Miisaninawiind : Iskigamizige-giizis : April 13-19 2020
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Boozhoo and welcome to the Miisaninawiind weekly newsletter!
The Miisaniinawind brings you important news, announcements and updates, designed specifically for the Red Cliff community. But that's not all. The weekly eNewsletter will also provide news about neighboring tribes, communities and broader issues across Indian Country that matter to you.
If you have photos, news or information you'd like to share, please email submissions to [email protected].
Check our Facebook page
HERE
and our website
HERE
. We are working on a new website and can't wait to share it with you!
Want to receive the newsletter each week? Sign up
HERE
.
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COVID-19 Community Updates
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Various Tribal programs, services, and events have been canceled or temporarily suspended in our efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19.
See list of notices below from these Tribal programs and services. Click on each notice for details.
This newsletter is published on Monday morning, and new closures and date changes may happen throughout the week, so please remember to call ahead of time. An up-to-date list can be found on the Tribal Facebook page, and is updated continuously throughout each day.
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Updates as of April 13, 8 AM
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CLOSURES & CANCELLATIONS
Utilities Commission April meeting cancelled
Frog Bay Tribal National Park restroom closed
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NOTICES & RESOURCES
Peterson's Store hours:
Mon-Sat 7 am-7 pm; Sunday 8 am-7 pm
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Tribal Council Passes Stay at Home Order
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Tribal Council passed a resolution last week ordering all Red Cliff Reservation residents to stay home, except to engage in necessary activities and work.
The order is set to be in effect until April 30.
Read the order below for details and exceptions.
Please continue to help keep our community safe!
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Retired US Coast Guard Chief to Serve
as Red Cliff Emergency Manager
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The Red Cliff Tribe has hired heavily decorated retired US Coast Guard Chief Nick Sawyer to serve as the Tribe's Emergency Manager.
While the Health Division has been working over the past several months on COVID-19 outbreak planning and prevention, the hiring of Sawyer will strengthen the Tribe's ability to effectively plan and respond to tribal emergencies.
As a member of the US Coast Guard, Sawyer's primary duties included maintaining Coast Guard missions and assets as well as leading and mentoring Coast Guard members. Chief Sawyer was also an Education Services Officer, Critical Incident Stress Management Peer Counselor, and Sexual Assault Victim Advocate.
Sawyer's assignments included: Navy Band New Orleans, CGC Storis, CGC Roanoke Island, New York, PSU 307, Venice LA, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, and CGC COHO. Sawyer was Executive Officer for the CGC Blacktip, and most recently was the Officer In Charge in Bayfield, WI.
Sawyer earned numerous awards and medals during his service. He earned the Army Commendation Medal, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals with operational distinguishing devices, one Navy Achievement Medal, two Commandant letters of Commendation, and 21 other personal and service awards.
Sawyer has earned permanent Cutterman, Coxswain, and Advanced Boat Forces insignias in addition to the Office In Charge Ashore Device.
Sawyer earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and also serves as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician.
Aaniin Nick!
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Tribal Member Heading To NYC
To Help in COVID-19 Response
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Red Cliff Tribal Member Firestar Charette is a nurse living and working in Minnesota. She decided to travel to NYC to help the overrun hospitals deal with the COVID-19 outbreak.
See the article below or click the picture to read about Firestar and her decision to go help!
Miigwech, Firestar. We are proud of you!
From NBC's KARE 11 Network
By Jennifer Austin
COON RAPIDS, Minn — Firestar Charette is a busy mom and ER nurse at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids. But a plea from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo a few weeks ago gave her pause.
"He basically looked into the camera and said, 'We need help.' And so that kind of affected me," Charette said.
Charette is now preparing to leave for New York City this weekend, where she'll be floating among the ERs at three or four Mt. Sinai Hospital locations in Manhattan. She starts Monday and has committed to spend the next eight weeks helping in NYC.
"I'll be working on the front lines with the COVID effort," she said. "I'm extremely nervous. A little healthy dose of terrified, as well. But I'm also excited [and] anxious to get started."
Charette worked with a nursing staffing agency, which arranges for nurses to travel to other hospitals for work. She got the offer from Mt. Sinai this week. In addition to her pay, she'll get a stipend for food and lodging.
The staffing agency is working with her to find a place to stay.
Charette works what's called a "casual" schedule at Mercy, which gives her the flexibility to go to New York to help.
"I know how, on a regular busy day when we feel short staffed and our volumes are really high, how overwhelming that is. I feel like, if there are people who can mobilize and go out there to help the efforts, why not?" she said. "Maybe if it ever hits here as hard as it does there, maybe then they'll come here and help us."
Charette says friends and community members have been giving her personal protective equipment to bring with to NYC in case she needs it.
"I'm going to welcome anything that anyone will give me and bring it with me," she said. "If I end up with a surplus, I'll share it with colleagues."
