Published Bi-Weekly for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Published Bi-Weekly for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Storytellers Finale:

Kellie Snow

WPS Class of 2025

Photos!

pages: 4-5

pages: 6-7

Volume 54, Number 10

Our masthead for this tenth issue of 2025 features the icon representing the Elk Clan / Huwa

Hikikarac. The Elk Clan holds many functions

within our tribe, including those related to being

messengers to the people, servants of the people,

and caring for the environment overall. The Elk

Clan is most well-known for being the primary

distributor of fire throughout the villages, and

while on hunts. When at war, the Elk Clan was

in charge of the sacred fire. The Elk Clan is one

of the eight Earth clans. Its friendship clan is the

Deer Clan. Elk Clan members were considered

fierce warriors as represented by the spear. Families belonging to the Elk Clan include: Smith.

Our gratitude to the HoChunk Renaissance

Department for their assistance in providing this

information.

Mą hįtawus hī wī

Earth Drying Moon

Saturday, May 24, 2025

BLACKHAWK CENTER RENOVATION COMPLETE

Nį̄šoc Nįgešąną

Bago Bits

By Brian Chamberlain

Photos by Tyler Snake / Kevin Ebert

HoChunk Renaissance hosted an Elders

Gathering on April 29th. Attendees shared

knowledge, advice, and stories.

[Winnebago, NE] After more

than a calendar year, renovations

being made to the Blackhawk

Community Center (BHCC) in

downtown Winnebago have been

completed. These renovations were

years in the planning, following

the award of funding from the

federal government under President

Biden’s administration. “The

building was in desperate need of

upgrading. Everything from standard

electrical work to the restrooms

to the technological updates that

we use every day – this building

needed attention.” Garan Coons,

Communications Officer for the

Winnebago Tribe told the WIN.

The BHCC functions as the

administrative office location for

the Winnebago Tribal organization.

It houses the Tribal Council, WTN

Administration, WTN Finance

Department, WTN IT Department, as

well as the headquarters for Whirling

Thunder Wellness, the Tribal Credit

Program, and WTN Human Resources

among others. “[t]he move went

accordingly, although it’s a lengthy

process.”, one member of the IT

department told the WIN.

Overall renovations included

updating the Tribal Council meeting

chambers, relocating office location

for the administrative staff and

providing enclosed offices for each

of the nine Council members. Those

offices being a feature that was not

part of the previous arrangement of

the site. One council member said,

Con’t. on page 2...

GRADUATION SEASON 2025

On May 9th the farmers market started

back up for 2025. Every Friday from 10am

to 4pm till October 24th, the HoChunk

Village Farmers market will be set up. Vendors with a variety of goods and services

are set up at 509 Buffalo Trail, weather

permitting. If weather isn’t suitable, Vendors set up at the Woodland Trails building.

Those serving food will need to attend a

food safety/handlers’ class, Contact (402)

878-2192 for more information. #SupportLocal

By Brian Chamberlain

Photos by Tyler Snake

For those wanting to get the word out

about their events and programs, Join

Winnebago Talks radio show! Live every

Tuesday from 11am to 12pm. You can also

get flyers and birthday graphics added

to the Big Screen, located downtown in

Winnebago. Currently Birthday shout-outs

are free, celebrate your loved ones’ day or

get more eyes on your event. Shown above

is an example of a birthday graphic.

the LPTC Class of 2025 made waves

early on setting off the schedule of

ceremonies for the local community

in fine style. With their ceremony

[Winnebago, NE] In the month

held inside the Winnebago Public

of May every year the students of

School Theater, the Little Priest

Winnebago prepare to move forward

Tribal College Board of Trustees and

taking the step they’ve worked for all

throughout the school year – graduation. President welcomed the graduates and

Tribal members from all over gathered their loved ones warmly. LPTC held

its commencement ceremony on the

for each of the graduation ceremonies

held here in Winnebago and from local morning of Saturday, May 10th, 2025.

LPTC President, Manoj Patil,

colleges and universities.

offered his welcome address to the

capacity crowd, stating again how

Little Priest Tribal College

large the graduating group was. That

Graduating its largest group ever,

class included both degree achieving

members of the student body as well

as students receiving certificates as

Certified Nursing Assistants, or CNAs.

“We are very proud of each of our

students and wish them well in their

next steps.” President Patil stated. He

went on, “[we] still offer free tuition,

and we hope as many people as

possible can take advantage of that.”

LPTC graduates are now greater

than 200 in number since its inception

nearly 30 years ago. “I’m very

Con’t. on page 2...

Visit us at winnebagotribe.com

Page 2 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, May 24, 2025

COMMUNITY

...Cont. from front page BLACKHAWK CENTER

RENOVATION COMPLETE...

...Cont. from front page GRADUATION SEASON 2025...

“Having a space to speak with tribal

members in confidential situations will

be nice to have.”

The renovation work was planned

in cooperation with the Tribal Council

and WTN Administration going back

to 2022 when American Rescue Plan

Act, otherwise known as ARPA, funds

were allocated to the tribe by President

Biden. Darla LaPointe, CEO for the

Tribe said, “being accessible to the

people is important to us. We’re happy

to be back at the location where they

can reach us.” The planning process

took many turns, including a paring

down of the overall footprint due to

the rising costs of construction and the

unforeseen challenges faced by the

tribe during that same period. What

was included, however, was making

the entire space more accessible for the

mobility challenged. “We were happy

to know that all tribal members now

have access to the spaces, regardless

of any physical challenges.”, Coons

continued.

Architect for the project is Leo

A. Daly, LLC based out of their

location in Omaha, Nebraska. Daly

held numerous meetings with the

Winnebago Tribe starting with an

assessment of what kind of spaces

were needed, and which type of design

proud to be a part of the Little Priest

alumni. This place has changed the

lives of so many of our people.”, one

community member told the WIN at

the graduation event.

element was sought by the decision

makers for the tribal organization.

