Published Bi-Weekly for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Published Bi-Weekly for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Storytellers Pt. 3:

Ruby Bellanger

pages: 6-7

Volume 53, Number 11

Our masthead this issue features Winnebago tribal member, Henry Roe Cloud /

Wonah’ilay hunk ga [1884-1950] HRC was

born on our reservation in 1884 and was soon

orphaned by both parents. He was sent to

Genoa Indian School along with his brother.

He traveled east to attend prep school in Massachusetts. He graduated as Salutatorian from

Mt. Hermon Prep in 1906. He then attended

Yale College, graduating with a BA in psychology and philosophy in 1910. Later he earned

a master’s degree from Yale (Anthropology) in

1914. Henry took the name Roe from his adoptive parents during his undergraduate years.

Working in education throughout his career,

he brought attention to the under-education

of Indian people at all levels. Haskell Indian

Nations University bestowed his name to one

of their dorms in honor of his service there as

Superintendent. We are featuring him here

in light of this year’s robust commencement

activities. Our people have been creating educational pathways forever, both foundationally

academic and culturally historic.

Nį̄šoc Nįgešąną

Bago Bits

The Class of 2024!

Photos inside

pages: 4, 5 & 9

Mą̄ Hitawus wīra

Earth Drying Moon

WHS Graduates 48 for Class of 2024

By Brian Chamberlain

Photos by Garan Coons / archives

[Winnebago, NE] On Sunday, May 12th,

2024, Winnebago Public High School held

its commencement ceremonies for the Class

of 2024 here. Their class moto: “We’ve

learned from the bad times and were humbled by the good.” With forty-eight graduates walking across the stage the event was

as exciting and commemorative as ever.

“We made it!” stated class Salutatorian,

Devin Houghton, during his commencement

speech delivered to the crowd.

Winnebago Public School has graduated

some large classes in recent times. Some of

those numbers reaching toward sixty plus

students. While this year’s class was not

quite that large, the sentiments and emotions ran just as high. Class Valedictorian,

Beginning May 10th, the Village Farmers

Market is back every Friday. The hours

usually range from 10am-5pm, weather

permitting. Woodland Trails is the next

location if moved due to the weather. The

season will last until October 25th. This is

the 5th year running! Local Vendors bring

their goods ranging from: breakfast/lunch,

baked goods, fresh vegetables, beadwork,

regalia, quilts, handcrafted decor, raffles

and more! Stop by and support local small

businesses.

The Winnebago County Roads crew are

replacing the bridge on the South-end of

town, heading towards Walthill. Roundabout

traffic has taken longer with the one-way

lane stoplights, as a result Sunrise Drive and

the Twelve Clans Unity Hospital traffic has

risen. The bridge will be getting a 72-inch

aluminized corrugated metal pipe replaced.

Construction is expected to end mid july.

The bridge was built in 1917. The picture

shown above was taken in 1972 after it was

widened from 18 to 24 feet and had rails

added. Questions can be directed to the

County Engineers Office at 641-585-2905.

Pictured above is the current progress.

Saturday, May 25, 2024

Melodine Earth, addressed those in attendance providing her underclassmen with

some sage advice from her years at WHS;

“you don’t have to be perfect.” She went on

to describe how learning to reach beyond

your personal comfort zone can provide

many welcome surprises, as it did for her.

As is now tradition for the graduates of

Winnebago High, the matriculated class

were presented with several gifts, including

star quilts and honor songs. Because the

event also fell on the national holiday, which

is Mother’s Day, the speakers from the class

offered their own brand of well wishes. Salutatorian, Devin Houghton coyly said, “…

this counts as your gift, right?” meaning his

diploma and speech to his own family. The

crowd chuckled appropriately as the good

feeling from the day swelled.

The members of the Class of 2024 have

a wide array of plans following their graduation. Athletes, academics, and those

focused on their careers were all celebrated. Besides the numerous scholarships

offered and accepted, the students also

recognized how simply reaching for new

goals is amply part of any good plan to

move forward. “I’m so proud of everybody.,” said Valedictorian, Melodine Earth

as she recalled examples of achievement

and progress for her classmates.

The Winnebago Indian News congratulates each of the graduates. Our best

wishes for your bright future go with each

of you. Ladies and Gentlemen, we proudly repeat the presentation of this year’s

graduating class from Winnebago High

School – the Class of 2024.

TRINIDAD-SNAKE WINS BKFC BOUT

By Brian Chamberlain

Photos: Garan Coons / Brian Chamberlain / BKFC

[Omaha, NE] Inside a packed Liberty

First Arena, Carlos Trinidad-Snake took

only 13 seconds in the opening round to

defeat his competitor here. Although the

round completed its full measure of time,

Trinidad-Snake knew he had dealt a finishing blow following an early round exchange.

“I’m not a doctor at all and I recognized

right away that it was broken - just by the

way it was hanging.” he stated about his

opponent’s broken jaw during a post-fight

interview held with The Big Voice Radio’s

Bago Sports Talk Show.

Trinidad-Snake went on, “There was just

a loud snap. Like as soon as it happened.

I feel like some people thought we butted

heads or something because it was a real

fast exchange. But it was definitely the jaw.”

Recounting that first round’s events have

become the norm now for the young fighter

who hails from Omaha, Nebraska. The short

bout essentially decided in just 13 seconds

due to his quick upper cut which landed

squarely on his opponent’s jaw causing the

match-up to be called for Trinidad-Snake

by TKO. Trinidad-Snake was pitted against

Dustin Pague of Pennsylvania. A fellow

fighter then ranked #4 in the welter-weight

class for the BKFC [Bare Knuckle Fighting

Championship].

The event was full of hype and delivered

on all points. The arena hosting the event

was sold out and the online subscriptions

were strong. When asked about his pre-fight

prep, Carlos explained, “You gotta know

what your mission is. That’s it. All this other

stuff is just another night in the office, another

night in the gym. This is all the extra. The

Con’t. on page 2...

