Published Bi-Weekly for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Published Bi-Weekly for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Staff Food

Storytellers:

Review:

Ruby Bellanger

“La Fiesta Charra”

page: 6

page: 6

Volume 53, Number 9

Our masthead this issue features Winnebago tribal member, Ruby Bellanger. Ruby

agreed to serve as our premiere “Storyteller”

in this issue where we will feature persons like

her who are willing to share with the WIN stories from their lives. Ruby graciously regaled

the WIN with tales from a wide range of topics

and experiences. Bravely highlighting her own

upbringing that was solidly rooted in the various commonalities many of our people came

to know, Ruby let us feel how she lived her

life – opinions intact, and we would not have

it any other way. Ruby and her family have

the WIN’s sincerest gratitude as she held little

back, keeping her story genuine, honest, and

real. Always a fun time when you get to speak

with her unguarded. She remains a trailblazer

for our society, and we are proud to feature

her here.

Saturday, April 27, 2024

LB1288 BECOMES LAW

By: Brian Chamberlain

Photo(s) by: archives

[CONTINUING COVERAGE]

[LINCOLN, NE] On Thursday, April 18th,

2024, after months of debate, process, and

support, Governor Jim Pillen of Nebraska

(R)[Columbus] signed LB1288 into law here.

Following passage of the bill by the Nebraska Unicameral a couple of weeks prior, on

a 30-8 vote in favor, the long-awaited bill

has finally become a reality for all tribes in

Nebraska.

This landmark action began in a process

years ago. The Winnebago Tribe recognized

a dilemma that needed State legislative action to resolve. EPC (Emergency Protective

Custody) orders issued by the Tribal Court

for the protection of tribal members who

were either in a mental health crisis, or had

some other need for protective custody,

these orders carried no weight in the Nebraska State system. The State had no ability

to assist, whether it was with transportation,

housing, or even much needed treatment.

This placed the lives of these individuals

in serious jeopardy and left their families

with nowhere to turn. During debate on the

Unicameral floor, Senator Jen Day (Omaha)

who also serves as Chair of the State – Tribal

Relations Committee said, “we are putting

the health and safety of an individual at risk

or harm to themselves or others.”

At the onset of this legislative session,

Lincoln Senator Jane Raybould introduced

the bill (LB1288) that would serve to correct

the problem with as much simplicity as

possible. “If someone is having a behavioral

health crisis, a mental health breakdown, the

person needs to get transported to one of the

several hospitals that are available that deal

with mental health (and) behavioral health

issues,” Raybould said. Her leadership

pushed the bill forward and eventually it was

passed by the entire body, even without her

in person vote.

During her tenure as CEO of 12 Clans

Unity Hospital (WCHS), tribal member

Danelle Smith began working on the matter

after witnessing many of our own tribal members fall through the cracks of the Nebraska

State healthcare system. Smith participated

in and introduced the subject to our own

tribal leadership. At the tribe’s annual Senator’s Luncheon held in Lincoln near the

onset of each legislative session, Smith and

Con’t. on page 2...

WPS HOSTS NATIVE YOUTH EDUCATIONAL SUMMIT

WTN EPD hosted Winnebago’s Community clean-up that took place from

April 23rd through the 25th. Residents

cleared out their homes while WTN departments took care of their assigned

areas of the town. This community

effort benefits everyone; Decluttering

your homes can reduce stress, improve

moods, and benefit your health due to

dust/debris collecting overtime. Pictured

above are facilities employees gathering

resident’s curbed items in Sunrise Drive.

The Summer Youth Employment

Program (SYEP) has hosted their interviews for ages 14-19. Applicants must

bring a resume, interview, and pass a

drug test. More details of eligibility can

be found on the WTN website under

Higher Education. This year there were

more students than work-stations available. Local departments needing extra

help during the summer should contact

Higher Education at (402) 878-2631. Our

youth can benefit from the learning experience of necessary skills and formulate

a work ethic. Pictured above is the 2022

Summer Youth group. Fun fact: the SYEP

has been going for over 39 years!

By Brian Chamberlain

Photos by Brian Chamberlain

[WINNEBAGO, NE] On Wednesday,

April 17th, 2024, the Winnebago Public

Schools hosted the 2024 Nebraska Native

Youth Gathering here. In the return to an

event held in years past, native students

from across the State were welcomed to

Winnebago en masse. “We used to hold

this event annually but had to stop due

to the pandemic. This year is the first one

we’ve been able to hold in person since

that time.”, said Winnebago Superintendent,

Kamau Turner.

The event began inside the main gymnasium as the students gathered. Seating

was at near capacity as the students of

Winnebago High we joined by dozens of

students from multiple other schools, like

Omaha Nation, Walthill, Santee. Some even

came from Lincoln and Omaha. Turner

continued, “it’s nice to see the participation

return to such a robust level. We’re very

pleased with the turn out.”

The attendees were officially greeted by

a traditional prayer and honor song sung by

visitors from the Santee district. Presenter

and sponsor, Delberta Frazier, who also

represented one of the breakout learning

sessions provided those in attendance

with pouches of various native plants that

indigenous people used for millennia as

medicines, prior to colonial contact. She

said, “We’re happy to help teach the next

generations about all the good medicines we

have here right at home.” She also shared

some of their offerings with the WIN.

In tandem with the Gathering, the practice gym was filled with a slew of booths from

various educational, vocational, and employment presenters. The Winnebago Tribe

Con’t. on page 2...

Visit us at winnebagotribe.com

Page 2 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, April 27, 2024

COMMUNITY

...Cont. from front pg. “LB1288 BECOMES LAW

members of our Tribal Council began the

work of introducing the critical matter to the

State Senators. The process took years to

complete due to various factors.

Through Smith’s leadership, the revelations regarding the pitfalls within the Nebraska State system began to become clearer.

Working with the NE Department of Health

and Human Services (DHHS), the tribe’s

position was placed before their executive

leadership and even more light became

shed on the subject. Smith remarked to the

Tribal Council several years ago regarding

how the State system was simply not set up

to allow Tribal EPC Orders to be put into

effect. Sen. Raybould said, “But if the tribal

judge gives that (EPC) order and the person

gets transported, say, to Norfolk, they don’t

recognize it in Madison County”.

Some opposition did exist during the

debate sessions, but regardless of the push

back the bill did gain approval. It was sent

to the Governor’s desk and was signed

shortly after. Now as General Counsel for the

Winnebago Tribe, Smith said, “LB 1288 is

an important law that respects the authority

of Tribal Courts and helps tribal members

who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

We appreciate the support of the Nebraska

Department of Health and Human Services

in working with us to develop a solution, Sen.

