Published Bi-Weekly for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
Tribal code
Ask Donna
What actually matters in this document.
Text
Published Bi-Weekly for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
Editor’s Food Review:
Nutrition Education
Carnival Hosted By
WCHS
La Fiesta Mexican
Restaurant
page: 10
page: 6
Volume 53, Number 6
Ramona Wolfe ‘Mona Kay’ (1940–2020) is
our featured tribal leader on this edition of the
WIN. Serving for decades with the Winnebago
Tribal Council, Ramona was first elected to her
seat at a time when women were not regularly
selected to do so. A trailblazer for all women of
our tribe. Also holding an extended tenure with
the Winnebago IFDP (aka Commod Program),
she served as its director, helping to feed
the people of our tribe and fighting endlessly
against child hunger. She even opened a business designed to achieve this goal. Ramona’s
presence at the council table can still be felt in
those times when the most vulnerable, or those
without a voice, are spoken for. She will always
be remembered for her tireless service to our
people whom she loved. A legacy of caring
in a cold world of politics. Our gratitude and
appreciation to her granddaughters for their
kind permission to feature her here.
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Food Is Medicine
By: Brian Chamberlain
Photos by: Brian Chamberlain
[Winnebago, NE] “Enter the kitchen with
a good heart.” - Executive Chef Elena Terry.
On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, inside
the Whirling Thunder Wellness Center
Gymnasium, people of Winnebago were
presented with some indigenous goodness
that is blazing a pathway toward good health
Shoutout to the Winnebago Public
School Speech team on 2nd place! The
team hosted their own meet on February
20th. Pictured in the top row left to right
is: Ariayla Suniga who took 3rd place
OID, 4th place poetry, 4th place persuasive. Tylie Chilson: 1st place poetry,
2nd place POI, 2nd place serious prose
and 3rd place OID. LaHea Kearnes: 1st
place entertainment. Shyleigh Horn: 5th
place humorous prose, 5th place serious
prose. Melodine Earth: 2nd place persuasive. Bottom row left to right: Kenny
Nieman with 2nd place entertainment.
Ayden Littlegeorge-cloud with 1st place
extemporaneous, 3rd place OID. Congrats to the team for hosting as well as
the places they acquired. #GoBigBlue
Congratulations to Denise Milford of
Little Priest Tribal College for receiving
the Student of the Year award! Denise
and 34 other tribal college students
attending AIHEC 2024. Awards were
based on GPA, their majors and academic achievements. Denise will be
graduating Spring 2025 with a Biology
major. When asked about her time in
college, Denise shared “the best experience is the ability to get back up when
you fall and to make sure others don’t do
the same that are behind you. Helping
other students succeed. “I keedo dee
washka” HoChunk saying: look out for
one another, help, encourage and love.
It’s amazing how and what you can learn
when you open your mind and heart. Because in order for me to serve my people
one day, I must truly love my people.
for all tribal people. In front of a crowd of
several dozen participants, Executive Chef,
Elena Terry and Apprentice Chef, Anne
Thundercloud, opened the palates of those
here to a renewal of good tastes.
Terry opened the session by sharing her
backstory which involved her own upbringing and the teachings she received from her
ancestors. Many of those lessons revolved
around how our relationship with food has
become what it is today – colonized. Working
in the food service industry for many years,
Terry grew to understand the nature of the
modern world and its fast-paced application
of food. It was through this western exposure
she began to find herself searching for a
better way to feed her own family.
Like nearly all tribal people, certain physical ailments had become a part of daily life
for herself and her family. “I didn’t want my
own children to have to suffer from improper diet and eating habits.,” she continued
during her presentation. It was during this
awakening Terry discovered the will to create her food preparation style and catering
group called “Wild Bearies.” “I spell it this
way because my children are members of
the Bear Clan.,” Terry said.
Wild Bearies has created a unique view
into modern cooking and food preparation
by incorporating traditional dishes of our
people and other tribes and taking them
into new and exciting places. “We try to use
local producers as often as we can, keeping
a focus on organic produce.” said Anne
Thundercloud, Wild Bearies Apprentice
Chef. However, part of their presentation
was designed to show the audience that
many items could also be sourced from local
mainstream retailers, if needed.
The 3-Sisters Reunite – Following the introduction of her story, Chef Terry explained
Con’t. on page 5...
Tribe Begins Class III Gaming Process
By: Brian Keith Chamberlain
Photos by: Archives
[Winnebago, NE] At a recent tribal council meeting a motion passed that authorized
the Chairwoman to engage the State of
Nebraska calling for a Class III Gaming
Compact. Authorization for this process is
a long time coming, as Nebraska did not legalize commercial gambling until November
of 2020. Despite the many months since that
landmark vote of the citizens of Nebraska,
the process had to play itself out to allow
the Tribe to call to the negotiation table the
Governor for our State.
What is Class III Gaming? – Under the
rules and regulations of the National Indian
Gaming Commission (NIGC) gaming in
Indian Country is classified under three
basic types. These classifications govern
how the tribes operate gaming on their lands
following the passage of the Indian Gaming
Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988.
Class I – is the gaming type that tribes
have held onto since time immemorial. This
means traditional games, some related
to cultural celebrations, ceremonies, and
the like. For our tribe this would be games
like Kasu and the moccasin game. These
games are not typically played for monetary
gain and remain solely within the authority
of the tribe to offer.
Class II – is gaming related to all things
bingo. That is whether it is the classic paper
and daubers version, or the kind that utilizes
electronic aids, which is allowable under
Class II. Pull-tabs and other non-house
banked games also fit into Class II. Poker
is an area that can still be argued about
on whether it fits this class or the next and
depends heavily on jurisdiction.
