LCO Tribal Governing Board Proclaims April 'Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month'

The Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (LCO) Tribal Governing Board has proclaimed April “Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month” affirming its commitment to help protect children from neglect and abuse on the LCO Reservation.

Joined my members of the Tribal Governing Board, local law enforcement, LCO Child Services Personnel and Children's Justice Coordinator Jane Flygstad, LCO Chairman Michael Isham Jr. held an official proclamation signing event at the tribal office Tuesday, April 7, 2015.

According to the signed proclamation, American Indian children experience a high rate of child abuse and victimization at a rate of 11.6 children out of every 1,000. Acknowledging higher than average rates of anxiety, unemployment, substance abuse, depression, and alcohol use among the Native community, the proclamation identifies these as known risk factors for the mistreatment of children.
“It is important to remember that Child Abuse is not just hitting or hurting a child. Many times neglect is just as bad and often worse, when a parent exposes their child to drug abusing environments,” said Flygstad.

Education and training of adults is an effective method to help prevent child abuse, with strategies that succeed through partnerships between law enforcement, business, human services, faith communities, health care providers, and citizens of the community.

“Child abuse in any form - physical or mental - is unacceptable. We have all heard the proverb that it takes a village to raise a child. I want to call our whole community to action to protect our children and end child abuse in its entirety,” said Chairman Isham.

For a complete list of ongoing events throughout the month of April, visit www.lco-nsn.gov/events.

Waadookodaading to Unify with LCO Ojibwe School

In an unprecedented move in Wisconsin education, the Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Immersion school, a division of the Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Institute, will unify with the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School, a local Bureau of Indian Education contract school. Although Waadookodaading has been located on the Lac Courte Oreilles reservation and has worked within the BIE's school campus for six years, it has until now maintained its charter through the Hayward Community School District.

The charter that was developed in order to open Waadookodaading fulfilled its initial intentions: Support an academic program that would create proficient speakers of the Ojibwe language who are able to meet the challenges of our rapidly changing world.

Over the last few decades, Wisconsin has been experimenting with charter schools but have yet to develop an effective policy that would ensure longevity of charter schools. Currently, the charter schools that have been afforded the ability to be fiscally viable are primarily located in urban settings.
Waadookodaading is unique in that it is one of the original Tribal charter schools in the state of Wisconsin and a large number of participating students are citizens of tribal nations. It is also a language immersion school, meaning that all of the core subjects are taught through the medium of the Ojibwe language. It is because of these reasons that Waadookodaading and the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe were uniquely positioned to reclaim educational sovereignty by forming a partnership between the two entities.

When asked about incorporating an Ojibwe language track into the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School, Lac Courte Oreilles tribal chairman Michael Isham, Jr., stated, “The federal government put millions (of dollars) into getting rid of our language and culture. This partnership marks a historical shift as federal funds will now be used to bring our language back.”

Mike Leahy, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School Director added, “We welcome this opportunity to offer a second educational track within our school. It has always been the mission of Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School to support and promote educational excellence, especially in the area of Ojibwe language. We look forward to the addition of linguistic innovation that Waadookodaading brings to the table.”

Brooke Mosay Ammann, Executive Director of Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Institute, said, “this partnership is an opportunity to ensure the linguistic vibrancy of Lac Courte Oreilles and the surrounding area. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our many supporters over the last fourteen years. I would particularly like to thank Hayward Community School District Board and Craig Olson for their resolute support. We are looking forward to the many opportunities this new educational choice presents.”

LCO Boys & Girls Club Receives $316,000 Grant from Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

The Boys and Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles received a $316,000 grant from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) on Jan. 20, 2015. The grant will support a new addition to the Boys and Girls Club, providing additional space and expansion in the support of community programming for Lac Courte Oreilles youth.

“We are so excited to be able to fund our entire 5,000 square foot addition to our Boys and Girls Club,” said Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Karen Harden. “The Tribe responded to a huge need we have for additional space to serve our kids.”

