Published Bi-Weekly for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska • Volume 54, Number 20 • Saturday, September 30, 2023

Published Bi-Weekly for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska • Volume 54, Number 20 • Saturday, September 30, 2023

Winnebago Tribal Court Engages Nebraska Supreme Court

on Discussion of State-Tribal Relations

On September 27th, the Winnebago

Public Health Department hosted a ‘Walk to

Remember’ for Suicide Prevention Month.

During the walk Les Painter and Silas

Cleveland spoke about the importance of

these events along with showing support to

friends and family. Attendees walked close

to a mile and received nice t-shirts with the

phrase “good medicine”. Thank you WPHD

for bringing awareness to the community!

Winnebago tribal court staff along with Big Fire attorneys greet visiting guests at the Winnebago tribal court building.

NEWS PROVIDED BY EINnews.com

State of Nebraska Judicial Branch

August 23, 2023

Thursday, September 14th, Acting

Chief of the Winnebago Police Department,

Officer Anthony Walker, deputized three

conservation officers of Wildlife & Parks:

Sean Bear, Pete Snowball and Kenny

LaPointe! The new officers will assist by

protecting and serving the Winnebago

Community and supporting the Winnebago

Police Department.

The Winnebago Tribal Court, under

the leadership of Chief Judge Patrick

Runge and Court Administrator Jennifer

Berridge, opened its doors on August

16, 2023, to the Nebraska Supreme

Court Summer Tour group for a dialogue

centered on the dynamics between state

and tribal courts.

Chief Judge Runge discussed the

complexities of overlapping jurisdiction

with state courts, particularly those

within Thurston County. With insight and

expertise, he and Berridge guided the

visiting group through the court building,

while discussing the influence of native

culture on the court proceedings, offering

a unique perspective on justice.

Carmelita Parker, overseeing Adult

Probation, and Matthew Cleveland III,

responsible for Juvenile Probation, took

the floor to present a comprehensive

overview of the intersections, challenges,

and future interactions of tribal probation

programming. The event also welcomed

area state probation officers, fostering

an environment for mutual learning and

brainstorming for potential collaborations.

As the morning advanced, the justices

and their travel group visited the Winnebago Youth Crisis Intervention Center (YCIC),

led by Daryl LaPointe. This state-licensed

24-hour emergency and temporary housing facility caters to youths up to 19 years

old. Distinguished by its commitment to

stability, and cultural respect, the facility

offers a safe place for children who are

temporarily separated from their homes.

The location shifted midday as Winnebago Tribal Council members and

Vice-chairman Brian Chamberlain extended a warm invitation to all participants for

lunch at the Ho-Chunk Center. The tribal

members greeted the guests with a traditional song, accompanied by drummers,

several of whom had also been involved in

earlier presentations. The lunch featured a

main dish crafted from ancient corn grown

through the youth facility’s agricultural

program.

Attorney Andrea Snowball initiated the

afternoon discussion with a review of the

recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the

Indian Child Welfare Act. Her presentation prompted an exchange of ideas and

insights, contributing to a deeper understanding of the intersection of state and

tribal courts.

The Winnebago Tribal Court’s engagement

with the Nebraska Supreme Court Summer

Tour group marks another milestone in fostering collaboration, understanding, and shared

progress between state and tribal judiciaries.

Purpose of Nebraska Supreme Court

Summer Tours

According to Chief Justice Mike Heavican,

summer visits are not only an opportunity to

express the Court’s appreciation to community

leaders for their support but also to gain valuable insights into the implementation of policies

throughout the state. The Supreme Court and

Chief Justice pay particular attention to the

effectiveness of various court processes and

use the visits to identify areas where assistance

is requested, especially in terms of technology

and services.

All state courts operate under the administrative direction of the Supreme Court.

Shortly after Heavican was named Chief

Justice in 2006, he established the goal of visiting every one of the 93 courthouses and communities in Nebraska. Having accomplished

that goal, he has continued to visit courthouses

across the state, often accompanied by his

fellow justices.

Little Priest Tribal College builds opportunity ‘pipelines,’ STEM workforce

Deborah Van Fleet, Producer

Monday, September 25, 2023

Little Priest Tribal College in Winnebago says its student body and campus are growing - and so are its options for people to study in STEM fields.

Little Priest has always offered some

health and science courses, but college Vice President of Finance and

Operations Mark Vasina said the twoyear school is also creating pathways

to higher education for its graduates.

Wednesday, September 6th, Little

Priest Tribal College held a ribbon cutting

and groundbreaking ceremony for their

new 6-million-dollar science building! The

building is expected to be completed

by the Spring semester of 2025 with two

labs, three classrooms and a new Student

Services center. Congratulations LPTC on

their expansion!