Raybould for her strong leadership, and the

Nebraska legislature for voting in favor of the

bill. This is a demonstration of what we can

accomplish when we work together.”

Tribal Council Chairwoman, Victoria

Kitcheyan stated on the day of the Governor’s signature, “It’s a good day for the

relatives.” The WIN agrees as this measure

helps our most vulnerable people who are in

crisis. It also serves to help all tribal people

within Nebraska, and Winnebago leadership

worked diligently to make this happen.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The article’s writer,

Brian Chamberlain, was a part of the Tribal

Council who voted in support of the actions

taken to bring the process forward. Chamberlain spoke to the Senators during this

year’s Senator’s Luncheon regarding the

bill as well.

...Cont. from front pg. “WPS HOSTS NATIVE YOUTH

EDUCATIONAL SUMMIT

was represented, as was Little Priest Tribal

College, Wayne State College, and recruiters from the military branches to name but

a few. One presenter told the WIN, “We’re

excited to see the students and help them

see how many different opportunities there

are waiting for them once they’ve completed

high school.”

The keynote speaker for the event was

Winnebago’s own, Trey Blackhawk. Blackhawk spoke to the students at the onset of

the event regaling the kids with stories of his

times at Winnebago High, and his pathway

since graduating, himself. Blackhawk is the

winner of a recent scholarship award based

on his original design now available through

the Pendleton Blanket Company. In appreciation of his selection as keynote speaker,

Blackhawk bestowed one of his blankets

bearing his design to the Winnebago Public

School. Superintendent Turner was on hand

to accept the gift as the students applauded

the exchange.

The event was very well received, and

the students seemed genuinely eager

to see what the day’s itinerary had in

store for them. The vast array of options

provided in the practice gym, in combination with the full day’s agenda was

sure to make for some good discussion

and contemplation of which steps to take

next. The WIN will cover future events

such as this to help ensure all young

tribal learners know there are many resources available to them for all sorts of

educational pathways.

WPS Student Ambassadors welcome guests.

Senator Jane Reybould (Lincoln)

Presenter Delberta Frazier and her associates attend WPS Event.

Pendleton Blanket designed by Trey Blackhawk gifted to WPS.

Tribal Farms Director, Trey Blackhawk gives event keynote.

Tribal Human Resources Generalist, Ofelia Cordova, holds tribal employment booth at

student event.

Superintendent, Kamau Turner and Keynote Speaker, Trey Blackhawk

Saturday, April 27, 2024 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

SUICIDE IN INDIAN COUNTRY PART 45

What You Can Do

Be There

Together with formal counseling and/or medications for the emotional problems that

set the stage for suicidal thinking and feeling, the very best thing you can do for a suicidal

person is, simply, to be there.

Let that person know you care for and love them – in spite of how frightened they’ve

made you feel. Assure them that, no matter how bad things may get before they get better, you will be there for them. This may mean that you will be in the same house or only

a phone call away. But it means calling them before they call you, sending a “thinking of

you” card, and spending time together enjoying life, not troubling over it.

By simply being there, being close and caring, you can keep hope alive.

Listen

Listening is the greatest gift one human can give to another. Advice tends to be easy,

quick, cheap and often wrong. Listening takes time, patience and courage, but it is always

right.

Ask yourself, “Who do I go to when I need to talk?” Your answer is seldom someone

who lectures or makes quick judgments about what you should do. Rather, it is the good

listener to whom we turn in times of trouble.

Listening is a healing art. You can become a better listener by realizing the following:

Listening to someone suicidal can save a life.

Listening means taming your own fear so that you don’t rush into judgments.

Listening means giving your time to someone else.

Listening means sharing the burden of pain.

Listening means paying perfect attention while the other person’s creates his or her

own solution to life’s problems.

That’s right, creates his or her own solution – the only solution that has any real chance

of working.

Because “tell me more” inspires hope, people struggling to find a way to live need

to be listened to – sometimes once, but sometimes many times and for hours at a time.

Suicidal people do not want to die so much as they want to find a way to live. Listening

helps them find that way.

When listening to someone who has considered, threatened or even attempted suicide,

try to remain calm and tranquil. Listen with your ears and your heart. This is the hard part

because we must conquer our fear to do it. But as you listen to every word, you will hear

not only what the sufferer is saying, but also what he or she is trying to say.

Confirm your guesses and suspicions with questions. If you get nods or “yeses”, you

have, in no small way, helped that person find a way to live. In the end, it is very hard to

kill yourself when someone else truly understands your life. And listening, above all other

forms of human communication, makes this understanding possible.

Reduce the Risk By Making Suicide Difficult

Some suicidal people are impulsive. In acute psychological pain, they do not understand

that the pain will pass. To help reduce the risk of self-injury or suicide by an impulsive or

even considered act, it is always helpful to remove the firearms, car keys, medications

and other means of suicide. By simply restricting access to the means suicide, you may

buy the time needed for the pain to pass, for a solution to be found, and for hope to be

rekindled. Removing the means to suicide is, in itself, an act of hope.

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

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

Point your phone’s camera at the QR code to

JESUS OUR SAVIOR

LUTHERAN OUTREACH

“Suffering today and glory

forever”

There will come a time when the

sons of God, having been adopted

into God’s family will be revealed.

This is great news for some. And

not only great news for some - it is

also great news for creation.

Presently we live in this age.

We are used to life in this world.

We cannot comprehend any other

world. However, this is not a good

world. This world is filled with corruption, disease, suffering and in

the end death.

Some accept this reality as the

cycle of life. Yes, with the cycle of

life comes the end of life - that is

death. How futile is that!

This is not how it was in the

beginning of this world. In the beginning all was good - really good!

The trees gave fruit year round.

There were no illness, disease,

envy, stealing, brutality, wars, natural disasters such as tornados,

floods, earthquakes. And there was

no death.

However, this world in which

we live is cursed. Who brought

the curse upon creation? The very

first man and the very first woman

- Adam and Eve. In their desire to

be like God, knowing good and evil,

they ate fruit forbidden by God. In

other words, they disobeyed God’s

one and only command.

