The annual Ziigwan Pipe Ceremony was held at the Bad River Community Center on Wednesday, March 20th. The ceremony welcomes in the new season and offers a chance for community members to dance, pray, socialize, win prizes and enjoy great food. A total of 158 people attended the ceremony.

The ceremony began with a prayer in Ojibwemowin by Dylan Jennings, Tribal Council Member. Youth sat close to the pipe carriers' table to watch and learn. The pipe carriers explained the different pipes that are used and told the youth that it was important for them to learn, as one day they would carry on these traditions.

After the tobacco was given and the pipes were lit, everyone enjoyed a feast.

The rest of the night consisted of various traditional dances, such as the fish, pipe, feather, swan and snake dances. The room was filled with laughter, singing and conversation. There were also prize drawings throughout the night.

Esie Leoso-Corbine, Social and Family Service Director, helped plan the event and shared some important cultural knowledge with attendees.

"This is a cultural event that brings us together to pray for our community," said Esie. "It allows us to teach traditional Anishinaabe dances to our young people to carry forward into the future."

Thank you to the  Social and Family Service Department for planning and hosting the event, and special thanks to the pipe carriers Ron White, Russ Denomie, Joe Rose, Sr., Dylan Jennings, Bill Roundwind and Star Ames. Thanks to the singers Dan Powless, Nate Ante, Nick DePerry, Zac Hartley and Joe Dan Rose, and the lead dancers Vincent Bender and Lisa Whitebird. Lastly, miigwech to all of the cooks for the delicious food!

Teen Health Week is an international movement that recognizes the physical and emotional growth of adolescence differs from the needs of children and adults. The teen years often include life-affecting choices in interpersonal relationships, diet, exercise, self-care and self-harm, substance-use and violence.

Mark your calendars! Teen Health Week will take place April 1-7, 2019. Each day will focus on a specific theme related to teen health. 

In Bad River, we have activities planned at the high school and middle school during lunch periods, along with cultural presentations at Ashland Middle School during the week. In the community we have information available about teen health topics and some fun and interactive presentations.

At AMS: Cultural Activities daily from 1:00 to 3:15 pm.  Parents welcome!

• Lunch on Monday - 10:47 am to 12:59 pm - AMS Fact group AODA/drug prevention message.
• Lunch Wednesday - 10:47 am to 12:59 pm - Chance to win Walmart gift cards during lunch while learning about health related topics

At AHS: Messages on screens throughout school with Teen Health messages and tips.

• Lunch on Thursday - 11:26 am to 12:51 pm - Chance to win Walmart gift cards during lunch while learning about health related topics.

In the Bad River Community: Cultural and Teen Health presentations every day after school. All are welcome!

Watch for information on the Open House on April 24th, the Dance for Teens on April 26th, and the Fun Run on April 27th. All right here in Bad River!

This is supported by a Tribal Council resolution, and Tribal youth programs. Special thanks to Kellie Ellias, Nate Ante, Fred Pero, Jeanne Waters, Mary Nelis, Edith Leoso, Esie Corbine and Zach Hartlev.

Miigwetch,

Lynn (Medweoshkakwe) Bigboy
Youth Services Director
715-682-7111 ext. 1439
Email Lynn

Madelyn Wiggins is a senior at Ashland High School and a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. She  is the daughter of Luanne and Michael Wiggins, Jr. 

She has been an advocate for the environment, represented Bad River on the powwow circuit as royalty, and played sports from a young age. She has an amazing generous spirit, especially to the younger generation, and is an accomplished dancer.

Madelyn's hobbies include dancing, running, playing ball, laughing and learning new things.

Her daily motivation is to make the most out of every day and to be a nice person.

If given a million dollars, Madelyn said she would invest it, donate it to a good company that makes plastic into material for building homes, and travel.

You can catch Madelyn playing basketball at Gogebic College in Ironwood, Michigan, this fall.

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.

