets Experiencing Homelessness For the first time, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently awarded $5.9 million in grants to 26 Tribes to offer a permanent home and supportive services to Native American Veterans who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The White Earth Reservation Housing Authority received $142,980. White Earth Honor Guard Remembers: Paul Bud Boswell Robert Skip Swan Willie Morales Garrison Wabbie Evans Bert Stevens Donald Bush Ken Arthur The White Earth Honor Guard also honors and remembers other White Earth Veterans who have passed, therefore not involved within the White Earth Veteran’s Association. Your service is graciously appreciated. 17 White Earth Nation Celebrates Many Pow Wows Through out the Year in Various Communities Pow Wow • • • • • • • • • • • Honoring Our Mothers Pow Wow - Mahnomen Harvest Fest Pow Wow - Naytahwaush Rice Lake Memorial Day Pow Wow - Rice Lake Pine Point Pow Wow - Pine Point Pine Point School Pow Wow - Pine Point Head Start Pow Wow - Rice Lake Circle of Life Pow Wow - White Earth Annual White Earth Celebration and Pow Wow - White Earth Naytahwaush Community Charter Schools - Naytahwaush Mahnomen Public Schools Pow Wow - Mahnomen Shooting Star Contest Pow Wow - Mahnomen 148th Annual White Earth Celebration and Pow Wow More than 435 registered dancers (not including tiny tots) and 20 drums attended the 148th Annual White Earth Celebration and Pow Wow held June 10th-12th. The new 2016/17 Royalty are Opwaganse “Puggy” Goodwin (Senior Brave), Orlando Ellis (Junior Brave), Star Norcross (Senior Princess), and Sophie Rojas (Junior Princess). 19 White Earth Development Organization The White Earth Development Organization (WEDO) was established in August 2015 via Resolution 016-15-017 with the purpose of coordinating development across all divisions and within the White Earth Reservation and external sites of interest. WEDO will utilize all necessary tribal resources at their disposal to successfully achieve development and infrastructure improvements. Although many divisions are called upon for their expertise, voting membership is comprised of representatives from limited divisions: Natural Resources, Economic Development, Public Works, Finance, Cultural, and White Earth Enterprises, LLC. Planning & Development Fiscal year 2016 projects included (some ongoing): • Creation of project protocols • Real Property Acquisition Review Process • Facility Condition Assessment project • Solar PV project • Naytahwaush Pow Wow Grounds • Transit Facility - Waubun • Rice Lake Center addition • Housing First Facility • Blight Building removal project • COLA Ice Rink • COLA Bus Propane fill station • Mahnomen Cultural Center • Maaigin Achigaazo (Gathering Place) • Human Services Office in White Earth • Naytahwaush Drum Hall • RTC expansion feasibility • Mahnomen Head Start Center • Land Use Plan Naytahwaush Pow Wow Grounds Economic Development Foundation Federal Grant dollars for fiscal year 2016 were approximately $11,000,000. Below are White Earth funding contributors: • • • • • • • • • • • Bush Foundation Federal Transit Administration First Nations Development Institute McKnight Foundation Minnesota Department of Health Minnesota Department of Human Services Minnesota State Arts Board National Park Service Indian Health Service Shakopee Mdewakanton Community Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration • • • • • • • U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Energy U.S. Department of Health and Human Services U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development U.S. Department of Justice, Coordinated Tribal Assistance U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women *In years past, this figure was based on all funding from federal, state, foundation, and other sources. This current figure is grant dollars specific to programming. Community Entrepreneurism The Gizhiigin Artisan Incubator has remained focused on the goal of increasing market opportunities, skills, and success of local artist entrepreneurs. Programs like the Traditional Arts Mentorship Program have created unique compensated opportunities for artists to teach their skills and cultural knowledge to dedicated learners. Public art projects have enlisted artists in the creation of new art for the benefit of White Earth communities. Artists wielding improved skillsets are taking steps towards expanding their creative work, taking advantage of market opportunities, revitalizing Ojibwe art forms, and making a positive impact on the White Earth Tribe’s economy and culture. Gizhiigin has dedicated two years in a collaborative effort with artists on White Earth Reservation. In the coming year, we will begin to see the fruits of this labor with the touring and installation of new public art pieces, and the launching of a new artist-owned and operated marketing cooperative called