Miisaninawiind :: Zaagibagaa-giizis :: May 25-31, 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.
An up-to-date list can be found on the Tribal Facebook page, and is updated continuously throughout each day.
You can also find a series of video updates from the Red Cliff Health Division on the Tribal Facebook page.
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Tribal Council Extends Stay at Home Resolution
Order now in effect through June 12
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On May 22, 2020 during the Special Council Retreat Meeting, the Red Cliff Tribal Council approved to extend the Stay at Home Resolution to June 12, 2020 in order to preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the Red Cliff community.
The resolution orders all persons currently living on the Red Cliff Reservation to stay home or in their place of residence, except to engage in necessary activities and work.
Click
HERE
to view the resolution for details and exceptions.
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Community Fish Project Donates Fresh Whitefish
2,000 pounds go to Tribal community and surrounding area
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May 22, 2020 - The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has finished its Community Fish Project with 2,180 lbs. of fish going to the Red Cliff, Bayfield, and Madeline Island communities. Over the past three weeks, the Red Cliff Tribe has been purchasing fish from four Red Cliff tribal fishing boats and distributing throughout the community.
Red Cliff Tribal leaders continue to discuss community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, and recognized the need to contribute food to the community while also giving the Tribe's fishermen an opportunity to work.
"As restaurants and businesses closed because of this pandemic, our tribal commercial fishermen were suddenly out of work with no place to sell their fish and without income," said Chairman Rick Peterson.
Peterson said it is a win-win situation for fishermen and the community.
"In the end, our fishermen were able to work and our people and others in need were fed. In trying times such as these, it is imperative that we all not only take care of ourselves, but also one another. This showed it can be done," said Peterson.
The fish has been distributed through existing Tribal programs, including the Elderly Feeding Program and to families through the Red Cliff Food Distribution Program.
Parts of the harvest were also donated through the Red Cliff Community Health Center's outreach initiatives to benefit community members and Tribal employees, as well as residents at New Hope Housing.
Over 300 lbs. of whitefish were donated to the surrounding area, including the Bayfield Food Shelf and the Madeline Island Food Shelf through St. John's UCC.
"Red Cliff Fish Company is really excited to have participated in this project," said Red Cliff Fish Company manager Hilary Jewell. "Our guys got out on the water and back to work, we were able to provide the tribal community with wild, local protein, and we were even able to support our regional community."
Many Tribal entities and employees made this Community Fish Project possible, including an on-going donation of ice from Legendary Waters Resort & Casino that helped keep the whitefish fresh during the cleaning and distribution process. The Tribe is proud to work with community members who care so deeply about helping others.
"Legendary Waters is always happy to have the opportunity to help the Tribe and our immediate communities any way we can, particularly outside Legendary Waters' more traditional roles of providing local jobs and our obvious social and entertainment options," said Legendary Waters General Manager Kurt Schmidt. "I'm really glad Legendary Waters has been able to help out in at least some small way towards the success of this very exciting Community Fish Project."
This Community Fish Project, along with the recent progress of Red Cliff Fish Company, demonstrates the Tribe's commitment to establishing food sovereignty and the importance of community.
"It was such a great solution and community-oriented approach that I have to say I got a little emotional loading coolers of fish onto the ferry," Jewell said.
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Conservation Wardens Relocate Black Bear
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May 22, 2020 – Red Cliff Conservation Wardens trapped and safely relocated a black bear that has caused repeated damage and unsafe conditions in a Red Cliff residential area.
Red Cliff Chief Conservation Warden Mark Duffy estimated the bear to be a couple years old. The teenage bear was repeatedly entering an elder’s enclosed porch for a period of several days.
“We only relocate a bear if it is really causing damage or threatens people, and we operate on a case-by-case basis,” said Duffy. “If a bear is accessing a dumpster, eating dog food, tearing down a bird feeder or something similar, we typically will not relocate that bear. However, this bear was entering an enclosed area of a home and we decided the safest option was to relocate.”
Red Cliff Conservation Wardens typically relocate bears to the farthest reaches of the reservation, or to National Forest wilderness areas in partnership with the National Forest Service.