The grant serves as additional funding to compliment the $600,000 Indian Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) earmarked for the club's expansion project. In 2014, Lac Courte Oreilles applied for and received the CDBG based on the need for more space at the LCO Boys and Girls Club. The Shakopee grant will fund a kitchen and cafeteria portion of the building, as well as provide enough funding to update, replace and add additional technology. These technologies will be used by the LCO Boys and Girls Club for after school homework and tutoring programs designed to assist in the academic achievement of LCO youth.

“We look forward to breaking ground in May of this year,” said Harden.

The SMSC has given a total of $1.8 million in grants to help support initiatives at Lac Courte Oreilles. Past funds have been used by LCO for economic recovery and various community-building initiatives.

The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe is committed to developing and supporting programs that benefit the health of its community and to help elevate the success of its youth.

For more information about the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community visit www.shakopeedakota.org.

Wis., Mont. Senators Visit LCO, Tour Waadookodaading Where Students Present

Lac Courte Oreilles welcomed Senators Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Montana Senator Jon Tester, Thursday, October 23rd.

Sens. Baldwin and Tester, who is also Chairman of the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee, spent the morning touring LCO Ojibwe Community College, WOJB Radio, and also made a special stop at the Waadookodaading Language Immersion School, where the senators were serenaded by special songs performed by the students.

“I couldn't be happier of our students and staff at Waadookodaading, their presentation to the senators made me so proud of our community and what we've accomplished,” said LCO Tribal Governing Board Chairman Michael “Mic” Isham Jr. “During the musical presentation I was so proud I had to fight off tears welling up in my eyes. And the senators were impressed by what they saw.”

Sen. Tester also made a stop in Ashland to meet about the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) language program funded by an Administration for Native Americans (ANA) grant. Isham learned of the senators' visit and invited the pair to visit LCO and tour a number of its enterprises, LCO Ojibwe Community College, and LCO School, as well as the Waadookodaading school.

“Since Waadookodaading is right on the edge of a funding gap, if nothing happens we could be shutting the doors of Waadookodaading come February,” Isham said. “Many LCO programs wanted us to visit but I felt it was important that we make the focus of the visit: Waadookodaading.”
Students held math and geography lessons in native Ojibwe, also singing two songs in the traditional language.

“We met for 45 minutes afterward to discuss the issues. Senator Tester gave us some suggestions and told me he had never seen such a great language immersion program as ours,” Isham added. “I really believe they will do what they can on their end, as we will do on ours, to keep Waadookodaading going.”

Lac Courte Oreilles Derek Taylor: A Wildland Firefighter

Derek Taylor from Lac Courte Oreilles, returned home on Wednesday, September 30th, after his 3rd call for wildland firefighting this summer. For the past 3 years Derek has readily committed himself to the demand of service called on him due to the Nation's wildland fire emergencies.

Derek received his wildland firefighter certification in 2012, at the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College. Derek is also a 2012 graduate with an Associate's Degree in Natural Resources. Since his certification Derek has served 3 of his summers being available to the demand of firefighting. This past spring Derek completed a chainsaw certification specific to firefighting. This certification promoted Derek's status to a B-Faller Certifier, with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Great Lakes Agency.

This summer he has been sent to the states of Washington, Oregon, Utah and California. Derek's latest assignment was the King fire located in Northern California. This fire was considered one of the largest fires and 2nd most expensive fires in this state.

When a fire emergency occurs, the fire manager will seek a 15-20 man crew. The firefighters will typically have to leave in as little as one day's notice to leave their homes and families for their destination. Time of assignment is usually from 2-3 weeks.

While there are many duties assigned to these crews, most of them will involve trudging through a variety of terrain, in all extreme types of weather. Derek's experience has mostly been mountains, ridges and hills in torturing, hot weather. He carries with him a 50 pound load consisting of: 5 gallons of water, chain saw and kits, fire shelter, tools, and 2 gallons of drinking water. Since Derek's commitment, he has served on both an instant attack crew and an engine crew.

Derek's primary purpose for fighting fires is saving people's lives, homes, and nature's beauty.

Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Immersion School Seeks Donations

The Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Immersion School is hoping the public and LCO community can help raise much needed funds for the school to continue its programming at LCO.

To help cover a funding gap, Waadookodaading is seeking funding from those who would like to help sustain the school and support its mission to promote Ojibwe language and tradition among its students. The school has established an online donation site for anyone interested in contributing to do so securely online.