Cheryl Painter, Controller for the

WIN Finance department said, “We’re

happy to be back in the office with the

bright surroundings.”

As reported previously, the

Winnebago Tribal Council and

Administration were temporarily

relocated to the Eagle Dormitory

building north of Saint Augustine’s

Mission here in Winnebago. That

temporary location housed the

administrative staff, while the other

departments were placed into other

provisional offices throughout the

community. Laura Huffman, Finance

department staff member told the

WIN, “It’s good to be more accessible

to the people.”

The Winnebago Tribal Council

held its first meeting within the

newly opened meeting chambers on

the morning of May 19, 2025. ViceChairman, Isaac Smith, offered a

blessing and prayer for the space prior

to the Council getting back to business

at the well-known location.

A full official presentation of

the area is being planned by the

Winnebago Tribe for the membership

to come and visit. The offices and

meetings area are fully open and ready

for use, however. Stop in for a visit.

Winnebago Public High School

The faculty and staff of Winnebago

Public High School graduated

another very large group for its

commencement class of 2025. Taking

place on May 10th, 2025, as well, the

ceremonies hosted by WHS shared

a capacity crowd inside the main

gymnasium of the school. “We’re so

excited for our students and wish them

all the best in their next steps.”, one

member of the staff stated.

With awards for the graduates that

included scholarships, gifts, and offers

for advanced opportunities, the fortyfive Winnebago High School graduates

were welcomed into the alumni of the

school in short order. The graduation

ceremony lasted nearly two hours,

helping usher in the celebration of 12

years of education being completed.

The Winnebago Class of 2025

photographs are featured in this issue

of the WIN.

Saint Augustine’s Indian Mission

School

With classes that include students

from kindergarten through the

8th grade, St. Augustine’s held its

commencement ceremonies inside the

main church here as well. With a class

of four students, the local parochial

school operated through the Catholic

Arch Diocese of Omaha, promoted

another class from its ranks prepared

for high school on May 14th, 2025. St.

Augustine’s school serves both the

Winnebago and Omaha reservations,

educating students from Winnebago

and the surrounding communities.

Winnebago Junior High

Winnebago Public School held its 8th

grade graduation on May 14th, 2025,

also. The mid-afternoon ceremony

saw each of the students ready for

promotion into high school. A class

trip was planned and held for those

students as part of the celebration.

The home of the Indians welcomes its

newest members to High School.

Educare

Educare Winnebago held its

commencement ceremonies on

Monday, May 19th, 2025, also at the

Winnebago High School Gymnasium.

In what is traditionally one of the

most exciting events to partake in,

the youngest generation of pre-K

graduates took to the stage to accept

their promotions into “The Big

School”. Parents and loved ones

gathered as each of the six classes took

their turn walking across the stage.

One parent posted via social media,

“OMG they’re so cute!”, as each of the

kiddies were decked out to the nines in

their caps and gowns.

Colleges and Universities

The graduating students attending

local colleges and universities, like

Wayne State College, Morningside

University, and the University of

Nebraska also walked across the stage

this month. Gaining undergraduate

degrees of various sorts, those students

were joined by many tribal members

and community members who were

also achieving advanced degrees.

Master’s degrees seemed to fill the

pages of local tribal members’ social

media accounts, as the years of postsecondary education came to fruition.

Much dedication and hard work from

each of those degree holding students,

indeed.

CONGRATULATIONS! You did

it! To all the graduates from the

Winnebago Indian News. You make us

all proud!

Saturday, May 24, 2025 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 3

Wāgax hųk ra wāgax hokik’ųna

Letter to the Editor

JESUS OUR SAVIOR

LUTHERAN OUTREACH

‘Healing the Wounds of Trauma’

How does Mauna respond to those who have

endured trauma? What is the source of suffering, trauma and death? Why does it often seem

like Mauna does not hear our cries? Why does

Mauna allow suffering, trauma and death?

On May 29th, a Thursday morning, from

8 to 9, I will be attempting to answer these

questions at the Building Strong Families Community Wellness Conference. This conference

will be held at the Little Priest Tribal College

auditorium. More importantly, I will reassure

those who gather that Mauna offers comfort,

peace, steadfast love, courage and hope to all of

us who have experienced trauma that continues

to impacts our lives.

David wrote the following psalm (song of

the Hebrew tribe): ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I

shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in

green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul. He guides me in paths

of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even

though I walk through the valley of the shadow

of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with

me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me’

[Psalm 23:1-4 (NIV84)].

The Lord is the one who leads us through the

valley of the shadow of death. The Lord does

not want us to take up residence in the valley of

By: Pastor Ricky Jacob

the shadow of death. Rather the Lord leads us

through, yes, through to everlasting life.

I will also introduce Robert Heffle, executive

director of Lutheran Indian Ministries from

North Pole, Alaska. Robert will introduce Healing the Wounds of Trauma - A Small Group for

Bible-based Trauma Healing. His organization

is offering to provide their services here in

northeast Nebraska free of charge - and seeks

only to be invited.

Lutheran Indian Ministries has been offering

Healing the Wounds of Trauma to various Native American communities that have been well

received. These communities include those in

Alaska, as well as among the Makah, in Neah

Bay, Washington; and among the Northern

Cheyenne in Lame Deer, Montana. Please

check out some responses at: https://www.

lutheranindianministries.org/healing-woundsof-trauma.

In closing, please come and meet Robert

Heffle especially if you would answer ‘yes’

to any of the following questions: Do you

have heart wounds that haven’t healed? Are

You struggling to forgive someone who hurt

you? Want to be better equipped to help others

experiencing pain and suffering? Wonder what

God word says about your emotional pain? Has

it been hard to find people who really care or

understand?

