Newly Available Funds to Expand (2025)

Welcome

to Oneida

Monuments Symbolize

Pride for Community

PG 5

HUD Secretary

Scott Turner

Newly Available Funds to Expand

Tribal HUD-VASH Program

PG 6

Bridging the Digital Divide

NFL-Packer Inspire Change Provides

$150,000 Grant to ONSS

PG 7

Congratulations Class of 2025

Featuring High School Graduates from the Oneida Nation

PG 15

2|

JUNE 2025

Shekóli Swakwe•kú. After meeting with Ann McCotter and Joann

Ninham in late 2023, we published

the first article regarding the Oneida

Reads campaign in the February

2024 edition. Since then, there have

been numerous events, trainings,

and several articles supporting this

initiative, including the article about

Maya Payne Smart on page 12.

Needless to say, we stay well connected with Ann about matters of

education, including recently when

we both attended the NFL Digital

Divide event chronicled on page

7. During this time, Ann shared the

pride she feels, and all of us for that

matter, regarding the milestone our

high school students have achieved,

“Congratulations on your graduation! Your dedication, perseverance,

KALIHWISAKS

and passion have brought you to this

exciting new chapter, and we celebrate all that you have accomplished.

As you look toward the future, we

invite you to channel your energy

and fresh perspective into a cause

that can transform lives for generations: early literacy. Oneida Reads is

working to build a strong, equitable

system that ensures every Oneida

child in our community can read proficiently by third grade—a critical

foundation for lifelong learning and

success. Early literacy is an education and social issue imperative to

the future of Oneida Nation. If we

want an innovative workforce, thriving communities, and strong leaders,

we need to recognize that literacy

is critical and refocus on improving reading outcomes, especially in

the early grades. Change starts with

people like you—committed, hopeful, and ready to make a difference.

Whether you volunteer, advocate, or

help spread the word, your involvement can spark a ripple effect of

opportunity across Oneida Nation

and beyond. Together, let’s champion

literacy and create a future where

every Oneida child has the power to

read, dream, and thrive.”

See page 15 for the complete list

of our young Oneida members graduating high school. Congratulations

class of 2025!

Garth Webster

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Contributors

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Leon Webster ⋅ Nevada Skenandore

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Sophia King ⋅ Mel Webster

Carly Skenandore ⋅

Trista Cornelius-Henrickson

All content is © Big Bear Media

unless otherwise noted.

KALIHWISAKS

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Our Stories

4

BC Forum

8

2025 Draft Stage Performance

Spotlights

9

5 

Welcome to Oneida

10

Monuments Symbolize Pride

for Community

6 

HUD Secretary Scott Turner

Newly Available Funds to Expand

Tribal HUD-VASH Program

7 

Bridging the Digital Divide



NFL-Packer Inspire Change Provides

$150,000 Grant to ONSS

15 Congratulations Class of 2025

 eaturing High School Graduates

F

from the Oneida Nation

12

Jameson Wilson

Oneida Nation Smoke Dancers

 reliminary Injuction Granted

P

For IMLS Funding

Oneida Library & Museum Continue Foward

Indigenous Fashion Show

Electrifies Audience

Event Produced by Native Max

Maya Payne Smart Inspires

Emowering Early Literacy with

Oneida Reads

 iny Scholars Shine at Oneida

T

Head Start Graduation

13 

Celebrating Progress:

Oneida's New Transit Facility



Oneida Nation Code Talkers Day

Honor Our Warriors and Our Language

14 

All Nations Solar & Electric

is Powering the Future

19 

Empowering Oneida's Youth

Youth Summit to Provide Platform

for Young Leaders

20 

Commitment to Maternal

Mental Health

Grant Fuels Support Programs

21 

Native Hisotry Book Reviews

22 On Their Journey

31 

Missing & Murdered Indigenous

Relatives (MMIR) Walk

The Big Bear Media team takes advantage of some unseasonably

warm spring weather to install sky dome borders around the

asphalt pathways at the Amelia Cornelius Culture Park.

4|

JUNE 2025

Shekoli Swakweku (Hello everyone),

The warm winds of the summer

season have returned and I hope you

are all enjoying the warmer weather.

We are approaching the halfway

point of 2025, and I appreciate this

opportunity to provide an update from

my office.

LOC Update

The Legislative Operating Committee (LOC) is hosting its Summer

Community Meeting on Wednesday,

June 4th (Alternative date: June 18th)

from 5:30-7:30pm in the Norbert Hill

Center Cafeteria. We will be discussing the proposed amendments to the

Ten-Day Notice Policy, the Election

Law, and the creation of a Renewable

Energy Law. Please join us to provide

input on the development of these

amendments and laws.

OPP Update

The Oneida Business Committee

(OBC) took action on May 1st, 2025,

via an emergency OBC meeting to

Nation Building Initiatives

• Feasibility Assessment

• Create Continuous Improvement

Plan for Government Systems

• Initiative Next Round of

Constitutional Amendments

• Create Oneida Language &

Culture Law

• Carry Out “I am Oneida”

Project Plan

• Enhanced Mental Health &

Well-Being

• Create a System of Commerce

• Strengthen Capacity for Technology

• Foster Innovative Solutions to

Community Challenges

• Invest in Energy Infrastructure

• Research Center

NATION

KALIHWISAKS

cancel the tentatively scheduled May

5th Special General Tribal Council

(GTC) meeting. The intent of the canceled GTC meeting was to hold discussion about the On yote a·ká ni i

Project Plan. In lieu of the cancellation

of the GTC meeting, the On yote a·ká

ni i Standing Committee, whose purpose is to serve on behalf of the GTC

and BC as it relates to the implementation and management of the of the

On yote a·ká ni i Project Plan, held a

community input session on May 5th

at the Oneida Hotel to talk about the

Nation’s enrollment criteria dilemma.

The Special GTC meeting to discuss

On yote a·ká ni i Project Plan will be

rescheduled to a later date in 2025.

Nation Building Update

This term, the Oneida Business

Committee (OBC) is using Nation

Building principles developed by the

Native Nations Institute at the University of Arizona. The five Nation Building principles are Transformational

Leadership, Strong Governing Systems, Seventh Generation Thinking,

Cultural Match, and Sovereignty.

The Nation Building principles

helped the OBC develop a strategic plan which includes 11 longterm initiatives. These initiatives

cover a wide range of topics and

are aimed at helping the Nation

strengthen its position moving

forward. See the graphic below

for details.

Each initiative has an associated

goal statement that is being refined

by the assigned project teams. The

teams are currently drafting project

plans and clarifying.

In closing, I want you to know that

I remain committed to serving the

Nation with compassion, kindness,

empathy, and optimism and will continue the work of creating a safe environment for our people.

Chairman Hill and Councilman Wilson provide

testimony to the US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)

on behalf of the Oneida Nation regarding the

Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) Tribal Leader Consultation in

support of permanent expansion of the Food

Distribution Self-Determination Demonstration

Project.

Left: Councilmen Wilson

and Jonas Hill discussing the Hunting, Fishing

and Trapping Law at the

March LOC Community

Meeting.

Right: Councilman Wilson

presenting on one of the

eleven Nation Building initiatives at the April Nation

Building meeting.

LOCAL

ONEIDA-NSN.GOV

JUNE 2025

|5

Welcome to Oneida

Monuments Symbolize Pride

for Community

By Garth Webster

Oneida Monument Project Team members (L to R):

Brandon Noll, Troy Parr, Stephanie Skenandore,

Crystal Holtz, Melinda J. Danforth, Bobbi Webster,

Paul Witek, Tana Aguirre, and Paul Truttman enjoy a

beautiful sunny day as they reveal the largest of three

monuments that welcome visitors to Oneida.

About ten years ago, Melinda J.

Danforth, Director of Oneida’s Intergovernmental Affairs Department,

became a part of a special project team

whose initiative was to enhance the

place-branding of the Oneida Nation.

The initiative finally came to fruition

recently with the installation of three

monuments welcoming passers-by

to the Oneida Nation territory. Two of

the which, located on the corner of W.

Mason and Taylor St. and the corner of

County EB and Packerland Drive, are

smaller scale signs. The third monument, a much larger sign at 26 feet in

height, is located at the corner of Highway 29 and County Line Road U. All

three feature the Oneida Nation logo

(ONL).

When asked about the use of the

ONL versus the Oneida Nation seal,

Danforth said it’s mostly about utilizing the visual that’s strategically used

to communicate with the target market.

The Oneida Nation seal is used for

government-to-government communications whereas the ONL is used to

market to community residents, tourists, etc. In this way, the ONL has higher

levels of recall because of its simplicity

in text and symbols. The other benefit

was its versatility to be manufactured

more efficiently at large scales and with

more readily available materials.

