Miisaninawiind October 10-16, 2022

Binaakwe-Giizis (Falling Leaves Moon)

Boozhoo Gaa-Miskwaabikaang! Indigenous Peoples' Day is officially acknowledged the second Monday of October each year.

The first year the state of Wisconsin officially recognized the day was in 2019 after Governor Tony Evers signed Executive Order #50 proclaiming the holiday. Recently, U.S. President Joe Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of the day.

For generations, federal policies have sought to assimilate and displace Native people and eradicate Native cultures. We must not forget and we must recognize our peoples’ resilience and strength.

The day had been originally celebrated across the United States as a time to commemorate Christopher Columbus. However, tribes across Indian Country and the United States have been standing up to share the brutal truths about Columbus, European settlers, and the invasion of Indian Country.

The Italian Columbus set out to find a trade route to Asia, and landed in the Bahamas in 1492. Columbus led genocide, rape, and death, and tried to end a large Native American population. Our ancestors were subjected to slavery, plagues, and forced assimilation - the effects of which our people still suffer from today.

We must continue to acknowledge the past, educate others about our people and culture, celebrate the strength and resilience of our people, and never stop fighting for our rights and the preservation our culture.

We urge both members and non-members to continue to pursue education in all its forms. Educational opportunities are vital to preserving, healing, and growing Indian Country.

As provided by American Indian Studies in Wisconsin, here are some educational resources:

·        Q&A How to Teach Indigenous Peoples' Day

·        Celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day (Indian Country Today)

·        Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction - American Indian Studies Program

·        Wisconsin First Nations Education

Chi-Miigwech to all who work to acknowledge and educate our past while celebrating our resilience.

The Red Cliff Environmental Department is hosting a Manoomin Re-Seeding Event this Friday October 14. Meet at Raspberry Campground by 10 AM.

Come celebrate the gift of manoomin and practice both traditional and modern wild rice processing methods! There will also be canoeing and spreading of wild rice seed in Raspberry River.

Processing demonstrations, canoes, paddles, personal floatation vests, and lunch will be provided.

Please call the Environmental Department with any questions at 715-779-3650.

In case of bad weather, this event will be held Monday October 17 at 10 AM.

The Noojimo’iwewin Center is hosting an Edible and Medicinal Plants workshop this Saturday October 15!

Join local forager and wildcrafter Monarda Thrasher from 10 AM - noon for an outdoor plant identification workshop at the Noojimo'iwewin Center.

Participants will learn about many wild plants, weeds, and natives - along with their uses as food and medicine.

The Noojimo'iwewin Center is located at 37450 Water Tower Rd in Red Cliff.

Please call 715-779-3508 with any questions.

Red Cliff Food Distribution will be giving away Badger Boxes on Thursday October 13, starting around 10 AM. This giveaway is open to everyone.

Boxes are expected to contain cranberries, green cabbage, apples, potatoes, onions, hard squash, sweet cream butter, Odyssey yogurt cup, Summer Butter tub, muenster cheese, gouda cheese, gallons of 2% milk, medium eggs, Bavarian sauerkraut, wild rice blend, pork and chicken rub, Bavarian seasoning, popcorn, pumpkin spice granola, chocolate almond granola bar, cherrywood bacon, pork roast.

Please contact Red Cliff Food Distribution with any questions at 715-779-3740.

The next Tribal Elder Food Box Program date is this Friday October 14. This giveaway is for tribal members aged 55 and older. Boxes are expected to be ready around noon this week.

This week’s boxes will contain:

Beef Ring Bologna

Ham Slices

Aquaponic Lettuce

Carrots

Winter Squash

Apples

Mushrooms

Green Cabbage

Corn Mush Flour

Call Food Distribution with any questions at 715-779-3740.

Ginanda Gikendaasomin Red Cliff Library will host a College and Career Fair on October 20th at Legendary Waters Resort and Casino! All area students, parents, and anyone interested in continuing education are invited. There will be local and out of state universities attending.