Ho-Chunk Community Development Corporation

is currently accepting applications for its Executive Director position. Compensation will be

based on experience and qualifications.

A full job description is available by contacting

our office at rrawlings@hccdc.org or by calling

(402)878-2192.

WIN EDITOR POSITION AVAILABLE

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of Hearing

Case No. CV25-064ABC

In the Matter of the

Guardianship Petition of:

Rebecca Elk Shoulder

In Re:

E.S (Born 09/2012)

C.E. (Born 12/2014)

L.E. (Born 10/2017)

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of Hearing

Case No. CV25-081

In the Matter of the

Name Change Petition of:

PARRISH RYLYN JACOBS-SHIELDS

to RYLYN PARRISH JACOBS

To:

ANY INTERESTED PARTIES

TO:

DELRAE MEDICINE HORSE,

You are hereby notified that a petition for Name

MOTHER

Change has been filed and a hearing concernGEORGE ELK SHOULDER

ing the above-referred Individual in case no.

CV25-081 has been scheduled and will be heard

You are hereby notified that a petition has

in the Winnebago Tribal Court of Winnebago,

been filed for Guardianship and a hearing conNebraska on the 10TH day of JUNE 2025 at the

cerning the above referred Individual(s) in Case hour of 11:30 A.M.

No. CV25-064abc has been scheduled and

will be heard in the Winnebago Tribal Court of

Winnebago, Nebraska on the 2ND day of June

2025 at the hour of 11:30 A.M.

For more information please email: WIN Office Manager Tyler

Snake at Tyler.snake@winnebagotribe.com

This is a temporary contract and will be for 10 issues or until the

vacant WIN editor position is filled.

The deadline for quote submissions will be on Friday, May 23 at 11 AM.

2) DUTIES OF THE CONTRACTOR. Contractor agrees to provide the following services:

(A) Schedule, prepare, edit, and supervise the production of the

Winnebago Indian News to meet biweekly publication schedule.

(B) Research, compose, and edit news articles that serve to educate

and inform the Winnebago membership of issues and concerns that

affect them.

(C) Report and photograph items that would inform the Winnebago

membership of the activities, actions, and objectives of the Winnebago Tribal Council.

(E) Work with the Winnebago Indian News Office/Circulation

Manager to distribute the WIN once it is printed.

(G) Work closely with WIN Office/Circulation Manager and WIN

Desktop Publisher.

(H) Work closely with the WTN Communications Department in

the overall effort of the goals and objectives of that department.

(I) Ensure regular newspaper operation of the Winnebago Indian

News.

(J) Maintain the established Mission Statement and Editorial Policy.

(K) Ensure that the WIN is published by the defined dates.

The next issue of the WINNEBAGO INDIAN NEWS will be published on June 7, 2025.

——————————————————

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

——————————————————

The Winnebago Indian News (WIN), founded ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The reproduction of

in January 1972, is published bi-weekly for the editorial or photography content without permission

is prohibited.

Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.

DEADLINE for this issue will be June 3, 2025.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please send change of Advertising/News Deadline

address with old mailing label to:

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(Issn 1060-3026) At Winnebago, NE

Teresa Littlegeorge.................. Secretary

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winnebagoindiannews@winnebagotribe.com

Phone: 402-878-2272

vacant......................................................Editor Coly Brown................................ Member

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Page 4 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, May 24, 2025

COMMUNITY

WINNEBAGO

PUBLIC SCHOOL

DAWNISSA ALDRICH

NADIA BASS

JAYLENA BERTUCCI

TRESSA BIGBEAR

CADEN BROWNRIGG

MIKKI DECORA

PRECIOUS DECORA

JANYSSA EARTH

JONATHAN EARTH

KHAMISE FOURCLOUD

YLAINA FRAZIER

CHARLIZE FRENCHMAN

MEHAWEE GRANT

CAMERON HARLAN

DAYNEE HARLAN

SHYLEIGH HORN

Best Wishes! Class of 2025

Saturday, May 24, 2025 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 5

COMMUNITY

WINNEBAGO

PUBLIC SCHOOL

CAMERON LAROSE

ESTACIO LOERA

SETH LOERA

HAYLIE LOVEJOY

TYLIAH MALLORY

JULIAN PARKER

HAINI-WIRAGUSGE MORGAN

NEVAEH REDHORN

KOBE ROGERS

LAVELLE SMITH

TAYDEN SPEARS

ARIAYLA SUNIGA

KYLENA WALKER

THOMAS WALKER

Congratulations!

To the Winnebago Public School

Graduates of 2025!

Page 6 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, May 24, 2025

Question of the Issue:

Summer is nigh. School’s out. Get outside and play! Childcare can be

challenging in today’s world. At what age did you start ‘watching yourself’, and did you have to watch others? Tell us all about it.

GARAN: A good time to reflect on those old summertime memories. When school

was out, I used to roam Winnebago until the streetlights came on. Ride bikes, swim,

and play hide and seek up by the LPTC building. I didn’t have to babysit my younger brothers, which I was lucky because at times my older sister would have to. Then

when the firework stands opened that was my babysitter during the summer because it

would keep me, and my buddies occupied all day!

BRIAN: Again, as a member of GenX, we did things very differently than today. I

remember walking to school in kindergarten, walking home from school and playing

outside generally unsupervised with the other kids from the hood. Watching myself

came around when I was about 7. But it didn’t feel different really than when someone did watch us. “Get outside and play!” was the direction – and we loved it. It was

torture to have to stay inside. I began watching others as the double digits approached.