Danforth points out that the monuments are placed in high-traffic areas

to gain the most exposure, unlike the

green Department of Transportation

Dual Language Signs discussed in the

November 2022 edition. Although both

announce to drivers where they’re

located, the monuments do so with

much bolder, well-recognized visuals

and text.

More monuments are planned in

places such as Highway 172. However,

Danforth says there are many steps,

such as zoning and right-of-way issues

that must be negotiated before installation. For the current monuments, the

intent is to add landscaping and solar

lighting features, especially for the

County U and Highway 29 location.

Metaphorically, it’s been a long road

and thus, Danforth gives credit to the

team for persevering through some

of the obstacles. When the initiative

began, momentum was lost due to

financial priorities. When it became

a viable option again, the pandemic

struck. In the end, other than the project team, she says the membership has

been the biggest source of enthusiasm,

“The community is so full of pride and

has been so supportive of this effort.”

This pride also resonates with Danforth on a personal level who explains

the moment she had with her child,

“I took my kid over there, who’s nine

years old. As soon as we drove by, he

proclaimed ‘ONEIDA!’ This our land.”

6|

JUNE 2025

HOUSING

KALIHWISAKS

HUD Secretary Scott Turner

Newly Available Funds to Expand

Tribal HUD-VASH Program

By US Housing and Urban Development

HUD Secretary Scott Turner addresses the press conference

attendees from the driveway of a newly built housing unit on

Metoxen Lane in Oneida on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

US Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner

announced $2.2 million in new available funding under the Tribal HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing

(VASH) program on Thursday, April

24, 2025. This program delivers critical rental assistance for Native American veterans who are – or who are at

risk of becoming – homeless in Tribal

communities across the nation. Secretary Turner made the announcement

after touring the Oneida Nation with

Congressman Tony Weid and visiting

with the Oneida Nation Business Committee.

The expansion announcement is the

result of approximately $2.2 million in

Fiscal Year 2017 funds that were not

exhausted are now available for grants

to support the expansion of rental

assistance for Native American Veterans who quality. HUD invites Tribes

and Tribal Designated Housing Entities

(TDHEs) to apply for this expansion

funding.

"It was informative and inspiring to

see how Oneida Tribal Leadership

serve their members, including by providing housing and wrap around services to create economic opportunity

and pathways to self-sufficiency for

Native American families," said HUD

Secretary Scott Turner. "For about a

decade, the Oneida Tribe has utilized

HUD-VASH to support Native American Veterans with a specialized set of

tools and resources. The announcement of the newly available funds will

help expand this impactful program to

more Native American veterans across

the country."

"The Oneida Nation welcomed HUD

to our reservation in the early 1960's

and since that time we have worked to

provide affordable adequate housing

for our citizens," said Oneida Nation

Chairman Tehassi Hill. "Across the

country, Tribes continue to have unmet

needs on reservations, and projects

such as VASH move Tribes closer to

closing the gap. We're pleased to have

Secretary Turner come to Oneida for

a firsthand experience and tour of our

housing community."

"The Oneida Nation is an integral

part of Wisconsin 8th Congressional

District, and I have pledged to always

be a partner to them in Washington,"

said Congressman Tony Wied. "That's

why I am proud to stand alongside

Secretary Turner to announce this vital

new funding for the Tribal HUD-Veterans Affairs Supporting Housing (VASH)

Program. Our American veterans

risked their lives for our country, and

they should never have to worry about

losing their housing on Tribal lands. I

thank the Secretary for his leadership

and look forward to continuing our

strong partnership to protect Native

residents across Northeast Wisconsin.

Wisconsin 8th District Congressman Tony Wied, Oneida Nation Chairman Tehassi Hill, HUD Secretary Scott Turner, and Oneida Nation Vice

Chairman Brandon Yellowbird-Stevens, at the press conference where Turner announced $2.2 million marked to provide rental assistance

to Native American veterans

ONEIDA-NSN.GOV

NEWS

JUNE 2025

|7

Bridging the Digital Divide

NFL-Packer Inspire Change Provides $150,000 Grant to ONSS

By Garth Webster

Just one day before the 2025 Draft,

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell,

Green Bay Packers President/CEO Mark

Murphy,

Wisconsin

Governor Tony Evers,

along with former and

distinguished

NFL

players,

including

former Packers players, gathered with

Chairman

Tehassi

Hill and the Oneida

Business Committee

and the faculty and

students of the Oneida Nation School

System (ONSS) to announce a generous

$100,000 grant from the Social Responsibility Team as part of the NFL Inspire

Change initiative. The Green Bay Packers sweetened the deal with an additional $50,000, bringing the total to an

amazing $150,000!

After a welcoming address that

acknowledged the student social dance

singers from emcee Bobbi Webster, she

introduced Governor Evers, who delivered a fitting statement for the highly

anticipated announcement from Goodell, “What’s happening here at Oneida

is really exciting. We want you [Oneida

students and all students in the area]

to dream big and we want you to be

ready to do well in school and make your

dreams come true. The NFL has made

this day happen.”

As Goodell provided a shout-out to the

Oneida Flag Football

Team in the audience,

he stated, “It's important to understand and

experience the cultures of the communities we go to. The

Draft is really about

community and that’s

why we’re here today.

We want to share and

leave a legacy with you, one that lives on

to inspire other kids.”

Murphy, after stressing how important the Oneida Nation has been to the

Green Bay community for over two centuries, including its

partnership

with

the Packers, says,

“We’re pleased to

team up with the

NFL

Foundation

and the Oneida

Nation to bridge

the digital divide

that many Oneida

students face. This

grant will help ensure Oneida’s students

have the proper technological resources

and opportunities to succeed.”

Former Packer and schoolteacher,

Scott Wells, also spoke to the students

and reinforced Goodell’s message of

community, “I was the 251st out of 255

players chosen when I was drafted.

Nobody finds success by accident. I

got to where I am through the support

from my community. The fact that I’ve

had some very supportive and influential

people in my life helped me chase my

dreams. It’s amazing this [Digital Divide

Grant] is being done for you and I appreciate you all for letting me be a part of it.”

Special thanks to all those who made

this event possible, especially Council

Woman Jennifer Webster, Oneida Education and Training Area Manager Jackie

Smith, Oneida Nation High

School

Principal Dr. Artley Skenandore, Oneida

Nation Technology

Coordinator Tony

Romandine, Oneida

Head Start Director Jay Martinez,

and Oneida Reads

Team Leader, Ann

McCotter.

8|

JUNE 2025

2025 DRAFT

KALIHWISAKS

"Welcome to the Oneida Nation, we

have a long history of football and

the city of Green Bay."

Tehassi Hill

Chairman of Oneida Nation

By Mia Charnon

On April 26, 2025, the Oneida Nation Smoke Dancers, led by

Chairman Tehassi Hill, impressed at the 2025 Draft. Chairman

Hill highlighted the strong ties between the Oneida Nation and

Green Bay, their shared football history, and the importance of

celebrating Oneida culture.

Following his remarks, the Smoke Dancers captivated

the audience with their vibrant display, earning enthusiastic

applause. For those who missed it, Halona Media has captured

the entire performance on video, ensuring this memorable

cultural celebration can be enjoyed by all.

Watch the Smoke Dancers

Performance by

Halona Media

ONEIDA-NSN.GOV

CONTINUING COVERAGE

JUNE 2025

|9

Preliminary Injunction Granted for IMLS Funding

Oneida Library & Museum Continue Forward as Executive Order is Brought to Court

By Trista Cornelius-Henrickson

Attorneys general from twenty-one states, including WI, sued protect and strengthen the history, culture and lifeways of the

President Trump to halt the executive order put in place to dismantle, On yote a⋅ká people. Previously ONM has used IMLS funds for

to the maximum extent of the law, seven governmental agencies, exhibits, programming, collections, and technology according to

including the Institute of Museum

Director Stacy Coon. The Oneida

and Library Services (IMLS)

Nation Museum belongs to the

which provides grant funding for

Brown County Federation of Historic

Libraries and Museums across

Organizations (BCFHO) and the

the United States. A preliminary

American Alliance of Museums (AAM);

Future Cultural Center Plans

injunction was issued on May

these local and national partnerships

that Benefit from Grant Funding

6th, 2025, by Chief Judge John J.

allow ONM to take an active role

McConnel, Jr. of the U.S. District

in demonstrating how impactful

1. Classes by visiting conservators on artifact

Court for the District of Rhode

museums are by connecting people,

cleaning and preservation

Island, determining the Executive

fostering learning and community as

2. Community engagement opportunities

Order to be in violation of the

well as preservation and collection

Administrative Procedure Act and

stewardship initiatives.