Class III – is all other types of gaming
Con’t. on page 5...
Visit us at winnebagotribe.com
Page 2 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, March 16, 2024
HO-CHUNK INC.
Saturday, March 16, 2024 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 3
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
JESUS OUR SAVIOR
LUTHERAN OUTREACH
ATTENTION:
The Winnebago Tribe is committed to improving housing
standards to provide safety and health within the Winnebago
community.
If you or somebody you know would like to sell their abandoned lot or need assistance with demolishing an unlivable
dwelling or a hazardous lot clean up, please reach out to the
land management department to start the process. We will be
taking applications until April 29,2024.
Eligibility:
Applicant must have ownership of the property
Homeowners must be enrolled in a federally recognized
tribe.
Abandoned houses/ trailers within the exterior boundaries
of the Winnebago Reservation.
Only one location per applicant will be approved.
If you have any question, feel free to contact Fannie LaTray
Land management Coordinator, or Harvey Freemont Land
Administrative Assistant at 402-200-5371 ext. 2450 or 2451
or email at fannie.latray@winnebagotribe.com.
Thank you,
Fannie LaTray
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
In the Matter of the
Name Change Petition of:
BRENDA JEAN PAYER
to BRENDA SNOWDEN PEARSON
In the Matter of the
Name Change Petition of:
EDWIN ALLEN BROWN
to EDWIN DENNIS BROWN
To:
To:
Notice of Hearing
Case No. CV24-057
Notice of Hearing
Case No. CV24-076
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. CV24-057 has been scheduled and
will be heard in the Winnebago Tribal Court
of Winnebago, Nebraska on the 21ST day
of MARCH, 2024 at the hour of 10:00 A.M.
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 11TH day
of APRIL, 2024 at the hour of 10:00 A.M.
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
In the Matter of the
Divorce Petition of:
ALISHA LOPEZ
vs
WALTER LOPEZ
In the Matter of the
Name Change Petition of:
LATECIA MALIA CONTRERAS
to LATECIA MALIA MEANS
Notice of Hearing
Case No. CV24-061
Notice of Hearing
Case No. CV24-069
To:
To:
WALTER LOPEZ
You are hereby notified that a Divorce petition has been filed and a hearing concerning the above referred Case No. CV24-069
has been scheduled and will be heard in
the Winnebago Tribal Court of Winnebago,
Nebraska on the 8TH day of APRIL, 2024
at the hour of 11:30 A.M.
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. CV24-061 has been scheduled and
will be heard in the Winnebago Tribal Court
of Winnebago, Nebraska on the 14TH day
of MARCH, 2024 at the hour of 10:30 A.M.
LEGAL NOTICE
To: ALL Creditors of James Louis
LaRose
Case #: CV24-035
Notice of Hearing
Case No. CV24-072
You are hereby notified that Anita LaRose
has been appointed as Personal Representative for the Estate of James Louis LaRose,
who died on November 7th, 2023. Pursuant
to Winnebago tribal Code § 14-115, you
have ninety (90) days from the date of this
Notice to file a claim against the Estate of
the Decedent with the Winnebago Tribal
Court or be forever barred from exercising
that claim.
Dated this 12th day of February 2024
Signed: Anita LaRose,
Personal Representative
In the Matter of the
Guardianship Petition of:
Jacobie Grant
In Re:
O.L. (Born 09/2010)
TO:
ORLANDO LASLEY SR, FATHER
You are hereby notified that a petition has
been filed for Guardianship and a hearing
concerning the above referred Individual(s)
in Case No. CV24-071 has been scheduled
and will be heard in the Winnebago Tribal
Court of Winnebago, Nebraska on the 11TH
day of March, 2024 at the hour of 10:30 A.M.
“Two women - Two Covenants”
The apostle Paul writes of two women
- Hagar and Sarah. These two women represent two covenants of Creator God. Each
covenant promises everlasting life. The
one covenant is conditional, while the other
covenant is unconditional.
The one covenant is based on the demands of the Law from start to finish. It is
impossible for any man, woman or child
to complete. The Law only condemns. The
other covenant is based solely on the word
and promise of Creator God and is fulfilled
by Creator God’s son Jesus.
So you might be wondering who are
these two women. Hagar is a maid servant.
She serves the wife of Abraham. Hagar
represents Mount Sinai and the demands
of the Law. Mount Sinai is where Creator
God chiseled in stone the ten words, the ten
commandments and handed them over to
Moses. Although the Law of God is written
on the hearts of each and every individual,
it has also been spelled out so that no one
can say that he or she has lived up to the
commands of God.
Now who is Sarah? Sarah is the wife of
Abraham. Abraham and Sarah had been
promised by Creator God that they would
have a son. Abraham was 75 years old when
Creator God gave His word, while Sarah was
ten years younger.
For the next fifteen years Abraham and
Sarah attempted to conceive a son, but
failed to do so. Sarah then encourages
her husband to go in to her servant Hagar.
Abraham, in my opinion, foolishly listens to
his wife. Abraham goes in in to Hagar and
she conceives a son.
Hagar goes on to make fun of Sarah who
had remained barren while she bore Abraham a son. This son was named Ishmael.
Some thirteen years later Creator God
informs Abraham and Sarah that in the
By: Pastor Ricky Jacob
coming year Sarah would bear a son. They
laugh, however Creator God would have
the last laugh. Sarah at the age of 90 gave
birth to a son. Abraham, now 100 years of
age, was told by Creator God to name their
son Isaac. Isaac means ‘he or she laughs.’
Isaac was the son of promise.