This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone looking to continue their education. Please contact the Library with any questions!

Visit Ginanda Gikendaasomin Red Cliff Library on Facebook for all program and event details, or check out the Red Cliff Events Calendar online.

Stop by or call the Library with any questions at 715-779-3766.

Respiratory illness season is just around the corner – be prepared by getting your vaccines.

The Red Cliff Community Health Center has announced dates for its mass vaccination clinics for COVID-19 boosters and/or Flu vaccines.

Eligible Population:

RCCHC patients aged 18+

Dates:

Thursday October 20 at Red Cliff Community Health Center from 1:00-4:00 PM – Walk In.

Tuesday November 8 at Legendary Waters from 2:00-6:00 PM – Walk In.

Please contact the Health Center with any questions at 715-779-3707.

The Red Cliff Tribal Council and Legendary Waters Resort & Casino have set the next Larry & Jeanne Gordon Memorial Camping Week for October 16-22, 2022. Red Cliff Tribal Members will be able to camp for free at Legendary Waters Buffalo Bay Campground.

Tribal Members interested in free camping at Buffalo Bay Campground should contact the Legendary Waters Hotel Front Desk at (800) 226-8478 to reserve a spot. Members must still check in with the Hotel Front Desk to receive tags for the campsite.

A map of Buffalo Bay Campground is included for those who wish to select a specific site.

The Tribal Council aims to provide this free camping week in May and October every year.

Larry Gordon is a Red Cliff Tribal Member who dedicated a 30-year career to Isle Vista Casino – now Legendary Waters Resort & Casino. Larry offered much love and care for the community and spent countless weekends camping with friends and family. Larry passed away on November 12, 2020 while enjoying the outdoors. His wife and long-time Tribal leader Jeanne Gordon passed away December 31, 2021. Jeanne proudly served the Red Cliff community for years on the Tribal Council and as the executive secretary, only wanting to build a better community for the next generations to come. She worked to ensure the community was put first.

Read more about Larry at www.bratleyfamilyfuneralhomes.com/obituary/larry-gordon.

Read more about Jeanne at www.bratleyfamilyfuneralhomes.com/obituary/jeanne-gordon.

Red Cliff Tribal Members have access to manoomin processing equipment through the Red Cliff Food Sovereignty Equipment Loan Program! Contact the Environmental Department at 715-779-3650 to reserve equipment.

Available equipment includes threshers (electricity required), metal pots for parching, unvarnished wood paddles for parching, turkey cookers (propane not provided), and tarps.

Equipment can be picked up at the Environmental Department, or staff can deliver it to a designated location.

The Red Cliff Food Sovereignty Equipment Loan Program is a collaboration between multiple Tribal programs including the Tribal Historic Preservation Office, Education Department, and the the Treaty Natural Resources Division. Currently, equipment in the program includes sugarbush equipment, manoomin processing equipment, and an apple press for pressing cider. The program will be adding more equipment to help grow, harvest, and process food as funding allows.

Chi-Miigwech to the Treaty Natural Resources Division, Tribal Historic Preservation Office, and the Education Department for making this possible for the membership.

The Red Cliff Information Technology (IT) Department is requesting sealed bids for the services of a Project Manager to oversee the installation of fiber optic cable.

A full project summary, responsibilities, and expectations can be found HERE.

Questions can be directed to Evan Cutler, Red Cliff Director of IT and Bid Management Coordinator:

Evan.cutler@redcliff-nsn.gov

715-7798-3700 ext 4253

715-292-7366

Bids should be submitted by Monday October 31 at 4:00 PM. Submit sealed bids by postal mail or physical delivery to:

Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

Attn: Ashley Peterson, Property and Procurement Officer, Project Manager RFP

88455 Pike Road, Bayfield, WI 54814

The Red Cliff Early Childhood Center is seeking sealed bid proposals for the construction of a bus garage and installation of fencing for outdoor play area at the Early Childhood Center located at 89830 Tiny Tot Dr, Gaa-Miskwaabikaang (Red Cliff) Reservation in Bayfield County, WI.