3. In-depth presentations on art forms/topics

the Take Care Clause (Article II,

Coon encourages patrons to show

4. Digitization of collections and archives

Section 2 of the US Constitution).

their support by requesting tours,

The Preliminary Injunction

visiting museums, and posting on

5. Enhancements to collections and exhibits

orders that officials are prohibited

social media platforms about their

6. Youth and cultural wellness programs

from implementing the executive

visits, participating in any offered

order, and that the IMLS must

programming and to “support our

7. Cultural festivals and events

promptly take all necessary

local artists and shop at our gift

8. Partnerships with other museums

steps to reverse any policies,

shop!”

memoranda, directives, or actions

Oneida Museum

issued from the executive order.

The court has also directed that

IMLS employees and contractors

placed on leave or terminated due to the order shall be restored.

Finally, grants and contracts shall not be further paused, cancelled,

or otherwise terminated.

The Oneida Nation Museum (ONM), to be renamed the

Kahnekano⋅lú Cultural Center following completion of construction

(Spring 2026), plans to move forward with applying for IMLS

Preliminary

Oneida Museum

grants as needed to help further its mission: to preserve,

Injunction

10 | JUNE 2025

FASHION SHOW

KALIHWISAKS

Indigenous Fashion Show Electrifies Audience

Event Produced by Native Max

By Garth Webster

Its S.E.W.

Me Designs

On the evening of Tuesday, April

22, 2025 the Indigenous Fashion

Show highlighted Native fashion and

jewelry that dazzled the audience at

the historic Tarlton Theater in Downtown Green Bay. The powerful lineup

featured designs by Sew Lovely, Its

S.E.W Me Designs by Sunny Webster, Good Feather Designs by Aissa

Roberts, and a collaborative effort

from Ironhorse Quillwork and Irene

Moore Collective.

The event, the first of its kind fully

coordinated by the Oneida Nation,

was led by Oneida Nation Councilman Marlon Skenandore. About an

hour before the event, Skenandore

expressed the pride he felt as customers began coming through the doors.

“Indigenous culture is something

that lives in your heart. For Native

individuals, once you find your wellness, once you find your fire, even if

it sometimes dims, it’s always some-

Sew Lovely

Designs

Iron Horse Quillwork

and Irene Moore

Collective Designs

thing you can hold onto. It’s something you can grasp and build on. As

Native people, it’s important we have

that fire and we nurture it each and

every day.”

The event’s emcee, Ernie Stevens

III had this to say, “It’s awesome to be

here. This is the first time we’re doing

this. It’s been a historic year. Everyone

has done such a great job putting this

together. There’s a lot of excitement

around this event and I’m honored to

emcee the festivities.”

This feeling of gratitude was reaffirmed by Skenandore as he spoke

about his assistant, Fawn Billie,

“She’s been the most amazing teammate I’ve ever had. It’s like we read

each other’s minds and as we put in

the work.” Skenandore credits Kelly

Holms, cofounder of Native Max,

the contracted production company

he says was instrumental in putting

the event together. Also, on Skenan-

Good Feather

Designs

dore's list of recognitions is the contingent of area Smoke Dancers who

kicked off the show, owner of Native

Clarity Photography, Clarissa Friday,

Byran Halona of Halona Media, and

the Tarlton Theater for being such

a gracious host venue. Skenandore

also cites Sadie Hill Kelley from

within the Oneida Nation team for

her coordination.

Among the sold-out audience

were several local dignitaries: Brown

County Executive Troy Streckenbach,

Green Bay Alderman Brian Johnson,

Senator Jamie Wall, and Scott Vele

from the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes.

With the amount of support this

event has received, says Skenandore,

“We’d be letting ourselves down if we

didn’t have more events in the future.”

Stay tuned.

ONEIDA-NSN.GOV

FASHION SHOW

Portrait Photography

Clarissa Friday

Native Clarity Photography

Event Videography

Byran Halona

Halona Media

JUNE 2025

| 11

12 | JUNE 2025

EDUCATION

KALIHWISAKS

Maya

Payne

Smart

Inspires

Maya

Payne

Smart

Inspires

Empowering Early Literacy with Oneida

Reads

Empowering Early Literacy with Oneida Reads

By Mia Charnon

On Wednesday, April 30, 2025,

Oneida Reads hosted two events

with author Maya Payne Smart at

the Oneida Casino Hotel – Iroquois

Complex. The events brought

together Oneida employees, parents,

educators, and community members

dedicated to ensuring every Oneida

child becomes a proficient reader by

3rd grade.

Maya shared valuable insights and

strategies for early literacy, making it

a memorable and impactful day.

Join Oneida Reads in the mission to

support early literacy and help every

child succeed!

Learn more about

Maya Paynes Smart

Tiny Scholars Shine at Oneida

Head Start Graduation

By Mia Charnon

On Tuesday, May 15, 2025, the Oneida Nation

gathered at the Oneida Casino Hotel at 1 pm to

celebrate the graduation of its 2025 Head Start class.

The event was a joyous occasion, honoring the young

graduates for their hard work and achievements.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the

graduates for their remarkable accomplishments!

LOCAL

ONEIDA-NSN.GOV

JUNE 2025 | 13

Celebrating Progress:

Oneida's New Transit Facility

By Mia Charnon

On Thursday, May 8, 2025, Oneida Public Transit

proudly celebrated the grand opening of its new Transit

Garage Facility located at N7341 Water Circle Place,

Oneida. The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony at

2pm, followed by light refreshments. The facility remained

open to the community until 6pm, allowing attendees to

explore the new space and learn more about its features.

The grand opening marked a significant milestone for

Oneida Public Transit, showcasing their commitment to

enhancing transportation services for the community.

The event was well-attended, reflecting the community's

support and enthusiasm for the new facility.

Oneida Nation Code Talkers Day

Honor Our Warriors and Our Language

By Nate Wisneski, 2019

Take a moment to celebrate, honor

and remember our Oneida Nation

Code Talkers on May 23, Oneida

Nation Code Talkers Day. During

WWII, many Native Americans used

their native language to create a

code that the enemy could not

conquer. Our Oneida warriors spoke

with one another using the Oneida

Language to deliver messages and

our language, used as code, could

never be broken, thereby saving our

troops, and protecting our nation.

These Veteran Warriors were the

most honorable and loyal soldiers

in our history. Many of our Oneida

men took this act of heroism to

their graves and never revealed the

secrecy of the code to anyone.

Salute, remember, and honor our heroic

Oneida Warriors Code Talkers

Learn more about

the Oneida Nation

Code Talkers

14 | JUNE 2025

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

KALIHWISAKS

All Nations Solar & Electric is

Powering the Future

By Garth Webster

All Nations Solar and Electric

(ANSE), an LLC owned and operated

by Oneida members Greg Manthe and

Lloyd Zeise, provides electrical services for commercial, industrial, and

residential properties.

Manthe’s journey in the electricity

industry began 15 years ago after

acquiring his Electrical Certificate

from Northeast Wisconsin Technical

College (NWTC). After interning under

the tutelage of Jill Brocker at the

Oneida Department of Public Works,

he worked for several companies in

Green Bay and Madison performing a

variety of roles. While doing so, Manthe joined the Electrical Union where

he was able to demonstrate his leadership skills. Shortly after, his Business

Development Representative noticed

his skills and sent him to a business

class, which proved to be a pivotal

moment in Manthe’s career.

After successfully completing the

class, he started a small business

while continuing to work full time in

Madison. During this time, it became

clear to Manthe that he would need

assistance from his family back home

in Oneida to succeed.

Since January 2025, after recruiting his uncle, Lloyd Zeise, they began

ANSE, using the tagline, Empowering

Energy Independence for All. It’s this

slogan, says Manthe, that drives them

to complete their mission for their

customers, “We want to provide the

Oneida community with renewable

technology to reduce their energy

burden, create pathways for them

to participate in a sustainable future,

and ultimately, energy independence

by installing solar panels and battery

storage.”

In the big picture, ANSE works

with Oneida members to take advantage of Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy

Home Electrification and Appliance

Rebate (HEAR) program. Manthe says

most Tribal members qualify for free

upgrades to their wiring and electrical panels which prepare homes for

the Solar for All Program. On a smaller

scale, ANSE also encourages you

to contact them to upgrade outlets,

power your garage, or light fixtures.

“No job is too small,” says Manthe.