Isaac would be blessed by Creator God
to marry Rebekah. They were blessed to
have another son of promise Jacob. One
night Creator God would give Jacob a new
name - Israel which means ‘struggles with
God.’ Jacob/Israel would be blessed to be
the father of twelve sons - who would make
up the twelve tribes of Israel. One of these
sons, the fourth born son of Jacob and Leah
was named Judah. And through this son of
promise would come the son of God, Jesus,
born through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Creator God blessed Hagar and her son
Ishmael. Ishmael was also blessed, like Jacob, to have twelve sons. Ishmael ridiculed
and persecuted his younger half-brother
Isaac. To this day the descendants of
Ishmael have hated and persecuted their
relatives the Jews. They have also gone on
to persecute those who have placed their
faith in the son of promise Jesus.
Jesus is the one and only one who was
able to live up to the letter of the Law. Jesus
was persecuted by his tribal brothers and
put to death. His bloody sacrifice on the
cross paid for the sin of each and every
person who lives under the covenant of the
Law. Jesus rose victorious from the dead
and offers the unconditional covenant of
everlasting life to any and all who place their
trust and faith in him.
So, I close with this question to
you: which covenant are you living
under? The covenant of the Law that
the woman Hagar represents? Or the
covenant of the word and promise of
Creator God that Sarah represents?
SUICIDE IN INDIAN COUNTRY PART 42
Hopes for a Safe Journey
The time after your suicide attempt is
an important one. It can be a turning point
in your life. Often, your suicide attempt
can break the silence that surrounded the
problems you were experiencing and your
suicidal thoughts. Making a choice to be
open about how you’re feeling and seeking help, when you’re ready, can be the
first step on the path to a more fulfilling life.
As discussed, recovering from your
suicide attempt is a process. It will likely
have its ups and downs. You may feel
overwhelmed or sad at times, and you
may experience suicidal thoughts again.
However, it’s important to remember that
feelings change. Finding ways to cope
with those negative feelings while staying
alive will give you a chance to enjoy the
positive things life has in store for you. The
stories of others and tools given to you
can help you feel better. They’ve worked
for other people, and they may work for
you, too.
Always remember:
You are not alone.
You matter.
Life can get better.
It may be difficult, but the effort you
invest in your recovery will be worth it.
There IS Hope!
“Everything will feel different if we
just live long enough to see and be the
difference.”
“You may think things will never get
better, but you never know. You may
think you know, but you don’t know. And
you may think nobody cares about you or
that you’re worthless, but that’s not true.
This is just your disease talking, and you
can’t listen to it. It will pass and eventually,
sometimes longer than other times, it will
get better.”
“If I were to sum up my life today, the
word that I would use to describe it is
fulfilling. I live a very enriched life.”
“You are not ‘crazy’ or lessened in
any way by your experience. Many more
people than you can imagine, even among
people you know, have had suicide attempts or suicidal thinking themselves.
You have a lot of company from people
of all backgrounds, even if the majority of
that company may be too scared to admit
it. Be strong. Don’t let yourself get pushed
around. You can move on.”
Suicide Attempt Survivor Websites
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s With Help Comes Hope website
has information for survivors, friends and
family, and clinicians. It also includes a
therapist and support group finder, videos, and a timeline of the attempt survivor
movement. http://lifelineforattemptsurvivors.org
The American Association for Suicidology’s (AAS) Suicide Attempt Surivors
webpage: This website includes up-todate links, resources, personal stories,
support groups, videos, and more for
suicide attempt survivors and those who
are about them. AAS is a professional
organization with an “Attempt Survivor/
Lived Experience” division where attempt
survivors have a collective voice in the
field of suicide prevention. http://www.
suicidology.org/suicide-survivors/suicide-attempt-survivors.
Apps
MY3 Safety Planning App: Available
in the Apple App Store and Google Play,
free of charge.
Virtual Hope Box: Available in the Apple
App Store and Google Play, free of charge.
Suicide Safe: Designed by SAMHSA
for health care providers to assist patients
at risk of suicidal ideation and behaviors.
Available in the Apple App Store and
Google Play, free of charge.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 (TALK), Winnebago
Behavioral Health 1-402-878-2911, After
Hours Crisis #1-712-259-3263.
The next issue of the WINNEBAGO INDIAN NEWS will be published on March 30, 2024. DEADLINE for this issue will be March 25, 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, March 16, 2024
TRIBAL COUNCIL MINUTES
WINNEBAGO TRIBE OF NEBRASKA
MID-MONTHLY MEEETING
FEBRUARY 19, 2024
TRIBAL COUNCIL:
Victoria Kitcheyan
Isaac Smith – On PTO
Lorelei DeCora
Rona Stealer – On PTO
Eugene DeCora
Coly Brown
Kenneth Mallory
Aric Armell
Teresa Littlegeorge
OTHERS:
Kamal Turner
John Blackhawk
Jennifer Parker
CALL TO ORDER: Chairwoman Victoria
Kitcheyan Called the Meeting To Order at
5:01 p.m.
PRAYER: Aric Armell
APPROVE THE AGENDA: Add: Under New Business - #3 Impact AID, Two
Items under Executive Session, Add under
Old Business: #1, Roberts Rules of Order
Training.
Aric Armell motioned to approve the
agenda. Teresa Littlegeorge seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
READING OF THE MINUTES:
Kenneth Mallory motioned to approve
the February 12, 2024 Regular Tribal Council Meeting Minutes . Teresa Littlegeorge
seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
Eugene DeCora motioned to approve
the February 12, 2024 Physical Resources
Meeting Minutes. Coly Brown seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
Aric Armell motioned to approve the
February 14, 2024 CEO Report Minutes with
corrections. Teresa Littlegeorge seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
RATIFY FIVE SIGNATURES:
NEW BUSINESS:
Aric Armell motioned to approve Tribal
Council travel to RES 2024 Summit, March
11-14, 2024 Las Vegas, NV. Eugene DeCora
seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
Winnebago Tribal Entities With Housing
– Waiting Lists Updates.