Visit us at winnebagotribe.com

Page 2 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, May 25, 2024

Wāgax’ap cōwe hijaira

Front Page Continued

Cont. from front pg. - TRINIDAD-SNAKE WINS BKFC BOUT

cameras and stuff, they just get a viewing.”

Trinidad-Snake told the Bago Sports interviewers all about his level of focus prior to

the fight. Quoting boxing champion Mike

Tyson during that interview, it was clear the

28-year-old knew how to remain vigilant to

the task at hand.

While Trinidad-Snake knew he had dealt

a damaging blow early on, he did not know

the severity of his hit until the bout was called

in his favor just before round two was set to

begin. On his competitor, Trinidad-Snake

rained accolades of respect for being a

warrior willing to stick it out despite his then

unknown injury. He said Pague told him, “He

told me after the fight that he knew he had

that one chance to finish the round and go

for it. And he definitely did.” The TKO was

declared for Trinidad-Snake following a ringside examination from onsite medical staff.

Up next is the probability of a title match

up with reigning BKFC Champion, Austin

Trout. Trout is a former boxing champion

who has taken to the bare-knuckle realm

in recent years. Immediately following the

win, Trinidad-Snake confidently exclaimed,

“Austin Trout, you ain’t (expletive),” He went

on saying, “You’ve got nothing for me, dude.

You’re holding my belt, and I’m coming for

it at the end of the year.” Due to the rules of

the championships, that pending fight is yet

to be scheduled. Most likely however, it will

be set for some time near the later quarter

of 2024, if not beyond.

Carlos graciously accepted The Big

Voice’s hosting for his post victory interview

in Winnebago. Showing his solid upbringing, he remained humble and held much

respect for his family as well as for the fans

of his who are now growing exponentially

in number. “Thanks for all the support. It

means a lot. I’m working to give you guys a

world champion.” he stated proudly. Moving

now to an undefeated 5-0, this young and

humble Winnebago son definitely has not

reached his peak. Trinidad-Snake is the son

of Annabelle Trinidad-Snake, and grandson

of the late Lenore Snake.

Saturday, May 25, 2024 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 3

Wāgax hų̄k ra wāgax hokik’ųna

Letter to the Editor

SUICIDE IN INDIAN COUNTRY PART 47

A Word About Depression

Most suicidal people are depressed. Depression is the common cold of modern

life. Unfortunately, most depressions go undetected and, therefore, untreated.

The good news is that depression is generally time-limited and quite treatable.

The symptoms include nervousness, crying, inability to concentrate, poor sleep,

fatigue and a general or specific loss of interest in friends, food and fun, and, for

most, recurring thoughts of death and suicide.

As a caring friend or family member, you need to know a couple of things about

depression and suicide. First, since depression saps energy and purpose, sometimes the depressed person is “too tired” to carry out a suicide plan. However,

as the depression finally begins to lit, the suicidal person may suddenly feel “well

enough” to act. Therefore, any sudden “happiness” in a depressed person should

be challenged directly with the question, “Have you decided to kill yourself?”

As strange as it sounds, once someone decides to end his or her suffering by

suicide, the hours before death are often filled with a kind of chipperness or even

a blissful calm. Again, this change in behavior may mean the person now has the

energy to carry out an act of self- destruction.

If in doubt, never hesitate to ask, “Have you decided to kill yourself?” or “Are

you feeling suicidal again?”

The person may lie to you, but this is unlikely. Whatever you do, do no talk yourself out of asking the question, and do not be lulled into a false sense of security.

Tomorrow could be too late.

A Word About Alcohol

People who finally take their lives by their own hand must pass through a sort

of psychological threshold before they act - a kind of final wall of resistance to

death. This wall is what keeps many seriously suicidal people alive.

Of all the things that can remove this wall of resistance to death, alcohol is the

most dangerous. Quick-acting and readily available, alcohol at intoxicating levels

is found in the blood of most completed suicides – whether or not they ever had

a drinking problem.

To help your child, friend or loved one get through the days and weeks ahead

and to strengthen this wall of resistance to death, asking them not to drink is very

good medicine. Never offer them a drink or encourage drinking in any way. Alcohol

makes depression worse, impairs thinking and judgment, and, like driving without

a seat belt, often contributes to tragic accidents – including suicides.

Many people who are not sure they want to die drink to intoxication to dull their

pain. Once under the influence, they may feel a kind of false courage to play dangerous games, such as overdosing on pills, loading a firearm, driving fast, etc.

Major life decisions are difficult enough when a person is depressed and feeling

helpless and hopeless; adding drunkenness to the problems can only make things

worse – usually much worse.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 (TALK), Winnebago

Behavioral Health 1-402-878-2911, After Hours Crisis # 1-712-259-3263.

JESUS OUR SAVIOR

LUTHERAN OUTREACH

“Knowledge of the Truth”

‘God our Savior, wants all men to be

saved and to come to the knowledge

of the truth.’ [1st Timothy 2:3-5 NIV].

So what is knowledge? Knowledge is

by definition: facts, information, and

skills acquired by a person through

experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of

a subject.

Now where can one find the knowledge about God our Savior?

Hint: it is not in looking and studying

the world around us. Oh, one can see

the handiwork of Creator God - in the

creation. Yes, in the sun, the moon, the

stars, the planets and galaxies one is

or should be totally amazed! However, you will not find a label anywhere

in these works that states: MADE by

Creator God!

Yes, one can study the intricacies

of the human body, the circulation

system, the formation of the eye, or the

various parts of the brain, but you will

not come to knowing who designed

one’s stupendous body. Once again

there is no label found on or inside

a human body that states: MADE by

Creator God! Such a belief is based

solely on the teachings found in a

book.