Appeals Court Overturns Federal District Court Ruling on Tribal Night Hunt

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has overruled a Western (Wis.) District Court decision which prohibited night hunting by tribal members in the ceded territory of northern Wisconsin, a right denied to tribal members until this recent decision.

“This decision is a victory for Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) and the Ojibwe tribes. But this decision signifies more than just our ability to hunt deer at night. This case is more about tribal sovereignty and the rights we never gave up, such as the right to hunt, gather and fish free from State of Wisconsin regulation whether it be during the day or at night,” said LCO Chairman Michael “Mic” Isham Jr. “Our rights are something we will never surrender. We are more than pleased with the decision of the appeals court.”

Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Indians has been at the forefront of defending the tribes’ sovereign right to hunt, fish and gather in the ceded territory of Wisconsin. In 1991, following years of litigation, a federal court in Madison affirmed these rights, yet prohibited tribal members from deer hunting at night citing safety concerns.

As a result of the 2012 Wisconsin legislative act to expand night hunting to include wolves, LCO petitioned District Court Judge Barbara Crabb to re-open the decision prohibiting nighttime deer hunting in the ceded territory by tribal members. Lac Courte Oreilles and other Ojibwe tribes provided evidence that state regulations allowed for night hunting for state citizens with minimal safety regulations, a practice, the state argued, that dated back to the 1930s.

After additional litigation, the state again cited safety as a concern for tribal night hunting despite the tribes’ argument that tribal hunters are some of the safest in the community. The Federal District Court ruled in favor of the state – a decision the tribes fought on appeal. Today’s opinion overturns the lower court’s decision and directs the District Court to issue an order consistent with the Appellate Court’s ruling.

LCO Community Health Clinic Receives Director's Award for Outstanding Group Performance

Letter from LCO Health Board Chairman Kim Beaudin to LCO Community Health Center Director Gregg Duffek, August 25, 2014

The LCO Health Board is most pleased to learn that the LCO Health Center received the Director's Award for Outstanding Group Performance by the Bemidji Area Office (Indian Health Service). We offer the Commendation to you and the LCO Health Center staff.

This Award says so much about the efforts of all employees of our Health Center to make major improvements in the delivery of primary and preventative health and medical services to our families and individuals. It's clear that this Award recognizes the efforts of our patient-centered team of providers, nurses, clinicians and a support staff who offer a continuous source of high quality, comprehensive medical care to thousands of our tribal members. An Outstanding Group Performance — this award is about how everyone pulled together to strive for a better health center, to provide better services in sound and thoughtful ways to ensure survival of our clinic.

The LCO Community Health Center currently employs 74 full and part-time employees in and adjacent to our reservation. There are currently more than 8,000 enrolled tribal members in the LCO tribe. The Health Clinic offers a full-service ambulatory center. Services include family medicine, dentistry, optometry, radiology, laboratory, pharmacy, alcohol and other drug abuse clinic, mental health care, community health and elder care. Currently, inpatient care is provided at local and regional hospitals.

Thank you Gregg for your understanding of the needs of the clinic and community and in your ability to carry out the daunting task of getting the clinic into a position to be poised for success. This work is the product of unwavering leadership and staff willing to commit to making real positive changes to better our health services for our people. So on behalf of all of our dedicated employees, of the LCO Health Board, and our community Chi-miigwetch!

Sawyer County/Lac Courte Oreilles Form 'Drug Endangered' Program

The Sawyer County/ Lac Courte Oreilles Drug Endangered Program (DEC) is a collaborative group working through the Sawyer County/LCO Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team. Formed in 2013 and 2014, local agencies involved are: LCO Indian Child Welfare, LCO PD, LCO Health Center, LCO Legal Department, Sawyer County Health and Human Services, Sawyer County Sheriff's Office, Sawyer County District Attorney, and City of Hayward Police Department. The DEC protocols have been finalized, approved by with Wisconsin Department of Justice and the LCO Tribal Governing Board and are currently being circulated to agency directors for signatures.