Discussion
Councilman Armell requests if each
Housing Entity can provide an update on
how many units are available for rental,
projection date of completion of rental units
being renovated or meth mitigation and
hear back by the next Physical Resources
Meeting agenda for discussion. Next Physical Resources meeting is March 11, 2024
at 9:00 a.m.
Impact Aid – Superintendent Kamal
Turner presents.
Eugene DeCora motioned to approve the
Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska 2025 Impact
Aid application. Kenneth Mallory seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS:
Roberts Rules of Order Training
Eugene DeCora will schedule the Basics
of Robert’s Rules of Order Training with
Native American Consulting for the Tribal
Council members.
TRIBAL COUNCIL ITEMS:
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Aric Armell motioned to go into Executive
Session. Eugene DeCora seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
In Executive Session at 5:27 p.m.
Eugene DeCora motioned to come out
of Executive Session. Teresa Littlegeorge
seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
Aric Armell motioned to adjourn. Eugene
DeCora seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
ADJOURN:
Chairwoman Victoria Kitcheyan adjourned the meeting at 6:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lorelei DeCora, Secretary
Winnebago Tribal Council
WINNEBAGO TRIBE OF NEBRASKA
GENERAL COUNSEL MEETING
FEBRUARY 21, 2024
TRIBAL COUNCIL:
Victoria Kitcheyan
Isaac Smith – On PTO
Lorelei DeCora
Rona Stealer
Eugene DeCora
Coly Brown – Out at 9:57 a.m., Meeting
Kenneth Mallory
Aric Armell
Teresa Littlegeorge
OTHERS:
Joy Johnson
Danelle Smith
Cecelia Earth
Jewel Parker
Michelle Mitchell
Esther Mercer
Karl Baker
Jennifer Berridge
Josh Pitre
Kellie Snow
Desiree Kitcheyan
Jasmine Lammers
Crystal White
Ireta Frazier
Misty Jefferson
CALL TO ORDER: Chairwoman Victoria
Kitcheyan Called the Meeting To Order at
9:06 a.m.
PRAYER: Coly Brown
AGENDA: Add under Action Items, # 2.
I-29 Winnebago Tribal Sign, #3. Last Bear
Moon Pow-Wow Meal, Add an item d. under
Executive Session.
Eugene DeCora motioned to approve
the agenda. Teresa Littlegeorge seconded.
VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
Sacred Children Care Center North
NMTC Financing
Kenneth Mallory motioned to adopt Resolution #24-96 approving participation in a
Federal New Market Tax Credit Financing
Transaction and authorizing the creation of
Nikjak Wakacak North QALICB, LLC a Tribal
established non-profit corporation. Teresa
Littlegeorge seconded.
VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
I-29 Winnebago Tribal Sign
Kenneth Mallory motioned to approve the
I-29 Winnebago Tribal Sign to say Hōcąk
Nį̄šoc Haci - Winnebago Tribe. Eugene
DeCora seconded.
VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
Last Bear Moon Pow-Wow Meal
Aric Armell motioned to approve the
Last Bear Moon Pow-Wow Meal $8,000.00
to WinnaVegas Casino Resort out of Tribal
Council Events. Eugene DeCora seconded.
VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
Teresa Littlegeorge motioned to provide
$1,000.00 toward transportation of J.W. and
$250.00 of the Emergency Grant to B.W. out
of the Tribal Council Emergency Grant Fund.
Eugene DeCora seconded.
VOTE: (7) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
CB – out, another meeting
BIA Contracts for Juvenile Incarceration
Lorelei DeCora motioned to direct the
General Counsel and the Chairwoman to
take all actions necessary to request a Congressional Oversight on BIA Office of Justice
Services – District One failure with the Great
Plains Tribes. Kenneth Mallory seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
Eugene DeCora motioned to authorize
the General Counsel and the Chairwoman
to send a letter to the BIA Office of Justice
Services – District One on Juvenile Services.
Teresa Littlegeorge seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
10:05 – 5 minute break
Federal Advocacy – Danelle Smith, Michelle Mitchell, Josh Pitre
Winnebago Land Transfer Act
S.1149 Recovering America’s Wildlife
Act (RAWA)
LPTC BIE Funding
Kenneth Mallory motioned to authorize
the Little Priest Tribal College President to
utilize the Winnebago Tribe’s Lobbyist for
state funding. Teresa Littlegeorge seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
Congress 2024 Federal Funding
FY 2025 testimony under House Interior
Budget Bill
State Advocacy
LB 1288 Emergency Protective Custody
(Chairwoman testified in support on February 1)
LB 923 Tribal IDs (Lobbyist testified in
support February 15)
LB 1131 Tribally Owned Community
Drinking Water & Sewer Systems (Chairwoman testified in support February 1)
LB 1383 Tribes to Improve Drinking Water
or Sanitary Sewer Systems (Hearing held
February 15)
LB 1431 Work Requirements for Recipients of SNAP (Winnebago Tribe in opposition
to this proposed bill, testimony by the Winnebago Tribe’s Human Services Director)
LB 1262 Native American Voting Issues
Study (Hearing set for February 28)
Aric Armell motioned to authorize Eugene
DeCora to testify on behalf of the Winnebago Tribe on LB 1262. Teresa Littlegeorge
seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
General Counsel will assist.