It has transfer agreements with several area

colleges - in many cases, with free tuition

for getting a bachelor’s degree - including

Wayne State in Wayne, Nebraska, and

Briarcliff University in Sioux City, Iowa.

Vasina said one Briarcliff agreement allows

Little Priest health-science grads to earn a

nursing degree in two years, tuition free.

“Here on the reservation, we have the

Twelve Clans Hospital, and they have a constant need - as all over the country - for nurses,” said Vasina. “But they also need other

lab technicians, and people who are trained

in science and technology applications.”

This month, Little Priest broke ground on a

12,000 square foot science building. In addition to government agencies, the reservation

is home to Ho-Chunk Farms, which employs

some of the school’s diversified ag students.

other local need for STEM-trained individuals.

“We also have our EPA,” said Vasina. “We

have water testing, we have our Department of Natural Resources - all of these programs are starving for qualified individuals

who are trained in modern lab techniques.”

And Little Priest offers dual-enrollment courses at three area high schools, which Vasina

said is one way they generate interest and

promote readiness in potential future students.

Vasina says Little Priest is helping to

build a skilled workforce in an area where

employers sometimes struggle to fill positions because of the town’s small size

and distance from metropolitan areas.

“We’re reaching backwards into the high

school and middle school,” said Vasina, “as well as forward to the four-year

schools, so that students can recognize

that coming here leads them into something even greater and better beyond.”

An ongoing issue on the Winnebago reservation is water quality, because of excessive

mineral content and other contaminants.

Vasina pointed to water monitoring as an-

The college celebrated its 25th anniversary

this month and is seeing record enrollment.

Since summer 2020, tuition has been free for

all students.

Visit us at winnebagotribe.com

Page 2 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, September 30, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Saturday, September 30, 2023 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

JESUS OUR SAVIOR

LUTHERAN OUTREACH

Waruc – Food

“Has life ever gotten so bad?”

By: Ben Crawford

Winnebago today is a food desert — there are not many places where you

can buy fresh foods. Because of this food desert, colonization, trauma, and

perhaps even things like boil orders, there’s a lot of unhealthy food and drinks

that community members rely on. These unhealthy foods and the idea of “three

square meals a day” are not Hōcąk. It’s hard to say exactly, but probably at

most there were two meals a day depending on the season and availability of

food. Feasting and fasting are also a large part of traditional culture. People

would fast as a coming-of-age rite, sometimes for four days without food and

water. Traditionally clan feasts, naming feasts, and other feasts would be held.

Today one of the things you do see is that some people do spirit bowl offerings.

We shouldn’t forget this because beyond the spiritual part, when we offer a little

bit of what we will eat it shows respect for our food, ourselves and the world.

There’s a story in another culture about how when people started farming their

food instead of gathering their food, it made the food weaker. I think that’s a good

way to look at it. Milk and cheese, sweets, soda, pork, bread, chips, breakfast

cereals, unfortunately none of these are traditional foods. Cranberries, sunflower

seeds, turkey and bison meat, beans, squash, corn, maple syrup, clams, water,

and more are traditional foods.

We should not forget that food can be an addiction. For decades now, “weak

foods” and poor relationships to food have sickened and caused many in the

community to pass on.

Has life ever gotten so bad that you

think that the end is near?

You are emotionally drained!

You are mentally spent!

You are physically worn out!

You are spiritual lost!

What is the use of living? You are to the

point of no return -- in your relationship with

your Creator -- you have given up - given

up your faith in Him!

When life gets rough do you lean on

God - on the promises found in His Word?

Or do you attempt to put God to the test

- God either you do what I say or else?

Sounds a bit childish doesn’t it? As a

child did you ever make demands on your

parents so that you might get your way!

Have you ever been in a relationship when

you or someone else made threats -- either

you do this or that or I will harm myself!

I would like to tell you a story of when

life got so bad from God’s Sacred Word.

There is an extreme draught for several

years. The prophet Elijah follows God’s

command and meets a widow who is gathering firewood so that she could prepare

the last supper for her children and herself.

Then Elijah has the audacity to say

these words: “Fetch for me, please, a

little water in the vessel that I may drink.”

So she went to fetch, and he called to her

and said, “Fetch for me, please, a morsel

of bread in your hand.”

The widow responds “As surely as the

Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t

have any bread—only a handful of flour in

a jar and a little oil in a jug.”

Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid.

Go home and do as you have said. But

first make a small cake of bread for me

from what you have and bring it to me,

and then make something for yourself

and your son. For this is what the Lord,

the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour

will not be used up and the jug of oil will

not run dry until the day the Lord gives

rain on the land.’ ”

Elijah, a prophet of God, was asking

this woman to place God first - even

ahead of her own family. God asks you

to place Him first, first and foremost even above your family, your tribe, or

yourself.