The DEC program and protocols will increase information sharing between agencies and over all improve investigations where drug-endangered are involved. Coordination and training for this program has been made possible by the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the Children's Justice Act grant funding through LCO.

41st Honor the Earth Pow Wow Held to Great Success

The 41st Annual Honor the Earth Pow Wow and Homecoming Celebration was held July 18-20th with hundreds of dancers, spectators and drummers from all over in attendance.

This year's Anishinaabekwe Deanna Baker was honored in a ceremony held Saturday. The event was dedicated to the memory of Eugene Begay, Sr.

View the Online Photo Galleries

LCO Tribal Members Shatter Records in County Elections

Five LCO Ojibwe Indians garnered 1,181 votes in the Sawyer County and Hayward School Board election held recently on April 1st.

The Sawyer County Record declared in their headline story a victory for two of the tribal candidates as it was the first time in history of the 130 year old county in which multiple Ojibwe Indians had run for county office positions. Successful in their bids for county government were Brian Bisonette and Joel Valentin, who ran against non-Indian incumbents in the Town of Bass Lake. Bisonette defeated his foe by a 90 vote margin for a District 9 seat on the County Board while Valentin easy distanced two non-Indians for Town of Bass Lake supervisor.

Trina Starr gathered 614 votes in her second bid for a Hayward School Board membership, falling just 61 votes short in her campaign. Ojibwe Indians are a small demographic minority in the school district population and success would require a political cross-over in future elections.

Karen Breit fell just 34 votes short in her bid to unseat her opponent Ron Kinsley for a position on the County Board for District 13 (Hunter Township) and Valerie Barber lost by only twenty votes in her contest for County Board in Hayward District 5 as she ran as a “write in” candidate.

In an off year election, a handful of more tribal voters here and there could have made all the difference for the tribal candidates in the 2014 campaign.

The State of Wisconsin gerrymandered Sawyer County voting districts about one hundred years ago so that the Township of Reserve (LCO) was split up into five other townships, thereby making Indians a minority in each of those new five districts. LCO tribal members have never expressed interest in serving in county government since 1915, until this year.

County and township supervisors make vital decisions that affect the lives of the estimated three thousand Ojibwe Indians living in Sawyer County and a handful of tribal members said this year for the first time: “Enough is enough…it's time we get involved in making decisions that will benefit our people.”
The candidates are already planning the next round of county-wide election.

LCO Recycling, Transfer Station to Open Spring 2014

The LCO Recycling Center/Transfer Station is scheduled to open this Spring. The brand new facility is located near the junction of Round Lake School Road and Hwy “B.” LCO Development is finishing up installing doors and windows and constructing the mezzanine; all power and plumbing has been roughed in at the facility. An oil furnace is being installed by Bodies Mechanical which will run on used motor oil taken at the facility free of charge.

It will still act as a functioning transfer site similar to the Transfer Station on Hwy “NN.” However, recyclables brought into the center will be sorted, baled and stored on site. Recyclables will be taken free of charge; solid waste will be accepted for a fee along with other larger items like furniture and white goods. The goal is to have all Tribal entities utilize the facility to offset their current disposal fees. Eventually the facility will purchase aluminum from customers and other scrap metal items as well. There are many other exciting ideas for the business. We will be updating the progress of the building throughout the Winter months. Stay Tuned!

Kinnamon School Renovation Update

by Brian Bisonette, Kinnamon School Project Director 
 
As many members have observed, the Kinnamon School Project has been idle for the last two months thus creating rumors of improprieties or lack of funding. I will attempt to provide a clear explanation of the current status of this project.

The Kinnamon School Project is a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded project. When the grant was written and subsequently awarded in the amount of $789,000 dollars, funds covered the renovation costs for the existing building alone. As this building will serve the community with multiple amenities, it was determined that the issue of accessibility needed to be addressed for our guests with physical disabilities. As a result, an architectural design of the building illustrating a north facing vestibule was developed to meet these accommodations.

As the current HUD funds do not include funding for the vestibule addition, the Tribal Governing Board approved a portion of the 2013 Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) application and submission to cover this expense (Notice of 2013 ICDBG awards were to be announced the first week of September to applicant tribes). Unfortunately, on September 4, 2013 we received notice from H.U.D. that our application was not selected for this funding cycle.