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Request for Proposals
Powwow Royalty Crowns, Headbands, Sashes
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Proposed Addition to Code of Law
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The Red Cliff Legal Department has proposed adding Chapter 58--Red Cliff Probate Code to the Red Cliff Code of Laws.
Click
HERE
to view the official notice.
You can view the proposed Chapter 58
HERE
.
Public comment on this proposal is encouraged. Please drop your comments at the Tribal Administration Building, or forward them directly to the Tribal Council. This proposal will be voted upon on May 19, 2020 at the regular meeting of the Red Cliff Tribal Council. If the Council enacts this code addition, the code shall become effective upon enactment.
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Community Feedback Needed:
Waawaashkeshi Population in Bayfield County
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Housing Authority Board Meeting
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The Red Cliff Chippewa Housing Authority regular monthly board meeting is set for 5:00 PM, April 15 at the Red Cliff Elderly Center.
Click
HERE
for the meeting agenda.
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2020 Census: Complete Online or Via Phone
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The U.S. Census started in the Red Cliff community on Monday, March 16 2020. Given the current health situation, we are working with the Census Bureau and local field staff to ensure that the health and safety of our community is highly considered.
At this time, we are encouraging residents to complete the Census through online or telephone methods if possible. The census can be taken online at
www.2020census.gov
or by calling 844-330-2020.
The Census has halted in-person operations. There will be no in-person Census takers until further notice. We do not in any way want to discourage participation but advise and strongly encourage the community to participate in the Census in the safest way possible.
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Tips to Strengthen and Protect Your Mental and Emotional Health During COVID-19
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These are challenging times for all of us, as individuals, as families, and as a community. This article is focused on providing you with tips in four key areas identified by international trauma and healing expert Dr. Bessel van der Kolk.
In the last few weeks many of the things that used to signal our brain that it was a “normal” safe day such as going to school, work, a support group meeting, the movies, a birthday party, or a friend’s house have stopped. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk says for some of us, this sudden change sends a signal to our brain to protect us by activating our instinct to fight, flight or freeze. This fight-flight-freeze instinct is something that is built into all our brains to protect us from harm. When it is activated it can be frightening, overwhelming, or confusing to us or those around us.
It may look like we are irritable, panicking, impatient, confused, anxious, angry, spacing out, and the list could go on and on. The tips below are designed to help you strengthen your mental and emotional health and calm the fight-flight-freeze instinct. If you find these tips useful and want to learn more, please check out the links at the end of this article, search online for the key words “
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk
” or give the Red Cliff Community Health Center Behavioral Health Team a call on our Support Line at: 715-779-3509. We are available to answer your call 8am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday.
“We will get through this together”
1.
Structure your day.
Find a way to put some structure in your day. Try setting times for sleeping, waking, eating, reading, doing chores, playing with your kids, talking on the phone, video chatting with friends or taking a walk around your yard. Adding this structure to your day will signal your brain to remember that you are safe and help calm the fight-flight-freeze instinct that might be triggered by the sudden stop of our “normal” daily routines like going to visit a friend, going to school or work. Try to plan at least one thing today that you can look forward to doing tomorrow. Set goals for when you would like to get things done (example goal: teeth brushed and kids in bed by 10pm) but be gentle, compassionate and forgiving of yourself if you don’t exactly meet your goals right away (example reality: kids in bed by 10:30pm and forgot to brush their teeth). Recognize your successes and remember, the goal is progress not perfection.
2.
Connect to yourself and others.
Stay socially connected to others while being physically distant. Human beings are social creatures by nature and staying connected when we must be physically apart helps our brain to reduce the fight-flight-freeze instinct that can be triggered when we can’t be near our loved ones and friends. Social media, telephone calls, letters, text messages, and video chats are all great ways to stay connected. Be brave and try something new like hosting a karaoke night through social media or a stand in your driveway and start a neighborhood sing-along of “this is the song that never ends.” These suggestions might be a bit cheesy, but we can all use more smiles and laughter these days. Staying connected to yourself means seeing the range of feelings and thoughts you have throughout the day and not judging or shaming yourself for having them. Even if you only have a quick moment here and there, take a second to check in with yourself. Recognize when you need to rest, when you need to eat, when you are feeling grateful, when your feeling alone, or when your mind is feeling overwhelmed. Building a strong connection with yourself helps your brain to learn to wait for you to respond to things versus reacting for you through the fight-flight-freeze instinct.
3.
Get moving.
When we are being told to stay home, I know “getting moving” is easier said than done but…be creative! Take advantage of the natural resources in the area and go for a walk in the woods, a walk around your yard, ride a bike, watch YouTube and learn how to “floss”, grassdance, or sidestep in your living room. Have a “jump in place” contest with whoever is in your home or video chat a friend and walk laps around your houses together from a distance. Moving your body sends a signal to your brain that you are strong and fights off feelings of helplessness or anxiety.
4.
Do what you’re good at, if it’s good for you.