The result was suffering and

death entered the world. We turn

to the third chapter of Genesis,

beginning at verse seventeen: ‘And

to Adam [Creator God] said, “Because you have listened to the

voice of your wife and have eaten

of the tree of which I commanded

you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed

is the ground because of you; in

By: Pastor Ricky Jacob

pain you shall eat of it all the days

of your life; thorns and thistles it

shall bring forth for you; and you

shall eat the plants of the field.

By the sweat of your face you

shall eat bread, till you return to

the ground, for out of it you were

taken; for you are dust, and to dust

you shall return” [Genesis 3:17-18

ESV].

The good news is that there is

another age to come when creation will be set free and the circle

of life will be truly be a complete

and ongoing circle of life. This will

also be the age or the time of the

revealing of the sons of God who

will share in His glory - forever and

ever - without end!

You have been offered to share

in the glory of God - it can be yours

now and not yet! The offer comes at

a great cost. Creator God sent his

only begotten Son into this world

in order to suffer and to die on a

pole - the cross on Mount Moriah.

The story does not end then and

there. Creator God’s Son, Jesus,

rose victoriously on the first day

of the week - which we Christians

refer to as Easter. Now Creator

God offers glory forever and ever

in paradise for all those who place

their faith in Jesus!

The sons (as well as the daughters) of God they will share in the

glory of God. In the meantime, the

sons and daughters of God will suffer persecution. Our suffering does

not compare to the glory and the joy

of living with the rest of creation in

the new heavens on the new earth.

The basis of this blessed future

please open your Bible and turn to

Romans chapter eight, and read

from verse eighteen through twenty-three (you may as well read the

whole chapter while you are at it)!

go to the Big Voice Radio webpage!

KWTN 100.9 FM

The Official Radio Station of the

Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of Hearing

Case No. CV24-076

Notice:

In the Matter of the

Name Change Petition of:

EDWIN ALLEN BROWN

to EDWIN DENNIS BROWN

To:

The Polling Place for Winnebago

is now located at the

ANY INTERESTED PARTIES

You are hereby notified that a petition for

Name Change has been filed and a hearing

concerning the above referred Individual in

case no. CV24-076 has been scheduled and

will be heard in the Winnebago Tribal Court

of Winnebago, Nebraska on the 16TH day of

May, 2024 at the hour of 11:30 A.M.

Whirling Thunder Wellness Center/

Blackhawk Center

For the Primary May 14, 2024 Election

Please enter through the North door.

The next issue of the WINNEBAGO INDIAN NEWS will be published on May 11, 2024. DEADLINE for this issue will be May 7, 2024.

——————————————————

The Mission of the WIN is to inform and to educate

the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska of issues that

affect them, and to be a vehicle in which stresses

positive and beneficial concerns and points of view.

LETTER POLICY: Signed editorials, letters and

articles appearing in the WIN are the responsibility

of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the

opinion or attitude of the Winnebago Indian News

or the Winnebage Tribal Council.

The WIN encourages the submission of Letters to

the Editor; however, letters must be signed and

addressed. Letters may be edited for language

and length.

Postmaster Send Address Changes To

Winnebago Indian News

P.O. Box 687

Winnebago, Nebraska 68071

——————————————————

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.

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

address with old mailing label to:

12:00 Noon Monday Printing Week

Winnebago Tribal Council

Victoria Kitcheyan................Chairwoman

Periodicals Postage Paid

Isaac Smith...................... Vice Chairman

(Issn 1060-3026) At Winnebago, NE

Lorelei DeCora........................ Secretary

Rona Stealer........................... Treasurer

winnebagoindiannews@winnebagotribe.com Winnebago Indian News Staff

Phone: 402-878-2272

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

Tyler Snake............................. Office Manager Kenny Mallory.............................Member

“Official Newspaper of

Christina Parker...................Desktop Publisher Aric Armell..................................Member

the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska”

Theresa Littlegeorge..................Member

Yearly Subscription Rates

Nebraska Residents....................................$25.00 WTN Communications

Eugene DeCora..........................Member

Winnebago Indian News

P.O. Box 687

Winnebago, NE 68071

or contact us at our e-mail address:

Out-Of-State................................................$35.00

Overseas.....................................................$50.00

Advertising Rate

Per Column Inch............................................$7.00

Garan Coons.............................Comm. Officer

Bethani Redhorn...........Comm. Office Manger

Christina Parker.............................Web Master

Kevin Ebert..................Multimedia Coordinator

Page 4 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, April 27, 2024

TRIBAL COUNCIL MINUTES

ments. Isaac Smith seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Teresa Littlegeorge motioned to Ratify

the Five Signature March 18, 2024 Adopt

Resolution #24-103 Approve $2,584.709

funding request for American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services grant FY 24.

Eugene DeCora seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Aric Armell motioned to Ratify the Five

Signature March 18, 2024 Adopt Resolution

#24-105 Approve Absolute Relinquishment

of #383-UO7003. Isaac Smith seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Teresa Littlegeorge motioned to Ratify the

Five Signature March 20, 2024 Adopt Resolution #24-104 Approve Tribal Enrollment

Applicants. Isaac Smith seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Winnebago Gaming Development Corporation

Aric Armell motioned to appoint Eugene

DeCora to the Winnebago Gaming Development Corporation Board. Rona Stealer

seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Tribal Council Listening Session RE:

Tribal Enrollment, April 2, 2024 5pm in the

BHCC and via Zoom meeting. Winnebago

Tribal Members can request the meeting link

or attend in-person.

U.S. Census Director Visit, Lincoln, NE

March 19, 2024

Lorelei DeCora motioned to approve Tribal Council travel to attend the U.S. Census

Director visit, Lincoln, NE March 19, 2024.

Teresa Littlegeorge seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Eugene DeCora motioned for Garan

Coons, Communications Director to remain

the U.S. Census communication point-ofcontact for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Teresa Littlegeorge seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Tribal

Community Response Plan Missing or

Murdered Persons – presented by Thelma

Whitewater

Aric Armell motioned to approve the 3-2224 Winnebago Tribal Community Response

Plan Missing or Murdered Persons. Isaac

Smith seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Tribal Council Secretary will send a copy

to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

2024 Annual Homecoming Pow-Wow

Committee

Lorelei DeCora motioned to appoint

James Sun III, John Snowball, Kiylista Harden-Free, Kiva Harden-Free, Jeffrey Berridge,

Tyresha Romero to the 2024 Annual Homecoming Pow-Wow Committee. Aric Armell

seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Aric Armell motioned to approve

$2,280.00 to the Roads Department for rock

on the road used to ensure water our buffalo.