Red Cliff Conservation Wardens also participate in a cooperative study with the University of Wisconsin-Madison that tracks bear movement without the need for tagging the bear. The wardens collect samples of the bear’s hair, and if a bear returns to an area, the hair can be used to determine if it is the same bear.
Red Cliff Conservation Wardens would like to remind community members to take some simple steps in order to limit bear and other wildlife interactions:
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Keep bags of trash inside bins stored in a garage, basement or other secure area.
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If a bear is known to be in an area, remove bird feeders.
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Avoid leaving pet food outside.
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Clean all food and grease from grills after each use.
Red Cliff Conservation Wards can be reached at 715-779-3732. If you need immediate assistance contact Bayfield County Dispatch at 715-373-6120. If you feel you have an emergency, please dial 911.
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Red Cliff Conservation Wardens Mark Duffy (left) and Zach Peterson prepare to relocate a black bear.
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Memorial Day - May 25, 2020
Honoring our fallen service members
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Click
HERE
for a video from the Bayfield County Veterans Service Office. Miigwech for sharing this Memorial Day message!
Memorial Day honors the brave men and women who died while serving in the United States military.
While many gatherings will not happen this year, it is important we still honor our both our Tribal members and all who have sacrificed to keep this country safe.
The National Moment of Remembrance resolution asks that all Americans observe a moment of remembrance and respect at 3 PM on Memorial Day. All are free to do this in their own way.
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Red Cliff Transit Returns To Full Service
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Miskwaabekong Transit will return to full hours and service on Tuesday, May 26, 2020.
Policies will remain in place regarding essential rides only. There will be no charged fares, and social distancing rules will be administered.
If you are experiencing any illness or symptoms, please refrain from riding the bus and contact the Health Center at 715-779-3707.
You can contact Miskwaabekong Transit to schedule a ride at 715-682-9664.
Miigwech,
Miskwaabekong Transit
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Summer Food Program Continues "Grab and Go"
SFP expects to provide meals through August 31, 2020
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The Summer Food Program has been authorized by the Department of Public Instruction to continue the "Grab and Go" program and will NOT be a Congregate Meal Site.
We expect to provide meals up to August 31, 2020 with as much stability as we can predict under the circumstances.
The Bayfield School is the provider of breakfast and dinner and to the best of our knowledge they will continue this through June 30, 2020.
For more information about the "Grab and Go" Summer Food Program please contact the Summer Food Staff at 715-779-3740.
Thank you for your patience during this time.
Red Cliff Food Distribution & Summer Food Program
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Propane Tank For Sale - Requesting Bids
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The Red Cliff Tribal Property and Procurement Department is seeking sealed bids for a 940-gallon propane tank that is located at the "new" pow-wow grounds. The propane tank will be sold as is and is required to be removed by the winning bidder within 30 days of purchase.
If you are interested, please submit your bid to:
Red Cliff Tribal Administration
Attn: Property & Procurement Dept.
88455 Pike Road
Bayfield, WI 54814
Deadline: May 29, 2020 at 4:00 PM
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Openings on Law Enforcement Commission
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The Red Cliff Tribal Council is seeking three individuals interested in serving on the Law Enforcement Commission.
1 Commissioner
1 Recording Secretary
1 Alternate
For further information contact Tribal Administration at 715-779-3700.
If you are interested in serving on this committee, please pick up an application at the front desk of the administration building.
Please return your application to the receptionist at the administration building.
The deadline is May 29, 2020 at noon.
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Proposed Revision to Code of Law
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The Red Cliff Legal Department and the Red Cliff Planning Department have proposed revisions to Chapter 37 of the Red Cliff Code of Laws.
Click
HERE
to view the official notice.
You can view the revised Chapter 37
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 June 1, 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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Proposed Revision to Code of Law
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The Red Cliff Tribal Historic Preservation Office has proposed revisions to Chapter 20 of Red Cliff Code of Laws.
Click
HERE
to view the official notice and proposed changes.