Whatever you know how to do, if it is good for you, now is the time to do it! Maybe you are a natural artist, a poet, a Kungfu master, or know how to change the oil on your car. If you can’t think of anything you know how to do, pick a new skill like cooking, juggling or crafting using things you already have around the house. Use this time at home to learn and master a new skill or practice something you haven’t done in a while. The goal is to create a feeling of accomplishment within yourself. When we do this, the sense of accomplishment sends a signal to our brain that we are capable and gives us a sense of mastery that allows the fight-flight-freeze instinct to be calmed.
References:
When the COVID-19 Pandemic Leaves Us Feeling Helpless. YouTube video retrieved from:
Why We Sing During COVID-19 Quarantine. YouTube video retrieved from:
Caring for Yourself. YouTube video retrieved from:
COVID-19 Resilient Wisconsin. Webpage viewed at:
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New Employee: Ann Watkins, Clinic Nurse
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Ann Watkins is a registered nurse with over 30 years of experience.
She holds a Bachelors in Nursing and a Masters in Education. She has joined the Red Cliff community Health team as a temporary clinic nurse to help out during the COVID 19 outbreak.
Ann and her family have lived in Bayfield many years. She enjoys reading, crafts, fixing things around the house and watching old TV mysteries.
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For other Health Center information or general questions call: 715-779-3707 or Email
[email protected]
Click
HERE
to visit the Red Cliff Community Health Center website
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There Is NO Excuse For Child Abuse
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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Be a child’s sunshine! There is no excuse for child abuse.
Here's our staff that are preparing and delivering lunches for our youth daily!
Pictured:
Paige Moilanen, Youth Director Boys & Girls Club
Darrell Murphy, Youth Worker Boys & Girls Club
Mark Defoe, Youth Worker Boys & Girls Club
John Helms, Cultural/Transportation ECC
Mikayla Defoe, ECC Staff
Mercie Gordon, GLITC Snap ED Nutrition Educator
Lori Duffy, Nutrition Manager ECC
Rebecca Benton, Family/Human Services Division Administrator
Jen Leask, ECC Administrator
Butch Bresette, Food Distribution Director
Wade Hanson, Food Distribution Staff
Chris Boyd, DV Advocate/Tribal Council Member
Darren Soulier, Distribution Staff
Stephanie Haskins, Family Violence Prevention Director
Not Pictured:
Sarah Deragon, Assistant Cook ECC
Jamie Goodlet-King, ECC Director
Donny Gordon, Jr, Bus Driver ECC
Donny Gordon III, Activities Coordinator Boys & Girls Club
Jasmine Livingston, Library
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WIC is here for you during the COVID-19 outbreak
In an effort to protect you, your family, and our community, we are having our participants complete benefit pick up over the phone.
Also open to new families. Please call for details.
Amaris Andrews-DePerry
715-779-3707 ext 2307
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Family Wellness Program:
The "OJIB" Way Curriculum
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The Red Cliff Family Wellness Program and the Wellness Curriculum Project serve to reinforce healthy family lifestyles and sustain positive development within families.
The Family Wellness Program has released part of its curriculum - THE "OJIB" WAY - for the community to use. There are many games and activities family members can participate in!
Click
HERE
to access this fantastic resource!
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'Sweet Sailing' Donates to Red Cliff Youth
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Red Cliff Food Distribution would like to give
Sweet Sailing
in Bayfield a Chi-Miigwetch (Thank You) for donating some goodies for the kids who utilize the summer food program.
We certainly appreciate it!
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Various Family and Human Services offerings have unique guidelines and hours in response to COVID-19.
See the Notices section toward the top of this newsletter for more information. You can also call the Family Human Services Division
at 715-779-3706.
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VFW Auxiliary Scholarship - High School Seniors
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The Red Cliff VFW Auxiliary Post 8239 has announced two scholarships to a graduating senior in the Bayfield School District who is furthering their education by pursuing a college degree or a career direction at a vocational/technical school.
Applicants must fill out the VFW Auxiliary Scholarship Application and return to Dan Livingston, Bayfield School Guidance Counselor or Jared Blanche, Red Cliff Education Director.
Click
HERE
for the scholarship information and application.
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Opportunities for Native American Students
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Boys and Girls Club of Gitchigami
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The Boys and Girls Club has created Virtual Daily Lessons for school-age children!
There is a schedule of activities for both 3rd-5th graders and middle to high schoolers.
Want to access the activity links? Simply click on the Closures & Notices post that is pinned to the top of the Tribal Facebook page. Then click on "Boys & Girls Club Virtual Daily Lesson"
Enjoy!
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Click
HERE
to view the Treaty Natural
Resources Division Winter Newsletter!
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Legendary Waters Resort & Casino
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Legendary Waters closure has extended to at least April 30 due to the COVID-19 situation.
Click
HERE
to visit the Legendary Waters Resort and Casino website.
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Follow the link below to see announcements for upcoming events!
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Red Cliff Tribal Administration Office
88455 Pike Road
Bayfield, Wi. 54814
715-779-3700
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