Nitaawichige Arts. The cooperative will sell a variety of artworks, materials, and offer a comfortable space for people to engage the arts through classes, shows, and other public events. The LaDuke Building on Highway 59 and Jefferson Street in Mahnomen has been designated as the new home for the Gizhiigin Incubator and Nitaawichige Arts, and is scheduled to open May 2017. Gizhiigin will now be instrumental in another Economic Development Division endeavor as it becomes an instrumental piece to our communities’ entrepreneurs as an integrated business development system. Integrated Business Development Entrepreneurial System Initiative and Partnerships Gizhiigin, an Integrated Business Development Entrepreneurial System, is a new economic development initiative of the White Earth Tribe that is in the informational stage since its launch as a concept in early 2016. With the interest of the state legislature in working to bolster employment and economic opportunities among minority racial populations of disparity in Minnesota, this initiative was put forth to the state legislature for funding consideration as part of the Disparities Special Appropriations by Tribal Strategic Affairs and with the support of the Economic Development Division. After many months of hard work and in a collaborative effort, the Gizhiigin initiative was able to secure access to a $500,000 grant from the state department of Employment and Economic Development with a yearly grant opportunity thereafter of $125,000. This initiative, in conjunction with the Disparities Special Appropriation, is seen as an opportunity to bring together a historic partnership between White Earth Nation and the local, non-Native community to address the persistent high unemployment rates and limited economic growth within our tribal and non-tribal population. One of Gizhiigin’s major impact deliverables is the creation of the Greater Mahnomen Economic Development Authority as a joint economic development venture of the White Earth Tribe, the City of Mahnomen, and Mahnomen County. This is historic in that these entities have not worked together in the past but now see a mutual need to collaborate for the betterment of our communities. Beyond the emerging partnership with the City of Mahnomen and Mahnomen County, the following partnerships are being developed by Gizhiigin: • • • • White Earth Tribal and Community College (WETCC) - business development training, workforce development, mentoring White Earth Enterprises, LLC – business development Headwaters Regional Development Commission – business development White Earth Training and Employment – workforce training 21 Grand Opening of Shooting Star Casino, Bagley The 21,400 square-foot building opened its doors to the public on August 17th, and offers more than 170 slot machines, table games, and a new dining option - the Little Dipper Bar & Grill, featuring signature burgers, steaks, 20+ taps of local and regional craft brews, and an outdoor lounge area with a fire pit. Bill Marsh, general manager of Shooting Star Casinos, states, “we believe that there will be a substantial economic impact on Bagley and the surrounding areas, creating both new employment and bringing new dollars.” Enterprises According to Marsh, the new casino has created 71 job positions and the economic value of this property will have a substantial impact on Bagely and the surrounding areas. Hours of operation for Shooting Star Casino, Bagley are from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and open 24 hours Friday and Saturday. The new casino is located off Highway 27, in between Ebro and Bagley, at 13325 340th Street. Grand Opening of Tim Hortons Shooting Star Casino, Mahnomen hosted a grand opening February 12th to celebrate its latest addition, Tim Hortons Café & Bake Shop, located inside the casino next to the hotel front desk. Shooting Star’s new Tim Hortons Café and Bake Shop provides a clean, contemporary, one-stop-shop for all hotel and casino guests’ breakfast cravings, offering a wide selection of signaturebeld coffees, expresso-based hot and cold specialty drinks, and famous bite-sized donut snacks, Timbits. Business hours are from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with breakfast choices served until 5 p.m. E e a t i h W Enterprisesrth t White Ear h Market White Earth Reservation is extremely proud of what wild rice has brought to the people of White Earth. Beyond the economic success, wild rice helps us maintain our cultural heritage by allowing those to work the rice beds like their ancestors did before them. Wild rice is more than just a tradition, it is a way of life. With the success of White Earth Enterprises - White Earth Market, our wild rice has become a household name and has brought our buyers much joy. It is will great enthusiasm our business continues to grow in wild rice production and other great traditional areas. As