Good luck Maddy!

Boozhoo gakina awiya!

The Star Quilt Project for the 2019 Ashland High School graduates is underway, and we are accepting donations. 

Donations can range from purchasing material, sheets, batting and sewing supplies, to people volunteering their time to make the quilts. Volunteers give up every Sunday afternoon for nine months out of the year except for holidays (and when the Packers are in the play-offs) to sew star quilts.

When this project first started, we made 24 star quilts. Last year, that amount nearly doubled and the group made 40 star quilts. We will be making around the same amount this year. We hope to continue this tradition for future classes and generations.

This project can only happen through your generous donations. We are currently looking for donations of the following:

• Full size, flat sheets any color
• Batting full size
• 1.5 yards of material, preferably 100% cotton. Ask for quilting material.
• Time! Volunteers are needed to tie quilts. The only requirement is you know how to tie a knot.

If you would like to donate or volunteer your time, please contact Esie Leoso-Corbine at 715-682-7127, ext. 1411.

From GLIFWC - Mazina'igan Spring 2019

	Photo by Eric Engbretson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

With spearing season rapidly approaching, remember to check out GLIFWC's Mercury Maps to help you make informed decisions about safe fish consumption.

Spring spearing and netting are an integral part of the Anishinaabe bimaadiziwin (Tribal lifeway). Tribal Members reaffirm their off-reservation treaty harvest rights while providing their families and communities with a tasty and healthy food.

But, as with any species of fish, ogaawag (walleye) contain mercury. To limit exposure to mercury, choose lakes with lower mercury levels. Refer to GLIFWC's Mercury Maps for the safe number of meals of ogaa per month you can safely enjoy from that lake. Ogaa less than 20 inches and other species of fish lower on the food chain such as asaawe (yellow perch) tend to have lower mercury levels.

The Mercury Maps are distributed to member Tribes and are available at Tribal registration stations and other springtime events. For additional information on safe fish consumption and copies of the Mercury Maps, visit the GLIFWC website.


GLIFWC recommends that women of childbearing age and children under the age of 15 avoid eating walleye from "red" lakes - those waters like where fish contain higher amounts of mercury.

Nearby "red" lakes include English and Butternut Lakes in Ashland County; Siskiwit Lake in Bayfield County; Elcho, Pine and Trude Lakes in Iron County; Butternut and Pine Lakes in Price County; and Moose Lake in Sawyer County.

GLIFWC 2018 Tribal Hatchery Production

Public waters across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan benefit from Tribal fish hatcheries. Many Tribes are upgrading their facilities in 2019 including Mille Lacs Band, Lac Courte Oreilles, Mole Lake and St. Croix.

For more than 80 years, Ojibwe fish hatcheries have supported fisheries in the lake country of the upper Midwest. Tribal hatcheries have helped recover lake trout populations in Lake Superior and provide fishing opportunities in waters without natural reproduction. Read more from GLIFWC.

A new collaborative effort involving community members and multiple Tribal programs and departments called "A Shared Vision, Connecting With One Another" is underway.

The purpose is to secure community involvement and commitment to solve problems via connecting with one another.  The overall goal is to connect the community and people together. People can attend not only to connect, but to share events, situations, adversities and triumphs. By joining together, we can help overcome obstacles and support one another.

Community participation is integral in helping to solve problems. Members of the community are the experts of their own issues, and their thoughts, needs and challenges will be respected.

The group had its first meeting on March 22nd to discuss the issues happening in the community at large.

The next meeting will be held on April 11, 2019. The location will be determined soon.

All community members are welcome to attend to share their thoughts, support each other, have their voices heard, and be proactive in working to improve the community.

Click on the image for a larger version

Please click here for the Artist Entry Form and Guidelines

Click on the images for a larger version

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

Visit these sites for current employment opportunities:

Bad River Lodge and Casino

Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College

Job Center of Wisconsin

Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Training (CEP)