And that pretty much just meant making sure they didn’t electrocute themselves or

play with matches or let people into the house. … ahh the 70s and early 80s were

something else! :-D … and remember buying cigs for your parents with a note?! LOL

TYLER: Being the youngest, I never had to babysit often. But when I did it was cousins a year younger than myself, and I’d get paid in skittles and sprite. We usually just

played lol. I’d say about 10 or 11 years old is when I could make myself busy all day

lol. Don’t answer the door was all I knew ha-ha. Thinking of it now- it was so fun to

be home alone, fighting with my brothers, waiting to tell on them ha-ha or calling my

mom’s office being bothersome. Times were had.

CHRISTINA: **crickets**

KEVIN: : Not really sure when I started to watch myself, don’t really remember many

babysitters. Mainly we hung out at the pool my mom would get us a season pass and

that pretty much was our sitter. I do remember a lot of times taking off into the forest

north of town to go explore. I bet we walked almost to Homer. It was a great place to

grow up in this small little town of Winnebago. [Editor’s Note] Kevin was naughty! Jk.

BETHANI: :Being the “Henu” of the house, I started babysitting early. I was very

young, so it is hard to say exactly what age I was but as I got older, I would babysit

for extra money. Growing up in a single parent household, I helped a lot with cooking,

cleaning, & holding it down with my 2 younger brothers while my mom was working.

As I got older, into my pre-teens, I became the “go-to” babysitter for the family. And

it’s wild how time flies because my brothers now have their own families & all the

babies I’d watch are graduating & going to college or going into the workforce.

Storytellers – Kellie Snow – In her own words (Finale)

As shared in our last two issues, the

Winnebago Indian News sat down recently

with another special tribal member for our

exclusive Storytellers column. She is one

who is among a class of folks that sees itself

declining in number, yet beholden of a literal

treasure trove of experiences. The person

we’re speaking of is Kellie Snow.

Kellie was sought for this interview because of her status and experience with our

main casino, but also because it is that time

on the calendar when the tribe marks another

year for that workhorse of an operation –

WinnaVegas Casino Resort. In April 2025

they celebrated 33 years of business.

Kellie Snow is a proud member of the

Winnebago tribe. She has served our people in various capacities over her career,

including becoming a member of BIA Law

Enforcement as an officer of the law. With

other positions and activities throughout

our community as well, her experiences are

definitely not one-sided or singular. While

at WinnaVegas, her career began in the pits

of the Table Games Department but soon

branched out in other areas of the operation.

Always one to take on an untried challenge,

the performance of those duties led to some

intriguing stories – many which were shared

with us as we talked.

Kellie was one of the first tribal members

who filled a supervisory role at WinnaVegas,

and she also became one of the first tribal

members to head a shift and a department.

Long known for training and promoting our

own people, WinnaVegas became a catalyst

for many tribal members over the long years

of its existence, and Kellie is certainly one

of us. Given the nickname “Keets”, as her

late father, Jim Snow, used to call her, she’s

always known where she comes from and

helped ensure the pathways forward never

left our own people behind.

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. Kellie’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 generously shared them

with us. The WIN appreciates her ability

to open-up and share so much of her story.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please allow me to

introduce our third Storyteller in these issues

of the Winnebago Indian News: Ms. Kellie

Snow – in her own words.

We rejoin our Storyteller in Part 3 - the

finale of her amazing tale.

Starting the Trend

(K) When I left for a bit to go into law enforcement, the restaurant business after that

was built. Not only did we have a restaurant,

but we used to have our concerts there. We

had some Asian concerts. And that’s kind of

where that all started. Like, hey, we could

have concerts and to me, what we did with

concerts. I think it really pushed a lot of what

Sioux City started doing - like renovating

the Orpheum [Theater]. I think they seen our

facility in the middle of a cornfield, bringing

in some good acts and people are going, hey,

we could do this. And we could have, the

Orpheum [making] into what it is now. What

it used to be, like back in the heyday. We

used it for it was we’d go see movies there. I

remember I seen Poltergeist there. First time

[the line] it was like around the street where

we were standing in line and that was the old

days.

(W) It was a good show though.

(K) Yeah, it was.

(W) It’s terrible now. [laughs]

(K) But I just really think about all the

young natives and the careers that they’ve

had and then on our tribal side, all the programs that we were able to support throughout the years. We’re still doing it. We’re still

taking care of the tribe and the people.

And that’s what we always say is we know

what our role is. And luckily, we’ve been

able to re-invest back in ourselves. Because

we need a lot of [we need] some self-care,

which we’re able to do now. But, you know,

we still really understand that we’re here to

support the tribe and the tribal programs and

the tribal people.

Table Games Memories

(W) Yeah, when you were talking about

the individuals who were in the decision-making capacities in the beginning, one

thing I always like to say whenever I have

any kind of conversation about that with

anyone is that I feel like we had really good

teachers. Because again, I myself, I didn’t

know a damn thing about gaming. I knew I

wanted a job; I wanted to work. I was excited

to be a part of table games because I just

liked it. I loved dealing. I really, really did

find my element. And there to me, and even

to this day, I gotta say that there was nothing

more exciting than a raging craps table. The

players just [roaring], I mean, God, those

days were so good.

And the other games were great, and

stuff too. Roulette is quiet and all that kind

of stuff, but then the poker games and with

the players. Doing it all, you know? Getting

whatever they do and the teachers we had.

They were really good. Because like what

you said, they shared. That it wasn’t about

we’re not gonna tell you that, or we’re not…

They gave you everything. They didn’t just

teach you the functionality – this is what you

do, this is how you do it. They taught you

why. And that made a huge, huge difference.

It really did because it opened the eyes of

all of us, you know, and like what you said,

I remember Lorna’s [Snake] presence. That

kind of stuff. I worked very, very much with

Heather [Russell], Mamie [Redhorn-Brownrigg], and we all got it, you know, and we all

understood what we’re doing and the why.