The vestibule requires mechanics, i.e. heating and cooling ducts/vents, an elevator, plumbing and electrical installed. Since this infrastructure ties into the existing school, it was not monetarily feasible to continue with renovation until we received notice on the ICDBG funding announcement. As an example, we did not want to continue the cedar siding installation on the north side of the building only to have to remove it once the vestibule was under construction. The same example would apply to the other aforementioned mechanics.

As a result of our unsuccessful ICDBG submission, the project team reviewed and made modifications to the building plans in order to reduce project costs and include the vestibule addition. To date, the expenditures for renovation are $247,000 dollars leaving a remaining balance of $348,000 dollars in current H.U.D. grant funding. As the remaining funds are insufficient to cover a portion of the additional costs associated with the vestibule, the Tribal Governing Board dedicated $55,000.00 dollars to complete this project.

LCO Development is the General Contractor for the Kinnamon School Project. As the General Contractor, LCO Development is contracted and responsible for procuring, sub-contracting, storing materials and renovating the school. LCO Development Superintendent Robert Sharlow estimates project completion by the end of February 2014.

If anyone has additional questions, please contact me at the tribal Office 634-8934 ext. 401.

Big Drum Hall Construction Underway at LCO

by Lewis White and Jim Miller, Chi dewe'igan Owners

The Big Drum Hall itself was a historical log building bought at a low cost from the Tony Wise family of Hayward. It was a total of 2,500 square feet and previously used as the Cook Shanty, which was part of the historic Historyland, a popular tourist destination in Hayward for decades throughout the mid-late 20th century.

Historyland comprised of the lumberjack village and most importantly, it was a traditional Ojibwe village in which many of our tribal people worked showcasing cultural activities and pow wows. The Cook Shanty was not only a lumberjack style restaurant during this era, but it also became a significant place for Ojibwe social and ceremonial gatherings, such as naming ceremonies and funerals for many, many years during and after Historyland's closure.

The total loss of our building was a shock to the Big Drum people and our families. These actions instigated by other LCO people were the last thing we believed could ever happen to our ceremonial sites on the reservation. After speaking with an elder from Lac du Flambeau, he stated, “Do not hate back as the spirits will take care of this.” We needed to hear such words. In several subsequent meetings, we decided as a group to move forward to try to rebuild to once again provide a home for our ceremonies and drums.

Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Elk Harvest Held Oct. 19th

by Lonnie Barber, LCO Newsletter

On Saturday, October 19, 2013, designated hunter’s from each member Tribe of the Voigt Intertribal Task Force met at the Day Lake Boat Landing near Clam Lake for a Pipe Ceremony and Instructions ½ hour before sunrise.Also on that day, there was a Inter-Tribal Deer Hunt meeting at the LCO Harvest Camp for that day's Hunt.

For this year's Ceremonial Elk Hunt, George Morrow, Sr. was chosen to represent Lac Courte Oreilles. He immediately named his long time hunting partner and friend Ricky (Beanie) Barber as his fellow Hunter. Personally, I was happy to see these men together hunting and being honored in this way. As you remember, Stony Larson and Bill Cadotte were our representative's last year, and harvested the one Elk that was allotted. I (Lonnie Barber) was given permission to ride along in this Hunt as George and Beanie would be allowed to hunt from their vehicle(Disabled).

Anyway, on our way to the Day Lake Boat Landing Meeting, we had the good luck to see one young Elk standing in the ditch. George could not take a shot because the Hunt did not officially open yet. We went to the Meeting and Pipe Ceremony, picked up George's Elk Permit and instructions for the Hunt. We were pretty excited, knowing that, hopefully, the young Elk would still be close to the Meeting site. Sure enough, he was still standing in the ditch. We were not allowed to shoot across the road, so, we drove a short distance and turned around. As we came back to him, he walked into the brush a little ways. We stopped and George could see the Elk, but was not sure of where his shot would hit. We had time to talk over the situation, and were going to move our vehicle a ways for a better shot. At that time, the Game Warden's lights and horn went off. This was the sign to not shoot. Somebody else had taken a shot and we had to assume there was an Elk down. We could not believe it. George could have taken a shot. But, knowing that George was not sure of his shot and not taking a wild shot and possibly only wounding it. I am very proud of George and Beanie not taking an unsure shot. Lac Courte Oreilles can be proud of the hunting decisions they made. Two year's in a row for LCO would have been great, but, as they say, that's the way it goes. I would have had video of the year, but it was still a great honor and experience I will never forget.