This book is God’s Sacred Word,

often referred to as the Bible. The

Bible is a book of books that points

one to some of the mysteries of the

world - such as: creation and who is

the Creator; where suffering and death

come from; and what is to be expected after one’s demise. Hidden in plain

sight in this book is the knowledge of

God’s plan of salvation.

There are many people who have

read the Bible but to no avail, to no

benefit. Maybe they read it as a self-

By: Pastor Ricky Jacob

help type of book. The Bible is not a

self-help book. Nor is a book in which

Creator God attempts to control one

through fear.

Ultimately the Bible burst any

thought that one can save or rescue

oneself. Or that Creator God desires

to control one through fear tactics.

Rather one should be brought to the

realization that one is powerless over

sin and its consequences.

In other words, each and every

person has disobeyed one’s Creator and is in need of being rescued

from the consequences of one’s own

rebellious actions. One’s choice to

not walk in God’s ways leads one

to banishing oneself from His loving

presence in paradise.

God’s Sacred Word is not a selfhelp book. Truth be told God’s Sacred Word is a book about Jesus, the

world’s one and only Savior. Faith in

Jesus Christ is one and only way to

life everlasting and this is the truth!

The Holy Bible is the one and the

only place where one can come

to the knowledge of the truth! And

in this word of truth, one comes to

learn that God our Savior, wants all

men to be saved! Creator God has

provided the one and only one way

to be rescued and that is through

faith in Jesus whose bloody sacrifice

and victorious resurrection from the

dead offers the blessed hope of life

everlasting.

Do not take me at my word.

Rather take Creator God’s son at

his word. ‘Jesus said, “I am the

way and the truth and the life. No

one comes to the Father except

through me. If you really knew me,

you would know my Father as well”

‘ [John 14:6].

Winnebago Indian News

is owned and published by the

Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska”.

The next issue of the WINNEBAGO INDIAN NEWS will be published on June 8, 2024. DEADLINE for this issue will be June 4, 2024.

——————————————————

The Mission of the WIN is to inform and to educate

the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska of issues that

affect them, and to be a vehicle in which stresses

positive and beneficial concerns and points of view.

LETTER POLICY: Signed editorials, letters and

articles appearing in the WIN are the responsibility

of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the

opinion or attitude of the Winnebago Indian News

or the Winnebage Tribal Council.

The WIN encourages the submission of Letters to

the Editor; however, letters must be signed and

addressed. Letters may be edited for language

and length.

Postmaster Send Address Changes To

Winnebago Indian News

P.O. Box 687

Winnebago, Nebraska 68071

——————————————————

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is prohibited.

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(Issn 1060-3026) At Winnebago, NE

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winnebagoindiannews@winnebagotribe.com Winnebago Indian News Staff

Phone: 402-878-2272

Brian Chamberlain...................................Editor Coly Brown................................ Member

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the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska”

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Page 4 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, May 25, 2024

CLASS OF 2024

Congratulations!

WINNEBAGO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

ALEXANDER WALKER

AMIAH TYNDALL

ANTOINETTE BLUE

BOBBIE RICHARDS

TREYLYNN SHERIDAN

CARRIMEN PRETENDS EAGLE

CASHUS KEARNES

DAMON PAYER

DARIAN EARTH

TYLEE BASSETTE

DEVIN HARDEN

DEVIN HOUGHTON

EARLY SNOW

ELLIE SMITH

WARRICK LONEWOLF

EUGENE DECORA JR.

FIONA SOAP

GIA SCOTT

HOWARD BASSETTE IV

XANTHONY CLEVELAND

JACIE WALKER

JAVON STOUT

JOSUE OLIVAREZ

JOSEPH GRANT

ZANE BASSETTE

Grad Ad Sponsored by:

Saturday, May 25, 2024 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 5

WPS CLASS OF 2024

JULIUS BASS

KADEN KENNEDY

KHALEN LITTLEGEORGE-CLOUD

LEANGELA ROBINSON-LINCOLN

MACKENZIE WARE

MARCEL PICOTTE

MATEO CANALES

MELAKI GEORGE

MELODINE EARTH

MICHAEL HULIT

MIMIKE DOLEZAL

MISTY EAGLE

MYLA MILFORD

NIZU BAKER

OSCAR EARTH II

OTIS BASSETTE

QUINYA HARDEN

ROBERT RIVERA

SANTINO NIEMAN

Grad Ad Sponsored by:

TIMOTHY LAPOINTE

R-EON HOUSTON

Page 6 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, May 25, 2024

Question of the Issue:

If you could go back in time to your high school graduation,

what would you tell yourself?

Garan: I graduated high school in 1999. I would say don’t worry about the

Y2K bug; it wasn’t nothing. I would also say, stop listening to R. Kelly and P.

Diddy! Watch those artists with abbreviated names. haha!

Brian: Hmm, in 1990 I just wanted to escape. I’d probably just tell myself

to store the keepsakes better. All those things, like my yearbook and class

senior pix got tossed by someone else. I wish I still had them, because I had

everyone’s. … oh, and “follow your dreams.” ;-p

Tyler: this one really had me thinking. I’d tell myself to focus on my goals

rather than having fun. I don’t regret the memories though :)

Kevin: If I was able to go back and tell my young self at graduation, would

be, stick it out in college, you can have way more fun later. Oh! and your first

love is not your last. EDITOR’S NOTE: ¡ADIO!

Christina: Don’t overthink your decisions and when you decide on something just do it!

Bethani: In 2012, I couldn’t wait to be on my own. I would tell myself to

stay focused! Continue pursuing my education & do not give up - no matter

what! I’d end the convo with a big bear hug while whispering, “change those

shoes before the ceremony!” :)

STORYTELLERS

Ruby Bellanger (part 3 - finale)

The Winnebago Indian News sat down

recently with a special tribal member, Ruby

Bellanger. Ruby agreed to speak with us

after I introduced the new column idea to

her following a recent public event. She

was genuinely interested in providing her

stories to the WIN and held an apprehensiveness due to her self-awareness of being

in possession of an opinion. Once we began

speaking, the WIN assured her that our readers wanted to hear her points of view and her

experiences – opinions intact, so we began

our dialogue. We had many laughs and we

also named quite a few people. Ruby’s life

is certainly at no shortage for people all

throughout it.