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 June 1, 2020 at the regular meeting of the Red Cliff Tribal Council. If the Council enacts this code, the code shall become effective upon enactment.
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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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Red Cliff Food Distribution was briefly featured on FOX21's Hometown Hero segment for the work they are doing to get food and lunches to the community.
Miigwech Red Cliff Food Distribution!
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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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Indigenous Legacy Scholarship
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TC Energy has extended the application period for the TC Energy Scholarship Program to June 12
th
, 2020! The Program offers scholarships to students in three categories, including 77 scholarships specifically for Indigenous students who can apply online at
www.tcscholarships.com
:
- TC Energy Indigenous Legacy Scholarship ($5,000 each) – awarded to Indigenous (Native American) students pursuing any full-time, post-secondary program at a registered education institute. Our priority is to support students from the Nations we work with.
- TC Energy Community Leaders Scholarship ($2,500 each) – awarded to students who demonstrate a strong commitment to their communities through volunteerism, leadership and other activities.
- TC Energy Trades Scholarship ($2,500 each) – awarded to students who are studying a skilled trade relevant to our business.
If you have any questions about the Program or the application process please contact
[email protected].
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Boys and Girls Club of Gitchigami
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Native Learning Center Art Contest
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The Native Learning Center is hosting a poster contest for Tribal Youth and is offering prizes for three different age group winners.
Theme: WHAT HOME MEANS TO ME
ENTER TO WIN A PRIZE!
Accepting Submissions from
April 1- June 30, 2020
All Tribal Communities are Welcomed to Submit! All Posters Must Be Original Art Work.
You May Use: Markers, Paints, Crayons, Colored Pencils, Beads and Fabric! Get as Creative as you'd like! Create a poster that shows what home means to you!
All forms of art are welcome; however your submission does need to be poster friendly.
3 AGE GROUP WINNERS!
5-10; 11-13; 14-18
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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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The GLIFWC Ceded Territory Traditional Food Regulatory System Project staff are partnering with the Mino Bimaadiiziiwin Farm to host a live webinar for the
Red Cliff Community.
Learn more about the project, hunting regulations, food safety and contaminant concerns, and the Model Food Code's venison chapter.
Tuesday, May 26th
2 - 3 p.m.
Click
HERE
to register or call (715) 685-2147.
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Click
HERE
to view the TNR Ziigwan Spring Newsletter.
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Red Cliff Chippewa Housing Authority
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News Across Indian Country
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Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
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Program sign up begins May 26, 2020 and ends August 28, 2020.
Are you a farmer or rancher whose operation has been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic? The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program will provide direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance program on April 17, 2020. CFAP will use funding and authorities provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and other USDA existing authorities.
CFAP will provide vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline or who had losses due to market supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 and face additional significant market costs. Eligible commodities include:
- Non-specialty Crops: malting barley, canola, corn, upland cotton, millet, oats, soybeans, sorghum, sunflowers, durum wheat, and hard red spring wheat
- Wool
- Livestock: cattle, hogs, and sheep (lambs and yearlings only)
- Dairy
- Specialty Crops
- Fruits: apples, avocados, blueberries, cantaloupe, grapefruit, kiwifruit, lemons, oranges, papaya, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, tangerines, tomatoes, watermelons
- Vegetables: artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, dry onions, green onions, peppers, potatoes, rhubarb, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, taro
- Nuts: almonds, pecans, walnuts
- Other: beans, mushrooms
USDA will consider additional crops to be eligible for CFAP by collecting information on potentially eligible crops, as outlined under "Request for Additional Commodities" below on this page.
Eligible farmers and ranchers will receive one CFAP payment, drawn from two possible funding sources. The first source of funding is $9.5 billion in appropriated funding provided in the CARES Act and compensates farmers for losses due to price declines that occurred between mid-January 2020, and mid-April 2020 and for specialty crops for product that was shipped and spoiled or unpaid product. The second funding source uses the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to compensate producers for $6.5 billion in losses due to on-going market disruptions.
