Chairman Mic Isham's August Tribal Update

These past few months seemed to have flown by fast so when Lonnie asked me for a Chairman's report I really had to sit and pause to reflect on the work we have been doing since inauguration. I certainly don't want this newsletter to be a Chairman only publication so I will try and keep it short. Also the Tribal Governing Board is going to change the format for this newsletter and make it more about news and information from the community and less about political issues. For example we want to see 2 pages from the Health Center, Housing, Conservation, etc. The Tribal Membership needs to be informed about what is happening at all our entities and the newsletter is one area where we can do that.

Strategic Planning
Tribal Governing Board members Rusty Barber, Norma Ross, Don Carley, Gary Clause, Larry Kagigibi and myself along with Elders Council members Marilyn Tribble, Faith Smith, Marie Kuykendal, and Dewey Isham engaged in 3 days of strategic planning on behalf of the Tribe. I believe a separate article is being written about our planning session so I won't take your time up writing too much about it. I would like to say however that it was extremely important to take the time to do it.

We are not done yet. We have several more sessions to go since the Tribe has grown so much since the last time this was done. When we have a draft strategic plan complete the Directors of the programs will get a copy for them to add their comments and suggestions.

We will be making the draft strategic plan available to our membership for their comments and suggestions as well. We will take comments in writing, email, or by phone. The comment period will be the standard 30 days. Those comments/suggestions will be read and considered before the Tribal Governing Board votes on the final approval. That officially approved document will be the guiding light for our programs and entities into the future.

Meetings
Our Tribe as well as all the other Tribes in what is now known as Wisconsin, shares many of the same trials and tribulations. Mining, Employment, Prescription drugs, Economic Development and so many more issues we struggle with everyday. Chairmen and Councils are constantly meeting with various Federal/State and Tribal agencies to try and address all our issues.

To try and have a greater impact with the various agencies we have formed the Chippewa Federation. We believe the Federal Govt. has used the divide and conquer strategy on the Tribes with great success. We now want to “undivide.” Together we have a louder voice, more resources and more experience on which to rely to fight all our fights on all the various battlegrounds.

So far the Chippewa Federation consists of the 6 Ojibwe bands in Wisconsin but the hope is to begin to reach out to Ojibwe in Minnesota, Michigan and elsewhere.

The potential economic benefits can be huge as well. For starters we have taken action to extend each other's tax rebates to each other. This means we won't just be giving the gas tax exemption to LCO members but to the other Ojibwe members as well. When we are in Bad River they will extend their gas tax rebates to us. This will hold true for room tax, cigarettes, etc. It's a start.

Governor Walker
I as well as Tribal councilmembers Rusty Barber, Norma Ross, Don Carley and Gary Clause attended a Tribal leaders meeting with Governor Walker. Many of the issues that I wrote of earlier in this report were discussed. Governor Walker brought all of his cabinet officials so they could commit to listening, and working on our issues.

I have met with Governor Walker a few other times and in my opinion this was one of the better meetings. Only time will tell if the meeting will bear any fruit but I have to say there was great back and forth debate. There is no doubt in my mind that we got our opinions and issues heard.

Sympathies
In a small community like ours any loss of life is felt by all of us. Today as I write this report the funeral notice for Lillian Corbine is on the front desk just as the one for James Hamilton's funeral was taken down. Our sympathies go out to all those families that have lost loved ones. We are essentially one big family and each loss hurts us all. If we all reach out to the families with hugs and an ear to listen we can help relieve them of a little bit of pain, loss and anger.

I could write for several pages more as there is so much happening but after a certain point no one will read it anyway. If you see me in Wal-Mart or on the football field I am always willing to talk so feel free to approach me with any questions.

Miigwetch
Mi’ew