And, just to let you know, Mole Lake had the shot, but, the Elk was never found. Tribal leaders present decided that the Hunt was over. This was a Ceremonial Hunt and not for sport. To all of the Hunters, organizers and Conservation involved “Miigwech” for a well run and safe Ceremonial Elk Hunt.

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

Tribal Police Department to Crack Down on Drunken Motorists During Sober Driving Campaign

The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Police Department will be out in force along with hundreds of other law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin for the annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Crackdown on drunken drivers from August 16 through Sept. 2.

Drunken driving is one of the most prevalent and deadly crimes in Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Last year, 223 people were killed and nearly 3,000 injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes in Wisconsin. There were nearly 27,000 convictions for drunken driving in the state last year.

“Drunken driving is entirely preventable. You can designate a sober driver or find an alternative way home. But if you make the irresponsible choice to drive while impaired our officers will be on the lookout, and we will arrest you,” says Chief of Police Timothy DeBrot. “The devastating consequences of a drunken driving arrest include major embarassment, expensive penalties, mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device, and possibly jail time. Driving drunk will be a decision you will regret the rest of your life, if you are lucky enough to live.”

To help prevent drunken driving, the Zero in Wisconsin traffic safety initiative has a free “Drive Sober” mobile app, which includes features like “Find a Ride,” blood alcohol estimator and designated driver selector to help you get home safely and achieve zero preventable deaths on Wisconsin roadways. The Drive Sober app can be downloaded by visiting zeroinwisconsin.gov.

Tribal Governing Board Statement on Fatal Shooting at Lac Courte Oreilles

The Lac Courte Oreilles Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, and Sawyer County Sheriff's Office are investigating a shooting that occurred on Wednesday, Aug. 7, at approximately 11:30 p.m. Officers responded to the scene on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation to find a deceased individual with gunshot wounds.

On behalf of the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board, Chairman Michael Isham released the following statement about the incident.

“The events of August 7th that resulted in the death of a young man on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation are tragic and touch every family of the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe and our entire community,” said Isham. “Many members of the LCO community knew the families involved in this untimely tragedy and we all share in the pain they feel.”

The deceased individual located at the scene was 26-year-old James A. Hamilton of Stone Lake, Wis. The shooter, a 29-year-old Hayward man, called 911 from the apartment where the incident occurred. He was taken to the Hayward hospital and Sawyer County Jail before being released. An autopsy was performed on Hamilton by the Ramsey County Medical Examiner in St. Paul, Minn. Sawyer County authorities suggest the shooting may have been in self defense.

“Even though we don't know many of the details leading up to the incident, it is still a sad day when a family suffers such loss,” Isham added. “Our hearts go out to the families of those involved and on behalf of the Tribal Governing Board, we will look to assist in the investigation any way we can.”

Further details will be released by Lac Courte Oreilles as they become available. The case remains under investigation.

New Director for Lac Courte Oreilles Community Health Center

Hello, I am Gregg W. Duffek and I have been appointed the new Tribal Health Center Director. I began work here at LCO on June 03, 2013 and it is truly an honor to work in a Tribal facility.

I am an enrolled member of the Stockbridge Band of Mohican Indians. My wife and I have 5 adult children and 4 granddaughters who make me remember what is important in life.

I have over 20 years experience working in Indian Health & Human Services. I have a Masters Degree in Business with an emphasis in Healthcare. I come here to help.

I have served on many local, regional and national health groups including Great Lakes and Bemidji Area Office focus groups to better healthcare for Tribes in and out of Wisconsin. I have served on the Wisconsin Legislative Special Committee on Tribal Relations to advance legislation for Wisconsin Tribes and have always fought to make it better for all Tribes not just one.