(K) So, that was always a [blessing]. Yeah,

we had you’re right, we had great people

that came in, that really cared about what our

Saturday, May 24, 2025 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 7

tribe was doing. We had people from New

York, you know, although there were some

shady circumstances, but still they were good

people to us. I can see their faces and [hear]

their stories. They came in and just really

helped us with different aspects of the game.

Adrian Guinness was one, then Al McLoofys

were the others. And Sun, I can’t remember

her last name. But they just really enhanced

our dealing and how we treated customers.

Just the whole, you know, …there was just

all of that put together and they genuinely

cared about what it is that we were doing in a

middle of a cornfield.

And I can’t express that enough, you

know? Have you ever been to Foxwoods

when you’re driving through [the trees] and

you’re like, oh my God, where is this place?

And it’s like who would come out here and

then all of a sudden, you’d come over the

mountain and you just see this huge, like castle. And it’s like, oh, wow! You know. And

sometimes, I mean, it’s kind of corny, but

like, when I take that exit 127, I just come

over and I can see, you know, our castle.

Excuse me, but no. I know what you mean.

I was… you know, we did it. And you know,

we’re still doing it. That’s what makes me

feel good is knowing that we’re still getting

it done.

(K) We had these past couple years have

been pretty trying, but we’re gonna get

through it and we’re still there and we’re getting better and what is our voice say? “Where

it’s just more fun.”

Changes and Experience

(W) Yeah, and I very much understand

that because growing it into what it is now,

I don’t feel in any way that it is stopping or

it has stopped. Of course, they don’t… some

people not giving it what it needed, and that’s

an entirely different conversation that we can

have some other time. But it’s like excuse

me, the impact that WinnaVegas has had is

immeasurable. You can talk dollars and cents,

and we can I’m sure somebody can even

quantify what that total number is and stuff.

And that’s a good thing, but it kind of doesn’t

matter in one respect because everything that

came from that was just immeasurably huge.

People don’t realize and understand

Winnebago in 1991 versus Winnebago in

2025 is nearly night and day. In 1991, if you

didn’t work for the Bureau, the hospital, or

the school, you probably didn’t have a job

in Winnebago. Or you didn’t have a job at

all, you know? And the overall condition

of the tribal membership was so destitute.

Also, there was nothing. There was nothing

happening, nothing going on. And of course,

Winn-a-Bingo had some impact on that. But

that was over there in Sloan [Iowa] and people worked there. People had jobs, yourself

included, and it was a good thing. But you

could tell it was temporary. You knew that

something was gonna come along and ruin it.

And of course, Iowa and everything else that

happened and all that stuff, they made sure

it went the way that it did. But the impact

that WinnaVegas has had is so immeasurably

huge and way, way, way beyond financial,

you know?

(K) There’s a lot of knowledge that people

have that made Warhorse succeed. And you

with all the work that you did. The transition

and all of the everything just really worked

together and brought that success. I look at it

as an opportunity for us at WinnaVegas to reinvest in ourselves because we won’t have to

give it all to our tribe. Which is no problem

for us, but it would be nice to do some real

renovations and reinvestment in our property.

We have… we’re capable of so much more

and we know that there will come a time

where we can really venture out into a resort

status.

It’s such a beautiful property. I mean, you

can do something all the way to the river.

There’s so many opportunities and I look

at what the tribe has done, you know, with

their investing and investment arms and the

gaming in Nebraska and there’s more, there’s

more to be done. It doesn’t just stop with,

you know, Omaha and Lincoln, we’re looking, we can do something just up the road in

South Sioux and I see that as a time for our

young people, our tribal members to really

take advantage of that and not just be, you

know, a dealer. Which there’s nothing wrong

with that, but you need to start running the

show.

Myself, I don’t see myself leaving

WinnaVegas to work at a new facility. I’ve

already done that. I leave it to the young people. Our younger tribal members that have so

much experience, and just [like] encouraging

them just like I was encouraged to step up. I

need you to step up. When someone says that

to you, not a lot of times in your life does

that happen. But when you hear that from

someone, it’s like, okay. It empowers you.

So that’s how I try to be with my younger

coworkers that work with me. I’m like, you

need to start getting ready. You need to get

yourself ready, get your resume ready, and

when the time comes put in for that management job. And there will be a lot of people

there to help you. I will be there to help you.

Any question that you have. I see that as an

opportunity. I see WinnaVegas really being

able to go beyond just a hotel but really become that resort that I see. You know?

The first time I went to Foxwoods, and I

see that, and it just like it’s like, wow! And

that’s how I see WinnaVegas. I see us getting

into that point.

Early team members

(W) It’s nice to hear somebody say that

again because, I just wasn’t old enough, and

that’s honestly something I kind of… you

can’t call it a regret because time didn’t allow

it. But it’s like I couldn’t have been an original employee. I wasn’t old enough. [laughs]

I was right at that cusp, so as soon as I was

capable of becoming an employee, then I

did. Because it opened in April. My birthday

wasn’t until October, so I had to wait whether

I wanted to or not.

Because going back to that part of our story, I remember when they had the announcements they were hiring. I’m pretty sure it

was myself, Jules [LaRose], and I can’t…

maybe it was Tim [Snow] I can’t remember

who. Whatever, we drove out to Sloan. And

of course, they were able to hire Tim, he was

older and stuff, and then myself and then

Jules.

(K) Wasn’t he [Tim Snow] one of our

security guards? Was he drop crew?

(W) I can’t remember. He did drop for a

while, but anyway, he was probably strong

enough to carry all that coin, so he probably

did. I know those guys. They still do that. I

mean, with that inside and that little sideboard and say, oh my God, that cart was so

heavy. How did it not go through the floor?

(K) I think it did once or twice. [They]

went to repair the plywood. It’s like the

emergency drops and that terrible, terrible

carpet that was in there and whatever.