The funds will come out of the appropriate

Tribal Council budget to be determined by

the Treasurer. Isaac Smith seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Employee Appreciation Recognition

The Employee Appreciation Recognition

(employees who worked during the blizzard/

extreme weather) will be April 24, 2024.

Aric Armell motioned to go into Executive

Session. Eugene DeCora seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

In Executive Session at 5:53 p.m.

Aric Armell motioned to come out of Executive Session. Eugene DeCora seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Out of Executive Session at 6:17 p.m.

Rona Stealer motioned to adjourn. Eugene DeCora seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Chairwoman Victoria Kitcheyan Adjourned the Meeting at 6:18 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lorelei DeCora, Secretary

Winnebago Tribal Council

WINNEBAGO TRIBE OF NEBRASKA

CEO & CONTINUING PHYSICAL RESOURCES REPORTS MEETING

April 10, 2024

TRIBAL COUNCIL:

Victoria Kitcheyan

Isaac Smith

Lorelei DeCora - out at 2:15pm

Rona Stealer – out at 2:00pm

Eugene DeCora

Coly Brown

Kenneth Mallory

Aric Armell

Teresa Littlegeorge

OTHERS:

Esther Mercer

Lynelle Blackhawk

Brittany Thomas

Kevin Ebert

Desiree Kitcheyan

Amy Lapointe

Garan Coons

Annabess Preston

Jasmine Lammers

Willy Bass

Cecelia Earth

Kellie Snow

Janelle DeCora

Elizabeth Bayer

Ramona Sheridan

Denise Jensen

Misty Jefferson

Linda Free

Cassie Kitcheyan

Thelma Whitewater

Robert Byrnes

Autumn Nieman

CALL TO ORDER: Winnebago Tribal

Chairwoman Victoria Kitcheyan Called the

Meeting To Order at 9:05 a.m.

PRAYER: Offered by Vice-Chairman

Isaac Smith

AGENDA: Add: Item #3 Boards & Committees

Isaac Smith motioned to approve the

agenda. Eugene DeCora seconded.

VOTE: (8) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

CEO Report – presented by Esther Mercer, CEO

Isaac Smith motioned, from this day

forward, all employees of the Ho-Chunk

Renaissance Program must be Winnebago

Tribal members. Aric Armell seconded.

Isaac Smith withdraws his motion. Aric

Armell does not withdraw his second.

Aric Armell motioned, from this day

forward, all employees of the Ho-Chunk

Renaissance Program must be Winnebago

Tribal members. Isaac Smith seconded.

OBJECT: Lorelei DeCora

VOTE:(2) yes, AA, IS (2) no, LD, RS

(4) abstain: KM, TL, CB, ED,

A tie. 2-2-4

Chairwoman Kitcheyan votes yes.

VOTE: (3) yes, AA, IS, VK

(2) no, LD, RS

(4) abstain, KM, TL, CB,

ED, 3-2-4 Motion carried.

Five minute break at 10:00am. Back at

10:12am

AA –Stepped away from the table.

Teresa Littlegeorge motioned to accept

the CEO Report. Kenneth Mallory seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

CAO Report – presented by Lynelle

Blackhawk, CAO

AA – Back at 10:32am

VOTE: (8) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried

Human Resources Director

Kenneth Mallory motioned to approve the

Human Resources Director Job Description.

Eugene DeCora seconded.

VOTE (8) yes (0) no (0) abtain

Motion carried.

Kenneth Mallory motioned to approve

the new Water Resources Technician Job

Description. Rona Stealer seconded.

VOTE: (8) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

In-House Legal Counsel

Eugene DeCora motioned to table the

In-House Legal Counsel to the next CEO

Report. Teresa Littlegeorge seconded.

OBJECT: Isaac Smith

VOTE: (6) yes, LD, RS, KM, TL, CB, ED

(2) no, IS, AA (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Aric Armell motioned to approve the

Human Resources Director and Water

Resources Technician into the ORG Chart.

Eugene DeCora seconded.

VOTE: (8) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Winnebago Tribal Council 2024 Primary

& Regular Election Schedule

Eugene DeCora motioned to approve

the Winnebago Tribal Council 2024 Primary

& Regular Election Schedule, September 3,

2024 & October 8, 2024. Kenneth Mallory

seconded.

VOTE: (8) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Charitable Giving Survey Results

Out of 307 Winnebago Tribal Employees,

76 completed the survey. Yes: 48; No: 28

Eugene DeCora motioned to re-publish

the survey until after the next Huddle to

discuss Charitable Giving. Coly Brown

seconded.

OBJECT: Isaac Smith

VOTE: (7) yes, ED, RS, LD, KM, TL, AA,

CB (1) no, IS (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Winnebago Tribal Enrollment Applicants

Lorelei DeCora motioned to adopt Resolution #24-111 to approve the Winnebago

Tribal Enrollment Applicants. Teresa Littlegeorge seconded.

VOTE: (8) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Recess – At 12:00pm for lunch

Winnebago Tribal Housing

Aric Armell motioned to appoint Terri Lee

Medina to the Winnebago Tribal Housing

Board. Eugene DeCora seconded.

OBJECT: Isaac Smith

VOTE: (7) yes, CB, LD, KM, RS, ED, AA,

TL (1) no, IS (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Tribal Member Services Mission & Vision

Statement

Teresa Littlegeorge motioned to approve

the Tribal Member Services Mission & Vision

Statement as is. Rona Stealer seconded.

Discussion

Teresa Littlegeorge withdraws her motion. Rona Stealer withdraws her second.

Aric Armell motioned to table the Tribal

Member Services Mission & Vision Statement and for Tribal Member Services to bring

it back after further refining to the Mid-Monthly Meeting. Isaac Smith seconded.

VOTE: (8) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

EduCare Network Conference – presented by Amy LaPointe

The National Director of Head Start will be

attending. Describes ongoing preparation

for May 1, 2024, May 2, 2024 Conference

attendees will visit Winebago Educare that

afternoon/evening, May 3, 2024.

Aric Armell motioned for the Tribal Council to donate a Star Quilt to gift the National

Head Start Director. Eugene DeCora seconded.