“Our goal is to improve the comfort,

health, and safety of our customer’s

homes while simultaneously reducing

the amount of energy they use, which

by the way, also increases property

values.”

In addition to growing ANSE, Manthe

wants to reciprocate the mentoring

he received by hiring and developing

Oneida members looking to get into

this industry.

“The favorite part of my job is training apprentices and watching them

grow. I’m so proud when they surpass my skills.” He goes on to add,

“My advice for anyone interested in

becoming an electrician is to join the

union. I wish I would have sooner. You

can’t beat the benefits, and you never

have to ask for a raise.”

Learn more about

All Nations Solar and

Electric and the

programs they offer

18 | JUNE 2025

EDUCATION

KALIHWISAKS

Oneida Nation Girls Shine at 2025 Draft

Representing Flag Football and Women in Sports

By Anthony Cornelius, Oneida Nations Girl’s Flag Football Head Coach

n

y

l

y

Ja

Caldwell

Lakeland University Plymouth, WI

Nursing

Basketball

We were invited to the 2025 Draft Experience

on behalf of Toyota and NFL FLAG to attend

the red-carpet event and call off a draft pick on

stage. This experience was so cool to be a part

of. The girls got to hang out with Annie Agar (a

social media influencer for the NFL). They also

did an interview with Jazzy’s World TV (a famous

kid mini mic reporter). Kamaben White also got to

experience the “hand the cap moment” in which

she was backstage for the Packers first round

pick and celebrated him on being selected.

Being the coach for this up-and-coming program

is special. It brought positive attention and

opportunities to our program. Being able to go on

stage with these ladies was powerful. They used

their platform to represent our community, our

school system, and women in sports. Standing

on that stage in front of 200,000 people was

something these girls will never forget. I chose

Jaylyn Caldwell to call off the Draft pick because

she is an inspiring reflection of our school system

and our community.

“To be able to go up on stage and announce one of

the draft picks was so exciting. To be on such a big

stage like the NFL Draft and to represent our school

and our community, it was an honor to be selected.

To have something happen like this at the end of

my senior year was special to me. I’m glad I was

able to be a part of building the Girl's Flag Football

program here at ONHS, but I hope after I leave

more girls will get involved and try it out.”

Jaylyn Caldwell, ONHS Senior

riah

a

M

Cloud

Lakeland University Plymouth, WI

Criminal Justice

Basketball

ONEIDA-NSN.GOV

COMMUNITY

JUNE 2025 | 19

Empowering Oneida's Youth

Youth Summit to Provide Platform for Young Leaders

By Office of Councilman Marlon Skenandore and

Vice Chairman Brandon Yellowbird-Stevens

The On yote a·ká Youth Summit is

taking place on July 12-13, 2025, at

the Oneida Nation Turtle School for

ages 14-24 years old. This is a kickoff event with the intent to establish a

youth council for the long term. There

will be other activities pertaining to

culture, art, sports, mental health,

education, outdoor activities, community engagement, entrepreneurship, and much more!

At the beginning of this Oneida

Business Committee (OBC) term,

Councilman Marlon Skenandore

brought the idea to the table through

their Nation Building Strategic Plan. It

has become an office initiative co-led

by Vice-Chairman Brandon Yellowbird-Stevens and Councilman Marlon

Skenandore’s Offices.

“Being the father to four children,

serving on the Oneida Youth Leadership Institute for three years, and

coaching youth lacrosse for four

years, this initiative runs near and

dear to my heart. It’s important that

we lift the voices of our youth and

young adults to the top, hear their

input, and establish those recommendations into our foundation of

our Nation for the next seven generations and beyond,” says Skenandore.

To assist with organizing the Youth

Summit and Youth Council, Sadie Hill

Kelley (pictured left, below) was hired

as a post graduate employee as an

OBC Project Specialist. Sadie brings

experience from participating in the

National Congress of American Indians Youth Commission, Native Americans in Philanthropy - Native Youth

Grantmakers program, Coordinator

of the Native American Student Association, and Vice-chair of the Student

Athlete Advisory Committee at Colorado Mesa University. Most recently,

she also participated in the 2024

White House Tribal Youth Forum.

With a larger team and experience

that Hill Kelley brings, this initiative

has become a priority for the two

council members.

The registration application goes

live Sunday, June 1, 2025. Please

share this information with friends

and family.

Registration Open Beginning Sunday, June 1, 2025

Oneida Youth Summit

July 12-13, 2025, Ages 14-24

at the Oneida Turtle School

What’s Included

• 3 meals each day

• Tour of Oneida Reservation

• Breakout sessions

• Oneida Lake Activities

• Community Engagement

Scan the QR

Code to register!

A Chance to

win AirPods!

Contact Sadie Hill Kelley

with questions at

skelley1@oneidanation.org

From the office of Vice-Chairman Brandon Yellowbird-Stevens & Councilman Marlon Skenandore

20 | JUNE 2025

HEALTH

KALIHWISAKS

Commitment to Maternal Mental Health

Grant Fuels Support Programs

By Maternal Health Services

The Oneida Prenatal Care Program, funded partly by the Maternal Child

Health grant, provides education and support to expecting families. This

year, the focus is on improving maternal mental health.

Causes

• Biological: Hormonal changes during and

after pregnancy can impact mood.

Completed Tasks

•Met with Oneida Behavioral Health therapists

to discuss screening and referral processes for

prenatal and postpartum women.

• S urveyed Prevea OB and Oneida Medical

providers on their screening and

referral methods.

•C

 onfirmed local, state, and national maternal

mental health resources and created a magnet

listing them.

Next Steps

• Develop a screening and

referral policy.

• Provide updated maternal

mental health educational

materials to providers.

• Increase community

awareness and reduce

stigma around maternal

mental health.

• Psychological: Adjusting to new roles,

relationships, and responsibilities can be

challenging.

• Social: Changes in jobs, homes, and

finances during childbearing years

add stress.

• Genetic/Past Disorders: History of mental

health disorders increases risk, but mood

disorders can affect anyone.

• Historical Trauma: Native Americans have

higher rates of PTSD, addiction,

and suicide.

Treatment

• Speak up if experiencing symptoms prenatally or

postpartum.

•M

 ost maternal mental health conditions are temporary and

treatable.

• Recovery methods include self-care, social support,

counseling, medication, and alternative therapies like Reiki

and traditional practices.

Barriers to Treatment

• Feelings of shame or guilt.

• Fear of being reported to child. protective services.

• Lack of access to maternal mental healthcare,

transportation, or childcare.

Screening Best Practices

• Prenatally: Once per trimester, especially if another

pregnancy occurs within 12 months postnatally.

• Postpartum: At 2-4 weeks, 2-3 months, and 9-12 months

postpartum.

• Concerns: If there are signs of inability to function or bond

with the baby.

BOOK REVIEW

ONEIDA-NSN.GOV

JUNE 2025 | 21

Low ná·note “He is reading”

Native History Book Reviews

On Savage Shores: How Indigenous Americans Discovered

Europe by Caroline Dodds Pennock (2023)

The first victims of the transatlantic slave trade

were Native Tainos being sold in Spain. Most

familiar tellings of Native history are so thin they

don't include slavery, despite the fact that early

Europeans enslaved millions of our ancestors.

In her book On Savage Shores, Caroline

Dodds Pennock inverts our expectations of

history by centering it around the experiences

of Indigenous people. While conventional

narratives are rife with stories of people coming

west, she teaches of Natives’ experiences going

east and making discoveries of their own.

Pennock, a professor of international history,

specializes in early contact and the Aztecs in

particular. In this book, she expands her reach by

highlighting long marginalized stories of Natives

from all parts of the western

hemisphere. We learn about the

varied experiences Natives had

with Europeans as interpreters,

slaves, diplomats, and even family

members. She includes not just

the stories of peoples but also the

transatlantic crossing of our food

and crops and how quickly they

became ubiquitous in the rest of

the world.

The author considers this

book a “project of recovery - of

filling a gap in our knowledge

- but it is more than that: each

Native traveler in whose footprints we follow

enriches our understanding, challenges our

preconceptions, and transforms our impression

of history.” By highlighting individual, often

hidden threads of experience, she weaves a new

pattern into our interpretation of the past. For

example, the first Algonquian alphabet was, for

centuries, credited to Englishman Thomas Hariot

in the late 1500s. This document - long thought

lost - was rediscovered in the 1980s. At the

bottom of the page is a signature, a declaration:

Mateoroidn - “King Manteo did this.” Manteo, a

Native translator, and Hariot were partners in

this creation. Manteo’s agency and contribution

had been silenced for centuries. In 1544, an

Italian described the arrival of “another species

of eggplant” from the western hemisphere

and dubbed it golden fruit. They were eating

tomatoes for the first time.