we continue to expand, so does our inventory selection. Consumers are now able to purchase: • • • • • Traditional wild rice Wild rice flour Maple syrup Honey Birch bark baskets With pride and determination, we will continue to serve our loyal customers with the best wild rice possible. Miigwech! Overall sales 2016 Total Revenue - $269,576 2015 Total Revenue - $209,340 2014 Total Revenue - $157,825 2013 Total Revenue - $173,736 2012 Total Revenue - $126,666 Internet Sales $44,137 in 2016 $18,427 in 2015 $24,260 in 2014 $16,163 in 2013 $13,269 in 2012 White Earth Market was recertified - organic from USDA in 2016 realwildrice.com 23 White Earth Reservation’s Drug Task Force Brought forth as an initiative by tribal council in 2013, the White Earth Reservation Drug Task Force brings together multiple programs, divisions, and outside entities with one goal in mind: to eradicate all issues surrounding substance abuse. These regular planning and problem solving meetings began after tribal council’s drug abuse emergency declaration, and continue to bring and share mino-bimaadiziwin issues and healing ideas for all of us Anishinaabeg. Drug Task Force projects include: • • • Drug Task Force • • • • • • • • • • • Telling the stories of positive mino-bimaadiziwin healing happening every day in our villages, sobrietysuccess stories Teaching mino-bimaadiziwin through both traditional-cultural-spirit renewal and modern public health teaching, for all age groups and need groups, including traditional healing ceremonies, elder storytelling, men’s traditional teaching groups, and women’s traditional teaching groups Supporting the MOMS Program work of helping young families with children, born and yet unborn, find healthy and respectful ways of clean and sober life together Protecting our elders from abuse, neglect, and other dangers, listening to their wise counsel, offering safe social opportunities, and providing elder advocates to assist them Providing healthy, safe, fun activities for our young people, including on evenings and weekends Making neighborhoods safer for all, by defeating drug dealing; including deterring drug dealing and drug abuse at our casino locations Encouraging learning, relearning, and daily practical use of Anishinaabemowin language; including bilingual signage, and the recent hiring of a tribal Anishinaabemowin instructor Rescuing narcotic overdose victims with naloxone, by teaching naloxone rescue to all groups and ages, supplying naloxone rescue kits, and offering compassionate post-rescue support Addressing the healing needs of those who struggle with other forms of drug abuse and addiction, not just for those struggling against narcotics Developing restorative justice drug court for adults living on our Gaa-waabaabiganikaag lands Continuing to support our youth restorative justice court, and youth intensive aftercare Preparing better ways to help those returning home to Gaa-waabaabiganikaag from jail or prison; with places to live, work, study, and find transportation Offering our school-age children drug abuse prevention and celebrating sobriety education Making better places and rules for single adults in tribal-endorsed sobriety support housing • • • • • • • • • • • • Sharing the good we have all discovered and learned with our cousins from other tribal nations Strengthening respectful, clear communication and cooperation across all tribal services Sharing timely community health education on issues like carfentanil risks and naloxone rescue Developing safe interim living situations for individuals awaiting entry into intensive treatment care Supporting responsible return to sobriety through medication assisted treatment, plus intensive support services from public and behavioral health, human services, and traditional healing Making harm reduction services and education more readily available to all our villages Addressing and correcting disparities in availability of sober living support, better employment possibilities, and fewer employment exclusions on White Earth Nation lands Supporting effective sharing of helping service registration procedures through WECARE Encouraging better county law enforcement/court cooperation with tribal police and court Developing traditional culture-based crisis response teams, to assist with healing of the wounds of loss and grief Renewing community discussion meetings on problems of drug abuse in our villages Revising tribal housing codes to make them more sobriety-service friendly 25 Total Tribal Expenditures General Government $8,260,540 Health Services $18,467,287 Education $8,000,509 Human Services $18,842,918 Public Safety $2,810,140 Conservation of Natural Resources $2,615,562 Transportation $1,970,335 Economic Development $291,278 Culture and Recreation $1,701,017 Community Service $601,918 Public Works $178,564 0 5000000 5,000,000 10000000 10,000,000 15000000 15,000,000 20000000 