VOTE: (8) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Planning – presented by Brittany Thomas

ED - out

Isaac Smith motioned to adopt Resolution #24-112to approve the Winnebago

Tribe and Education Department to apply

for a grant from the Ho-Chunk Community

Development Corporation (HCCDC), Winnebago Community Development Fund for

EduCare Winnebago beutification & maintenance of their Building . The total project

is $19,101.00 and the 1:1 match required is

$9,550.50. The Education Department has

pledged half the match will come out of their

968 Tribal Appropriation Fund. Aric Armell

seconded.for

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

ED - back

Kenneth Mallory to adopt Resolution

#24-113 approve the Winnebago Tribe and

Education Department shall submit a letter

for a donation request $3,411.00 from the

Ho-Chunk Inc. Charitable Giving Committee

to assist EduCare to purchase food items,

drinks and tableware to serve meals to the

EduCare Learning Network during May 1st,

2nd & 3rd, 2024. The Winnebago Tribe is not

required to match any funds for this donation

request. Eugene DeCora seconded.

VOTE: (8) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Isaac Smith motioned to adopt Resolution

#24-114 approve the Winnebago Tribe to

apply for $35,000.00 from the Buffet Early

Childhood Foundation to assist the building

of EduCare to repaint the walls throughout

the building. Teresa Littlegeorge seconded.

VOTE: (8) yes (0) no (0)abstain

Motion carried.

Isaac Smith motioned to adopt Resolution

#24-115 approve Winnebago Tribe funding

request of $750,000.00 from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, FY 2024

Opioid Affected Youth Initiative beginning

October 1, 2024 though September 30,

2027 to support the Youth Crisis Intervention

Center (YCIC) and Youth Shelter to address

opioid use of youth & their families. Eugene

DeCora seconded.

VOTE: (8) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Isaac Smith motioned to adopt Resolution #24-116 approve the Winnebago Tribe

grant request of $900,000.00 from the U.S.

Department of Justice under Category

1: Planning and Implementation for the

BIA FY 24 Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Adult Treatment Court Program. Teresa

Littlegeorge seconded.

VOTE: (8) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Emergency Grant Application Revision

Isaac Smith motioned to approve the

Emergency Grant Application revision as

presented. Aric Armell seconded.

VOTE: (8) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Kenneth Mallory motioned to approve

Winnebago Tribal Administration staff access from Human Services to check if the

Emergency Grant applicant already got help

from them for the same request. Teresa

Littlegeorge seconded.

VOTE: (8) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

5 Minute Break

VK-out, RS –out at 2pm. Vice-Chairman

Isaac Smith assumes the Chair.

Physical Resources Department Continuing Report – presented by Autumn Nieman,

Assistant Physical Resources Director.

Eugene DeCora motioned for Winnebago

Tribal Housing to have a monthly meeting

with all Winnebago Housing Entities. Teresa

Littlegeorge seconded.

VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

VK – back, resumes as Chair

Lorelei DeCora motioned to accept the

Physical Resources Report. Coly Brown

seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

Lorelei DeCora motioned to Suspend the

Rules for a WinnaVegas Casino Resort Item.

. Kenneth Mallory seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

WinnaVegas Casino Resort

Eugene DeCora motioned to approve

remodeling the bar for $114,329.50 through

Bacon Creek Design for WinnaVegas Casino Resort. The Winnebago Gaming Commission has already approved. Kenneth

Mallory seconded.

VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

LD – out at 2:15p.m.

Chairwoman Victoria Kitcheyan kept the

Minutes.

Nebraska Renewable Energy Systems,

– Solar Opportunity presented by Robert

Byrnes.

Eugene DeCora motioned to adjourn.

Teresa Littlegeorge seconded.

VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

ADJOURN:

Chairwoman Victoria Kitcheyan adjourned the meeting at 2:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lorelei DeCora, Tribal Council Secretary

Concur:

Chairwoman Victoria Kitcheyan

WINNEBAGO TRIBE OF NEBRASKA

WINNEBAGO COMPREHENSIVE

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

(WCHS)

April 11, 2024

TRIBAL COUNCIL:

Victoria Kitcheyan – out at 11:30 a.m.

Isaac Smith – PTO in at 10:01 a.m.

Lorelei DeCora

Rona Stealer – PTO

Eugene DeCora

Coly Brown

Kenneth Mallory

Aric Armell – in at 9:25 a.m.

Teresa Littlegeorge

OTHERS:

Dr. Mona Zuffante

David Edwards

Beth Wewel

Sharon Frenchman

Austin Schanzenbach

Lynelle Blackhawk

Annabess Preston

Cecelia Earth

Garan Coons

Jasmine Lammers

Tyresha Romero

Esther Mercer

Kiva Free

Kevin Ebert

CALL TO ORDER: Chairwoman

Kitcheyan Called the Meeting To Order at

9:11 a.m.

PRAYER: Offered by Eugene DeCora

AGENDA: Add as 1st Item - EMS

Building

Teresa Littlegeorge motioned to approve

the agenda. Kennth Mallory seconded.

VOTE: (5) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

EMS Building

David Edwards, WCHS CEO reports the

WCHS Board will meet to consider approving the additional 3.1 million requested for

the EMS Building Construction.

AA – in at 9:25 a.m.

Aric Armell motioned to direct the WCHS

Board to make the 3.1. million a priority for

the EMS Building Construction. Teresa

Littlegeorge seconded.

VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Motion carried.

EHS Progress, Independent IT Network,

Ongoing CMS Readiness, Quality Evolution

– Update presented by Austin Schanzenbach, Chief Transformation Officer.

Five Minute Break

Building Assumption, Cultural Resources

Committee, Domestic Violence Building –

Updates presented by Sharon Frenchman,

CAO.

Tier 4 Emergency Department Designation, SANE Nursing approved by the

WCHS Board, Advanced Primary Care,

Nephrology Prevention Clinic Developing,

Cardiology Clinic Developing, Urology

Clinic Developing, Auditory Services Developing – presented by David Edwards, CEO

Change Healthcare Status Update, Revenue Cycle Progress Report, Sources and

uses update and cash balances – presented by Beth Wewel, Chief Financial Officer.

Aric Armell motioned to direct a letter

of support from the Chairwoman to the

Indian Health Service to expedite our

Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare

Systems (WCHS) claims. Eugene DeCora

seconded.

VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain

Con’t. in next issue...

Saturday, April 27, 2024 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 5

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Page 6 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, April 27, 2024

Question of the Issue:

What are some of your Shocking Confessions? Things that will

make people gasp and squeal once they’ve found out. Don’t say

we didn’t warn you. Beware!

Garan: I am all for tipping for great service. But the one thing I can’t stand

is when you order something and they flip the screen around asking for the

tip amount before the service is done. Or another example, I was in DC,

grabbed my soda and snacks. Put them on the counter and then get met

with a tip request screen. Like for what? On the flip side, if you get good

service, please tip those who do a good job.