The WIN will employ a standard verbatim

dialogue throughout this printed interview to

preserve as much as possible the original

intent and context of our discussion. However, some editing has been done for clarity.

The original transcript remains in the WIN’s

possession. Ruby’s appearance in the WIN

is entirely voluntary and her perspectives are

hers. So please enjoy this conversation as it

is meant to describe her points of view on the

life she has, and the experiences she’s lived.

We are so glad she bravely shared them

with us, unapologetically. Ruby knew her

story was hers to tell. The WIN appreciates

her ability to open-up and share so much

of her story with us. Ladies and Gentlemen,

please allow me to introduce once again our

first Storyteller debuting in these premiere

issues of the Winnebago Indian News: Mrs.

Ruby Bellanger – in her own words.

WIN (W) – (On being a judge)

Ruby B. (R) - For one thing, it’s the, I’m

still from the old school and I’m looking at it

as the washboard because they’re singing

those songs, you know. I’m looking for their

arm movement, and some of their feet are

going a little bit too fast, and some are actually jumping.

That’s what I look for. Some of our girls

now they’re arms are coming out. They’re

supposed to stay close. And they keep them

down here. But now they’re ending those

songs like this [arms misplaced]. I’m looking

at them as washboard dancers.

(W) – (MC at powwow)

(R ) – There was always kind of somebody. As far as I can remember there was

an MC. And that’s how we knew the songs,

what family they belonged to and stuff like

that. Because one of my earlier ones I remember [was] Sam Tebo. It was whoever.

Everything now is so organized. We weren’t

really that strict, organized. Sam got up there

and talked. Different ones asked him, can

we do the such and such song? And he’d

you know announce it. It was just a fun time.

(W) – (powwows being organized)

(R ) – I think it was better [back then].

Because now things can’t happen because

people go, oh no we can’t have that because

at 2 o’clock we’re having this or we’re doing

this. It’s too cut and dried now. It’s better

when things just sort of happen. And now

we try to end the powwow early on Sunday

so people can get home. But back in our

day, we didn’t care when they got home.

We went until the singers got done singing.

[laughs] Somebody made mention to me,

well if they’re in that big of a hurry to get

home, what did they come here for? And

then they’re powwow people! So, they have

this all figured out, so we don’t need to be

cutting it short like that, but we do, so they

could get home. But most powwows do

now, all over.

(W) – (dancing traditionally / after session)

(R ) – I always did. No fancy. …just after

hours [laughs] I got fancy. [laughs] I was

darn fancy! [laughs] After the singers got

done singing, they’d wait about maybe

half-hour once we got electricity out there.

Because we had just three or four light

bulbs burning out there. They’d shut off the

lights. The singers would come back into

[the arena] and sing for us kids. We used

to have Dave Littlebear and the Funmaker

boys from Wisconsin and some of our local

singers. They’d come back and sing for us.

That’s when we’d act up. One time there was

this stray dog. He [Dave] [loosely gestures

hands] tied a rope around its neck and he

told one of the girls, now you have to do the

dog dance. So she takes that [rope] and

she’s just dancing away with this dog. We

used to have fun like that. Kids don’t have

that kind of fun anymore.

(W) – (powwow activity)

(R ) – Sometimes when I was really young,

like about 9, 10, just starting. I used to be a

little bit embarrassed because we had a lot

of drunks. We don’t have that any more in

the arena and stuff like that. There used to

be a lot of drinking. So that’s one good thing.

I’m glad that stopped. Kind of stopped all

over really. I think. That used to be a little bit

embarrassing. Because them were the days

when we had like white people at the powwow. We don’t have that many white people

[anymore]. Because if you think about it,

everybody has a powwow. Everybody. Even

people that don’t even know how to powwow

have a powwow. Powwows are dime a dozen

now. So I think the few white people we get,

they just happen to be going down the road

and saw a sign and pulled in. But there used

to be a lot, lots of white people.

(W) – (changes in regalia)

(R ) – We used to wear a lot, not a whole

bunch, but glass beads. Now they wear

those seashells. And they’re so thick! We

never had that when we were [young].

Cause one time I told this one girl, cause

she had so many [on], I said, I see you went

down to the seashore again. Of course, she

got mad at me and I thought, I better go sit

down [laughs]. I went and sat down. And that

was over kill. But see again we’re doing that

so the judge will look at me. A lot of that is

because they’re contest people.

I like the way the young girls [dress] now,

and the material that’s out there, they put

their colors together. They’re just beautiful. I

just like them all. Colors you think wouldn’t go

together, but the way they know how to put

them together, it’s really pretty. They make

some, the girls are making pretty outfits.

(W) – (a judge’s advice)

(R ) – We just judge. What would I tell

them? To find out about their feathering. Why

they’re getting [it] and who it is and why he

can give it to you. Because the veterans now

days are a big part of our powwow, and a lot

of our kids don’t know anything about World

War II, or Korea. They maybe know a little

bit about Vietnam, but they don’t know why

we’re doing half the stuff we’re doing. I just

think they need to know that. For whatever

reason, I wish they knew about the Holocaust, and stuff like that, what a lot of our

guys went through. Which they never talk

about, which is bad in a way. But there’s

things they could learn. But they don’t know

why we’re doing half the stuff we’re doing

out there.

