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Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
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March 13, 2019
We're finally starting to see signs of spring, with temperatures predicted to rise above freezing in the next couple of weeks.
St. Patrick's Day is this Sunday, March 17th, and ziigwan (spring) will officially begin on Wednesday, March 20th.
In honor of the Spring Equinox, the Bad River community is observing a Ziigwan Pipe Ceremony and Feast on March 20th at 5:00 pm at the Community Center. A feast and a social gathering featuring singing and dancing will follow the ceremony.
In this week's news, Tribal Council Member Dylan Jennings attended the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes Impact Week in Washington, D.C., community members voted for a new water tower design, Wisconsin Public Television released a documentary featuring Tribal Members telling the history of the wolf, and more.
Scroll down to see the good news and activities happening in the Mashkiiziibii community.
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Tribal Issues Presented at MAST Impact Week
Bad River Tribal Members and employees attended the annual Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes (MAST) Impact Week March 5th through March 8th in Washington, D.C. to lobby for local issues.
Impact Week gives Tribal leaders the opportunity to voice their concerns to their respective representatives.
Tribal Council Member Dylan Jennings and legal staff Erick Arnold and Lisa Wrazidlo attended the event to lobby for federal assistance regarding Bad River Tribal issues and funding.
"We spent time reminding our representatives of the federal trust responsibility that they have with Tribes per our signing of treaty agreements," Dylan said.
Dylan stated that one of their biggest public policy issues was to request that Congress and the Senate continue to fund the
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which protects the environment and freshwater of the Great Lakes region for future generations.
Health issues and the drug epidemic were also topics of discussion. Dylan also provided various health statistics, one of which showed the percentage of drug-addicted babies that are born in the region is the highest in the state.
"We very much pressed those issues to our representatives and asked for a future dialogue about resolution and increased funding to some of our programs," Dylan said. "It's so incredibly important that our Tribal Nation stays involved on the national level so that our representatives, Congress and the Senate are fully aware that our people are still here and we're still thriving, and they still have a trust responsibility to us as Tribal Nations."
According to their website, MAST's mission is to "advance, protect, preserve, and enhance the mutual interests, treaty rights, sovereignty, and cultural way of life of the sovereign nations of the Midwest throughout the 21st century. The organization coordinates important public policy issues and initiatives at the state, regional and federal levels, promotes unity and cooperation among member Tribes and advocates for member Tribes."
Please click on the video below to see some of the issues presented to the Committee on Appropriations.
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| View Tribal Council Member Dylan Jennings speaking at 1:24 |
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Perfect Attendance List
Attendance is important in learning and the Bad River Youth Services Program would like to give a high-five to these young leaders who are making it to school every day. They will be honored with a certificate signed by the Bad River Tribal Council.
Our future community leaders with perfect attendance for the first half of the year in the Ashland School District are:
- Grace Corbine (3rd grade)
- Jaiden Erickson (5th grade)
- Jasper Erickson (4th grade)
- Adrian Gonzalez (8th grade)
- Gerald Hall (Kindergarten)
- Johnathon Hall (1st grade)
- De'Marco Harris (3rd grade)
- Julianna Nelis (3rd grade)
- Quinten Nelis (2nd grade)
- Kaitlyn Parisen-Nelis (5th grade)
- Natalie Smart (4th grade)
- Shelly Wiggins (4th grade)
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Circle of Youth
Vanessa Butler-Bell is the daughter of the late Christine Bell and Anthony Butler. She is an 8th grade student at Ashland Middle School and is a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
Vanessa was nominated by the AMS Home School Coordinator Dorene (Faye) Maday because "she is amazing: an excellent student, gets along with most people, is involved in sports, and is a super star." Ms. Maday is inspired by Vanessa!
"I like school and work hard all the time," Vanessa said. "I like to play sports and help out people when I get a chance. I'm 14 and live with my dad and two younger sisters, Sarah and Toni. I have three nephews that are special to me." "My dad is my biggest motivator. He didn't have a great childhood. Someday I want to be successful and take care of my own family and make him proud." When asked what she would do with a million dollars, Vanessa replied, "Buy a new phone. I would also buy soccer and basketball equipment. I would buy my sisters and dad stuff since they always buy her stuff."