Brian: Prepare the gasps. I despise ranch dressing. (Yuk!) And I have never seen any of the Back to the Future sequels. None of them. Ever! And I’ve

never seen one episode of Grey’s Anatomy, nor one full episode of Yellowstone.

Tyler: Most sea food is a no for me. Everyone loves seafood boils, but I

can’t stand shrimp, clams, crabs or lobster.

Kevin: Hmm shocking confession that would make my friends gasp, well I

guess I would have to say in my life I had two perms. I thought the first one

came out rather good, so I got a 2nd one and it wasn’t as successful. Then

I went into the U.S Army and they shaved my head and I never grew my hair

out again.

Christina: As a native woman, I don’t know how to make frybread and I

do not wish to learn because it’s so unhealthy.

Bethani: My shocking confession that usually gets a gasp or two is my

dislike for onions. I don’t like onions – at all! When I was a little girl, we had

chicken noodle soup for dinner. Whoever cooked left the onions into big

slices drove me into disliking them. I couldn’t get up until I was done and

all I had left in the bowl was onions. I’ll eat them if I must. But if I have the

choice, I will request no onions, every time.

Staff Food Review:

“Vino, not so keen o”

By: Kevin Ebert

Photos by: Kevin Ebert

Hello all! I want to give my [review] on another spot to eat. I have eaten [t]here

a few times, and it is normally pretty dang good. I wish I could say the same for

this trip.

I was up in the city delivering a check to a local vendor and of course I got a

little hungry. So, I thought I would stop at La Fiesta Charra [on] Floyd Blvd. in Sioux

City, IA. I tried the Shrimp a La Crema. It has twelve shrimp sautéed with onions

and mushrooms, [covered in] cream sauce with a splash of white wine [and is]

served with rice, lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, and three tortillas. I always

go for the flour[tortillas]. Corn is for tacos in my world.

The shrimp was cooked well, but the sauce just did not do it for me. [I was]

not sure if it was the white wine. [You see] they say to use a wine you like to drink

[for cooking] and I’m not wine drinker. The cooking Gods say don’t use some old

cooking wine. I must say it was a nice healthy portion, lots of big shrimp.

The restaurant is nice, clean, and so are the bathrooms. Crazy part is both

waiters looked the same. They were nice, just a little slow. But there were four

sets of customers that just walked in after me so that would explain that, but good

service for the most part. It really has a cool atmosphere with nice pictures of the

food they serve. I love that.

Ebbz would have to give them a 2.5 on a scale of 1-5. [2 ½ on the World Famous

HaazZaat scale] Yeah, it was mid as my daughter Quinya would say. All in all I’ll

still go back. That’s the first time I wasn’t a big fan of their dish.

EDITOR’S NOTE: La Fiesta Charra is open 7 days a week, starting at 11am.

They have an online menu and are on Facebook. They have a full-service bar and

can handle larger groups. No reservations necessary.

La Fiesta Charra

3079 Floyd Blvd.

Sioux City, IA 51104

(712) 239-1005

STORYTELLERS – Ruby Bellanger

The Winnebago Indian News sat down

recently with a special tribal member, Ruby

Bellanger. Ruby agreed to speak with us

after I introduced the new column idea to her

following a recent public event. She was genuinely interested in providing her stories to

the WIN and held an apprehensiveness due

to her self-awareness of being in possession

of an opinion. Once we began speaking, and

the WIN assured her that our readers wanted

to hear her points of view and her experiences – opinions intact; we began our dialogue.

We had many laughs and we also named

quite a few people. Ruby’s life is certainly

at no shortage for people all throughout it.

The WIN will employ a standard verbatim

dialogue throughout this printed interview to

preserve as much as possible the original

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

The original transcript remains in the WIN’s

possession. Ruby’s appearance in the WIN

is entirely voluntary and her perspectives are

hers. So please enjoy this conversation as it

is meant to describe her points of view on the

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

We are so glad she bravely shared them

with us, unapologetically. Ruby knew her

story was hers to tell. The WIN appreciates

her ability to open-up and share so much

of her story with us. Ladies and Gentlemen,

please allow me to introduce our first Storyteller debuting in these premiere issues

of the Winnebago Indian News: Mrs. Ruby

Bellanger – in her own words.

WIN (W) – Please tell us about yourself,

who you are.

Ruby B. (R) - My name’s Ruby Bellanger.

I used to be Ruby Wolfe. My Mother was

Velma Rave, and my dad was Reuben Wolfe,

which I never really had the opportunity of

knowing. And I don’t know why, if it had

to do with travel, because back then not

everybody had a car, and my mother was

separated. So anyway, I grew up with my

grandmother [Annie Davis Rave]. And a

bunch of uncles.

I just can’t get over the uncles today, because I had some terrific uncles. They were

like what Winnebago uncles are supposed

to do. A lot of people don’t know that. And I

guess that’s [me].

I wanted to start out too, when you said,

‘an elder’. I like to tell people, I’m not an elder.

Elders know something, and I don’t know

nothing. I’m just an old person! [laughed]

What I know is how I was raised and that’s

all I can talk about. I can’t say so and so

told me this. There wasn’t that much in my

growing up. It’s just that you did things, and

you were expected to follow suit. That’s kind

of how I grew up. They didn’t sit me down

and tell me stories or whatever.

(W) – About first dancing in the powwow

arena.

(R) - I must have been about 7 or 8 when

I first [danced]. And there was no [formal

teaching]. One day my grandma told me to

go over to this woman’s house cause she’s

making me a dress. So, I go over there.

And she’s [sewing]. It’s a buckskin. And I

thought, oh boy I’m going to dance! And

that’s kind of how it was. I don’t remember

being out there [being taught], when I started

there were very few. There must have been

maybe 3, 4 of us at the most. And two of

them were Omahas. So, and that’s another

thing, I only thought there was Winnebagos

and Omahas. So, when other tribes started

coming, I thought, wow!

But that’s kind of how I started. Nobody

put me out there. Nobody paid me… for me

to be out there. That’s kind of a given right

to get out there and dance. You don’t pay

for somebody to ‘oh this is his first time in

the arena’, so we wanna pay for him. So, I

thought ‘whatever’.

But that’s like I said nothing was really

[taught]. This is the way it was. They didn’t

explain a whole lot. In visiting with Barry

Blackhawk he said the same way, you just

accepted what they told you to do. You didn’t

question. Back then you didn’t question.