When I ran it, I never judged, I just took

care of the tally. And never cheated! [laughs]

The women I picked for judges they knew

what they were doing. [the regalia] That’s

some of the stuff they look at. Dancing is

kind of it. That’s what I notice mostly, they

judge by. When you talk about the dancing,

what do you look for? One of the things

is they don’t dance on their toes. I said, I

don’t pick ballerinas. Because [our] women

dance flat on their feet. [lightly beats table]

They don’t toe dance. I don’t, I won’t judge a

fancy dancer or jingle, because I don’t know

nothing about them dances. So, I don’t like

to judge them.

(W) – (seeing jingle dress first)

(R ) – I learned [about] it out in California.

In fact, Joe was a Chippewa. His people

sent Denise a little dress. And I thought, oh

that’s a jingle dress? And then older ones

start coming out. It kind of made me take

notice a little more. I just thought it was a

cool dance. Some other tribe, that’s fine with

me. Whatever they want to do.

(W) – (jingle being an Ojibwa dance)

(R ) – Yeah that’s where I heard it came

from. There is a big story behind it. But now

it’s nowhere near like it was. They’re all fancy.

If you watch some of them girls I thought, I

bet she used to be a fancy dancer. Because

boy she’s lifting her legs and what have you.

They just changed [over time].

(W) – (the future around the arena)

(R ) – I guess what I really want, is I want

to see our men up there. We just don’t [have

many], I mean we got the women and they’re

still dressed like we used to dress. But these

women that’s got little boys they gotta start

putting them out there. But they don’t want

to put out for them. Anymore these outfits

cost money. They can go to the casino and

what have you, but they can put that money

into their children. But they got to get those

little boys out there.

And that’s just kind of true not even being

around the arena. Look at all our committees, it’s women. And with Winnebagos it’s

supposed to be the men. So that’s what I

want to see. I want to see them taking back

responsibility for what they’re supposed to

do. But again, that’s just like the mothers.

They don’t know what to, what to teach their

children, so it’s the same with the men.

(W) – (enjoying the powwow event)

(R ) – [I like] meeting different people.

Looking at different outfits. Not so much the

stand, or the vendors, but the actual people

that are out there dancing, looking at how

they’re dressed. Because it’s so inter-tribal

now. I like looking at all of them.

(W) – (return of grass dancers)

(R ) – Oh I like that! Because in the 19…

somewhere around the 50s. My cousin came

from South Dakota. He was a grass dancer.

His name was Harold Rave. That was the first

time I met him. He was my uncle’s boy. His

mother was a Sioux woman. But the Siouxs

raised him. We were, like I said we didn’t

have grand entry. We were kind of in and

out. We heard these big old cow bells and

we were like, wow, who’s that? He came

into the arena and he started dancing and

that’s what he was. He was a grass dancer.

He took the powwow by storm I should say.

[laughs]

Later that evening, I think one of my aunts

said, come over to the tent we want you to

meet somebody. I thought, oh here we go,

another old relative from Wisconsin [laughs].

And it was Harold. Then he moved down

here. He was around my age so we had a

lot in common. So that’s how I got introduced

to the grass dancers. That was in the 50s.

And those outfits are easy to make. You

don’t need feathers. You don’t even have to

have beadwork. You needed a roach, but by

them days everybody [did their own]. That’s

why we had a lot of little ones. And that was

a good way to start the little ones off, with

the grass dance outfits. Because they were

easy to make.

(W) – (if going back 50 years)

(R ) – 1970, what would I hold on to? Just

try to, I guess the way we still attend funerals

and wakes. Because I just don’t think they’re

getting the respect of what they’re all about.

Now they’re like party time USA. Mostly we

need to hang onto a lot of our traditions.

(W) – (on language)

(R ) – I like the language program. It’s

been here forever. I think in the 90s didn’t it

start? So, by now the majority of us should

be talking Winnebago. Because it’s been

here so long. But I still don’t hear it out here.

(W) – (about wakes and funerals)

(R ) – Something I notice now days. I

feel bad for our children because of this

technology. You go to a wake. The children

now days, their parents are young. Even

with the parents, they’re all sitting there on

their [phones]. Nobody is listening to that

individual talking. That’s where I learned a lot

of stuff. People stood up and talked and you

listened. But now, nobody pays attention.

It’s just kind of like I don’t even know if they

know they’re being disrespectful because

it’s almost just the norm. That our kids do

not know nothing.

With this technology there’s certain things

you do that at wakes at funerals. That’s the

Winnebago way. Not the Native American

Church, the Catholic, the Dutch [Reformed]

it’s the Winnebago way. Nobody kind of

pays any attention to that. So there’s just

[a lot there]. And our kids are definitely not

paying attention, so where are they gonna be

10 years from now? Where they gonna be?

They don’t know nothing. They don’t wanna

know nothing. So language is being taught,

which is good, but there’s no traditions being

taught. Along with everything.

With this technology, I don’t find it funny.

I don’t know what I find [it]. People are putting, say I passed away, Heavens forbid!

Somebody’s gonna put on Facebook, oh

Ruby we’re really gonna miss you. Am I on

Facebook when I’m dead?! They’re talking

to me, a dead person, on Facebook! I find

that, to me that’s kind of a cop out. Because,

ok, I put it on Facebook. So I don’t have to

go out to the wake. I don’t have to sit with

the family. I don’t have to be there for them.

I already put it on Facebook, I’ll pray for you.

That’s something, I said. I just don’t care for

technology. I mean it’s good but know when

to use it. And we don’t use it for something

like that.

I’ve been going to so many and then

growing up. The best thing we have to offer,

maybe not anymore because everybody’s

got jobs, we got money. But my growing up,

the best thing you could give somebody was

food. That’s why we eat a lot, in everything

we do. And we always had soup. So we

always have to have soup.

A relative of mine, one time we were at

a memorial. When we got done eating my

relative said, oh gee that was too much food,

showing off. And I said, no, no. They’re not

showing off. They’re giving the best they

got. And what we ate is the best they got.

[In] my growing up we had soup, frybread

and a little haas. You know what haas is?