She went away and did as Elijah had

told her. So there was food every day for

Elijah and for the woman and her family.

For the jar of flour was not used up and

the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping

with the word of the Lord spoken by

Elijah. [see 1st Kings 17:8-16].

In loving memory ...

In loving memory ...

Marianne Ruth DeCora

Mitchell Wayne Armell

Marianne Ruth DeCora 68 Passed away

In Rosebud South Dakota among loved

ones family and friendsThursday September 14th 2023.

Marianne was born in Sioux City, Iowa

February 12th 1955. Daughter of Duwayne DeCora and Lilian Lebeau. She is

the youngest of 3 sisters,Including Loreli

DeCora and Cheryl Painter of Winnebago

Nebraska. Marianne was raised among the

Indigenous community of Sioux City Iowa.

Marianne Enjoyed her family, friends and

grand daughters. Marianne was an active

member of the American Indian Movement

and she believed in her Lakota Life ways.

Marianne was a wounded knee veteran

as she spent most of her life helping our

indigenous people heal and recover from intergenerational trauma, murder, theft, rape,

failed assimilation and genocide. She was

also a Sundancer and pipe carrier as she

believed wholeheartedly in our Lakota Life

ways. Marianne Loved to travel mother earth

and enjoy new destinations to learn about

other Indigenous cultures. She loved art,

music, gardening, learning, and she was a

very talented artist and known for all of her

beautiful beadwork. She was there to help

people she was always willing to be a good

relative. Marianne was into traditional

medicines and healing herbs as she was

always willing to share this knowledge

with all of her family and friends.

Marianne graduated from Sinte Gleska University with a bachelor’s degree

in Mental health and Human Services.

She later completed her Master degree

in Science in counseling and human

resource development with a minor in

School counseling.

Marianne taught at SInte Gleska

University and worked various jobs

all focusing on helping people to heal.

Marianne is survived by Her Mahasani and life long partner Burdette

Collins clifford. Kevin Hoch DeCora,

her oldest son. Her grandchildren

Charlee ann witt, Jenaya DeCora,

Kimimila DeCora, Caylani Medearis,

Caileanna Medearis. Her great Grandchildren Kobe Karter Lee, and Kyre

Curry Newborough. She is the youngest of 3 sisters, including Loreli Decora

and Cheryl Painter.

Also her cat TUFFY. All other nieces

and nephews whom she loved very

very much.

Mitchell “Mickey” Wayne Armell age

75 of Winnebago, NE passed away

peacefully after complications from heart

surgery at the University of Nebraska

Medical Center in Omaha Ne. Mickey

was a member of the Winnebago Tribe

of Nebraska and the Eagle Clan. His

HoChunk name was Maxi Wakacak “Holy

Cloud”. Traditional services will be held

at the Whirling Thunder Gymnasium in

Winnebago with the Roadman Charles

Aldrich, Jr. officiating. Visitation is from

now until the final services on Friday

September 22, 2023, at 2:00 pm. Mickey

will be laid to rest next to his loving wife,

Rebecca in the Armell Family Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction

of the Winnebago Wake and Burial Program. Mickey was born on February 19,

1948, to Peter and Eleanor (Hensley)

Armell. Mickey attended school in Albert

Lea, MN. He married Rebecca Earth

and had two children. The couple made

their home in Chicago, Il and eventually

settled in Winnebago, NE. Mickey was

a long-time contractor, building many

homes and buildings in the local area.

He retired as the Physical Resources

Director for the Winnebago Tribe in 2015.

Mickey was a lifelong member of the Native American Church of North America,

Winnebago Chapter. Mickey enjoyed

golf, bingo, cheering on the Kansas City

Chiefs, traveling, and spending time with

his family.

Mickey is survived by his two children,

Aric “Dusty” Armell, Sr. of Winnebago

and Michelle W. Armell of Wayne, NE,

eight Grandchildren Arika Armell of Winnebago, NE, Aric Armell Jr. of Colorado

Springs, CO, Akira Armell and Aric “Baby

Aric” Armell III, of Gibson, ID, Hihanni

Ojanjan Armell Moore, and Aria Armell

of Winnebago, NE, Jacob Doescher of

Hoskins, NE, MicKayla Armell, and Floyd

Ward II of Wayne, NE. Three beautiful

Great-granddaughters, Violet Abenicia

Maliana Quinones-Armell, Tyleigh Mae

Doescher and Eleanor Beth Doescher.

Siblings Robert (Winona) Armell, Margaret

“Marge” Gilpin, Jeffery Armell and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mickey was preceded in death by his

parents, wife Rebecca Earth Armell, and

siblings Prosper, Peter Jr., Anna, Oliver,

Pierre, Troy, Laverne and Baby Sister

Armell. Pallbearers include Mitchell DeCora, Wallace Earth, Casey Earth, Eugene

Gilpin Jr., Thomas Fayant, and Ian Seaboy.

