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

Governing Board Members Sworn in at July 2 Lac Courte Oreilles Inauguration

The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board held a swearing in ceremony for the three winners of the 2013 elections. Michael “Mic” Isham, Rusty Barber and Norma Ross were sworn in by the Honorable Sheila Corbine during a July 2nd ceremony at the LCO Convention Center.

After a welcome song by the Badger Singers and Invocation by Jerry Smith, the new members were seated and an election of officers was held. Isham received the only nomination for Chairman, and Barber also received a sole nomination for Vice Chairman and were seated without a vote needed. Norma Ross and Larry Kagigebi both received nominations for the Secretary/Treasurer seat and a vote was held in Ross' favor 4-3.

Each Tribal Governing Board member delivered an address to a crowded convention center of over 300 family, friends and community members. Each asserted the need to support one another and make the Lac Courte Oreilles community strong.

Click here to read Isham's full inaugural address

Three Elected to Tribal Governing Board in General Election

Two incumbents and one new member have been elected to the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board June 15th.

Michael "Mic" Isham Jr. and Russell "Rusty" Barber, both incumbents, were re-elected to serve on the Tribal Governing Board. Norma Ross will fill the seat previously held by William Morrow. All will serve a four-year term.

Following are the vote totals:

• Mic Isham: 644 votes
• Rusty Barber: 489 votes
• Norma Ross: 428 votes
• Brian Bisonette: 417 votes
• Lorraine Gougé: 393 votes
• Gaiashkibos: 243 votes

U.S. EPA Names LCO Tribal Governing Board Secretary and GLIFWC Chairman Mic Isham to New Great Lakes Advisory Board

Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board Secretary and Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) Chairman Mic Isham has been named to the newly-formed Great Lakes Advisory Board by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 14th.

The Great Lakes Advisory Board will provide feedback directly to the EPA on how best to protect the Great Lakes, the largest surface freshwater system on Earth. The board will support implementation of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).

On behalf of 16 federal agencies, the EPA named Isham to a two-year appointment to the board, joining 17 other professionals from across the U.S.

“GLIFWC's Board of Commissioners nominated its Chairman Michael J. Isham, Jr. to serve on EPA's Great Lakes Advisory Board because of his proven passion for and commitment to the protection and sustainability of the Great Lakes ecosystem,” said GLIFWC Executive Administrator James Zorn. “The Board recognized his extensive experience and leadership regarding a wide range of natural resource, environmental and land use issues. For nearly 20 years, Mic has been involved in tribal and intertribal natural resource management programs and has also dealt first-hand with complex biological and scientific issues, such as toxic pollution contaminating natural resources, particularly relating to mining and mercury pollution; fish and wildlife management issues related to population dynamics, methods for establishing and monitoring species populations; and invasive non-native species issues.”

Noting Isham's strong values as a member of the Anishinaabe community, Zorn added, “the Board was confident that Mic would bring Anishinaabe values to the Great Lakes Advisory Board, thereby helping to ensure the viability of healthy natural resources for generations to come. He not only understands the issues, but knows how to develop solutions to better protect the Great Lakes ecosystem and to address the problems plaguing it.”

Other tribal leaders also voiced support for Isham's nomination, including Lac du Flambeau Band of Lakes Superior Chippewa Indians President Tom Maulson, who said, “Mic's voice — from a traditional Anishinaabe viewpoint and from his wide breadth of on-the-ground and leadership experience — will offer the Great Lakes Advisory Board both a necessary tribal perspective on issues facing the Great Lakes region and unique framework for solutions.”

“I am proud to accept nomination to the Great Lakes Advisory Board because the Great Lakes are a crucial ecosystem not only to the great tribes of Wisconsin, but also to non-native people as well,” said Isham. “The Great Lakes are sacred to the values we hold and to the traditions we practice and my participation on the Great Lakes Advisory Board will assure these values are upheld through the protection of this resource for generations to come.”

EPA considered candidates from a broad range of interests including business, agriculture, foundations, environmental justice groups, youth organizations, environmental groups, academia and state, local and tribal representatives.

“Protecting the Great Lakes is important for the health and well being of millions of people,” said EPA Acting Administrator and Acting Interagency Task Force Chair Bob Perciasepe. “I'm pleased to announce the membership of the first-ever Great Lakes Advisory Board. The scientists, business leaders, public servants, and representatives of non-profit organizations who make up the Advisory Board will help us build upon the success we've already seen and move forward into the next phases of Great Lakes restoration and protection.”

The Interagency Task Force is in the process of scheduling next steps for the Great Lakes Advisory Board this spring.

The Great Lakes provide more than 30 million Americans with drinking water and support a multi-billion dollar economy. In February 2009, President Obama proposed the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the largest investment in the Great Lakes in two decades. GLRI funds are being used to accelerate cleanup work in the 29 remaining AOCs identified by the U.S. and Canada under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.