The general contractor will build a 1,600 sq. ft. light industrial building with 8 ft. awnings on each side for bus and vehicle parking. The general contractor will also clear and install approximately 1,728 linear feet of fencing for an outdoor play area.

A full project summary, scope of work, and expectations can be found HERE.

Questions can be directed to Jennifer Leask, Early Childhood Administrator; or Niles Fetter, Project Manager:

Jennifer.Leask@redcliff-nsn.gov // 715-779-5030 ext 2561

Niles.Fetter@redclif-nsn.gov // 715-779-3700 ext 4260

Proposals should be submitted by 4 PM on Thursday October 27.

The Red Cliff VFW will host a meat raffle on Saturday October 15 beginning at 2 PM. The Red Cliff Duwayne Soulier Memorial VFW Post 8239 is located at 37330 Bresette Hill Road.

Rules & Information:

·        Numbers will be sold at $1.00 each per round (average meat value $15.00)

·        Numbers will be sold at $2.00 each for approximately three rounds (average meat value $25.00)

·        Only one number per person per round unless all the numbers are not sold out

·        We will draw a number for the winner and the winner picks one of the meat packages available, there will be a second drawing for a drink chip-2 winners per round-one meat one drink-drink chip value of $2.

·        Numbers will be collected after each round and re-sold for the next package of meat

·        This will continue until all packages are gone

For more information call the VFW at (715) 779-9711

There will also be a 50/50 raffle $1.00 per ticket 

Burger Night

The Red Cliff VFW will host a burger night on Thursday October 20 from 4:30-7:00 PM.

All are welcome. Please contact 715-779-9711 with any questions.

Click image to access the entire Behavioral Health October Newsletter

Please Note: There will be no elderly meal on Thursday October 13. The Elderly Meal Site will be closed due to a funeral.

You’ve likely already heard about how the PACT Act could impact your care and benefits, but did you know it also expands health care eligibility for many Veterans?

When President Biden signed the PACT Act Aug. 10, 2022, it initiated one of the largest expansions of VA benefits in history. This includes extended VA health care enrollment eligibility to Vietnam-era, Gulf War-era and Post-9/11 Veterans.

You can help spread the word about expanded eligibility to enroll in VA health care for your Veteran friends who have not previously enrolled. Here are all the details you need to know to help them get the care they earned and deserve.

For Vietnam-era Veterans

Vietnam-era Veterans who served in the following locations and time periods are eligible to apply for enrollment beginning now:

• Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975
• Thailand at any U.S. or Royal Thai base between Jan. 9, 1962, and June 30, 1976
• Laos between Dec. 1, 1965, and Sept. 30, 1969
• Certain provinces in Cambodia between April 16, 1969, and April 30, 1969
• Guam or American Samoa (or their territorial waters) between Jan. 9, 1962, and July 31, 1980
• Johnston Atoll (or a ship that called there) between Jan. 1, 1972, and Sept. 30, 1977

For Gulf War-era Veterans

Beginning Oct. 1, 2022, Gulf War-era Veterans who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations after the Persian Gulf War may be eligible to enroll in VA health care.

This also includes Veterans who, in connection with service during such period, received the following awards or recognitions:

• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
• Service Specific Expeditionary Medal
• Combat Era Specific Expeditionary Medal
• Campaign Specific Expeditionary Medal
• Any other combat theater award established by Federal statute or Executive Order

For Post-9/11 Veterans

Post-9/11 Veterans discharged before Oct. 1, 2013, can enroll in VA health care during a special 1-year enrollment period between Oct. 1, 2022, and Oct. 1, 2023. To be eligible, one of the following must be true:

• They served on active duty in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War, or
• They served in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after Nov. 11, 1998.

How to talk to your friends about VA health care

If you have eligible Veteran friends who aren’t currently enrolled, they may be hesitant to apply for any number of reasons. Consider sharing your own experience to help demystify the process. Remind them that they earned the right to this care through their service and point them in the direction of resources to help – like visiting their nearest VA medical center or clinic.