20,000,000 White Earth Nation expenditures increased from $64.7 million in 2015 to $75.9 million in 2016. As our program and service offerings continue to expand, we will continue to increase our economic and social diversification throughout the region. Financials In 2016, White Earth Nation provided over $39.5 million in payroll and benefits. This number grows to over $76.9 million annually when coupled with our associates at Shooting Star Casino, White Earth Enterprises, and White Earth Tribal & Community College. FY 2015 vs. FY 2016 Total Tribal Expenditures 20,000,000 20000000 18,000,000 18000000 16000000 14,000,000 14000000 10,000,000 12000000 10000000 8,000,000 8000000 4,000,000 6000000 4000000 2,000,000 2000000 0 0 FY 2015 Series1 FY 2016 Series2 Tribal General Fund $5,720,514 General Government $3,266,358 Health Services $43,409 Education $3,398,395 Human Services $2,497,696 Public Safety $878,721 Conservation of Natural Resources $1,002,970 Transportation $96,387 Economic Development $1,402,332 Culture and Recreation $598,158 Community Service 0 1000000 1,000,000 2000000 4000000 2,000,0003000000 3,000,000 5000000 7000000 4,000,000 6000000 6,000,000 As a segment of total expenditures, the general fund makes up a significant portion of overall expenses. This fund consists of income from gaming revenue, grants, cigarette tax, and sales tax; some of which are restricted to specific designated purposes. In 2016, the general fund outlays totaled $18.9 million and were allocated by tribal council as outlined above. Shooting Star Casino Financials SSC Revenue Payroll & Fringe Net Income EBITDA Fiscal Year 2016 $111,822,957 $33,031,058 $9,062,735 $15,926,577 Fiscal Year 2015 $106,190,824 $32,342,989 $6,609,989 $12,987,039 Fiscal Year 2014 $103,821,100 $30,193,378 $10,074,149 $16,425,884 Revenue Expenses Fiscal Year 2016 $111,822,957 $102,949,245 Fiscal Year 2015 $106,190,824 $99,711,369 Fiscal Year 2014 $103,821,100 $93,761,696 27 Programs and Services Directory Behavioral Health 218-983-3286 Men’s Acute Care Facility 218-936-5830 Circle Back Center 218-983-3285 ext 6402 Mental Health 218-983-3286 Oshki Manidoo 218-751-6553 Substance Abuse 218-983-3286 ext 1297 Women’s Wellbriety Facility 218-751-6553 ext 6202 MOMs Program 218-936-2442 Urban MOMs Program 612-872-8208 MAT Program 218-983-3286 Urban MAT Program 612-872-8208 WESA 218-983-3286 Urban WESA 612-872-8208 Juvenile Wellness 218-983-3026 Indian Child Welfare 218-983-4647 Mental Health 218-983-3285 ext 1284 Dreamcatcher Home Services 218-983-3011 Business Enterprises White Earth Builders 218-473-2145 White Earth Building Supply 218-473-2145 White Earth Business Products 218-473-2146 White Earth Sanitation 218-473-3222 White Earth Market 218-936-3112 Compliance 218-935-2148 Economic Development 218-983-4640 Gizhiigin 218-936-3100 Education 218-983-4642 Circle of Life Academy 218-983-4180 Early Intervention Program 218-983-3285 ext 5306 Head Start 218-983-3285 ext 1353 MSUM/White Earth University Program 218-983-3285 ext 5301 Scholarships 218-983-4642 White Earth Child Care 218-983-3285 ext 1380 Boys & Girls Clubs Callaway 218-375-2220 Elbow Lake 218-734-2419 Mahnomen 218-936-6010 Naytahwaush 218-935-5554 Pine Point 218-573-3328 Rice Lake 218-694-3539 White Earth 218-983-3174 Energy Assistance Program 218-473-2711 Enrollment & Vital Statistics 218-983-4643 Finance 218-983-4645 Health 218-983-3286 Community Health 218-983-3286 Elderly Nutrition 218-983-3286 ext 1266 Diabetes Project 218-983-3286 ext 1356 Health Education 218-983-3286 ext 1356 White Earth Ambulance 218-983-3286 ext 1263 Human Resources 218-983-4646 Human Services 218-935-5554 DOVE 218-983-4656 Employment and Training 218-935-5554 Food Distribution 218-935-2233 Homeless Program 218-983-5554 ext 3263 Resource & Support 218-935-5554 Vocational Rehab 218-935-5554 Housing 218-473-4663 Judicial Services Child Support Enforcement 218-983-4641 Court 218-983-4648 Legal 218-983-4649 Marketing and Communications Public Relations/Newspaper 218-983-3285 ext 5903 Natural Resources 218-935-2488 Conservation 218-935-2578 Emergency Management 218-935-2488 Environmental Affairs 218-935-2488 Fisheries 218-573-3007 Forestry 218-935-5967 Invasive Species 218-935-2488 Land Office 218-983-4650 Pesticides 218-935-2488 Underground Storage Tanks 218-935-2488 Water Quality 218-935-2488 Wetlands/Prairie Restoration 218-935-2488 ext 2102 Wildlife 218-935-2488 ext 2102 Zoning/Land 218-983-3285 ext 5800 Public Works 218-983-3202 Fleet 218-983-3292 Transit 218-983-3283 Water & Sewer 218-983-3202 Veterans Service Office 218-983-3285 ext 5904 White Earth Land Settlement 218-751-6619 Weatherization Program 218-473-4663 White Earth Public Safety 218-983-4651 Crime and Elder Abuse Tip Line 877-410-8550 Dispatch 218-983-3263 29 --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aminn_chippewa_white_earth%3A963fd9f86a30b112. Public record. Not legal advice.