Expanding the operations and building

people

(W) But with the ability to do that, I had

to wait and stuff. When we finally got to the

point of being able to build the hotel, because

working in it as long as I did, being involved

with it for as long as I got to be involved,

with both on the floor and on the regulatory

side. Then when I got elected to the council, hearing the leadership at the time just

basically do this blah, blah, blah, you know,

I was like, you have to make the decision to

get it done.

So, I don’t wanna make it sound like that,

you know, but of leading us toward that

[building the hotel]. Because in my first

term, that’s when we put the wheels to the

road, made the decisions, got the financing

set up and all that kind of stuff to build it,

construct it. And it was always just kind of

funny because I didn’t seek reelection in

2011. The flood happened and then the hotel

didn’t open until after [the flood]. It opened

in December after I was gone. But the question I remember very specifically asking the

membership, because as a council member,

you know, I never even tried to come close to

any kind of micromanagement and nothing

like that. But we did have discussions.

I remember sitting there with the management of the casino at the time and I

asked them that question very specifically,

what does resort mean to you? And it was

kind of strange because no one immediately

announced anything. It kind of sat there and I

was like; this is what you guys have to build.

And it’s like, I didn’t … I could tell you to do

A B & C and I want this, and I want that, but

it wasn’t like that. It was like you guys are

the ones that are here every day. You guys are

the ones that have to turn it into something

bigger and better and whatever you want it to

be. Because now you’re gonna have a hotel.

You do have an event space; you have all this

set. The tools are here. Make it happen.

And so, I really understand. I know. Like I

said, I’m happy to hear that again because it’s

not done. It’s not over. It’s not finished. It’s

like, what else can it become? What else can

it turn into?

(K) And you look at the properties of other

gaming facilities. HR, they have no room

to grow. What are they gonna do, take the

interstate out? I don’t think so. But us, we

have like an open just a slate that we haven’t

even tapped into. I know one of the obstacles

is the flooding, but we know how to solve

that, you know? We talked about it amongst

my coworkers. I said, berm it up, should

have never took the berm down. One of my

coworkers she said, and put flowers all on

the berm, because that’s what this place was

called. The non-natives called it Flowers

Island. We didn’t name that. They named it,

because they used to go down there. Getting

that bermed-up and flood ready. That shows

investors like, all right. They’re ready.

And more and more people you’ve seen it

because you guys went down with the land

[restoration bill] at the Corps and how beautiful it is. It’s untapped and it can really be

something. A resort. It gives us… it will give

us that resort name. Right now, it’s we are

WinnaVegas Casino and Resort, but we can

really add more amenities. When you’re in

the middle of a cornfield, literally surrounded

by soybeans and corn and then the river is

just a mile and a half from you. You gotta

have some good amenities. And, you know,

we’re Midwesterners, we like to hunt and

fish and even golf. For the possibilities are

endless.

And with the two properties that open,

with what they can give to the tribe will

allow us to reinvest in ourselves, which we

haven’t been able to do since the hotel. So,

we have a lot of work to do and I’m just

excited knowing that day will come. Sooner

than later. Where our other investment arm

in gaming is gonna start, you know, giving

back to the tribe. So, that day is exciting for

me because I know our property will benefit

because we won’t have to give it all. We can

do some good planning and make it a nice

resort.

We could start having bigger venues and

kind of expand that way [gestures]. We need

to get rid of the old bingo hall. It’s time for

us to really think hard about moving that way

[gestures]. Because it’s served us well. We

have room to grow to the south.

(W) Sure.

actually does it. You can’t just walk downtown, you know, like you can in Sioux City.

Everyone has to come via a vehicle, and they

want a reason to come down. They want a

reason to come over and stuff. I think having

that continual awareness may not seem like

the freshest or most exciting idea, but it’s still

very real, you know? They have to give them

a reason to come here, give them a reason to

come back. Because we again very much reuse that idea in Emerson. Emerson is exactly

the same. It’s like Emerson is in the middle

of nowhere. Yeah, it’s in town, but it’s like

everyone that goes there has to drive. Sure,

people live in town, but the vast majority of

that patronage does not live in Emerson. So,

it is a very, very similar thing.

(K) So that’s what I think about trying to

share with, we have a younger generation

coming up. I always try to tell them to think

about those things. Like, if you were in

charge of gaming or in charge of [the casino]

what would you do? Think about those

things. You guys have been around for a long

time. They have some great ideas and we’ve

taken advantage of several of those ideas. It’s

good to hear from the young people and not

say we already tried that.

I do that sometimes, but you know, I

would try to say, oh yeah, you know, and just

keep talking about it. What were some of

their good ideas? We’re experienced enough

where we can take the younger ideas and put

them into action. So, I like that part of WinnaVegas that we weren’t afraid to try things.

Who would have ever thought we would

have an Asian concert, you know? And it was

huge! When we started it, then everybody

else started. You know? And now we don’t

do them anymore. But if we could bring them

back. There’s a lot of good stuff in there, you

know?

Looking forward and closing thoughts

(K) I look forward to the success of

Warhorse because it’s gonna help us at

WinnaVegas. Because I see it as something

that we had a big part of. I think we were

able to make money for the tribe and create

a portfolio that was able to help with the

development of HCI. And from there, other

things grew. So, I feel like we planted a little

seed and was able to watch it grow. I see that

coming back to us so that we can reinvest in

ourselves. And I say that over and over because people need to hear that. People need

to know that we’re still on fertile ground.

WinnaVegas is fertile ground. and we’re still

growing. So, it’s very important for people to

hear that and, uh believe in that, you know?