Something sweet. And that was the best

that family had. But now days, she said, oh

I never thought about that. Because that’s

what you give. That’s why if you ever notice

everything we do, we eat.

But something that bothers me, when we

go to eat, people bring in their own drinks.

Some bring in their food to give to their kids.

Which, that’s another old story. And if you’re

bringing it, you’d better be able to share it.

But you look at everybody, they’re all sitting

around with [their own]. And that shouldn’t

be, because the people who are sponsoring

everything, they put out a lot of money to for

this food to make it nice for you. And you

bring your own food and little drinks? A little

weird there.

(W) – (funeral meals)

(R ) – I kind of think I remember when they

started doing this cafeteria style eating, was

when that white church was there. What was

that, a Presbyterian? We called it a white

church because only white people went

there. The Indians went to the Reformed

Church, the Dutch Reformed. So anyway,

that’s when I noticed that and I thought, hmm

that’s kind of weird. But now everybody does

it. Everybody does it.

And then, when it’s a funeral, the family

always eats first. And now they have somebody fixing a plate for me. But I’m just sitting

there waiting to get in line. I’m not waiting for

food. So when these young people that are

passing out the food, they’ll bring me a dish,

and I go, no, no. Some day may be the day

I’ll need you to wait on me, but today isn’t the

Con’t. on page 7...

Saturday, May 25, 2024 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 7

CONT. STORYTELLERS PT. 3

day. Go give that plate to a mourner that’s

still in line trying to eat. So see the people

in charge don’t even know that. You’re not

supposed to, you know. If I’m sitting there

and I’m that old and can’t get up, my relative

that I came with, cause I’m sure must have

came with [someone], they’re supposed to,

as they’re going through the line bring me a

dish. But don’t feed me first, because that’s

the family.

Even the family sometime don’t know

what to do. Because a couple of times I had

to tell them, you gotta sit down cause they

were [moving around] after everybody left,

and I know they were shook up and whatever, they’re trying to clean the table and

sweep and stuff. I said, you’re not supposed

to do nothing. You just sit there. And they

go, oh… well. I know they’re all shook up,

but that’s not the way it’s supposed to go.

When it’s a funeral, and who ever you put

in charge, their wife takes over the whole

[meals] or their lady relatives takes over the

whole morning, noon, night, you know. When

you have memorials, then it’s the family eats

last. But now, I was just at one last week, and

the person in charge said, ok we’ll start with

the family. And I thought, nah. But what am

I gonna do, jump up and say No!? Even the

people in charge [misunderstand].

(W) – (children at wakes / funerals)

(R ) – My growing up, I went with my

grandma wherever something was going

on. But I better not talk. Or get up and run

around or whatever. I just knew that. And

half the time I didn’t want to go because I

couldn’t behave. [laughs] So you just knew,

but that’s what you were taught. But see

we’re not teaching our children that. We’re

letting them run and play these machines.

Just not paying attention. Sometimes maybe

it’s ok, cause some of those little ones. But

you don’t bring them if they can’t behave.

(W) – (the person in charge telling the

family to let go)

(R ) – That’s what I mean. When that

person’s standing up there talking. That’s

what they talk about. Even if they repeat it

over and over again. That’s how you learn

it. That’s how I learned it. Nobody sat me

down. Winnebagos don’t cry. We don’t wail,

or boo hoo. We shed tears, but we don’t cry.

But that’s what they should be standing up

there talking about. And that’s what they did

say. Even when we’d be in the car going up

to the cemetery, they’d used to say, don’t

look back. You can’t be looking back. They

say you’re looking for them. I never looked

back, because I didn’t want to be looking for

[them]. Our kids don’t even know that. If you

really listen to them or talk to them they don’t

know. So somewhere along the line we gotta

get some culture into these children. But it’s

so easy to give them that phone and [say]

here, sit down here, and drink your pop.

(W) – (on more funeral thoughts)

(R ) – I very seldom tell people that kids

had to eat last. Because now we feed them

first to get them out of the way. If you didn’t

[eat what’s taken], they never did pass

around a garbage can. You took everything

home. But like I said, I’ve seen kids throw big

chicken breasts away. I thought, why did

that mother let that kid take that [big] piece

of meat? It just made me sick. Because I

grew up when food was a little bit on the

scarce side.

(W) – (on early meaning of being enrolled)

(R ) – The way I understand it. Being

young, was just oh you belong to the government, and they got you on a list. But as

I got older, I was with my two [friends]. Do

you remember Agnes and Yvonne Saint Cyr?

We were sitting around teenagers talking

about boys and their dad came through

and he knew what we were talking about.

He said, you girls, just remember you can’t

pair apples and oranges. So we just kind of

looked at him. We didn’t say nothing, but

years later I guess what he was trying to

say was, you marry within your own kind.

But as far as enrollment, it was just on a list.

Because we belonged to the government.

They took care of us.

(W) – (enrollment status)

(R ) – What makes me mad today. Here

we are in 2024 and they still think we get

things for free. Nothing’s free. Whatever we

get our ancestors paid for it by giving up

land. That’s the way I look at it. It’s funny

you asked that, because just a couple of

weeks ago I was down to Blackbird Bend

Casino and this white lady I know we started

talking. I said, Oh my goodness have you

retired yet? She said, oh no I have to work

a couple years. I have to fix my house yet.

And I said, oh yeah I’m thinking about moving to a smaller place. And she said, well

move out there. [gestures hand] This white

lady’s from Winnebago. She said move out

to those units out there. I said, no. I haven’t

paid rent in so long. I hate to start paying

rent. She said, what? You don’t get those

for free? She thought we could move in out

there [for free]. I said, no we gotta pay like

$500 dollars. She was just like taken back.

I thought, lady where have you been? She

lives here in Winnebago. That’s just shows

you there’s no communication. She doesn’t

have anything to do with [the tribe].