(W) – You first danced at the Winnebago

Powwow?

(R) – Yes, it was here.

(W) – Tell us about your first regalia.

(R) – It was a buckskin. A smoked one

to boot. That’s why maybe to this day I like

to smell that smoked buckskin. From the

brown one I went to a white one. I had a

white buckskin.

Ruby then told us she transitioned from

those buckskin dresses to cloth at 12 or13

years old.

(W) – Describe your beadwork.

(R) – The only real beadwork we had was

our headband. And on my brown buckskin

I had 2 flags and 3 stars on the back. On

the white one it was just mostly just the trim,

because of the way our dresses were made.

(W) – What happened to your buckskins?

(R) – Somebody said one of my aunts

took them and maybe made moccasins.

[laughed]

(W) – Please tell us about your feathering.

(R) – I must have been about 10. Cause

they have to be a combat veteran. It was my

uncle Mose Rave.

(W) – Was it at the powwow?

(R) – At a separate ceremony. It was crazy. It was a bunch of us went to Sioux City to

promote the powwow. We used to go around

like that promoting. My uncle was home on

leave. While he was there, I got feathered.

But it wasn’t like a big ceremony, anything

like they do now. I like the way they do now.

You’re supposed to let the tribe know you got

that feather. Cause I see some kids out there,

I don’t think you know who gave you that.

When we do the princess, we’d say, ‘who

gave you that feather?’ and they’d kind of

stutter and they’re not sure. A few of them

named veterans, but they’re not combat

veterans.

When I got feathered, it was probably

because let’s do it while he was home.

Because he was home on leave. And that’s

who my grandmother must have wanted.

And [she] was like, get over here! And I’m

running amok, so I go over there and all of

a sudden, I’m standing still and not saying

nothing and somebody’s talking. They put a

feather on and that was it.

(W) – Have you ever dropped your

feather?

(R) – Never did. Never did! Nope. That’s

what I tell my boy dancers, tighten [it] up.

You gotta tighten up.

(W) – Tell us about being around the

arena. (All good or hard / relocation / grand

entry)

(R) – I don’t think it was ever hard. It

was always good. There was no bad time

just mostly good times. I know one of the

things that changed, When I went out on

relocation I was gone for about 10 years,

and I come back. Out there, there’s so many

Indian tribes. I was out in the Bay Area - San

Fransisco. These Indian clubs start popping

up, so then powwows start popping up. To

me that’s when your Grand Entry started

because then we started putting on shows

for all the surrounding people to raise money

for the Indian clubs and stuff. You know,

charged them. So, we kind of made it a

grand entry. So that’s where Grand Entry

[came from]. From the relocation days.

In my growing up, there used to be a guy

going around in the morning telling people,

get up. Get up! And that’s how people

[came], there was no time set. The singers

would get out there and once they started

singing, we’d just kind of starting coming in

from all directions and any directions. And

now they say we have to come in from the

East. So, see all of that’s still part of that

showboat from the relocation days.

(W) – Your thoughts on Powwows today.

(R) – As far as powwows go, we’ve lost

so much. We don’t do the washboard anymore. They’re calling it applique. They’re

calling it scrub. I was watching out of Sioux

Falls last week. I was watching on YouTube.

They sang this song, and these applique

[dancers], but mostly Winnebago women

out there. This song they sang there’s a

beat that goes like that [beats table quickly]

and they’re [dancers] going like this [flaps

arms]. So, I put on Facebook, what is that?

The Winnebago airplane dance?

For one thing, those singers should not

have sung that song for the women. Because

they don’t do that fast of a dance. And even

our, I still use the word, squaw dance songs,

some of our guys, and I’m gonna say it, especially in Wisconsin, they sing it too fast. We

got two drums here in Winnebago, to me got

Con’t. on page 7...

Saturday, April 27, 2024 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 7

COMMUNITY

...Cont. STORYTELLERS...

the right beat. Because if you look at

the way the women are dancing, they

can dance good to that. But in Wisconsin. A Wisconsin girl even told me this,

cause we were sitting there. I was with

Lavina. And I said, man they sang that

song fast! And this Wisconsin woman

walked by, and she said, oh they sing

that faster than that in Wisconsin. I

said, well this isn’t Wisconsin. That’s

not the way we sing it down here, and

she went on.

See things like that are changing.

And our girls, I’ve gotta talk to some

of them. I can’t talk to all of them, but

there’s a few that kind of listen to me.

When they’re coming in Grand Entry,

they’re coming in like this [fists raised].

That movement is for the wash board.

And those aren’t washboard songs

they’re singing. Cause sometimes

they’ll switch drums, and you’ll have

a Sioux drum. And that movement

doesn’t go along with their songs

cause they’re different. I’m like, come

on you guys pay attention here. But

there’s a lot of them now, that have

stopped this [hands placed]. I don’t

know who started that, why they do

that. I know why they do that, because

we’re dancing for money. And if I do

something different the judge is going

to look at me. It’s all money.

(W) – Did you grow [up] to emulate

or follow older dancers?

(R) – Oh Yeah. That was like Victoria Big Bear. Jane Littlewolf. A few

[other] women. Esther Kelsey. Cause

my grandma used to just say “Pay

attention. Pay attention.” That was her

way of you know [teaching me].

(W) – On dancing the Snake Dance.

(R) – Growing up too they always

said, ‘have fun’ and dance for the

people so they can enjoy it. And see

Lavina she’s from the old school too so

that’s why we, we just kind of dragged

Sidney in there. She was our Omaha

captive! She was game to do it. That’s

just how we did it and we had more

fun.

Now everybody is so stoic, they’re

The Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Program

just so pretty coming in now. But it’s

all because they’re contest people. I’m

not a contest person. Somebody said

to me, oh I see you with a number. And

I said yes, I do. I do register. But you

know why? So I can be the first person

in the chow line. Because they let all

the dancers eat first. So that’s why I

got a number. [laughs]

(W) – [On becoming an experienced

dancer.]

(R) – By then I knew what I was doing. And looking at them we all did the

same thing. And believe me, if I didn’t

do something right, I heard it from my

grandma. Cause I don’t know. She

[would say]. A story I used to like to

tell, is when I was 12, 13 becoming a

teenager. By then the Oklahoma dancers were coming. And oh, we used

to love the fancy Oklahoma dancers,

you know. And I’m 13 so I’m looking

at the boys. And my grandma would

every time say, Green Corn, you pick

Carl Blackfish. Now that’s my brother.