Honorary Pallbearers are John Smith,

Ron Nohr, Damon Picotte, Marcel Picotte,

Eugene “Bo” Gilpin III, Prosper Gilpin and

James Fat

The next issue of the WINNEBAGO INDIAN NEWS will be published on October 14, 2023. DEADLINE for this issue will be October 10, 2023.

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Page 4 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, September 30, 2023

ELECTION CAMPAIGN LETTERS

Candidate: Victoria Kitcheyan

Dear Winnebago Tribal Members,

My name is Victoria Kitcheyan and I

am a candidate in the 2023 Tribal Council

General Election. I am writing to ask for

your vote, your family’s vote, and your

continued support to keep working for you.

I currently serve as Chairwoman and have

been working diligently for eight years.

I’ve had productive terms and kept my

word to represent the tribe with a fierce

grace always pushing and challenging

for a better outcome for the tribe. I have

found my strengths in tribal advocacy

work. I’ve taken Winnebago’s issues and

messages to the halls of Congress, the

White House, and many national forums.

There is always more work to be done. For

instance, right now, the Special Diabetes

Program for Indians (SDPI) needs to be

reauthorized by Congress. Winnebago

Tribe relies on this program. I support this

and asked Tribal Council to send letters to

our Nebraska and Iowa congressional delegations. Speaking of diabetes, the WCHS

recently presented options on how to bring

dialysis to Winnebago. It will cost $1.5m in

infrastructure and equipment. We need an

additional $1.2m for operations annually.

These are the type of projects I have followed up on as a Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System board member.

The funds have to come from somewhere

and that is from our profit generating operations like HCI. The tribe needs additional

funding to expand programs and services

to tribal members; like a dialysis unit. I

have no hidden agenda. I have been fully

transparent in my leadership. My job is

to ensure the tribal members receive the

programs and services needed. I remain

concerned and work to improve the quality

of life for tribal members and community.

I initiated and support updating the town

water infrastructure. The tribe has the capacity to manage our own water system

and I look forward to helping. Lastly, I want

to mention the respect and appreciation

I have for the tribal employees. They are

the real ones effecting change every day.

The Physical Resources Department in

particular is the backbone of the tribe.

These employees need raises. The tribal

appropriations budget needs to support

raises ACROSS THE BOARD and bonuses

for our hardest working teams. The whole

tribe works hard but those who work in

inclement weather and strenuous labor,

take a bow. Again, no ulterior motives…

just want to be able to pay our people what

they are worth.

Vote Victoria Kitcheyan and allow

me to get these things done. My work

demonstrates what I am about and what

I am capable of contributing to the Tribal

Council. I am grateful and committed to

my tribe and responsibilities. I have the

respect, love, compassion, and courage to

take on the tribe’s challenges. I am a doer

and have worked hard to fulfill my service

to the tribe. Creator has our back and we

are going to be ok.

Respectfully,

Victoria Kitcheyan

TRIBAL COUNCIL REPORT CARD

Tribal Council Chairwoman 10/2020 Present

Testified in Winnebago Land Transfer Act

Bill to reclaim tribal land illegally condemned

by U.S. ACE

Advocate for fairness and compliance with

the Voting Rights Act, Thurston County’s

redistricting map to give American Indian

voters the chance to elect our preferred

candidates

Health and Human Services – at large

member, Vice Chair for Secretary’s Tribal

Advisory Committee (Had to be nominated

and selected by federal agency) 2020

Spearhead Nebraska intertribal advocacy

to access state ARPA funds which that led

to introduction of funding bill LB 1191 Appropriate federal funds to improve tribally

owned community drinking water

Tribal Council Member

10/2017 - 2020

Health and Human Services – at large

member, Chair for Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (Had to be nominated and

selected by federal agency)

Instrumental in making $49 million available

through appropriations for accreditation

emergencies in Indian Country. In spring

2013, advocated and got $16milion allocation to WCHS.

Instrumental Steering Committee member to

finalize Winnebago Tribe Title 5 Compacting

and Funding Agreement

Advocate in commitment to retaining hospital employees

Spearhead local, regional and national advocacy for increased access and quality of

healthcare delivery in the Great Plains area

Testified in Washington, D.C.

May 12, 2018 - testified before the United

States House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on

Interior, Environment and Related Agencies

regarding Indian Health Service

Tribal Council Treasurer 10/2015 – 10/2017

Drove the Winnebago Tribal offices to financial health by initiating a hard reset that

included converting from paper to electronic

methods of tracking and by utilizing the

expertise of subject matter experts.