(W) – (influence of using other Indian

blood)

(R ) – I think it’s good. Because we need

the people. And if they’ve got enough. I don’t

know what a low number would be, 1/16th?

That’s kind of [low]. That’s kind of grabbing

at it. But I like something you said. You talked

about lineal descent. If you can ask the right

questions. You know, say I’m trying to get

on and under lineal descent. And you ask

me who my, great-great, maybe go back 3

greats and I can’t tell you. I don’t know how

you become a lineal descendant. Or what

is it you know about the Winnebago tribe,

and they can’t tell you nothing. Then no, I

shouldn’t be on the roll. But those questions

have to be, they have to be tough ones.

What does IHS use? Because when I go

down there, I’m like where are you people

coming from? Are you using the same [as the

tribe]? I just think there has to be questions

that really sock it to ‘em. Because if you’re

going to say you’re Winnebago then you

better come up and prove it. If you can’t go

by blood.

(W) – (in Ruby’s world for enrollment)

(R ) – We got people that are almost

like 5 different tribes. I saw something on

Facebook I thought it was cute. They said,

gee where were you conceived, at the

Gathering?! [laughs]. I thought that was kind

of cute. But I would want to pick up a little

of every tribe. As long as they had some

Winnebago in them, and they wanted to be

a Winnebago. I would use that. Because 50,

100 years down the road we might not even

be a tribe. Unless we start somewhere.

And I missed it, but I heard somebody got

up and talked. [at the forum] But I thought

that was over the wire there. [they said] if

you’re so worried about being a Winnebago,

why don’t you marry one? That’s easier said

than done. Because a lot of girls are saying,

I married out of my tribe because everybody

was my relation. And I said, yeah but you

only go up to about 5 [generations] back.

4 or 5 back, whatever you want to make it,

whatever you’re comfortable with or the tribe

[wanted]. That could still be your relation, but

not like your ‘kissing cousin’, you know what

I mean? Because I thought, what’d they do

a long time ago? Because everybody was

related.

(W) – (on mobility of tribal members)

(R ) – When we did go to Sioux City, because we weren’t welcome in all the stores.

They say we were, but you got that treatment

where everybody looked at you. We stayed

down on what they called ‘Lower Fourth.’

That’s where a lot of the drinking and pan

handling happened. I loved it, when I went to

Sioux City. Oh yeah, I liked it because I got

to see some of my relatives. I think I just had

to be around Indian people. And like I said

most of them were my relatives! [laughs].

(W) – (going down to Omaha)

(R ) – My grandkids chuckle when I tell

them. They can’t believe I did a lot of fighting

when I was young. My mother lived in Omaha, and every now and then she’d come get

me and I’d go down there for about a week

and I’d have to come back to Winnebago.

Which is ok. But down there there’s a little

bit of everything. One time I said I want to

go to school down here. They said, I don’t

think you’re gonna make it. I go, yeah I like

it. I must have been in the 5th grade. Sitting

behind me was a black boy. And we were

looking at a book. There was a picture of

a white man, a black man, a Asian, and a

Indian. He tapped me and he said, is this

you? He pointed to the Indian. I said, yeah

that’s me. Is this you, and I pointed to the

African-American. You know he got mad and

after school him and I had to fight. I beat him.

[laughs] But I was more scared of Dwight!

Because Dwight was down in Omaha. We

were down there together. And if I didn’t win,

Dwight would beat me up. I was more scared

of Dwight! [laughs] more than I was of that

kid. Years later I thought, I wonder why he

got mad? [laughs]

I didn’t let nobody say anything bad about

the Indian. Because I was right on them.

And I hated Sioux City. Because they’d be

walking across that via dock. If they guys got

out of that car, I swear I probably would have

threw them over that bridge. We all lived

under that via dock. My uncles did. They

worked at the packing house, so that’s why

they lived in Sioux City. But I liked it down

there because I never seen such a [group].

When I think back on it, so many people of

all different races living together in South

Bottoms. And they were all friends with each

other. We can’t even do that today.

(W) – (being in Omaha)

(R ) – It wasn’t like an eye-opener, because I had been to Sioux City, so I knew

what city life was like. But I didn’t particularly

care for it because you couldn’t go to many

places. I didn’t stay there too long. That’s

why I lived with my grandma for a reason.

I just went there for a few days and then

came home. It wasn’t like a culture shock or

anything because I was used to Sioux City.

(W) – (on relocation)

(R ) – When I was out on relocation. I was

just walking around our neighborhood. There

was a Japanese man in his yard. I walked by.

He said Hello. I said Hello. He said, can I ask

you something? I thought, he’s gonna ask

me what I am? And I said, sure. He did. But

I told him right off I’m a member of the Winnebago tribe from Nebraska. And he goes,

well what are you doing out here? I gave him

a spiel on relocation. And he said, that’s the

same program that when the war ended that

they went on. And that’s why when I was

married in Idaho a lot of Japanese lived in

Idaho. They used to have a concentration

camp there. The government put them there

and they all became potato farmers.

(W) – (more on relocation)

(R ) – When I was out in California I

worked for the post office. In Oakland,

California. I was the only Indian in that joint.

Thousands of workers. Big post office. One

time when I was standing in line waiting to

clock in and I hear someone say, hey Crazy

Horse! And I thought, oh crap. There’s a lot

of [ethnicities]. So I thought, oh no, so I didn’t

say nothing. But she said it about 3 times,

and it started to get quiet because everybody else waiting to clock in. So, I turned

around and I said, are you talking to me?

And she said, yes I am! Well, I said, let me

tell you, my name is Ruby Bellanger. I wish

you wouldn’t call me that, because he’s one

of our famous chiefs. I said, would you like it

if I called you Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? And

it got just quiet! I did have a friend, a black

girl who we used to go to lunch together, and

she went, Bwaa-haa haa! [laughs]. She just

busted out laughing. And that kind of broke

the ice. That girl said, no I wouldn’t. I said,

well alright then, my name is Ruby Bellanger.