I see us having a good year. Things are

getting… our infrastructure is getting better,

getting stronger. We have a little ways to go,

but we’re getting there. And we’re getting

there, so I really look forward to this year,

2025. I think it’s a… it really couldn’t be as

bad as last year. We had a rough year.

(W) Oh my gosh, the flood, the exit construction, which was literally closed.

(K) For at least a month and a half that

exit. We had some technical issues. We had a

rough year. Yes. Power. Power issues. We’re

an older facility and so we have a great IT

program and they’re really, with the tribe’s

help too, we were able to get through that.

And we’re learning more and more, and

we’re ready for a fresh start, you know?

I think this April to me is really a new

beginning. I remember when that storm was

coming through and I could hear the thunder

and the lightning, and they’re like, oh, happy

New Year. I’m like, yes, that’s what it felt

like. I really uh, a really good blessing. So,

this April, this 33rd year anniversary is to

me, it’s really a new beginning. So, I see us

just taking off from here, you know, and have

a great year.

(W) Hopefully with that, yeah, it’s an

exciting premise and one of the best things

that can ever be said is there’s a ton of experience and a just a whole lot of, oh my God,

I forgot about that type memories and stuff.

Crazy ones, funny ones, strange ones. And

then of course, even if they are not so great,

but WinnaVegas is 33 years old and the fact

that the tribe has been successfully operating

a business for 33 years, is pretty impressive.

It really is because that is very unheard of

in Indian country where something continuously does what it does and has that such an

immense impact on the people way beyond

the finances. That’s what drives everything.

Indian Gaming to me and I don’t know how

you feel about it, but it changed the lives of

the tribe in the way that it was meant to do.

(K) So yeah, I believe that. I believe that.

You may not have stayed in the gaming business, but you gained confidence in yourself,

and that’s, um that’s something that nobody

can take away from you. You know, once

you get that confidence like, wow, I can do

anything. It’s like, oh, okay. Yeah, I got this. I

remember when I turned thirty and everyone

was like, are you okay? I’m like, Yo, why?

I’m 30. I’m like, just think how smart I’m

gonna be when I’m 40. You know, because

of the confidence that I got from working at

WinnaVegas is all that encouragement and

knowledge and experience, it really…it’s

gonna take you beyond the reservation, you

know, definitely will.

So, I just, um people will say, boy, you really are excited about things going on, say, in

South Sioux with new gaming. I’m like, well,

yeah. It’s gonna be awesome for our tribe and

it’s gonna be awesome for us.

(W) It certainly can be.

(K) Yeah, it’s not wishful thinking, it’s

possible. But a golf course and our own…

I literally see a zip line from the tower to

WinnaVegas, like they have in Sandia. I like

that, [it] would be so cool.

(W) Yes.

(K) You know, just taking that drive down

towards the river, it takes a while to get there.

You can’t just go straight through. You can’t.

You have to go wiggle around, but it’s such

a pretty drive. You know, and it’s like, oh,

wow, we could do so much down here. And

it’s just it’s possible. It’d be a great resort.

It’d be something really to venture into. And

nothing along that river has anything like it.

(W) Right.

(K) So, we would be again, we’d be the

first.

The Winnebago Indian News would like to

extend our sincerest gratitude to Kellie Snow

for sharing her stories with us. Thank you all

for reading our latest Storyteller.

Opportunities for our people

(W) When you were telling that part of

your story here, we must have gotten this

from the same place. As the CEO of the

gaming corporation one very specific thing

that I would always, always, always… it

didn’t matter who it was or which one it

was, we had a few. The managers at both the

Natives Star and the Iron Horse, I would very

specifically say to them, if this were yours,

what would you do?

Because I don’t remember that being

said to me specifically by, you know Tom

[Florio] or Glenn [Korn] or anything, but that

environment existed. I do remember Glen

Costales, he was from New Jersey, originally, and he was, I wanna say, I think he was

Puerto Rican descent. We were standing there

one day, and it was myself, him, and I think it

was either Heather [Russell] or Mamie [Redhorn-Brownrigg]. I can’t remember which,

but he said, you guys are so lucky. And I

remember looking at him, [asking] what do

you mean? He said, because you have an opportunity for your people. And that still sticks

with me to this day. Because, as a Puerto

Rican person, from New Jersey, which has

a huge population, blah, blah, blah. He said,

there’s nothing like that that exists for us.

That kind of mentality was very real, but

it also kind of set the mindset of everything.

It’s like, you know, what are you gonna

turn it into? What are you gonna allow it to

become? Through your actions and through

your work and stuff. So, again, what would

you do to this if it were yours? That’s a very

real thing. Because it can be anything. It can

become anything, so.

Keeping the dream going

(K) People still have… there are people

that come to WinnaVegas and when it comes

up to April, they’ll say, remind us that,

yeah, we were in line on that dirt road. They

remember and they’d been coming here all

these years. Frequenting artists. We really

are a locals’ casino. When we do get new

patrons come in, they’re like it’s when people

come to see our shows. They’ll say, they

have bathrooms in there? And I’m like, yes,

everything is to the left. Our concessions,

beer, restrooms, and then the show is on the

right. So, it’s new to them. But it’s like, do

you have to come out here to go bathroom?

And it’s just kind of a funny question to me.

It’s like, well, when have you ever went to

the concert and had to leave the facility to

go to the bathroom? So, but you just have to

remember that this is their first time coming

here. Where we still have that. We’re still

capturing that. We still have that grip on people when we have a good show that comes

in. We still hold that power so we recognize

that we are still brand new to some Siouxlanders.

We have a lot of people in Sioux City that

don’t frequent our casino because we haven’t

given them the right show or the right … just

a different draw. So, we’re still… we still

have those people coming in. Which to me

makes me feel good. It’s like well, I’m glad

you came.

(W) Yeah. it worked. Vegas definitely

taught that people need a reason to drive

here. Because no one lives in the cornfield.