Achieved clean financial audits for a threeyear period, allowing the tribe to participate

in the self-governance program as outlined

in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Ace of 1975 - Public law

93-638.

Joined the Native American Finance Officers

Association as a member tribe.

Served as proxy to the Great Plains Tribal

Chairman’s Health Board, attaining appointments from this Health Board to serve on

national committees representing the 18

Great Plains tribes. Committees include:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Vice Chair of the National Indian Health Board, Chair of Center

for Medicare and Medicaid Policy Review

Committee

Conducted research and managed path

for Tribal governance of local hospital previously managed by Indian Health Services.

(Medicare/Medicaid contracts terminated in

2015 due to allegations from a CMS investigation finding the facility caused immediate

jeopardy to patients.)

Answered the call to testify numerous times

in Washington, D.C.

June 13, 2017 - testified before the United

States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs

regarding S. 1250 “Restoring Accountability

in the Indian Health Service Act of 2017”

March 9, 2017 - testified before the United

States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native

Affairs “Improving and Expanding Infrastructure in Tribal and Insular Communities”

July 12, 2016 - testified before the United

States House Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs regarding H.R.

5406, “Helping Ensure Accountability, Leadership and Trust in Tribal Healthcare Act.”

March 18, 2016 - testified before the United

States House of Representatives Committee

on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

regarding Indian Health Services

February 25, 2016 - testified before the

United States Senate Committee on Indian

Affairs Oversight Hearing on “Reexamining

the Substandard Quality of Indian Health

Care in the Great Plains”

Tribal Council Special Term Secretary

05/2015 – 10/2015

Revamped Communication Department

with policies, procedures and communication plan to ensure accuracy of information

shared. This policy facilitated transparency

and virtual mechanisms to attend tribal

council meetings.

BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

United States Health and Human Services

Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee –

Immediate past Chair, Vice Chair, Member

at Large

Indian Health Service Contract Support Cost

Tribal Advisory Committee

Tribal Self Governance Advisory Committee

– Great Plains Area Delegate

Great Plains Tribal Leader Health Board –

Vice Chair

National Indian Health Board – Former

Chairwoman

National Indian Health Board Medicare,

Medicaid, and Health Reform Policy Committee – Former Chairwoman

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Tribal Technical Advisory Group, National Indian Health Board – Former Delegate

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service

Administration, Tribal Technical Advisory

Committee – Former Great Plains Area

Delegate

Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare

System Board of Directors – Vice Chair

Winnebago Land Corporation – Former

Chairwoman

Ho-Chunk Community Development Corporation Board – Former Member

Winnebago Education Committee Member

Winnebago Investment Committee Member

Winnebago Gaming Committee Member

Winnebago Community Development Fund

Committee Former Member

Mercy Medical Center Inclusion and Collaboration Committee Former Member

Winnebago Health Foundation

Candidate: Brian Chamberlain

My Fellow Tribal Members,

Greetings! I hope this finds you in

good health and spirit. As of 9/12/2023,

there are 5,670 of us. Our numbers are

growing. This is a good thing. Since it is

tribal election time I wanted to offer you

some topics to read and think about.

Let’s begin.

FIRST

Running for election back in 2020,

I had the mindset that our tribal efforts

needed to be protected. I still have this

mindset.

In that election I gained the support

of our membership because I also held

the fundamental well-being of our people

in my heart. This too remains true and

unchanged.

Since that election I have grown and

evolved as a person, and as a leader.

Those experiences had provide a level

of understanding and deepened compassion that I feel is good, and work as

a benefit to our people. Being inclusive

of 5,670 individuals requires a level of

insight, fortitude, and vision that usually

only comes through time and experience. I thank you for the opportunity to

continue to grow.

As a perpetual student, learning how

to be a better leader often times means

challenging what is believed. This is a

frightening prospect to some, which is

why the word ‘fortitude’ came to mind.

Since 2020 my path has required me to

challenge my beliefs - sharply. At times,

this was extremely difficult. Yet through

the trials of the past three years, the

updated result remains good; you have

a leader who can with greater ease and

efficiency, see past charades, see thru

artificial dilemmas, and can determine

which course of action is the best that

will benefit us all.

Again, I thank you for the opportunity

to represent you and grow within our

understanding. I have done my best to

keep my decision making focused on

our people, and how best to meet those

needs using the limited resources we

have.

NEXT

Unfortunately, tribal election time also

means, to some, that it is time to bash

those who’ve taken the courage to enter

the ring as a candidate. I wish this would

change, but know most likely it may not.

To the naysayers of my candidacy,

those who like to speak about me without

ever speaking with me, I can only say

this: “prove it”. Without proof, to which

there is none, the vile words are empty,

and ignorant accusations even more

so. Instead, how about we discuss our

situations like adults, as mudslinging and

name calling benefits no one. And this is

all the time I’ll waste on that unnecessary

drama.