I’m 13, I don’t want to dance with my

brother! But I had to pick him. And the

reason she liked him [was] because

Carl was like I said, we danced and

made the people like it. That’s the word

we used. Made them smile. Because

Carl Blackfish could dance! Very few

people know that. He was a good fancy dancer. He also danced traditional.

He was just a dancer. He was very

good. But you know like I said, nobody

wants to dance with their brother. I

wanted [another]. But never got to,

so. But he was fun. Once he started

acting up, I started acting up right with

him. So, we had a lot of fun together.

Our “Storytellers” interview with

Ruby Bellanger will continue in the next

issue of the Winnebago Indian News.

In the next section Ruby will continue

telling us about her many times in and

around the powwow arena, as well as

her thoughts on what she sees today

within the tribe and community. Don’t

forget this feature will appear only and

exclusively in Hakewe.

L to R: Sidney Bird, Ruby Bellanger & Lavina Walker

Though I try to keep words more on the

lighter side. There are those moments when

the scientist in me must be released. I know,

boring, right, but here I go anyway.

In 2012 to 2014, a Nonpoint Source

(NPS) Water Pollution Assessment Report

was developed under the Clean Water Act

(CWA) Section 106: Water Pollution Control Grant Program (Water Quality). It was

revised in 2017 to include more details on

land use and groundwater. This report is a

comprehensive technical summary of the

condition of Reservation water resources.

This was the first step in the Tribe’s journey

towards an NPS Water Pollution Program.

In 2014 to 2016, a Nonpoint Source

Management Plan was prepared under the

CWA Section 106: Water Pollution Control

Grant Program (Water Quality). The plan

was revised in 2017 to include forests and

groundwater and again in 2020 to address

climate change issues. This plan describes

how the Tribe will use the information contained in the assessment report to address

identified water quality impairments and

threats. This was the second step in the

Tribe’s journey towards an NPS Water Pollution Program.

In 2016 to 2017, received approval of the

nonregulatory CWA Section 319 Nonpoint

Source Treatment in a manner similar to a

state (TAS) under the CWA Section 106:

Water Pollution Control Grant Program (Water Quality). This document demonstrates

that the Tribe is federally recognized; has a

tribal government that posse’s jurisdiction to

regulate Reservation waters; a tribal government that has the capability of administering

an effective NPS Program; and the staff

that have the technical and administrative

capabilities of administering an effective

NPS Program. This was the final step in

the Tribe’s journey towards an NPS Water

Pollution Program.

In 2018, the Winnebago Tribe’s Nonpoint

Source Water Pollution Program was born.

NPS pollution or polluted runoff occurs when

rainfall, snowmelt, or irrigation water runs

over the land or through the ground, picks

up pollutants, and moves them into surface

water such as creeks or groundwater. This

program’s overall goal is to control or prevent NPS pollution on a watershed level.

The first action was to establish state and

federal partnership with the Papio-Missouri

Reiver Natural Resources District, Lower

Elkhorn Natural Resources District, and

Nebraska Department of Environment and

Energy. Then a Community Open House

Meeting with established partners was put

on to inform and include the community

to address NPS pollution issues, develop

roles, and identify responsibilities.

In 2019, the Tribe conducted an Ag

Producers Open House Meeting again

with established partners to inform and

include private landowners and other citizens. From this meeting came the ideas for

the framework of focusing rather on each

individual stream segments but rather a

watershed-based approach. This focuses

efforts on the area of land that drains to a

specific point, such as a river or lake.

In 2020, a brochure was designed and

published that described some various

ways or best management practices of

addressing NPS pollution such as rain gardens, cover crops, no-till farming, bricked

driveways instead of pavement and buffer

strips.

2020 to current, developing a Blackbird-Soldier and Logan Creek Watershed-based Plan. This plan when completed by the Tribe will identify and implement

best management practices more effectively within the exterior boundaries of the

Reservation having the greatest impact on

water quality with a focus on total nitrogen,

total phosphorus, and sediments loading

and reductions. The Plan is based on the

Environmental Protection Agency’s nine key

element requirements and encompasses

both the Blackbird-Soldier Watershed

(Omaha Creek) and Logan Watershed.

In 2024, the program to better align with

the Blackbird-Soldier and Logan Watershed-Based Plan, the Tribe will focus on

identifying and implementing a best management practice described in the plan.

Well, there you have it.

2024 Winnebago Tribe of NE Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)

The goal of SYEP is for our youth to

develop necessary skills and work ethic

while receiving on-the-job training within

the Winnebago Tribe of NE. Through positive interactions they learn job duties and

responsibilities in each position they are

placed within the tribe. The extra workforce

for Programs during the summer months are

needed and appreciated.

SYEP Job Fair will be held on Wednesday, April 10th at Winnebago Public School

practice gym from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

SYEP Applications will be online starting

April 1, 2024, followed by the closing date

of May 10, 2024. Eligible SYEP participants

will start at worksites beginning Monday,

June 3rd and will end on Friday, July 26th.

Eligible youth are paid Nebraska Minimum

wage ($12/hour) for actual hours worked up

to 32 hours per week.

Mandatory youth orientation must be completed before youth workers are placed at the

worksite. Mandatory workshops will be held

every Thursday throughout the summer that

focus on leadership, culture, mental health,

soft skills, financial literacy, to name a few.

Youth guidelines:

Enrolled with the Winnebago Tribe of NE

Enrolled in a federally recognized tribe

Must be 14 years of age - 18 years of age

(up to 21 for Disability/IEP)

Class of 2024 High school graduates

may apply

Must be enrolled and attending a secondary school

Must maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher (GPA

waived for Disability/IEP students)

No more than 12 absences for the 20232024 academic school year

Youth must reside on the Winnebago

Tribe reservation

These requirements may differ with

other available funding sources.

Make sure to click on the link under

the Summer Youth Employment Program

on the Winnebago Tribe of NE website

beginning April 1st. You must create

your account and password if you do not

already have one set up. After you create

your account and complete your password,

you must log back in. Please make sure to

click the SYEP application and fill out the

required information. After you successfully

complete the application, Higher Education

will receive notification and one of our staff

will email you what remaining documentation will need to be turned in to complete

your application.

For more information on SYEP, please

contact: Patrice Bass or Rana Merrick at

the Higher Education office @ 402-8782631 or email: education@winnebagotribe.

com; patrice.bass@winnebagotribe.com or

rana.merrick@winnebagotribe.com

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