Vanessa is a bright young lady. She is on the honor roll and plays traveling soccer and basketball.
If you would like to nominate a student for the Circle of Youth please email their name and a paragraph about their gifts to
Lynn Bigboy.
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Ma'iingan: Brother Wolf
By Wisconsin Public Television
Wisconsin Public Television recently released a documentary on the history and importance of the wolf in Anishinaabe culture. The video features Tribal Members Dylan Jennings, Edith Leoso, members of the Bad River Natural Resources Department and of other Tribal communities.
"With insight from Ojibwe Elders, biologists and artist Rabbett Before Horses Strickland, this film captures enduring spiritual connections with Brother Wolf, the lasting bonds and responsibilities shared between native people and the wolf species, and the opportunities and challenges presented by the reintroduction and protection of the animals across reservation lands."
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Water Tower Poll Results
Additionally, thank you to everyone who made other recommendations. They are also being considered as we work to finalize the project.
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International Women's Day
By the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center
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MMIW Artwork Chosen for the International Women's Day 2019 Postcard
by Cody Hammer (Cherokee/Muskogee) |
This International Women's Day, the
National Indigenous Women's Resource Center (NIWRC) and the
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) partnered to honor the survival and resiliency of our Indigenous sisters, grandmothers, mothers, daughters and aunties, despite enduring generations of forced colonization and genocide. Homicide is a leading cause of death for Native women, and compared to their white counterparts Native women are five times as likely to have experienced physical violence by a non-Native intimate partner.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) continues to be a serious crisis within the United States. Together, we call for prayer and healing in response to this violence, but we also demand meaningful legislative reforms that remove barriers to safety for Indian women by recognizing and strengthening the sovereign ability of all tribal nations to protect Indian women and their children.
NIWRC and NRCDV join as allies, both Native and non-Native, as relatives, to envision a return to Indigenous values in the United States. We thank the families of MMIWG victims that advocate for their loved ones, as well as the tireless advocates and allies that continue the hard and meaningful work to provide safety to Native women. We join together to call upon the United States and its people to remember that women are sacred and must be treated with dignity and respect.
International Women's Day (IWD) is a global day of recognition and celebration, marking the achievements of women and inspiring action to achieve greater gender equality and justice. The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, celebrates IWD each year by commissioning or purchasing a piece of artwork that honors the struggles and successes that we face. In collaboration with the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center, in 2019, we are highlighting "The Silenced Sister" by
Cody Hammer,
member of the Cherokee Nation and descendant of the Muskogee Creek Nation. Hammer's artwork was chosen from 41 entries and 35 artists that submitted.
"I care deeply about this topic as a father, son, and husband of Indigenous women. Bringing awareness to these cases and legislation means that my daughters might have a safer future. A future where they aren't scared of being taken or find out that someone they care for has been taken. MMIWG is the reason why I protect my family to the best of my abilities and advocate for the fallen sisters that can't advocate for themselves." - Cody Hammer
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We Remember Our Ancestors
Nimikwendaagoziiyang ~ We Remember Our Ancestors
The Bad River Tribal Historic Preservation Office and Repatriation Committee are currently working on a project to create a Veterans Memorial at the Veterans Pavilion at the Bad River Cemetery.
Part of this project honors our Ancestors and their burial bundles long lost to museum collections and other sources that will be repatriated and reinterred at an undisclosed location, to prevent theft.
Multiple black granite slabs will be added that recognize each conflict and war that Tribal Members have been involved in throughout history, including the Civil War through more recent overseas conflicts.
Community members can help fund this effort by buying a brick to be included in the paving of the memorial. This project needs your support!
You don't have to have a Veteran in your family to contribute.
By purchasing a brick, you become the sponsor and can create a customized engraved message on your brick that will be placed at the entry of the Veterans Pavilion.
Make it a family affair to Buy-a-Brick for your Ancestors and Loved Ones.
"It becomes a community effort to make this happen," Edith Leoso, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer shared. "It will become aesthetically pleasing for our Veterans and community members to come enjoy and reflect, and will also be handicap accessible."