THEN

This election is about you – or it ought

to be. To me it is. This election is about

representing our people – all 5,670 of us.

To me it absolutely is, without doubt! To

be clear, this election is not about me.

It’s not about some rumor, or BS. It’s not

about something you never heard of, or

person you’ve never met. It is about you,

the people of our tribe. Yes, some people

want to distract from the real matters at

hand, because they know that’s how

divide and conquer works. Let’s stay

focused on actions providing for and

benefitting us all.

I know you see the truth on your own.

LAST

This candidacy is one that has grown

in good ways, because it had to, and I’m

so very grateful for that. So it is absolutely clear, and without ambiguity or doubt:

I support our people. I support the

efforts of our people. I support those

efforts that work to include our people,

and I support the efforts that require the

advancement of our people.

I support the expansion of our organization, and every part under the tribal

umbrella. I support informing our people

using facts, and I support letting them

ask questions no matter how hard the

answer may be.

I support teaching our people by

causing them to be involved and through

active participation. I support requiring

our organizations to advance our own

people into decision making capacities

at all levels, top to bottom.

I support the idea that every leadership position under the tribal umbrella

will be filled with a Winnebago tribal

member. I support the requirement of

this idea as soon as possible. When Winnebago people are in decision making

positions, we all are better off.

When something has used the resources of our people, it belongs to

our people – plain and simple. And our

people will decide how and when those

resources are used. They won’t be told

how or when by those not elected to

serve.

On Election Day, I humbly ask for your

continued support and for the support

of those who diligently work toward the

same mentioned here. If you want to

discuss details, reach out. You know

where I am.

It was important to me to provide you

with this message, because regardless

of the election result, I support the Winnebago tribe. Our people deserve nothing but the absolute best, and I will never

lower our standards or settle for less.

Thank you for everything you’ve done.

With the best of wishes and warmest

regards to all,

Brian Keith Chamberlain /

Wirukaniga

Candidate: Eugene DeCora

Hanac Hinikaragiwi, I greet you all

with good thoughts and feelings. I have

announced my candidacy for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Tribal Council

elections. My family has been a part of

this community for many generations. My

Gaga Virginia Priest, and Gaga Juanita

Maney Priest are direct descendents of

our last great war chief, Chief Little Priest. I

also want to recognize my Choka, Eugene

N. DeCora, he served his people as a

youth coach and as a member of this tribal

council. Without him I would not be who I

am today. I am the son on Randy DeCora

and Martina (Neff) DeCora. My family and I

have strived to impact our community in a

positive manner and a forward approach.

As a community, we all want the best

for the membership and families. As a

contributing member of this community, I

wish to bring strategic thinking, problem

solving and execution to the table. The

needs for our membership and families

are extensive and daily, which comes

with creating relationships with families to

better suit their needs. In my work experience with the youth, parents, guardians

and community members I will continue

to affect various age groups with positivity

and forward thinking. I have always tried

my best to meet the needs and excel in

anything I have done within the capacity

that I have been given to do so in our community. Our community is moving forward

and this has been a very supportive and

positive space for our youth and families

thus far. I will help continue the growth

within our community and keep shining

a positive light on what our community

is capable of and how we can enhance

our sense of culture belonging. I ask

for your vote in this year’s general

elections. With your vote and support,

we can work together to create an

impactful course of leadership to our

people. Please allow me to bring my

experience of working alongside our

veterans, seniors, guardians and youth

to help make decisions that impact our

community in the best way. If you have

any questions please feel free to reach

out. Pinagigiwi for your consideration.

Saturday, September 30, 2023 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 5

ELECTION CAMPAIGN LETTERS

Candidate: Teresa Littlegeorge

My name is Teresa (Thomas) Littlegeorge. I was born in Winnebago, Nebraska on the Winnebago Reservation. I

am an enrolled member of the Winnebago

Tribe of Nebraska and a member of the

Wolf clan; my name is nacgepiru’awiga

means “Good Heart lifts us up”.

I want to take this time to Thank everyone for their support during the Primary

Election.

I have witnessed our community growing my entire life, and genuinely believe

Winnebago’s are a beautiful people. I have

always enjoyed working with the public,

our students, parents, grandparents, and

community members. I was raised to take

pride in the work I do and to be persistent

about completing my duties. I like to take

the time to gather all the information I can

on a topic before deciding what can be

done.

The only promise I can make to everyone is that I will do my best to represent the

Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska in decisions

that will move us forward.

Thank you all very much, and many

blessings.