NE Class III Gaming Compact Negotiations
Animal Control Code Revision
Thunder Way LLC/WHDC Agreement with
NIFA Crown Program
Legal Aid Tribal Criminal and Civil Legal
Assistance Grant
Aric Armell motioned to adopt Resolution
24-97 to support NE Legal Aid’s Grant Application. Teresa Littlegeorge seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
Aric Armell motioned to go into Executive
Session. Eugene DeCora seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
In Executive Session at 12:01 p.m.
Teresa Littlegeorge motioned to come
out of Executive Session. Eugene DeCora
seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no (0) abstain
Motion carried.
Aric Armell motioned to adjourn. Eugene
DeCora seconded.
VOTE: (6) yes (0) no(0) abstain
Motion carried.
Out of Executive Session at 12:36 p.m.
ADJOURN
Chairwoman Victoria Kitcheyan adjourned the meeting at 12:36 p.m.
Winnebago Senior Lunch
March Calendar
Respectfully submitted,
Lorelei DeCora, Secretary,
Winnebago Tribal Council
Saturday, March 16, 2024 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 5
ANNOUNCEMENTS
...Con’t. from front page top article...
Food is Medicine
how the tribe once utilized the well-known
growing premise known widely as ‘The 3
Sisters’. Corn, squash, and beans have
been grown together for eons. The nature
of their symbiotic circle caused each plant
to flourish within the grouping of the three.
The whole benefitted from the inclusion of
the parts.
However, over time, Terry explained the
bean component of the trio became lost,
missing even. During her explanation it was
easy to draw similarities to the modern context of our missing relatives. Terry went on to
describe how she prayed for the return of the
lost sister. Then, during the desperate times
of the world-wide pandemic, in 2020, her
prayers were answered, that sister returned
to her. A historical grower, who tracked
the geographical history of plants reached
out to her. He informed her that he had the
bean she was seeking. The 3-Sisters were
reunited once again and the replenishment
of the food chain, rooted literally in the history
of our people was on its way to returning –
organically and sustainably, the way our
people used to be.
Wild Bearies Continues - Already catering to many groups across the country,
including the Governor of Wisconsin earlier
in 2024, Wild Bearies continues to evolve.
Recipes change as added items are found,
and more exposure is gained by the group.
Part of the story was also about how certain
items, like wild rice, have unique biological
signatures depending on where it was
grown, which body of water it was fed from,
and how it was harvested. The overall point,
re-learning the Indigenous knowledge we
all once shared – that food is medicine,
indeed, and we no longer need to settle
for the poor diet choices forced upon tribal
peoples.
Not to be outdone, WTWC chefs
provided the noon meal which also featured some of their amazing signature
items. “This was really fun today!” said
one tribal member who attended the
event. “We learned something new, got
to sample something new and delicious,
and now I can’t wait to try this at home.,”
she continued. The audience was also
introduced to maple sugar, and the prepared dishes, Wasna – dried craisins,
jerky and maple sugar mix, and the main
event, wild rice, berries, and coconut
Chia seeds. Delicious!
Both Terry and Thundercloud are
members of the HoChunk Nation. Wild
Bearies can be found on Facebook
under their name (note the spelling)
and their website is wildbearies.org For
more information on this story please go
to our own Facebook page, Winnebago
Indian-News
...Con’t. from front page bottom article...
Tribe Begins Class III Gaming Process
not listed in Class I or Class II. It is typically
referred to as casino gambling as traditionally known in Nevada and New Jersey. This
classification includes slot machines, most
table games, like Blackjack and Craps,
possibly Poker, and all other games not
previously listed.
Currently, the Winnebago tribe operates
Class II and Class III gaming in accordance
with the required tribal gaming ordinance
also passed by the tribe in 1992. This part
of our tribal code is Title IX (9) and governs
everything our tribe does in gaming on our
reservation lands.
WinnaVegas Casino and Resort in Sloan,
Iowa is mostly Class III gaming. While they
do offer a few Class II gaming machines
and hold paper bingo, their primary focus
has always been within the realm of Class
III. The Winnebago Gaming Development
Corporation (WGDC) in both Winnebago
and Emerson, Nebraska was established
to operate within the Class II gaming tier, as
that was all that was allowable prior to the
actions engaged most recently.
Why is a compact needed? – According
to Federal law, under the IGRA tribes who
wish to engage in gaming using a Class III
model must first create an agreement with
the State(s) they reside among. The respective Governors of the States must come to
the negotiation table “in good faith” so that
a compacted agreement can be reached.
This compact becomes the governing law
that features the will of the tribe to operate
a legal gaming establishment, and the role
of the State, if any, in that operation.
The Winnebago Tribe has held a valid
gaming compact with the State of Iowa for
decades. WinnaVegas Casino is operated in
part by the rules set forth in those compacts.
They have been reaffirmed or updated numerous times. Following their Governor’s initial signature, however, the Iowa Department
of Inspections and Appeals has become
the administrative body which oversees this
process for that State. Furthermore, gaming
must be legal within the jurisdiction of the
State in general. Gambling was made legal
by Iowa in the early 1990s. The voters of Nebraska changed their law to allow gambling
in November 2020.
Who is impacted by this compact? – The
tribe’s operations in Nebraska. Only those on
reservation lands will be impacted by this
agreement. Thus, the WGDC’s two properties, Iron Horse Casino, and Native Star
Casino will potentially move from Class II to
Class III. This process does not impact nor
has any involvement with WinnaVegas, the
State of Iowa, nor any other non-reservation
operations.
Why make the move to Class III? – As part
of the sovereign right of the tribe to operate
gaming according to our own law, the negotiation process must take place. The reasons
are many, with the most profound including:
1. Continuing to create employment opportunities for our own people on our own lands,
2. Opening the current operations to the
expanded offerings within Class III, and 3.