Pennock shares wonderfully illuminating

passages about tobacco, chocolate, and

potatoes and their movements around the

globe. We also learn of all the various ways in

which Native people used tobacco for medicinal

purposes, relaxation, spirituality, and the

promotion of peace. Today, tobacco, along with

many other products, is “largely detached from

its Indigenous context.” Potatoes are not Irish;

they are from the Andean region of Peru, and

tomatoes are Mexican, not Italian. In enjoying

these various Native products, we see how the

“world had adopted Indigenous habits.”

The most interesting contribution this book

makes is recording the impressions Natives

had of Europe when they traveled

there. Much has been made of

European impressions of peoples

of the Western Hemisphere,

but most renditions about early

contact completely leave out

what the Indigenous thought

about European society. Their

most common reaction was a

“revulsion at the inequality of

European society.” A Wyandot

man was appalled that people had

to beg just to avoid starvation. He

was equally shocked about the

violence meted out “in the name of

justice and parenting.” Three Tupinamba’ visited

France and found two very strange customs:

armed strongmen with beards obeyed a child

(King Charles IX was 11 years old at the time),

and the poor accepted that some people lived

with great wealth while they were “emaciated

from hunger and poverty.” It stands to reason

that our ancestors would be appalled at today's

commensurate level of inequality and poverty

in our own society. We can learn more from our

ancestors as we uncover our true past.

History has its own inertia. Old misconceptions

grow rigid and intractable as each generation

inherits a narrative. Pennock’s re-evaluation

centers Indigenous voices in the history of early

contact. Her book is essential reading for all who

wish to better understand where we came from

and overcome the stale chronicles of the past.

Steven Skenandore

Native History Book Reviewer

Thank you for taking the time to

read my review. My intention with

this column is to teach our people

some of the new history being

written about Native Americans,

as I think we are in a golden age of

historical discovery. I’ll be reviewing

recent books once a quarter related

to Native history, usually centered

geographically on North America.

I obtained my bachelor’s degree in

criminal justice from the University

of Nevada Las Vegas and a master’s

in international security from the

University of Denver. I grew up in

Oneida, Wisconsin but now live in

Las Vegas, Nevada with my wife

Amanda and work as a Police

Lieutenant. My family continues

to live in Oneida and is composed

of my mother Alice, my late father

Roy (Emroy), and my brothers and

sister Ray, Danny, Berry, Clarissa,

and Eddy.

If there is a book you would suggest

or have any comments related to

my reviews, please contact me at

Skenandore@Outlook.com

Artwork by Lance Dillenburg (Thank you!)

22 | JUNE 2025

ON THEIR JOURNEY

CAROL SMITH

April 10, 1939 - May 2, 2025

Carol Smith, 86,

passed

away

peacefully on May 2,

2025, with family by

her side. She was

born in Oneida, WI,

on April 10, 1939, to

the late Arthur

Cornelius Sr. and

Sadie Metoxen. She married the late Nathan

Smith on October 16, 1982, at Oneida Methodist

Church.

Carol lived most of her life on the Oneida

reservation. She always remembered fondly

spending a lot of time as a child with her

grandparents, Mary and Bill Metoxen, in a little

log cabin on Ray Rd. She also lived in California

as a young woman and Milwaukee where she

was a seamstress making formal drapes for an

Italian woman named Amalia.

Back in Oneida, she raised her family. She had a

tavern in downtown Oneida named Caroline’s.

She was also an EMT. One time, infamously,

she was on a call and ended up picking up her

own son who had been accidentally shot while

hunting with a friend. He ended up being ok.

She also worked at the Oneida Nursing Home,

Oneida Health Center, and Oneida Bingo and

Casino. She found her calling as the tour bus

coordinator for the Bingo hall.

Carol loved her grandkids and never missed

a family gathering. She would show up with

a big kettle of homemade mostaccioli or bowl

of potato salad. At one picnic on the 4th of

July, errant fireworks sent everyone running,

including Carol, who first stopped to grab her

lawn chair, her purse, and her plate of food.

Carol lived a good life. She played Bingo and

could move her dauber faster than lightning.

She made great big breakfasts and pots of

soup. She canned tomatoes and pickles. She

went to as many rummage sales as possible.

She enjoyed her birds, house plants, word

searches, and puzzles. She became friends

with Wayne Newton and Willie Nelson and

saw them in concert many times. She never

missed a Friday night fish fry or Sunday night

at Sammy’s Pizza.

She was feisty, and fierce, and loved her family.

Carol is survived by her children: Bonita

(Ernie) Nicholas-Marlewski, Geraldine (Joseph)

Danforth, and Denise (Michael) McVeigh,

stepsons: Blake (CJ) Smith and Kent (Marie)

Smith, sister Betty Stensloff and her brother

Art (Beth) Cornelius. She is further survived

by her grandchildren: Carla, Nick, Christa,

Misty Dawn, Jayne, John, Rosa, Linda, Felicia,

Miranda, Nicholas, Ashley, Thunder, Blaze, and

Ryder, 28 great grandchildren, many nieces,

nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her daughter

Linda Nicholas, son Franklin Nicholas, brothers:

Wendel and Robert Cornelius, and her sister

Marlene O’Donnel.

Family and friends may call at Oneida

Methodist Church from 9:00am to 11:00am on

May 8, 2025. A funeral service will begin at

11:00am with Pastor Jeremiah Cottrell-Duebner

presiding.

The family would like to extend a special

thank you to Unity Hospice, Bristol Hospice,

and Angela Smith (her live in caretaker) for

their great care. Another special thank you

is extended to John and Catrina Danforth

and their family, for opening their home and

providing extra special care to Carol in her final

days.

GERALDINE “GERI” BUECHEL

April 9, 1946 - April 25, 2025

Geraldine

“Geri”

Buechel, 79, passed

away peacefully Friday

April 25, 2025, at Anna

John Nursing Home in

Oneida, surrounded

by her family. Geri was

born on April 9, 1946,

in

Milwaukee,

Wisconsin to Velma Veronica Doxtator. On October

13, 1973, she married Kenneth “Ken” Buechel, who

preceded her in death on January 11, 2023.

Geri enjoyed cooking for her family, diamond dots,

knitting and scrapbooking. Christmas was known

as her favorite time of year, during this time she was

often seen making her candies and other snacks.

She also took this time to happily spoil her family

with presents. One of her favorite past-times was

taking trips to Wal-Mart, often a few times a week.

When she moved to Anna John’s she was, as her

family liked to call her, a “social butterfly”. You could

always find her participating in weekly games of

bingo, Sunday morning coffee and donuts, social

hours, and cultural entertainment that was provided

to the residents. And as a proud member of the

Oneida Nation, Geri would tell anyone that she was

a part of the Turtle Clan.

Geri is survived by her daughters: Lisa (Tom) Van

Haren, Jackie (James) Wilder, Jennifer (Fran) Tyson

and Karen (Kevin) Hamilton. Grandchildren: Nicole

(Robert) Schroeder, Andrea (Oscar) Garcia, Caitlin

Van Haren, Erik Wilder, Evan Wilder (fiancée Yami

Viruet), Isabella Tyson, Jonah Tyson, Zoe Hamilton

and Ethan Hamilton. Great-grandchildren: Owen

KALIHWISAKS

Schroeder, Carter Schroeder, Savannah Garcia,

Naomi Garica, and Navé Wilder. Sisters: Shirley

Jannusch and Diana Baltutis. Special friend: Rosella

Moss and many other family members.

She is preceded in death by her husband, mother,

brothers: Ken “Skeeter” Harris, Bobby Harris,

Daniel “Butch” Morgan, Dennis Pleau and Dana

Pleau. Father-in-law Edmund Buechel and Motherin-law Elsie Buechel.

Family and friends may call at Ryan Funeral Home,

305 N Tenth Street, De Pere from 10:00 AM - 12:00

PM on Tuesday May 6, 2025. The Oneida Hymn

Singers will begin at 11:30 AM, with a prayer service

to follow.

To leave an online condolence for Geri’s family,

please visit www.ryanfh.com

To the staff at Anna John:

We want to express our deepest gratitude for the

incredible care you provided to our Mom. Your

compassion and dedication provided not only

comfort to her but also peace of mind for our entire

family. It takes a special group of people to do the

work that you do, and we are forever grateful.

Our family would also like to thank Elizabeth

Wagner, Bellin Cardiology for all the care given to

Mom throughout the years.