Teresa Littlegeorge

Candidate: Sunshine Thomas-Bear

Write In Sunshine Thomas-Bear for Tribal

Council

My name is Sunshine Thomas-Bear and I am

a member of the Huc Hikikikarac of the Hocak

Nisoc Haci/Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. My

biological parents are Louise Thomas, her

parents were Erma Rose Kelsey and Bernard

Thomas and my father is Wilbur J. Wolfe and his

parents are Cynthia Baker and Dave Cleveland.

I was raised though by my adoptive parents

Charlie and Eva Bear. His parents were Josephine Baker and Earl Bear and my adoptive

mother was Stockbridge Munsee, a Band of

the Mohicans and her parents were Lyle and

Rose Bowman.

I am grateful for the upbringing I had and

was raised not only here in Winnebago but

I spent summers with my adoptive mothers

family in Wisconsin. I was always a part of

my biological family although I was adopted

and I am thankful for being lucky enough to

have two fathers and two mothers. I have nine

children and one grandson who I love dearly.

I think that is my most important job is being a

grandmother.

I am currently the Tribal Historic Preservation

Officer, NAGPRA Rep., Cultural Preservation

Director and Angel De Cora Museum Director

and my office is located at the Angel DeCora

Museum & Research Center. I also sit on the

Winnebago Health Foundation Board, Little

Priest Tribal College Board of Trustees and

the Cultural Committee at the hospital, the Pow

Wow Committee. Past JOM Committee member

as well as Enrollment Committee, and others.

After seeing the list of those who were running Winnebago Tribal Council, I felt compelled

to run as a write-in because it worries me the

direction our tribe is going and I don’t want to

leave a mess for our grandchildren and great

grandchildren.

There are several things that I think council

members should possess. I am not perfect nor

have I ever claimed to be. But I do love my people, our lands, culture and language. I believe I

have made that very apparent in the things that

I do; in my home, work, boards, committees and

things I do in the community without the thought

of running for council in my mind, but to show

my love for my community by being present and

encouraging change, transparency and show

that nothing can happen or change unless you

go out there and help do it.

I was told by my father at a young age, and

something he engrained in my head since; without our language and culture we are no longer

the Winnebago people. I firmly believe that and

try my best to stand by that belief daily in my

home and everywhere I work. We have come

to a time where change is needed, although I

know I cannot make this change on my own,

I hope I can be a person who stands by what

they say and make our tribe a better place for

our grandchildren and beyond.

There are so many different things that our

council and tribe face that perhaps we weren’t

ready for or equipped to make the decisions

on. But subjects like language, culture and

enrollment should be at the forefront. We can’t

pass on a system that hasn’t worked for us to

the next generation. We have to make decisions

that will give them the tools to be successful

and allow them to continue on in our language,

culture and education like our people wanted

for them before us, like we want for them now.

Education isn’t the only thing needed. When

I think of education I don’t just think of western

education like schools and colleges or trade

schools. These are important but education

about who we are, where we have come from.

Where we are going. Where we want to go as a

people. A focus on our culture and language.

Standing firm in who we are and knowing where

we have come from. This is the key to making

us successful in other areas we aim to be in.

There are multiple issues we face today and

below are a few:

• Bringing importance back in our culture

and language, a culture and language building

with enough space to hold cultural events

• Food Sovereignty; which to me, closely

aligns with Culture and language, becoming a

self sufficient tribe, with not only gardening but

also bringing back hunting again and learning

to store those foods, bringing back our plant

medicines, an elders table consisting of elders

with plant knowledge who are consulted during

processes of this, plant knowledge and our departments being aware of medicinal/food plants

so they don’t get cut down, the reduction of

mono cropping and a look at what contaminants

are sprayed in and around our community that

kill important plants and insects, having a seed

bank for tribal use

• Elders; assistance for our elders and

veterans in various ways, housing assistance,

protecting our elders from abuse and those

who choose to work to stay busy, investing

more funding into PT jobs, invest in hearing and

documenting their stories

• Enrollment and how to make the decision

best to ensure we as a people, are still here

generations from now

• Youth; Apprentice/Intern opportunities for

more students, more culture and language activities and within their current activities, financial

literacy, Boys & Girls Club structure and funding

• Education; more culture and language

in our schools, focus on immersion, financial

literacy, investing in more apprenticeship and

internship opportunities within the tribe, ensuring

our kids are getting the education they deserve

from the earliest years to beyond

• Financial literacy and readiness; dividend

information and meaningful open discussion

with all members of our tribe, decisions that will

help our future generations and preparing our

youth to take our places in the future

• Health care; meaningful and correct care

of our people, holding our hospital accountable

and bringing back the importance of traditional

knowledge (TK & TEK), mental and behavioral

health focus, addiction and substance abuse,

domestic violence

• Housing for our people; elders, our veterans, our young ones out of high school, attending college or fresh out of college and making