To expand the legal parameters of the tribe
exercising the sovereignty of our people.
Next Steps – The Council authorized a
letter to be sent to the Governor of Nebraska,
Jim Pillen, requesting the compact negotiation process to begin. Under Federal law,
the State must engage in the negotiation
process ‘in good faith.’ This means that
since gambling is now legal in the State of
Nebraska, the State must work with the Tribe
to create a framework upon which the Tribe
may conduct similar activities.
The NIGC has established protocol for
the process, and notifying the Governor
is only step one. There will be many more
months of activity to come. The Governor will appoint staff members within his
administration to work on this, just as the
Tribe has already done. Once the negotiations begin, the groups will hammer out
the agreement taking into consideration
the legalities of the State and the will of
our people. Again, this will take time, but
within a logical period some day soon,
the Governor of the State of Nebraska
and our Chairperson will meet to sign the
compact into law as an agreement betwixt
the two sovereigns. After that, it is up to the
organization to re-create how they operate
and execute the parameters of Class III
gaming. Figuratively, the table will soon
be set and the cards shuffled to begin the
game. A genuinely exciting time for our
people in the continued evolution of our
gaming story. Stay tuned.
Editor’s Note: The author of this article,
Brian Chamberlain, was part of the original motion by the Tribal Council to begin
consideration of the process for a Class
III Compact with the State of Nebraska.
Chamberlain was also appointed by motion of the Tribal Council to participate with
the committee established to work on this
compact and its negotiation process.
Page 6 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, March 16, 2024
Question of the Issue:
Favorite Homemade Food Item
(Made by someone else / who / why):
Garan: Hands down, my Ina Therese St. Cyr’s homemade tamales. They
take a while to make but I Garantee that you can’t eat just one.
Brian: Breaded Deep-fried Iowa Pork Chops as cooked by Sharon and JP
– cause they’re made with luv <3
Tyler: “This one is tough! It’s a hard tie between my Choka Joby’s soupy
goulash, and my cuwi Faith’s lasagna dinner. … can’t say LOL :-D
Kevin: Hamburger gravy made by my grandmother.
Christina: My Kaka Bunk’s dumplings and chicken! My Cuwi Gloria
can make it but its not quite the same. The flavor was perfection!
Bethani: My mom’s chip dip! She learned how to make it from her dad
(my choka). He would always make it super spicy, which I’m not really
fond of – spicy food. But it’s a whole different story when it comes to that
chip dip.
Planet Comicon Kansas City Celebrates 25th
By Brian Chamberlain
Photos by Brian Chamberlain / Winona LaPointe
[Kansas City, MO] For 25 years Planet Comicon Kansas City has been the hub of all
things fun and exciting in the world of comic books, video, dice and board games, fantasy lore, and cosplay madness. The annual event hosted by the Kansas City Convention
Center, located in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, was held over the weekend of March
8th through 10th, 2024. This reporter was present to see and feel the glorious wonderment
on full display. As featured on their social media via all platforms, the event drew weekend
ticket sales of more than 70,000 - a new record for the event. Make your plans now for
Planet Comicon Kansas City 2025. Don’t forget your good walking shoes and a stroller for
the kiddies. This show just gets bigger and better every time. For more information see our
posts on our Facebook page Winnebago Indian-News.
Editor’s Food Review:
“Bravo for Brava!”
By: Brian Chamberlain
Photos by: Brian Chamberlain
/ Sharon Redhorn-Chamberlain
[Onawa, IA] We don’t typically
think of driving south when going out to eat. But in this case,
y ou may w ant to chang e yo ur
plans and make that trek in the
opposite direction than you’re
used to. This week’s food review is showcasing the South of
the Border goodness that is a
true hidden gem to most of our
readers.
Located on the east side of the
Phillips66 Petro Mart Fuel Plaza
on the western edge of Onawa,
Iowa right along the highway is
a real firecracker of a Mexican
food joint called, La Fiesta Brava. This place may not be located where you would expect it
to be, but it truly is a wonderful
place to eat. We recently celebrated another birthday and
stopped in to partake from the
dynamic & large menu.
We have been to La Fiesta
Brava many times before. Our
selections this time were the
volcanic Fajitas Hawaiiana and
the Carnitas Dinner. First up, the
Hawaiiana – this is served piping hot on a traditional heated
skillet that comes to your table
steaming and snapping in just
the way you would expect anywhere. The dish is not a small
portion and comes complete with
a mixture of meats - chicken,
beef, and shrimp. The platter
is loaded with pineapple sliced
up and grilled and is covered
in white melted cheese. Each
of the meats are seasoned and
sautéed to perfection. Alongside the main dish comes a side
plate of tortillas, pico de gallo,
guacamole & rice and beans.
Their combined flavors grab your
attention quickly. Paired with the
sweetness of the pineapple and
held together by the cheese, this
dish is certainly one of the favorites that gets stuck on repeat
every time we drop in.
The other entrée was the Carnitas Dinner. This well portioned
selection is marinated pork (aka
carnitas) topped and loaded
with sauteed grilled onions.
Both white and Bermuda onion
make the cut. This handsomely
rounded dish is served hot as
well and comes complete with
sides of rice and beans & tortillas of your choice – corn or
flour. The cuts of meat in this
dish are quite large, so do not
expect to leave with much room
for anything more.
Finally, because it was a
birthday celebration, no party
would be complete without some
sweetness to finish the meal.
Donning the traditional sombrero while the staff sang along, a
nice fried ice cream topped with
whipped cream and a cherry
on top made the whole evening
complete.