LYNN PATRICK SCHOMMER

July 26, 1953 - April 23, 2025

Lynn Patrick Schommer,

71, passed away

peacefully at his

residence in Green Bay,

WI 54303 on April 23,

2025, with family by his

side. He was born in

Appleton, WI, on July 26,

1953, to Nicholas H. and

Ramona M. (Metoxen) Schommer.

Lynn married Rebecca VanEnkenvoort on October 18,

1983, and later separated but remained dedicated to

one another.

Lynn worked for Oneida since 1990 and retired in 2016.

He enjoyed going camping, loved animals and kids, the

Green Bay Packers, bonfire, and fireworks. He was full

of great one-liners and jokes. He would want us all to

know that he stands tall to talk above them all, “don’t

forget I’m going to the big house.”

Lynn is survived by the mother of his children, Rebecca;

their children, Leah Schommer, Dominic Schommer, and

Joshua Schommer, his daughters, Maria Schommer and

Jasmin Gartland; four grandchildren, Kylee, Destiny

(Mitch), Justice, Mazzie, and one great-grandchild,

Enzo; four sisters, Paula Schommer, Cheryl Schommer,

Darlene (Tim) Flunker, Bonnie Delfosse; nieces and

nephews, Nicole (Dan), Bronson, Jordan (Ben); aunts,

Norma (Gerald) Rammer, Lois Strong; cousins, Kristin

ONEIDA-NSN.GOV

ON THEIR JOURNEY

Okamoto, Jameson (Merissa) Wilson, Pat (Paula)

Metoxen, Krissy Metoxen, and Rae (David) Skenandore.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Nicholas

and Ramona, sister Colleen Schommer, uncle and aunt

Patrick (Sandra) Metoxen.

Family and friends may call at Riverview Baptist Church,

216 N. Main Street, Seymour, WI 54165, from 11:00

a.m. until the time of service at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday,

April 26, 2025, with Pastor Scotty Backhaus presiding.

The Schommer family would like to extend a special

thank you to the staff of Bellin Hospital and Unity

Hospice for their care and consideration.

VERA R. BATISTE

April 21, 1953 - April 30, 2025

Vera R. Batiste, 72 of

Oneida, passed away

surrounded by family on

April 30, 2025. Vera was

born on April 21, 1953 to

the late Willard and

Nellie (King) Johnson.

She married Lee Batiste

in December 29, 1971.

She always enjoyed going to the casino and playing

bingo with her friends. They traveled all around to

play together. She went on a trip to Las Vegas with

her sister Virginia and spent the weekend gambling

and sight-seeing.

Vera is survived by her children, Kimberly Batiste (Carlos

Godinez), Orleana Batiste (Alberto Villalba), and her

grandchildren, Lexus, Brylee, Juaquin, Alejandro,

Elena, Gael, Ariana, Rosalba. She is further survived

by her siblings, Alan R. King, Anthony Johnson, LizAnn

Johnson, Barabara Meyer, as well as numerous nieces

and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Batiste,

her son Charlie Batiste, her parents, and her siblings,

Virginia Johnson, Patsy Skenandore, Shirley Johnson,

Marylynn Johnson.

Friends and family may call at Orleana’s home, 3105

Sandia Drive, in Green Bay, WI 54313 for visitation on

Saturday May 3 at 12:00 PM. Visitation will continue

overnight until 10:00 AM Sunday Morning.

The family would like to thank Unity Hospice, and the

staff at Anna John Nursing Home for the wonderful care

they took of Vera for many years.

AUTUMN LITTLESTAR MACHADO

September 21, 1976 - April 22, 2025

It is with profound

sadness that we

announce the passing of

Autumn Mahado Laes, a

beloved daughter, sister,

Nani, cousin, and friend.

Autumn was called

home in April 2025 at

age 49. Born September

21, 1976 in Green Bay, WI, to her mother Iris Smith and

father, Richard Laes, Autumn was a proud Ho-Chunk

Native American woman whose heart belonged to her

home in Black River Falls, WI.

Autumn embraced life with a vibrant spirit and a deep

appreciation for the simple joys. She found immense

pleasure in the beauty of the outdoors, often spending

time hiking and connecting with nature. Music filled her

soul, and she expressed her creativity and love through

the art of cooking, always eager to share a meal with

those she cherished. Above all, Autumn treasured the

moments spend with her friends and family, creating

lasting memories with laughter and love.

Autumn is survived by her loving brothers, Ira Laes,

Bobby Wilkinson, and Uriah Lewis; her dear Nanis,

Regina Reel and Barb Smith; her cousins, Somer

and Cheyenne Reel; her niece, Jocelyn Kimps; and

numerous other nieces, nephews, and extended family

members who will deeply miss her presence in their

lives.

As a proud member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, Autumn

held heritage close to her heart. In this time of sorrow,

we turn to the wisdom of her ancestors:

Great Spirit, Creator of all, We gather before you with

hearts filled with sorrow. A life, like a young sapling,

has been taken too soon. Autumn’s journey on this

earth, though vibrant and full of promise, has reached

its end before its time.

We do not understand the path you have laid before

her, but we trust in your wisdom and your boundless

love. Embrace her spirit now, guide her on her journey

to the next world. May she find peace and rest among

our ancestors.

Comfort us, the ones left behind, with the strength to

carry on. Help us to remember the joy she brought into

our lives. The laughter she shared, and the love she

so freely gave. Though her physical presence is gone,

may her spirit forever live on in our hearts. Hoka hey.

A visitation was held Friday, April 25, 2025 at 9:30am

at Torgerson’s Funeral Home in Black River Falls with

services that followed at 11am to celebrate Autumn’s

life and the impact she had on all who knew her.

Autumn’s memory will forever be cherished by her

family and friends. May she rest in peace.

JUNE 2025 | 23

DUANE E. ELM

March 31, 1960 - May 11, 2025

Duane Edward Elm, 65,

passed away peacefully

at Aurora Bay Care on

May 11, 2025, of lung

cancer with family by his

side. He was born in

Green Bay, WI, on March

31, 1960, to the late Earl

Elm Sr. and Kathleen

Jourdan.

Some of his most favorite hobbies were creating

beautiful beadwork. He also loved camping, fishing,

and watching the Packers.

Duane is survived by his daughter Danyell Jordan, sister

Laurie Elm, and his brothers Earl Elm Jr. and Robert Elm,

along with many nieces and nephews. He is further

survived by his grandchildren Eli Jordan and Ashlee

Engebos (Special Friend Jennifer).

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Vernon

and Katherine Jourdan, uncles Kermit Jordan, Hubert

Jourdan, Randy Jourdan, Clint Jourdan, aunt Elaine

Danforth, nephews Jimmy and David Doxtator, and

cousin Kyle Dunlap.

Family and friends may call at Ryan Funeral Home, 305

N. 10th St. De Pere, WI 54115, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm on

Thursday May 15, 2025. A memorial service will begin

at 4:00pm with Pastor Juan Alicia presiding. Duane will

be buried on Friday May 16, 2025, at 10:00am at the

Oneida United Methodist Cemetery.

On Their Journey

Please submit obituaries

(300 words or less)

and a high quality photo to

Kalihwisaks@OneidaNation.org

Obituaries longer than 300 words

will be linked online

24 | JUNE 2025

ON THEIR JOURNEY

MARIA STICKA

January 4, 2005 - May 7, 2025

It is with profound

sadness that we

announce

the

unexpected passing of

our beloved daughter,

Maria, at the age of 20.

Maria lived life with

boldness and heart.

She loved loud and she

loved hard, never afraid to show her emotions, speak

her mind, or let those around her know how much they

meant to her. She knew she had a voice, and she used

it with confidence, passion, and purpose.

Maria brought light and laughter wherever she went.

She deeply loved her family and cherished every

moment spent with those closest to her. She shared

a special bond with her parents and siblings- with her

mother, never missing a chance to rave about her

cooking or help to organize and clean the house until

everything was just right- with her father, always talking

about fishing, seeking his advice, or taking a walk with

him in the woods. With her sisters, Nevaeh and Abby,

ONEIDA NATION

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2025 • 12:15PM

Norbert Hill Center

Business Committee Conference Room

N7210 Seminary Rd., Oneida, WI

she enjoyed driving in the car–screaming the lyrics to

the songs and she loved spending every minute before

school finishing up whatever was on the stereo. With

her brother, Jonny, she loved playing Fortnite together

and listening to music on the way to Dollar General.

Maria’s loyalty ran deep–she was a steadfast friend,

a loving sister, dog mom, and a bright light in every

life she touched. Her energy filled the room, and her

presence will forever echo in the hearts of those who

knew and loved her.

