We honor our Elders, and celebrate with:

• Donna VanDiver - September 16th
• Virginia Poler - September 19th
• Clifford (Beef) Fox - September 20th
• Peter McGeshick, Jr. - September 20th 

The following people have Recycling Rewards promotions available for pickup at the Environmental Building as of September 6, 2016:

• Rayfield Tallier
• Vanny Poler
• Mary Ann McGeshick
• Karen Hammer
• Patricia Gallagher
• Sylvia Vandiver
• Peggy Fox
• Frank Olds

Once listed on the 10 Most Endangered Historic Properties, the Dinesen House is now a standing legacy to the endurance and strength of the individuals and families who called the cabin home, and to the Sokaogon Chippewa Community who refused to give up on the humble log cabin.

Stig and Inge Andersen reminded us of the reach of the history of the Dinesen story when they visited the community last week. Hailing from Denmark, the couple were visiting their son in Minneapolis, and made the drive over to see the building. Their interest in the Dinesen House stemmed from the two-volume biography of Wilhelm Dinesen written by Tom Buk-Swienty.

"The story behind the Dinesen House is an exceptional account that reaches across two centuries, connecting two continents and two cultural traditions. The cabin was constructed in the 1860's, and served as a stop-over along the military road between Fort Howard near Green Bay and Fort Wilkins in Copper Harbor, Michigan. Once it had served its mission with the United States mail service, the house was acquired by a Danish adventurer and expatriate Wilhelm Dinesen in 1873. He named the cabin "Freydenlund" (Grove of Joy) and stayed there for more than a year with an Ojibwa (Chippewa) housekeeper named Catherine, who later had a daughter named Emma," from the Sokaogon Chippewa website.

Wilhelm returned to his homeland in Denmark in 1874, married in 1885, and fathered a daughter, Karen Blixen who hence became a writer. Under the pen name Isak Dinesen, she wrote the book "Out of Africa" in the 1930's.

"When Dinesen returned to Denmark, the cabin became the home of Ludwig Motzfeldt. Motzfeldt worked as a farmer and land speculator, housed a post office named Frydenlund in the cabin, and served as treasurer of Forest County. The cabin, with a log house that was later attached, was eventually occupied by Joseph and Hattie Hettinger. Various owners and occupants followed until the cabin eventually was left empty and seemingly sentenced to the fate it has only narrowly escaped," as written in a story in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

On hand to welcome Stig and Inge Andersen was Mike Monte, owner of the Pioneer Express, and Mike Krusensterna, who was born and raised in the cabin. "I remember playing back there," he shared as he pointed to the field behind the cabin.

In both the petition for national register listing and in a historic structure report prepared as part of the restoration process, the cabin is formally referred to as the Dinesen-Motzfeldt-Hettinger Log House. Describing the motivation to save the structure, the report notes the cabin has a, "complicated, but fascinating history that reflects the history of this area of Wisconsin. The cabin is "a three-dimensional representation of this history."

The Dinesen Cabin is available for tours. For more information, contact Jeff Ackley, Jr., Tribal Administrator, at 715-478-7628.

The Great Lakes Native American Elders Association (GLNAEA) conference was held last week, and the Sokaogon Chippewa Community welcomed more than 120 Elders from various Tribal communities in Wisconsin.

On Thursday, Elders enjoyed an evening of bingo - and a photo booth!

Wes Martin, President of GLNAEA, was welcomed by Jeff Ackley, Jr., Tribal Administrator.  Tribal Elder Robert VanZile, Jr., gave the opening prayer.

The Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) is encouraging community members, Tribal and non-Tribal, to participate in upcoming "Learn to Conduct Oral Histories" classes.

The classes will be held in Lac du Flambeau.  Participants will learn how to collect stories, prepare questions regarding the topic they would like to focus on, how to conduct interviews, and how to use various recording equipment. 

When people leave this world, they take their stories with them if they are not told. This is a valuable tool in learning how to approach an Elder properly, what may or may not be appropriate questions to ask, and how to navigate through an interview if you have recording equipment that decides not work. Collecting our community stories for ages to come will help keep the tradition of oral history and storytelling alive for future generations.

If you would like to sign up, or have more questions about the classes, please email Adam VanZile, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, or call 715-478-6435.

Council 2 Position (top two will be running in the General Election) -
James Polar, Sr.
Carson Ackley
Clinton Fox

Council 1 Position (top two will be running in the General Election) -
Mike Bottea
Robert J. McGeshick, Sr.
Velma Landru
Wayne LaBine

Secretary Position -
Lori McGeshick

Treasurer Position -
Sam VanZile-Cottrell
Gloria DeCorah-Toyebo

Vice Chairman Position -
Mary A. McGeshick
Raymond McGeshick, Jr.

Chairman Position -
Ravanyon Poler
Garland McGeshick
Kellee Gallion

Posted August 30, 2016 by Myra VanZile.

The Primary Election will be held on October 1, 2016.  Voting hours are 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.  The General Election will be held on November 1, 2016.

Shelly Buch, Family Nurse Practitioner at the Sokaogon Chippewa Community Health Clinic, is now holding a series of talks on Managing Chronic Pain Beyond Pain Medications.

Each session will be held from 2:00 to 3:00 pm on Wednesdays through September 28th. The discussions will be held at the Elder building lunch room, and all community members who suffer with chronic pain are welcome.

There is no cost for the education services. It is not necessary to attend all of the sessions, but each will offer something new so it would be beneficial to attend them all if possible.  For more information, contact the Health Clinic at 715-478-5180.

Click here to view the registration form

Sokaogon Finance, Inc., is seeking a Customer Service Representative.

The Health Center is seeking a Certified AODA Counselor.

The Mole Lake Casino is accepting applications for the following positions:

• Experienced Cooks for the Café Manoomin
• Table Games Dealer

The Sokaogon Chippewa Community weekly e-newsletter is sent every Thursday morning.

If you have something you wish to be included, please email me your information by Tuesday at Noon.

Miigwetch!

Kim Swisher

Tribal Communications Office

Office: 715-437-0090

Cell: 715-437-0465

communications@scc-nsn.gov