La Fiesta Brava is open 6 days
a week (Tuesday through Sunday). They are open for lunch
and dinner, closing at 10pm.
They have a full-service bar and
can manage groups pushing one
hundred guests. We have held
family parties and celebrations
there, so do not worry about
your party being too large. Call
ahead for seating arrangements
though. On our HaazZatt! scale
La Fiesta Brava gets a solid 4
½. I look forward to our next
visit, just remember when you
go, their menu is fantastic. You
will most definitely find something you like – chips and salsa
included.
La Fiesta Brava
2620 Iowa Avenue North
Onawa, Iowa 51040
(712) 423-9066
Saturday, March 16, 2024 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 7
HO-CHUNK INC.
Page 8 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, March 16, 2024
COMMUNITY
DIY Non-Hazardous household Cleaning Products: Simple, Safe, and
Effective
Cleaning our homes is a normal task, but using commercial cleaning products can
expose us to harsh chemicals and have a negative impact on our environment.
Fortunately, we can create our own non-hazardous cleaning products using simple
ingredients already found in our home. In this article, we will discuss the benefits
of DIY non-hazardous household cleaning products and provide easy-to-follow
recipes to try at home today!
1.
The advantages of DIY Non-Hazardous Cleaning Products
a. Safety: DIY cleaning products allow you to control the ingredients and
avoid harsh chemicals commonly found in commercial cleaners. This
reduces the risk of exposure to toxins and potential health hazards for
you, your family, and pets.
b. Cost-effective: Making your own cleaning products can save you
money in the long run. Many common household ingredients used in
DIY recipes are inexpensive and readily available.
c. Sustainability: By using DIY non-hazardous cleaning products, you
reduce your reliance on single-use plastic packaging and contribute to
a more sustainable lifestyle.
2.
Essential Ingredients for DIY Cleaning Products
a. Baking Soda: A versatile ingredient that acts as a mild abrasive and
deodorizer. It effectively cleans and removes stains from various
surfaces.
b. White Vinegar: A natural disinfectant and grease-cutter, vinegar is
useful for removing mineral deposits, soap scum, and grease. It also
helps to eliminate odors.
c. Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is acidic and helps to dissolve dirt and
stains. It also has antibacterial properties and leaves a fresh citrus
scent.
d. Essential Oils: Natural oils leave a pleasant fragrance and also
possess antibacterial and antifungal properties. Some examples
include lavender, tee tree, lemon, and eucalyptus oils.
3.
DIY Non-Hazardous Cleaning Recipes
a. All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix equal parts Water and white vinegar in
a spray bottle. Add a few drops of your preferred essential oil for
fragrance. This solution can be used to clean countertops, sinks and
other surfaces.
b. Glass Cleaner: In a spray bottle, combine 1 cup of water, 1 cup of
white vinegar, and 5-10 drops of lemon essential oil. Shake well
before use and use it to clean windows and mirrors.
c. Oven Cleaner: Mix 1 cup of baking soda with enough water to create
a paste. Apply the paste to the oven surfaces and let it sit overnight.
Wipe off the paste and dirt the next day with a damp cloth.
d. Bathroom Cleaner: In a spray bottle, combine 2 oz of blue Dawn
Dish soap, 10 oz of White Vinegar heated to a light boil. Heating the
vinegar helps to activate the mixture. Let cool and then shake before
use. This cleans and disinfects bathroom surfaces and removes soap
scum.
e. Furniture Polish: Mix ¼ cup of olive oil with ¼ cup of white vinegar
in a spray bottle. Add 10 drops of lemon essential oil and shake well
before use. Spray onto a cloth and use it to polish wooden furniture.
Note: All of these mixtures work well with or without essential oils.
4.
Safe Usage and Storage:
When using DIY non-hazardous cleaning products, it is important to follow a
few guidelines:
a. Label your homemade cleaners with their contents and date of
preparation.
b. Store them in clearly marked, tightly sealed containers, away from
children and pets.
c. Test any new cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area before using it
on a larger surface.
Creating your own non-hazardous cleaning products is a simple and effective way
to maintain a clean and safe home environment. By using common household
ingredients, you can save money, reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals and
reduce hazardous waste.
Gerri Lyons
TRP-Brownfields Specialist
WINNEBAGO ELDER BIRTHDAYS
Saturday, March 16, 2024 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 9
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Page 10 • Winnebago Indian News • Saturday, March 16, 2024
COMMUNITY
WCHS Hosts Food Is Medicine Presentation
Winnebago, NE – The Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System hosted a
presentation called “Food Is Medicine”
on Wednesday, March 6th at the Whirling
Thunder Wellness Center. This presentation
featured Executive Chef, Elena Terry (HoChunk Nation) and Chef Apprentice/Public
Relations Consultant, Anne Thundercloud
(Ho-Chunk Nation).
Giving a presentation that focused on the
preparation and origins of Indigenous foods,
Chef Elena and Chef Apprentice Anne were
a powerful duo that brought passion, skill,
culture, and great food to the table. The
presentation was interactive, community
oriented, and quite heartfelt. Participants at
the event were captivated by Elena’s story
of overcoming adversity in a society that isn’t
built for Indigenous people to thrive.
“We are so grateful to bring Elena and
Anne home to share their wisdom with us”
said Wa I pi nagu Program Director Camilla
Barajas. “They spoke from the heart about
something they are passionate about. By
sharing their story and journey to a healthy
relationship with food, they are helping to
remind us that our journey is similar, and
we too can make easy, traditional, healthy
foods. By sharing the story of traditional
foods passed on to us by our ancestors,
they are helping to remind us that these
traditional foods were our medicine to care
for and pass on for future generations.”