Plus, it’s free and easy to apply. Read on for more details about VA health care and the four simple options for applying.

Fast facts about VA health care

• Enrollment is free, and health care may be free as well.
• VA health care for any illness or injury determined to be related to your military service (called “service connected”) is free. The PACT Act added more than 20 presumptive conditions, expanding benefits to Vietnam-era, Gulf War-era, and Post-9/11 Veterans.

Check out the complete list of new presumptive conditions at www.va.gov/PACT.

Tell your friends to apply for VA health care in one of four ways:

1.  Online: https://www.va.gov/health-care/apply/application/introduction.

2.  By calling the toll-free hotline: 877-222-8387.

3.  By mailing VA Form 10-10EZ to:

o   Health Eligibility Center

2957 Clairmont Rd., Suite 200

Atlanta, GA 30329

4.  In person at their nearest VA medical center or clinic

Learn more about the PACT Act

Visit www.va.gov/PACT to get the latest information and updates. You can also follow the Veterans Health Administration on Facebook and Twitter for real-time updates.

FoodWIse Nutrition has released its October 2022 newsletter!

FoodWIse is federally funded statewide by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). FoodWIse advances healthy eating habits, active lifestyles and healthy community environments for Wisconsin residents with limited incomes through nutrition education at the individual, community and systems levels.

Click HERE to view the full October 2022 FoodWIse newsletter.

Red Cliff's Ginanda Gikendaasomin Library is offering new programs and groups for Gaa-Miskwaabikaang! Visit the Library's Facebook Page for all program details.

Click image to access the entire summer TNR Ganawenjigaade newsletter.

The Red Cliff Chippewa Housing Authority is seeking vendors to participate in the 2022 Annual Home Fair set for Friday October 28 at Legendary Waters Resort & Casino.

Please see images for more details and a registration form. Contact the Housing Authority with any questions at 715-779-3744.

Red Cliff Chippewa Housing Authority is accepting applications for housing and housing assistance!

RCCHA provides clean, safe, adequate, and affordable housing for qualified families and elders.

Housing options to apply for include low rent, 6-plex, 4-plex, Elderly, Tax Credit, Tax Credit Rehab.

Oski-Ombendaam New Hope Supportive Housing

The Oski-Ombendaam New Hope housing contains efficiency, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units. The goal of New Hope housing is to provide supportive services to those individuals and families while providing clean, safe, adequate, and affordable housing.

Click HERE to access an application for Housing Assistance.

Click HERE to access an application for New Hope Housing Assistance.

Red Cliff Chippewa Housing Authority tenants have access to a Residential Resource Coordinator. The coordinator will help tenants get connected with various resources.

This service is available to Housing tenants Monday through Friday at New Hope Building A, at 37580 Pageant Road.

Please call 715-779-3744 extension 3514 with any questions.

This training is for fishermen, processors, regulatory personnel, and others to identify and evaluate food safety risks, learn seafood rules and regulations, and how to develop a HACCP plan for the safe handling and processing, including smoking and freezing, of seafood and seafood products, including treaty harvested fish, that will be sold commercially. After completing the three-day course, participants will receive a HACCP Certification from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO).

Where: Legendary Waters Resort & Casino 37600 Onigamiing Drive, Red Cliff, WI 54814

When: November 1-3, 2022

Registration & Hotel: Contact Laurie White at 715-292-8726 or lwhite@glifwc.org

                                    by October 25

Where: Bay Mills Resort & Casino, 11386 West Lakeshore Drive, Brimley, MI 49715

When: December 13-15, 2022

Registration & Hotel: Contact Laurie White at 715-292-8726 or lwhite@glifwc.org

                                      by December 6

GLIFWC will pay the $155 HACCP Registration fee (which includes the course book), provide hotel rooms, and food and mileage reimbursements* for the following qualified participants:

• Any Lake Superior commercial fisherman licensed by Red Cliff, Bad River, Keweenaw Bay or Bay Mills.
• Adult family members of any Red Cliff, Bad River, Keweenaw Bay or Bay Mills licensed fisherman currently working at a family's fish shop.
• Any enrolled member from any GLIFWC member tribe (i.e. enrolled members of Fond du Lac, Mille Lacs, Red Cliff, Bad River, St. Croix, Lac Courte Oreilles, Lac du Flambeau, Sokaogon, Lac Vieux Desert, Keweenaw Bay, and Bay Mills). This includes subsistence fishermen and those active in harvesting and processing fish.
• The costs for Tribal fisheries and conservation staff of GLIFWC member tribes may also be covered.

Participants must attend all three days to obtain the HACCP certificate and have their travel costs reimbursed by GLIFWC. *After participants complete the three-day class, they will sign a GLIFWC travel form for mileage and per diem (meals) reimbursement based on Federal GSA rates. 

​​​​​​​The Woodland Indian Arts Program (WIA) is designed to promote and develop a foundation of cultural and economic support for traditional and contemporary Native American arts in Wisconsin. As part of this work, the Arts Board annually distributes funds from Gaming Compact monies to support artistic activities among Wisconsin's tribes, bands and urban Indian communities.​

Types of Activities Funded​​​

Funding priority goes to activities that work to build a long-term structure of support for Native arts in​ Wisconsin. These include but are not limited to:

​Professional arts administration positions in support of Native arts,

Projects focused on the documentation, preservation, or revitalization of arts activities, language, foodways/food traditions, or cultural knowledge in Wisconsin's Native communities,​

Technical assistance and professional development to Native artists and arts organizations,

Presentation and promotion of Wisconsin’s Native artists through festivals, markets, exhibitions, various media and other forms of presentation, and

Planning grants in preparation for any of the above.

Planning projects might focus on engaging the arts to adapt to the continually changing environment, developing alternative ways of meaningfully engaging with the applicant’s community, or seeking professional development or training that supports planning or a​​daption.

New, expanded or existing projects are eligible. Traditional and contemporary art forms are welcome.

For additional information on the grant program and reports on needs articulated by Wisconsin Native artists, see this​ page.​​

Grant Amounts

Award amounts are $1,500 - $6,000 for an 11-month period. See the guidelines​​​ for details on matching requirements and eligible use of funds.​

Who Can Apply:

Applicants must be Native-led organizations and/or organizations that provide direct services to members of Wisconsin’s Native American communities and:

are a unit of tribal government or hold tax-exempt status from federal income tax under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code;

are incorporated in and conduct business in Wisconsin and have been doing so for at least 3 years;

conduct arts-related work that involves and benefits ​Wisconsin’s Native American communities;

are the most appropriate sponsor for the proposed activities; and

are able to match each dollar of Arts Board support with cash, in-kind, or a combination of the two.

Unincorporated nonprofit groups and incorporated nonprofit organizations that have been doing mission-related work for at least three years but lack 501(c)3 status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can apply using a separate nonprofit organization as a fiscal receiver. See the guidelines for more discussion of working with fiscal receivers.​

To Apply:

Submit an electronic WIA grant application by 3 pm on the due date. The program guidelines provide detailed guidance on completing and submitting the application, budget, and work samples.

Note: Only one application per institution is permitted.​

Timeline (for FY23):​

Thursday, ​November 3, 2022: Application Deadline​

November 22, 2022: Panel meets to review applications

December 2, 2022: WAB votes on panel’s funding recommendations

December 2022: Contracts are mailed to successful applicants. Awardees must sign and return contracts and other required paperwork. Checks will be issued upon WAB receipt of all necessary materials.

January 1, 2023: Projects can begin

November 30, 2023: Project end date

December 31, 2023: Final report due

Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission is seeking a full-time Communications Specialist.

View the full job announcement and position description HERE.

Applications are due October 24, 2022.