all housing affordable, collaboration of housing

entities in our community

• Employment; tribal member priority, focus

on “developing our own” preparing our youth

to be in a position to work and care for our

tribe in their future, apprentice opportunities,

career pathways, leadership, readiness and

skill training

• Law Enforcement; funding more officers, a

traditional court, an updated code and laws to

tackle the issues we face as a community today

These and many, many other issues come to

the forefront for our council and I believe change

is needed to do this. To me, to be on the tribal

council, it requires you to understand we are

servants of the people. It is a public service

to be in this position. Not something that puts

me higher than anyone. We have unfortunately

taken on a system that was meant to colonize

us. With our constitution, legal system and how

our tribal government runs. But we are in the

position, being a sovereign nation, to change

and make changes that benefit our people for

years to come.

I can’t do it alone. But by working together,

as a people, I feel I can help lead us in that

direction. Not because I know everything. But

because I am willing to look at the whole picture,

work with all entities within our tribe, communicate (like really open and transparent communication) with our on and off reservation membership to help produce successful choices and

decisions that lead us in a positive direction for

all our people, now and forward. My thought is

not only for us now but more importantly that we

are here for many generations after this.

Please help me change our community and

make our tribe better for all of our membership.

I am asking for your vote by writing me in for

a seat on the tribal council and help me make

the changes we need for our people and for our

future as a Tribe.

Candidate: Lorelei DeCora

To the Winnebago Tribal Membership:

I am humbly asking for your vote on

October 3, 2023, to continue serving

you on our Winnebago Tribal Council.

I would like to continue working with

our Winnebago Tribal Council on the

following important future of our Tribe:

Water is Life – We will be circulating

a Petition for the voters of the Village

of Winnebago for a Special Election to

approve turning over the Water & Sewer Assets and Water & Sewer Operation

back to the Winnebago Tribe. We (the

Winnebago Tribe) have obtained the

funding to install a Reverse Osmosis

Drinking Water System to come out of

our faucets. We (the Winnebago Tribe)

have also obtained the funding to install water meters in every unit on the

reservation. That way your water bill is

based on your own use and not some

average the way the Village currently

bills. But first, the Tribe must have the

Water & Sewer assets and Operation

back in order to do this. Please vote

yes when the Special Election is held.

Housing Shortage – We are working

on ways to increase our housing on the

reservation for our Tribal Members.

We will be building low to moderate income units with at least four bedrooms

in the coming years. We are looking

at ways to increase our Downpayment

Assistance Program for Tribal Member

Home Buyers. Also looking at increasing the amount of home purchasing

funds under our Long Term Credit

Program to assist Tribal Members

when buying homes rather than having to pay the sky high interest rates

currently in mortgages.

Health Care – The Winnebago Comprehensive Health Care System has

achieved Certification from the Centers

for Medicare/Medicaid Services that

the Indian Health Services lost 5 years

ago. That was why the Winnebago

Tribe had to go under Self Governance

to take over the hospital. We will now

be able to bill for reimbursements for

health care services from Medicare/

Medicaid and bring that revenue back

into our hospital to improve services.

One of our most serious responsibilities is to build & implement Dialysis

Care in our own hospital. We have our

tribal members who suffer from having

to travel in cold weather three times a

week for Dialysis in Sioux City. They

deserve to have this Dialysis Service

right here in our own hospital.

Land – We currently have a Bill in

the U.S. House of Representatives

called “The Winnebago Land Transfer

Act” for the return of our Iowa lands

illegally seized over 50 years ago

by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

Once the House votes on it, we will still

need a Senate Bill and are working to

obtain Senate Sponsors. Winnebago

people never give up! In this past

year, we have bought land back within

our reservation for the Tribe. It has

good farm land and we will increase

our land base as these opportunities

come up and we have the funds.

I can go on and on, but will stop

here. I just wanted to share with you

some of the important work the Tribal

Council is doing to continue to build

our future for our coming generations.

One last thing. I am a believer

in being accountable to the people

I serve. I have kept a Daily Log on

what I work on every day these past

three years I have been on the Tribal

Council. I submit these monthly to the

Executive Assistant to the Chairwoman’s Office. Any enrolled Winnebago

Tribal Member can stop in and ask her

to look at my daily logs. Thank you so

much. I love my Winnebago People.

Lorelei DeCora

Candidate: John Snowball

WRITE-IN JOHN SNOWBALL

FOR WINNEBAGO TRIBAL COUNCIL

A new passion, perseverance, and

dedication to our traditional ways of well

being. Our timeless teachings and beliefs

have been applied and are applicable to

all manners of life from our original villages

and into the future. Good health, long life,

and happiness to us all.

Respectfully,

John Snowball

Page 6 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, September 30, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Saturday, September 30, 2023 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 7

HOCHUNK RENAISSANCE