WCHS is celebrating National Nutrition
Month with 2 different themed events this
year, Food Is Medicine being a perfect way
to kick things off. This Friday, March 8th,
they will host a Nutrition Education Carnival,
featuring vendor booths, games, prizes,
taste tests, and more.
“We continue to present community
events that are engaging, educational,
meaningful, and culturally centered. Creating an environment that cultivates positive
change is what we strive to do. Our people
have strong cultural beliefs and traditions
that we can be passed down to the next
generation that is grounded in our Indigenous ways of knowing and believing that
will create a healthier environment for the
generations to come,” said Chief Public
Health Officer Mona Zuffante.
Ho-Chunk, Inc. employees buy new SUV
for Senior Center
Ho-Chunk, Inc.’s employee donations program, Ho-Chunk Way, successfully raised
$69,420 for the Winnebago Senior Center!
These funds have been used to purchase a new 2024 Chevrolet Suburban, which was
delivered to the Senior Center as a surprise on March 5.
This vehicle will provide safe and reliable transportation for seniors for years to come.
It will also assist with delivering nutritious meals to homebound seniors in the community.
Ho-Chunk, Inc. employees locally and across the country donated to the Senior Center
through the company’s Ho-Chunk Way program. The program’s goal is to help employees
make a direct and lasting difference in the Winnebago community. Each year, employees
identify a community priority to support.
The Senior Center, which needed a reliable SUV, was selected as the recipient for
funds raised over the past year. They serve over 10,000 meals annually.
The Ho-Chunk Way program began in 2017, and has helped raise over $515,000 total
for Winnebago community programs.
WCHS Visits Senior Center
for Logo Feedback
Winnebago, NE – The Winnebago
Comprehensive Healthcare System visits
our Senior Citizen Center to include elder
votes on organizational logo. As part of their
singularbranding goals, WCHS is exploring
a change in their primary logo, and they are
seeking input from the community from now
until March 13th.
On Thursday, March 7th, the WCHS’s
Team brought their laptops to the WCHS
Senior Center to solicit votes on the future
WCHS logo from the elders who were there
for theirdaily meal. After exploring ideas
inspired by many different visual elements
of tribal health, Winnebago, and the care
provide at WCHS, the organization’s internal
committe narrowed it down to four potential
logo options and opened it up to a community wide vote.
The options include maintaining and
building on the brand equity of our current
logo that was commissioned by Blue Earth
in 2018. Or three other new logo options,
that were inspired by applique designs
created by WCHS employee, Carmen Snow.
This is part of a goal in this year’s Annual
Plan for singular branding to ensure the
organization’s Winnebago tribal roots are
visually evident in all WCHS creates.
“It was important for us to visit the senior
center to ensure our elders, who might not
have access to Facebook or email, are a
part of this important decision,” said Chief
Administrative Officer, Sharon Frenchman.
“Our community’s input is important to us.
While many organizations might not
ask the community to vote on something
as personal as the organization’s logo,
here we don’t make that distinction. We
are our community, and we are accountable to the community we serve.”
Once WCHS has completed collecting data from the community, they will
be using that feedback to make a logo
recommendation to WCHS Board of Directors and Winnebago Tribal Council for
approval. Better defining WCHS brand
identity will help the organization continue to improve their communication and
be able to provide the “no wrong door”
approach to creating and sustaining
health in the communities we serve.
“WCHS is seeking to set a new
standard in Indigenous healthcare. Part
of that is building trust, and dependability
within the community, creating a unified
voice and identity helps us do that.” says
Communications Manager, Erin McElroy.
“This community deserves culturallycentered, consistency, and transparency. We hope that by extending the logo
exploration process to our community to
vote, our community can see that they
are at the heart of all we do.”
Please note: This request is to replace the WCHS logo. The Twelve Clans
Unity Hospital Logo and the Winnebago
Public Health Department logo will still be
used as appropriate
WCHS Hosts Nutrition Education Carnival
Winnebago, NE – The Winnebago
Comprehensive Healthcare System
hosted a Nutrition Education Carnival on
Friday, March 8th at the Whirling Thunder
Wellness Center gymnasium. This event
featured nutrition centered fun for the
whole family!
The carnival was a vibrant showcase
of educational booths, engaging games,
exciting prizes, and lively activities such
as face painting. Families and individuals of all ages eagerly participated in
interactive sessions to learn about the
importance of nutrition in maintaining a
healthy lifestyle. From informative displays on balanced diets to seed starting,
attendees were immersed in a playful yet
educational atmosphere.
According to Wa I pi nagu Program
Director Camilla Barajas, “The Nutrition
Education Carnival was a fun way to bring
valuable knowledge and resources to
our community. It was heartening to see
families come together to learn and engage in fun activities focused on nutrition.
These are not always fun topics, but we
had a ton of fun.”
The significance of events like the
Nutrition Education Carnival cannot be
overstated. In a world where not-sohealthy food items are often marketed as
healthy, education is necessary to provide
displays and visuals to help participants
learn what to watch for on food labels.
Giving individuals the right tools needed
to learn about nutrition is paramount. By
empowering the community with knowledge about healthy eating habits, the
Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare
System aims to foster a culture of wellness
and prevent chronic illnesses.
Chief Public Health Officer Mona
Zuffante states, “Events like the Nutrition
Education Carnival align with our mission
of creating and sustaining a healthy community by providing access to education
and resources to empower our relatives.
We envision a future where our children
are able to embrace our Indigenous ways
of being and knowing. Providing education in a positive environment such as the
Nutrition Carnival, provides the foundation
for our family to embrace those healthy
choices.”
Saturday, March 16, 2024 • Winnebago Indian News • Page 11
WARHORSE CASINO
This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.