You don’t know anyone in… very few people

live in Sloan. Yeah, there are people that

come from Sloan, but everyone has to drive.

They need a reason to drive here.

It’s like it’s… not that anyone I think

Page 8 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, May 24, 2025

LITTLE PRIEST TRIBAL COLLEGE

ALEXANDRIA NEFF

AURELLIA FIGUEROA

AZALIA CURIEL

BISHOP ZU

CHRISTI FREEMONT

DENISE MILFORD

ELEANOR MILFORD

EVANGELINE HENRY

IRENE FOURKILLER

JAILYN WHITEBEAR

JALEN HALLOWELL

JARIUS BASS

JORDANA PAYER

KEVIN ROHDE

KILEAHA HENRY

LAILA PETITE

LEANGELA ROBINSON-LINCOLN

LESANE CLINE

Saturday, May 24, 2025 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 9

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LILY KEARNES

LORI PAYER

MADELYN CASILLAS

TINA BIGBEAR

MARISSA PICOTTE

MARQUE SMOLINSKI

MATTHEW TRUDELL

TYLER FREE LAMERE

MISTI GOMEZ

MONICA GOOD DAWN

NAKIAH BAREA

VERNON HARRIS

NORMA BASSETTE

PERNELL ROBINSON

RAVEN TURNER

WALLACE EARTH

RAYVEN LOERA

SHANNON MOWATT

STEPHANIE SHIRLEY

WINONA LAPOINTE

Congratulations!

CLASS OF 2025

Page 10 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, May 24, 2025

COMMUNITY

Sara Whitead Receives WCHS’s Daisy Award

WCHS Celebrates Opening of New Staff Quarters with House Blessing

By: Sarah Collison Marketing Specialist

By: Erin McElroy, Communications Manager

Winnebago, NE – The Winnebago

Comprehensive Healthcare System

(WCHS) proudly recognizes Nurse

Sara Whitead as a 2025 DAISY

Award® nominee for Extraordinary

Nurses. Sara was honored during a

heartfelt ceremony on May 6th, 2025,

as WCHS celebrated her exceptional

compassion, skill, and dedication to

patient-centered care.

The DAISY Foundation, created in

1999 by the Barnes family in memory

of Patrick Barnes, honors the extraordinary efforts of nurses around the

world who make a profound difference

in the lives of their patients. The DAISY Award® has become a symbol of

gratitude, recognizing nurses who go

above and beyond in their practice.

Sara Whitead was nominated by a

patient who experienced her extraordinary care firsthand in the Emergency

Room. They shared a moving account

of Sara’s care:

“I had never felt so heard and cared

for in the ER before. She made sure

that I was comfortable through every

step of my care. When I was walking

in, she helped me and made sure that I

had everything I needed to get settled

in the room. At first, I refused pain

meds, but she saw how much pain I

was in and suggested something to

help me get through the night, and

I realized she was right. She was so

kind, patient, attentive, and compassionate with me the whole night. It’s

been over a year since that night, but

I still think about how much she cared

and helped me through one of the

toughest nights of my life. I am forever grateful for Sara.”

Sara’s ability to provide not just

medical support, but deeply human

and empathetic care, reflects the highest ideals of the nursing profession.

Her attentiveness and compassion

left a lasting impression on a patient

facing one of the most difficult nights

of her life.

Sara McIntosh, Chief Nursing Officer at WCHS, shared, “Sara Whitead

embodies the very heart of what it

means to be a nurse. Her kindness,

skill, and intuition turned a moment of

profound pain into one of healing and

comfort. We are so proud to have Sara

as part of our team.”

At WCHS, the DAISY Award®

continues to serve as a powerful reminder of the extraordinary work done

by nurses every day. Sara Whitead’s

nomination stands as a testament to

the impact of empathy, attentiveness,

and genuine care in the lives of those

we serve.

Winnebago, NE – On May 16, the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System (WCHS) officially opened its newly built and furnished

staff quarters with a house blessing ceremony that welcomed community stakeholders, WCHS team members, and tribal leaders. The event

served as a moment of reflection and celebration as WCHS continues

to enhance the infrastructure that supports its mission of high-quality,

accessible healthcare.

The new duplex, located in the Ho-Chunk Village 2.0 development,

was thoughtfully designed to provide temporary housing for new

WCHS healthcare providers relocating to the area as well as students/

residents fulfilling their educational requirements. Attendees at the

blessing ceremony were invited to tour the units, share in prayer, and

enjoy light refreshments as WCHS leadership highlighted the importance of the project.

“This housing represents more than just shelter, it represents stability,

respect, and readiness to serve,” said David Edwards, CEO of WCHS.

“We want our providers to feel welcomed and supported from the moment they arrive. These homes help make that possible.”

The staff quarters consist of two fully equipped living spaces. One

unit offers 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a single-stall garage, while

the other includes 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a two-stall garage.

Both homes feature modern kitchens, in-unit laundry, new appliances,

and both front and back outdoor living areas. The units are now furnished and will be used as flexible housing to meet staffing and operational needs.

This project was made possible through funding from the Indian

Health Service and was constructed by BluStone Homes, a subsidiary

of Ho-Chunk Capital. It addresses a challenge WCHS has faced for

years: the need for short-term, quality housing for healthcare professionals, especially as recruitment efforts expand and round-the-clock

service demands continue to grow.

Since 2018, when the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska assumed operation of the local hospital, WCHS has made strategic investments in

healthcare delivery and workforce support. The addition of staff housing is the latest step in creating a more sustainable and responsive

healthcare system for the Winnebago community.

With the homes now open and blessed, WCHS is better positioned

to provide continuity of care, attract skilled professionals, and offer a

smooth transition for staff who are new to the area.

Saturday, May 24, 2025 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 11

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