I helped form the Tribal Aging Directors Association and provided guidance to the Tribal Income Maintenance Directors to help them form their own association, so we could all be heard by the state to make equal access to medical care and other services for Tribal Communities.
n
This is the same vision I have for the delivery of healthcare here at LCO. If it is available for one it must be available for all and with the limited amount of funds we get from the federal government and other funding sources we bill it is more important now than ever for us to pull together and use our limited resources well.

Bunker to Leave LCO Minneapolis Urban Office

by Iva Bunker, memo to LCO TGB June 8, 2013

Sometimes the best way to solve a problem is to stop participating in the problem, beginning July 1; I will no longer be a participant of the Lac Courte Oreilles Urban Office. The office is a wonderful, visionary idea that was in the back of our minds for many years, but because it is so visionary, not everyone on the Reservation can see it, the office is essentially an extension of our tribal sovereignty to our urban members.

Since July 1, 2011, when we opened the doors; our members came and showed their support; we have over 750 members in the Twin City and seven county-metro area and I understand it takes time to get broader participation as we had back in 1995 with the LCO Chapter, but I know that they care about the LCO Office being here. When called on I was available to help where I could. Since opening we have issued over 100 tribal IDs and numerous replacement cards, there have been requests that were genuinely in need that our budget could not handle, however, I was able to refer out to agencies that could help. I am also trained as a LCO Indian Child Welfare Act expert witness for tribal cases held in Hennepin County. On numerous occasions Tribal Staff parked their vehicles at our secure parking and got rides to the airport thus saving costly parking.

Despite current Facebook references to me not assisting with a member and her husband I did offer to help hold a fundraiser for her husband here, but she choose to go to LCO and do it there. It is my understanding that they are receiving help from their insurance company and getting the resources they need now. There are members who come from the Reservation to our office seeking help either for emergencies or non-emergencies for instance last Thursday, June 6, a couple came to see me for help getting back home, she apparently lost her wallet, I filled their gas tank and they were grateful that we were here for them. Earlier that morning a young man came in because he has been sleeping in his car and he has been homeless, we referred him to a shelter until we can get him permanent placement through another program and he received advice on how to apply for a school and another program that would help expunge his felony and help finding a job to get him by.

Since 1995, I have been issuing GLIFWC hunting tags and now I will no longer be doing this for LCO members including other Tribes (Red Cliff and Bad River) this means hunters will have to buy a state tag or go to the Reservations.

Currently, LCO member Gordon Coons has his art on our walls and he has done this since we opened to showcase Tribal member art work, what is now hanging is part of a traveling art show and will be taken down in July.

As for the $90,000 dollar rumor, it has been over 31 months (since we've opened) this averages $27,900 a year, which is on the low end of running a program here in Minneapolis. This amounts includes: market rate rent of $2,025.00 at $24,300 a year and includes added services such as phone, long distance, internet, a receptionist and copies, we would not get this rental rate in another facility. With regard to my salary before retirement I was at $55,000, my current salary for the Urban Office with no benefits is $1,187 per month or $14, 244 a year not to mention the fact that I received no salary for the first several months of operation; this is definite savings and at this amount we are definitely underfunded for the 31 months of operation, we are comparable with the five other Tribal offices located in the Twin Cities. As you recall, I was at the meeting in January 2013 (Martin Luther King Day) where the budget was discussed for the Minneapolis Office, the Chairman's salary of $55,000 was deemed a donation along with the Tribes donation of $15,000 reduced from the previous year of $20,000.

Out of this experience, I learned no matter how you try to do the right thing there will always be attacks on the integrity and accountability of our service to tribal members. Over the last decade or longer the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe lost its reputation as Pride of the Ojibwe, until two years ago our financial situation was at the brink of collapse and since the “turn around” as a member, I was once again very encouraged and proud of our leadership, however, we let the selfish attacks by a handful of members dictate our vision. I have since lost my passion and dedication to keep the Urban office open under my leadership thus, it is my feeling is to take the office out of the line of fire, thereby eliminating those targets of unfounded controversy and negativity. Thank you for your support for this office.