Smaller bricks are $50 and larger patio blocks are $100 each. Proceeds from sales will go toward creating the Veterans Memorial, such as: The purchase and installation of seven flags and concrete-mounted flag poles estimated at $750 each; the purchase and installation of eight four-foot high engraved black granite slabs mounted on two-foot high black granite faced concrete to recognize all the wars and conflicts Tribal Members served in; solar lighting; cedar trees and fencing and other items to beautify the pavilion and area to honor Veterans.
Fundraising will continue until the $125,000 goal is reached, or all projects are completed. For information on the amount of sales to date, contact the Tribal Treasurer or Accounting office.
You may contribute online or print the donation flyer.
For questions about the project, please email Edith Leoso or call 715-682-7123, extension 1662.
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Student Spotlight - Misty Jackson
Misty Jackson is a Bad River Tribal Member and a descendant of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. She is currently majoring in Science and Native American Studies at LCO College.
Misty retired from the U.S. Army in 2015 and wanted to start college somewhere friendly that shared the same values as she does. The LDF Outreach Site is a short distance from where she stays in Lac du Flambeau, and where she previously participated in beading, applique and genealogy workshops.
Misty appreciates having in-depth conversations with instructors due to smaller class size, something that she may not get from a larger college or university.
After Misty obtains her degree with LCO College, she hopes to transfer to a larger university to finish with an undergraduate degree in neurobiology. She plans to apply to medical school and eventually go into a pain medicine/management specialty.
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Student Advocates for Tribal College Funding
LCO College student Robin Powless was asked to attend and speak at the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) Legislative Summit that was held in Washington, D.C. on February 4th through February 8th.
Although initially nervous, the staff of LCO College were there to support her. The experience had a positive impact on Robin. She was proud to see all of the young people that spoke up for themselves and their Tribes.
Robin was also able to learn how the advocacy process works.
"We had the opportunity to visit several offices of the representatives of our state, with the purpose of asking for their support in maintaining a substantial amount of funding that provides services for students through the college," Robin said.
Robin encourages other students to take advantage of opportunities like this and to represent not only their college, but the Tribe and themselves as well.
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Turning Ideas Into Actions
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This is the new section for the Bad River Planning Department. Through this e-newsletter, we hope to keep the community up to date on the activities that the Tribal Planner and Grant Writers are a part of.
Awarded grants and other planning projects are some of the primary topics of this section. For questions about a specific program, we encourage you to call the department to ask about details supported under that program's funding.
SAMHSA Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) Grant: Through collaborations between departments and the Bad River Drug Task Force, the Tribe applied for and was awarded this funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The TOR program aims to address the opioid crisis in Tribal communities by increasing access to culturally appropriate and evidence-based treatment. This grant funding will provide various levels of support for prevention and intervention projects such as building a sweat lodge on Madeline Island, creating educational materials, developing prevention and intervention models, improvements to the Tribe's website to include prevention and intervention resources and education, creating an Anishinabe Biizindadedah ("Listening to One Another") Curriculum, support for the Gwayakobimaadiziwin Needle Exchange program, as well as support for cultural activities.
SAMHSA Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Project: The Bad River Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) Program received this MAT funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The Bad River MAT project aims to improve the recovery process and options for Bad River community members who are experiencing opioid use disorder through use of pharmacological and behavioral based therapies, including medication assisted treatment and the evidence-based program Integrated Treatment for Co-occurring Disorders. The project aims to reduce substance abuse and the occurrence of overdose by integrating access to supportive treatment and recovery services for Tribal Members and community members in the Bad River Service Area. For questions about this program, please contact the AODA program at 715-682-7133.
OVC Grant: The Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) grant was awarded to the Bad River Social and Family Services Department to support a Victim Assistance Program.
TMS (Time Management System) Next Steps:
- The vendor for the TMS system is MitreFinch.
- As the Project Manager for the new time and attendance system (TMS), the Tribal Planner has rolled out the placement of the time clocks and has worked with various team members to enroll employees into the system. Currently, programmers are working on tailoring the system to each department's needs and preparing the online system to be user friendly for users and supervisors. Codes are being verified to help ensure that the appropriate information will be calculated and carried over.