Maria had a vibrant personality and a passion for the

things she loved most, including curating unique outfits

from her favorite thrift stores and building her everevolving collection of shoes. She was always the first to

notice trends, and her social media presence reflected

her fun-loving spirit, bold style, and deep care for how

she showed up in the world. Her greatest passion was

taking care of her dog, Asher.

She is survived by her parents: Bernie and Amber

(Klakowicz) Sticka, her oldest sister: Nevaeh Sticka

(Carter Kositzke), her twin sister: Abby Sticka, her

brother: Jonny Sticka, her grandparents: John and Lois

(Dimmer) Sticka, Rick and Tina (Emberton) Klakowicz,

her godparents: Todd Klakowicz (Danae Cleveland),

Find Public Meeting Materials at

Oneida-nsn.gov/government/register/public meetings

Email Public Comments to

LOC@OneidaNation.org

SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES LAW

Ask Questions Here

LOC@OneidaNation.org

920.869.4417

The purpose of the Sanctions and Penalties law is to establish a

consistent set of sanctions and penalties that may be imposed upon

elected officials of the Nation, including members of the Oneida

Business Committee, for misconduct in office; and to establish an

orderly and fair process for imposing such sanctions and penalties.

The Sanctions and Penalties law will:

◊ Provide what behaviors constitutes misconduct;

◊ Describe how an individual can file a complaint against

and elected official;

◊ Provide that complaints against an elected official shall be

handled by the Judiciary Trial Court; and

◊ Describe the potential sanctions and penalties that can be

imposed upon elected officials found to have engaged in

misconduct, and the factors that will be utilized to determine

an appropriate sanction or penalty.

Individuals may attend the public meeting for the proposed

Sanctions & Penalties law in person at the Norbert Hill Center,

or virtually through Microsoft Teams (MC). If you wish to attend

the public meeting through MC, email LOC@oneidanation.org.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2025

During the public comment period, anyone may submit written

comments, questions or input. Comments may be submitted to the

Oneida Nation Secretary’s Office or the Legislative Reference Office

in person, by U.S. mail, interoffice mail, or e-mail.

For more information on the proposed Sanctions and Penalties

law, please review the public meeting packet at

www.oneida-nsn.gov/Register/PublicMeetings.

KALIHWISAKS

Kyleen (Adam) Wertel, her aunties and uncles: Jason

(Lindsey) Sticka, Neil (Steph) Sticka, Jasmine (Justin)

Folkman, Nathaniel Klakowicz, cousins: Allison Sticka,

Jason Folkman, Jaxon Folkman, Teal Sticka, Eli Wertel,

Jacob Sticka, Julia Folkman, Evan Sticka, Milton Sticka,

Calvin Sticka, Jack Wertel, Oliva Klakowicz, Amelia

Klakowicz.

Maria leaves behind a heartbroken family and many

friends who will carry her memory forward with love,

laughter, and strength. Her vibrant soul touched so

many in her short time here, and her presence will be

deeply missed every single day.

Family and friends may visit at Ryan Funeral Home,

305 N. Tenth Street, De Pere, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00

p.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Service will follow the

visitation beginning at 1:00 pm. All who knew and loved

her are welcome to attend.

The service will be streamed through the funeral home

website, and can be viewed by clicking on the "Watch

Webcast" icon below the service information.

In honor of Maria, we encourage everyone to wear

something bold, bright, or thrifted—just as she would

have loved.

ONEIDA-NSN.GOV

EVENTS

JUNE 2025 | 25

Tournament

Entry Form

NOTICES

26 | JUNE 2025

KALIHWISAKS

2025 SPECIAL ELECTION

Saturday, July 12, 2025 • 7am-7pm

Polling locations:

Oneida Community Health Center

525 Airport Dr.

Oneida, WI 55155

SEOTS

5233 W. Morgan Avenue

Milwaukee, WI 53220

Must be 18 or older to vote. Picture identification required for voting. No children allowed in voting area.

Notice to Interested Person(s) Setting Hearing on Applications for Probate

To attend meetings virtually or request a copy of the materials, contact Brooke M.

Doxtator at 920.869.4303 or email land_commission@oneidanation.org.

Applications for Probate have been filed as follows:

Estate of Merlin Melchert, Case No. 2025-LCP-002

1. The decedent with a date of birth of 10/2/1941, died on 8/2/2023 was domiciled

within exterior boundaries of Oneida Reservation in Brown County, state of

Wisconsin at W670 County Road EE, De Pere, WI 54115

2. TO THE FOLLOWING INTERESTED PERSON(S) and any persons not listed herein who may

be indentified by law as potential interested persons: Tami Melchert

3. A Probate hearing has been scheduled for 7/21/2025, 4pm, at N7332 Water Circle Place,

Oneida, WI 54155.

Notice to Interested Person(s) Setting Hearing on Applications

for Probate and Setting Time and Notice to Creditors

To attend meetings virtually or request a copy of the materials, contact Brooke M.

Doxtator at 920.869.4303 or email land_commission@oneidanation.org.

Notice to Creditors: Deadline to file claim is June 25, 2025

To file a claim, contact Oneida Land Commission, Attn. Government Administrative

Office, PO Box 365, Oneida, WI 54155 or email land_commission@oneidanation.org.

Applications for probate have been filed as follows:

Estate of Julie Ann Hill, Case No. 2024-LCP-0007

Estate of Lillian Lavinia King, Case No. 2025-LCP-005

1. The decedent with a date of birth of 7/3/1970, died on 10/3/2022, was domiciled

within exterior boundaries of Oneida Reservation in Brown County, state of

Wisconsin at 3045 Ferndale Drive, Green Bay, WI 54313

1. The decedent with a date of birth of 1/30/1927, died on 8/28/2022 was domiciled

within exterior boundaries of Oneida Reservation in Outagamie County, state of

Wisconsin at W1799 Culbertson Road, Seymour, WI 54165

2. TO THE FOLLOWING INTERESTED PERSON(S) and any persons not listed herein who may

be indentified by law as potential interested persons: Estate of Larry R. Hill, Jr., Robert J. L.

King, Tre'Lonnie E. King

2. TO THE FOLLOWING INTERESTED PERSON(S) and any persons not listed herein who may

be indentified by law as potential interested persons: Estate of Ronald E. King, Sr., Marilyn

J. King, Edwin D. King, Jr., Bruce A. King, Arthur M. King, Albert R. King, Linda King, Nevada

Webster, Onikwintala Webster, Teri Webster, Orlin Webster, Jr., Jonni Webster, Danielle

Webster, Deandra Fowler, Bernard Fowler, Jr., Lisa King

3. A Probate hearing has been scheduled for 7/14/2025, 3:30pm, at N7332 Water Circle

Place, Oneida, WI 54155.

3. A Probate hearing has been scheduled for 7/14/2025, 3pm, at N7332 Water Circle Place,

Oneida, WI 54155.

1. The decedent with a date of birth of 9/19/1970, died on 5/1/2024, was domiciled

on exterior boundaries of Oneida Reservation in Brown County, state of Wisconsin

at 3045 Ferndale Drive, Green Bay, WI 54313

Estate of Martha Braeger, Case No. 2025-LCP-005

1. The decedent with a date of birth of 3/29/1950, died on 12/18/2024 was domiciled

within exterior boundaries of Oneida Reservation in Brown County, state of

Wisconsin at 2700 He Nis Ra Lane, Green Bay, WI 54304

2. TO THE FOLLOWING INTERESTED PERSON(S) and any persons not listed herein who may

be indentified by law as potential interested persons: Michelle Hill, Marsha Skenandore

3. A Probate hearing has been scheduled for 7/28/2025, 4pm, at N7332 Water Circle Place,

Oneida, WI 54155.

Estate of Elaine Melchert, Case No. 2025-LCP-001

1. The decedent with a date of birth of 8/11/1940, died on 5/21/2023 was domiciled

within exterior boundaries of Oneida Reservation in Brown County, state of

Wisconsin at W670 County Road EE, De Pere, WI 54115

2. TO THE FOLLOWING INTERESTED PERSON(S) and any persons not listed herein who may

be indentified by law as potential interested persons: Estate of Merlin Melchert, Tami

Melchert

Estate of Larry Roscoe Hill, Jr. Case No. 2024-LCP-008

2. TO THE FOLLOWING INTERESTED PERSON(S) and any persons not listed herein who may

be indentified by law as potential interested persons: Kendra L. Henry, Erykah R. Hill

3. A Probate hearing has been scheduled for 7/14/2025, 4pm, at N7332 Water Circle Place,

Oneida, WI 54155.