Beginning May 26, USDA's Farm Service Agency will be accepting applications from agricultural producers who have suffered losses. While offices are open by phone appointment only, FSA will be working with our agricultural producers by phone and using email and online tools to process applications.
Click
HERE
for more information.
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Resources for Small Business Owners
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The Small Business Administration has made economic injury disaster loans available to small agricultural businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
These loans are designed to provide working capital to help the business meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met because of COVID-19 economic disruption. Interested applicants should go to the portal and apply as soon as possible.
Click
HERE
for more information.
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Alliant Energy Plans To Close Coal Plant
Announcement Follows Plans To Invest 1K Megawatts Of Solar By 2023
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From WPR
By Danielle Kaeding
Madison-based Alliant Energy announced Friday it's shuttering its 380-megawatt Edgewater coal plant in Sheboygan by the end of 2022.
The utility said in a
news release
the move is being made to align with the company's plans to deliver "cleaner, more cost-effective energy."
"Closing the coal-generating facility is necessary as we transition towards more renewable energy resources, such as solar," said David de Leon, president of Wisconsin Power and Light, a subsidiary of Alliant.
Alliant announced last fall its plans to generate up to 1,000 megawatts of solar by the end of 2023, which would power about 260,000 homes. The company said the decision to shutter the plant was part of a year-long process and the next phase in transitioning to renewable energy.
Alliant has around 3,600 employees, and about 80 workers will be impacted by the closure. About 40 percent of employees are eligible for retirement, and the company plans to provide career assistance to employees, including tuition reimbursement and resume-writing.
"It was a difficult decision, especially because it impacts our long-standing committed employees," said de Leon. "At the same time, retiring this facility will help us avoid an estimated $200 million in near-term costs, and that cost avoidance is really critical for our customers and their future rates."
The utility is working with Madison-based Vandewalle and Associates on redevelopment of the site, but Alliant has no current plans for any power generation there. The utility said it plans to work with community leaders on the future of the site.
Jeff Ripp, the utility's director of regulatory strategy and solutions, said Alliant would be seeking to recover around $500 million of investment in the plant at the end of 2022.
"As we were thinking about how to do this, certainly customer affordability is number one — to do this in a way that we continue to maintain, particularly for Wisconsin Power and Light, our affordable rates," said Ripp.
Environmental groups applauded the utility's decision to transition away from fossil fuels, including Clean Wisconsin. Scott Blankman, the group's energy and air program director, said utilities made significant investments in pollution controls that were expected to be recovered over the span of 10 to 15 years.
"Now, a question that will be in front of the Public Service Commission is what is the appropriate recovery for that investment that the company has made, but now customers will no longer be getting any benefits from those investments," said Blankman.
The Edgewater plant's closure, cost recovery and the utility's solar plans will be reviewed by state regulators.
Blankman noted coal has become uneconomical to operate as more renewables come onto the scene. He said that's been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused natural gas prices to fall significantly.
"We're strongly supportive of their decision to retire Edgewater, and we believe the same sort of arguments could be made on (Columbia Energy Center) and other coal plants across the state," said Blankman.
Columbia Energy Center in Pardeeville is the remaining coal-generating station that Alliant co-owns with Wisconsin Public Service and Madison Gas & Electric.
Alliant's president said the utility has no plans to share about the Columbia Energy Center, but it's continuing to evaluate its coal-fired facilities and transition to renewables. The utility has set a goal to cut carbon emissions 80 percent and eliminate coal from its energy mix by 2050.
Elizabeth Katt Reinders with the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign said in a statement that Alliant is making the right move.
"Coal costs us. The Edgewater coal plant is losing millions of dollars each year, and Alliant’s decision to retire the plant early will deliver those savings to customers," said Katt Reinders.
Wisconsin Power and Light shut down other units at Edgewater in 2015 and 2018. Alliant also recently began operation of its $700 million natural gas plant in Beloit.
The coal plant closure is the second announcement this year following Dairyland Power Cooperative's plans to shutter its 345-megawatt Genoa coal plant by next year.
Alliant provides electricity to 970,000 customers and natural gas to 420,000 people across Wisconsin and Iowa.
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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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