I said it again. But I had to hold my ground

otherwise I would have got beat up. After

that it was good.

I’d get different questions once they

found out it was Indian. This one black guy

said, can I ask you something? They always

start out with that. So I said, what? He said,

did you ever go to a cowboy and Indian

show? And I said, yeah, I did. Who’d you

root for? I said, I root for the Indians! I said,

what about you, when you go to see a Tarzan

show, who’d you root for? He said, you know

what, I must have been dumb because I was

rootin’ for Tarzan! [laughs] So I have met a

lot of crazy people. But I had to hang in with

them. So I’ve had a colorful life.

(W) – (in closing)

(R ) – I never done nothing like this before.

But it seems like I have a lot to say because

I’ll be 86 years, or am I 86 now? I’m gonna

be 86 here in July. Or 87? [laughs] I lie so

much [about age] I don’t know! [laughs]. So

that’s pretty old. And I’ve done a lot of things.

Thank you, Ruby for telling us your stories. Come back anytime and share some

more. – WIN.

Page 8 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, May 25, 2024

Cīnąk ra

Community

Ho-Chunk, Inc. Introduces Legacy Learning to

Boost Workforce

Ho-Chunk, Inc.’s new Legacy Learning Program is housed within the Community Development Department and is overseen by Janelle DeCora, Program Manager. This is an

8-week pilot program addressing two issues that were identified in the Economic Impact

Study: lack of males in the workforce and child poverty.

The Legacy Learning program provides tribal and community members opportunities

to cultivate skillsets through hands-on learning, workforce readiness training, and life skills

development through an intentional curriculum. The program’s curriculum was intentionally

designed to integrate institutional and generational knowledge through the legacy learner’s

instructors. This pathway program promotes personal and professional development for

tribal members into part-time/full-time positions within the Winnebago community.

The first cohort will be wrapping up at the end of May.

A big thank you goes out to Ho-Chunk Construction Group for purchasing tools and HoChunk, Inc.’s Community Impact and Engagement department for purchasing work boots

for the Legacy Learners upon completion of the program.

For more information on the Legacy Learning Program, please contact Janelle at jdecora@hochunkinc.com or 402-506-9951.

Racheal Johnson during the Career Workshop helping the Learners to develop resumes

and cover letters.

Congratulations to

Cory Cleveland (pictured left) and Marshall Bass!

They successfully completed the

Leadership Siouxland Class of 2024!

“I am beyond proud of them and their achievements. The way they represented themselves, the company, and the Winnebago Tribe throughout the 9-month program was the

epitome of effective leadership and positive influence. Congrats fellas!” said Willy Bass,

President of the Leadership Siouxland Board of Directors. Willy is a fellow Winnebago tribal

member who manages Community Impact & Engagement for Ho-Chunk, Inc.

A Day In The Life Of Omaha Creek

Legacy instructor Vince helping Christian Roberts and Marcos Bass to read the tape

measure for accurate measurements.

What’s In A Watershed?

Have you ever climbed to the top of a hill and turned completely around taking in

the view? What do you see? Some might say a valley below with a stream journeying

through that joins with a lake. Others might say another hilltop, trees, fields, buildings,

roads, wetlands, or grassy knolls. The list could go on. But what one really is witnessing

is the presence of a watershed.

A watershed is the area of land that drains or sheds water into a specific receiving

waterbody, such as a lake or a river. As rainwater or melting snow runs downhill in the

watershed, it collects and carries with it sediment and other materials and deposits them

into the receiving waterbody.

Imagine a giant funnel on the ground. When it rains, all the water that falls within

the funnel flows towards the center and collects in a bucket. The funnel represents the

watershed, and the bucket represents the common body of water where all the collected

water ends up.

Healthy watersheds provide many ecosystems services including but not limited to

natural cycling, carbon storage, erosion or sedimentation control, increased biodiversity,

soil formation, wildlife movement corridors and habitat, water storage, water filtration,

flood control, food, and recreation.

Just remember, that we all live in a watershed.

Hi everyone, this is Omaha Creek. I realize that we all have our good and

bad days. But let me tell you all about a day in the life of Omaha Creek.

I will start by telling you that I am a major Reservation waterbody. I am a

low gradient muddy bottom waterbody that flows from the south to the north

eventually joining the Missouri River. Morgan Creek, Turtle Creek, and various

smaller unnamed tributaries join me on my journey within the Reservation

boundaries. I flow pretty much just west of Highway 77 and the railroad

tracks expanding the entire Reservation draining approximately 37 square

miles. Various wildlife, fish, birds, insects, and aquatic bugs call me home.

But don’t let my pleasantries fool you. My approximately 6-mile journey

through the Reservation brings with it many dangers and uncertainties. I

face illegal dumping on my banks and in my water channel, crops being

planted too close to the edge of the bank, pesticide and fertilizer applications that can runoff, cattle grazing stomping my banks, drought causing

too little water, floods causing too much water, vegetative scouring after a

heavy rainfall, low and high water flows, water quality issues, bank erosion

resulting in heavy sediment loading.

Know that I can face a lot in one day, but I take it in stride and continue

my journey like I have done for so many years in the past and intend to continue in the future. All I ask is that you hesitate before throwing your trash

over the bridge. All I ask is that you consider other agricultural practices

that reduce or eliminate the potential of pesticides and fertilizers getting into

my current. To those individuals that are doing it already, thank you! All I

ask is to be treated as a person, friend, and relative. I long for the days to

hear children’s laughter once again, feeling the touch of those taking refuge

in my cooling waters, the quiet meditation of those seeking solace resting

along my banks. I long for the day when my relationship with my brothers

and sisters is restored. Come join me.

Saturday, May 25, 2024 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 9

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