- Frequently Asked Questions for the system are being updated as we meet with departments and that will be shared once we get clarification from MitreFinch and we have formulated well written answers.
- We will keep you updated on the next steps and logins but please continue to use BOTH the new time clocks as well as the old time clock system so we can identify any issues prior to rolling this out.
- Supervisors/Department Heads: We will schedule a training meeting with you as soon as we have a firm date from MitreFinch.
Head Start Update: Many departments have teamed up to ensure the new Head Start building stays on schedule. The Tribe is scheduled to break ground in May!
Youth Build Grant: In partnership with Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Program (CEP), Workforce Resource Menomonie and Western Dairyland of Eau Claire, the Bad River Tribe and Red Cliff Tribal Housing will build one house on each reservation this summer. This is an education and training program that helps at-risk youth earn credits and receive construction training to build housing for low-income or homeless individuals. Read more about this U.S. Department of Labor funding here. The Tribal Planner will continue to work on details of this program, and we will share more information as soon as it's outlined.
We have several other projects that we want to update you on so we will provide more updates in future e-newsletters!
Tribal Planning & Grants Team
Doug Jennings, Tribal Planner
Charles Connors, Sr., Grant Writer
Lucy Koivisto LVT, MSA, Grant Writer
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WIC for March - Late WIC Pick Up - March 15th
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School District of Ashland Makeup Day - March 15th
Click on the image for a larger version
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Cobell Scholarship Opportunity - Deadline March 31st
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Wolf Art Wanted - Deadline April 15th
Click on the image for a larger version
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Bad River Scholarship Opportunity - Deadline April 30th
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Social Security Video Service
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New Public Health Program - Case Management
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Move Project - Workout Class Every Tuesday
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Beading Circle - Every Wednesday
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Bad River Wrestling - Every Wednesday and Friday
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Dine & Learn - March 14th
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Pot-of-Gold Bingo Fundraiser - March 17th
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Ziigwan Pipe Ceremony and Feast - March 20th
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Basic Life Support Certification Training - March 22nd
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Free POA and Wills Caravan - March 22nd
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Diabetes Clinic - March 26th
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Natural Resources Department Open House - March 27th
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Mobile Vet - April 8th
Chequamegon Humane Association (CHA) is excited to announce that we have teamed up with Purple Cat Mobile Vet to offer Ashland and Bayfield County residents low cost spay/neuters for their cats! These will be by appointment only on April 8th.
Our goal is to reduce the overpopulation of cats, starting with the Chequamegon Bay Area!
The mobile vet comes to our shelter and will alter your cat for a fraction of the cost, making it more affordable to many area residents.
Please call CHA at 715-682-9744 to get on the list.
- You must have an appointment and be pre-registered
- A $30 non-refundable deposit will be required to hold your spot (cash/check/PayPal)
**ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES**
Cost per cat:
$45 male neuter, $65 female spay
Includes pain medication
Does NOT include vaccinations
No ear tip
SPACE IS LIMITED SO SIGN UP TODAY
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Forest County Potawatomi - March 23rd and March 24th
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Visit these sites for current employment opportunities:
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Storyteller
Are you a storyteller? Can you take a verbal story and write compelling, heartfelt words?
Our office is located in Eagle River, and we do offer telecommuting options.
Our ideal candidate possesses strong writing skills, the ability to work in a collaborative environment, and a strong work ethic. Experience working with MS Word, MS Outlook and social media platforms including Facebook is needed.
We offer a competitive salary, generous paid time off (PTO), nine paid holidays and other benefits. Normal working hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Hours may vary to serve our clients, and occasional attendance at evening and weekend events will be required.
As we serve Native American communities, we give preference in offering our employment opportunities to qualified Native American candidates.
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Refer a Friend Internet Promotion
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Financial Self-Sufficiency
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Share Your News
Share your good news with the community!
The e-newsletter is sent every other Wednesday.
Email your information and story ideas, and please include your contact information so that we can follow up with you.
Please include a photo if possible.
Chi Miigwech!
Kim Swisher, Adam VanZile and Daleth Mountjoy
Tribal Communications
Office: 715-437-0090
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