Estate of Anna Marie Haven, Jr. Case No. 2024-LCP-009

1. The decedent with a date of birth of 8/4/1965, died on 11/21/2024, was domiciled

on exterior boundaries of Oneida Reservation in Outagamie County, state of

Wisconsin at N6969 Cornelius Circle, Oneida, WI 54155

2. TO THE FOLLOWING INTERESTED PERSON(S) and any persons not listed herein who may

be indentified by law as potential interested persons: Kelsey M. Haven

3. A Probate hearing has been scheduled for 7/21/2025, 3pm, at N7332 Water Circle Place,

Oneida, WI 54155.

3. A Probate hearing has been scheduled for 7/21/2025, 3:30pm, at N7332 Water Circle

Place, Oneida, WI 54155.

Estate of Russell Bernard Metoxen, Case No. 2025-LCP-003

1. The decedent with a date of birth of 7/6/1934, died on 7/5/2023 was domiciled

within exterior boundaries of Oneida Reservation in Brown County, state of

Wisconsin at 235 Valley Drive, Oneida, WI 54155

2. TO THE FOLLOWING INTERESTED PERSON(S) and any persons not listed herein who may

be indentified by law as potential interested persons: Kirby Metoxen, Kelly Metoxen, Kerry

Metoxen, Kristen Metoxen

3. A Probate hearing has been scheduled for 7/28/2025, 3pm, at N7332 Water Circle Place,

Oneida, WI 54155.

Estate of Karen Kay Nolan, Case No. 2025-LCP-004

1. The decedent with a date of birth of 5/13/1959, died on 12/28/2024 was domiciled

within exterior boundaries of Oneida Reservation in Brown County, state of

Wisconsin at 2775 Metoxen Lane, De Pere, WI 54115

2. TO THE FOLLOWING INTERESTED PERSON(S) and any persons not listed herein who may

be indentified by law as potential interested persons: Louis Guerra, Jr., Maria Buerro, Kiley

Nolan, Connor Nolan, Lauren Hartman

3. A Probate hearing has been scheduled for 7/28/2025, 3:30pm, at N7332 Water Circle

Place, Oneida, WI 54155.

ONEIDA JUDICIARY

Tsi nu téshakotiya tolétha/Trial Court

Payment can be made either in person at the Oneida Trial Court located

at 2630 West Mason Street, Green Bay, WI 54303; or by mailing said

payment to Oneida Trial Court P.O. Box 19, Oneida, WI 54155

NOTICE OF INTENT TO GARNISH

Debtor names:

Shawna F. Sewell

Rosalyn R. Danforth

Kalisa H. Lyons

Johnnie B. Hous

ONEIDA-NSN.GOV

NOTICES

JUNE 2025 | 27

Church of the Holy Apostles

These Rules and Regulations were approved July 11, 2018 and remain in effect today.

Floral Displays

♦ NO sprinkling of cremation

ashes will be allowed

♦ Worn out, faded, otherwise

dilapidated items will be

removed without notice

♦ Cemetery will

be closed from

dusk to dawn no

personal vehicles

allowed during

this time

ITEMS PROHIBITED

♦ ONLY metal or plastic

containers at ground level,

next to the monument shall

be used for fresh cut or

artificial flowers

♦ Live/fresh cut flowers to be

removed after two (2) weeks

♦ One (1) shepherd’s hook per

grave site for hanging basket

♦ Planting of any trees, shrubs,

perennials

♦ Snowmobiles, ATVs, cross

country cycles, dirt bikes

♦ Alcoholic beverages or any

other glass containers or glass

items

♦ Enclosures of any kind around

grave sites (e.g. fences)

♦

Decorative stones, yard

Monuments/Headtones

decorations (signs, solar lights,

♦ Must be made of marble,

planters, toys, pinwheels,

granite, fiberglass, or bronze.

balloons and the like) if deemed

Replace wooden markers

dangerous for lawn equipment

before they deteriorate.

♦ Any unusual markers,

decorations must be preapproved

2937 Freedom Rd.,Oneida WI 54155 • 920.869.2565 • holyapostles15@gmail.com

.

28 | JUNE 2025

EVENTS

KALIHWISAKS

Holy Apostles

Parish Hall

2936 Freedom Rd, Oneida

JUNE 20-21 10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM

VFW Ladies’ Auxiliary will be hosting a

Soup Sale - Friday June 20

Holy Apostles Church, 2937 Freedom Road, Oneida, WI 54155 * (920) 869-2565

* holyapostles15@gmail.com

EVENTS

ONEIDA-NSN.GOV

JUNE 2025 | 29

Kickooff

t

FUN

Wednesday, June 18TH

Oneida Lake from 4 - 6 PM

Address:

W172 Crook Rd. De Pere, WI 54115

Activities:

Kayaking with Oneida Adventures!

Guarantee a spot- contact Sue Majeski:

920-490-3818 or adventure_dept@oneidanation.org

Giveaway items: (while supplies last)

JMIO beach ball

Buffalo snack sticks from Oneida Nation Farm

More information:

920-490-3927

hleisgan@oneidanation.org

5/1/25

JustMoveit Oneida

2025 SEOTS COMMUNITY PICNIC

June 21st 12-3pm

Humboldt Park (3000 S Howell Ave)

Food

Activities

Raffles

SIGN UP REQUIRED! Scan the QR code Or follow this link:

https://forms.office.com/r/XBdHecpikE

For more information:

414-329-4101

SOUTHEASTERN ONEIDA

TRIBAL SERVICES(SEOTS)

UPCOMING EVENTS

June 3rd Lunch & Potluck 10:30am with Oneida

Nation Museum Presentation at 11am

June 4th Estate Planning Clinic 9am and 10:30am

(sign up required)

June 6th Laptop Distribution (sign up required)

9am and 2pm

June 24th Elder yoga, lunch, and bingo 10am-12pm.

June 13th 11am or per shipment arrival- Tribal

Elder Food Boxes

June 17th 12pm Tentative Cultural Heritage DayGreat Law, with food, storytelling, and activities.

June 21st 12-3pm SEOTS Community Picnic at

Humboldt Park. Food, activities, and raffles

provided. Limited to 120 participants, sign up

required.

July 10th SEOTS Youth Camp Begins. Every

Thursday and Friday until August 1st.

FOL L OW US ON FA CEBOOK OR CH ECK OUR

WEBS I TE FOR OU R MOS T U P TO D A TE EVEN T S !

LOCAL

30 | JUNE 2025

KALIHWISAKS

Know Where to Go!

RESOURCES

Oneida Behavioral Health is a resource for mental

health & substance abuse information, resources,

programs, and services.

ASSISTANCE

Call or text 2-1-1 anytime for free assistance with

human, social, mental, and basic needs and for help

during disaster situations.

SUPPORT

Call 920.436.8888 anytime when immediate support

is needed to prevent a situation from becoming

dangerous.

LIFELINE

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free

and confidential support for people in distress as well

as prevention and crisis resources for you and your

loved ones.

CRISIS

Call 9-1-1 to request immediate assistance from

police, fire, and rescue personnel for any in-progress

situation that could potentially result in danger to

someone’s life.

What to Expect

A Crisis counselor will work with you so they can understand the

situation and help you problem-solve, explore options and possibly

send help to deescalate the crisis.

If there are concerns a person might harm them self or someone

else, the counselor will complete a risk assessment and work with

you to determine what is needed to help the person

be safe and stable.

Crisis counselors work to provide trauma-informed, person-centered

support in the least restrictive way. Hospitalization does occur at

times, as the last and least used option. Most are healed by finding

ways to increase support and reduce risk.

Crisis counseling is a short-term service to address an immediate

mental health need. If ongoing services are needed, or if there

are needs or services besides mental health support, the crisis

counselor will help people connect with resources.

Follow up services will be provided to determine if the crisis has

been resolved or if additional support is needed.

Oneida Land Claims Commission

Oneida-nsn.gov/OLCC

Call 9-1-1 if you or someone you know is in danger

as a result of a mental health crisis.

For more information visit:

Oneida-NSN.gov/Resources/Behavioral-Health

BrownCountyUnitedWay.org/2-1-1

FamilyServicesNEW.org/Crisis-Center

ONEIDA-NSN.GOV

MMIR

JUNE 2025 | 31

PRSRT STD

US POSTAGE

PAI D

ONEIDA WI 54155

PERMIT NO. 4

She Looks for News

PO Box 365, Oneida, WI 54155-0365

2701 W. Mason St., Green Bay, WI 54303

WE'RE HIRING!

Gaming and Hotel Positions

Program and Service Positions

www.oneida-nsn.gov/resources/kalihwisaks/

@kalihwisaks