Miisaninawiind May 2-8, 2022
Zaagibagaa-Giizis (Budding Moon)
Boozhoo and welcome to the Miisaninawiind weekly newsletter!

The Miisaniinawind brings you important news, announcements and updates, designed specifically for the Red Cliff community. But that's not all. The weekly eNewsletter will also provide news about neighboring tribes, communities and broader issues across Indian Country that matter to you.

If you have photos, news or information you'd like to share, please email submissions to communications@redcliff-nsn.gov.

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Red Cliff News & Updates
Elder set to speak at Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center
Red Cliff Elder Rob Goslin Sr (Flashingbird) is scheduled to speak at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center on Saturday May 7 as part of its North Country Seasons Art, Music and Teachings event.

Goslin will be speaking on Translating Ancient Teaching Into Meaningful Life Experience.

The event will also feature an art show from 3-4 PM, followed by Goslin at 4 PM, and will end with a performance by the Garland City Consort.

Please contact the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center with any questions at 715-685-9983.
Officer Jess Hall sworn in as Red Cliff Tribal Police Chief
Hall becomes first know member of the LGBTQ+ community to lead the department
After serving nearly five years as a patrol officer for the Red Cliff Tribe, Jess Hall has been sworn in as the Tribe’s Chief of Police. Hall now leads the department of five officers after Mark Pope served as interim Chief of Police for the past year.
While Hall is proud to represent the LGBTQ+ community as one of the first non-binary police chiefs across the country, Hall remains focused on serving and protecting the Red Cliff community.

“I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead this department, and I take great pride in being tasked with protecting this community in the area I have known and loved for 18 years,” said Hall. “The Red Cliff community has welcomed me and made me feel at home, first as a queer person living away from home for the first time, then as an open and out non-binary law enforcement officer, and now as one of the first non-binary chiefs of police. As a teenager growing up in the lower Midwest, I did not have many LGBTQ+ adults to look up to as role models, and even lacked the language to fully describe who I was. That vocabulary now exists (non-binary), and I am both extremely proud and humbled to be able to provide today’s youth with an LGBTQ+ role model who upholds strength, kindness, and integrity as pillars of public service.”

This change is expected to be welcomed by Red Cliff residents after feedback received regarding the conduct of former officers.

“We’ve been listening to the concerns of the community and have been taking a hard look at the Tribe’s policing efforts,” said Chairman Christopher Boyd. “We’re very pleased with the work Officer Hall has provided and we’re looking forward to what they will bring as Chief of Police – not just what they represent on a personal level, but also for their dedication to protecting our membership.”

Getting To Know Chief of Police Jess Hall
Q: What made you want to become a police officer? How did you get started?
A: I moved to the Northwoods in 2004 and Gitchi Gami captured my heart. I have had the privilege of getting to know so many Red Cliff community members and I have learned something from every single one. As the media began to really scrutinize police conduct between 2015 and 2017, I had several conversations with officers from all over, most of which ended with someone telling me “Then you put on the badge and do the job.” Not being one to ignore a challenge, that’s what I did. 

Q: You’ve been serving the Red Cliff community for five years. What do you love about the job? What keeps you coming back every day?
A: When I decided to go into law enforcement, I knew I wanted to serve a community as a way to give something back.  I’ve always had a passion for helping people but was discouraged as a young person from entering law enforcement, by law enforcement officers, for several outdated reasons. I earned a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Psychology and then spent 10 years working in the veterinary field for the Ashland and Washburn communities, and I loved my job helping people and their pets. Once it was made clear to me that the face of policing needed to change, I felt I was well-suited to help usher in that change. So, in 2017 I switched careers and haven’t looked back since. The past several years have solidified for me that I am capable of starting and fostering the conversations needed to help create the trust a small community must have in its civil servants in order for us to truly protect and serve. Since becoming a police officer I have learned that I have a gift for balancing strength of character with empathy to ensure the safety of those around me while also ensuring that everyone is treated with basic human decency - always. I have learned that kindness never equates to weakness and the most valuable sort of strength requires taking the time to listen. What keeps me coming back every day? Making connections with people in a way that makes a difference.
      
Q: How do you view the importance of representing the LGBTQ+ community in a position like this? What message would you send to other members of the LGBTQ+ community who may be interested in Law Enforcement/Public Service? 
A: Harassment and discrimination of the LGBTQ+ community, by law enforcement specifically, is still pervasive. While it may not always be in the public eye, too many people who identify as LGBTQ+ do not feel safe calling law enforcement for help in anything less than a life-threatening situation. This creates a two-pronged problem: lack of trust on the part of the community toward law enforcement, and lack of experience and thereby lack of comfort on the part of law enforcement in communicating with the community. This lack of communication inhibits officers from being able to effectively protect and serve the communities they police and it is absolutely up to law enforcement to begin the process of building and mending that trust. Representation matters, especially in positions of authority that shape and enforce laws and policies that impact minorities, POCs, and people existing in lower socioeconomic situations. 
Q: Your service as Chief of Police and representing the LGBTQ+ community in this type of position should be celebrated and highlighted. However, how can we all continue to work towards normalizing this type of news? We’re all people and we all deserve to be treated as such.
A: I hope that one day personal details like this will be commonplace and boring, such that they’re relegated to sections with cats vs dogs and horoscope questions. Details like gender and pronouns have no bearing on how I intend to fulfill my duties and responsibilities as Chief of Police.  My experiences navigating through life as a non-binary person will absolutely influence how I approach different situations, but my pronouns will not. Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go in mainstream US culture before we can expect news like this to be commonplace. 
Q: What do you look forward to accomplishing as Chief of Police? What initiatives are you and the department working on to improve the health & safety of Red Cliff?
A: Every community member is affected in some way by drug use.  The users themselves, the family members watching a loved one battle addiction, the family and community members affected by the criminality that surrounds drug abuse, and most heartbreaking of all are the children in circumstances where they grow up watching their parents or aunts and uncles descend into drug abuse. I hope to create a more cohesive inter-agency initiative utilizing law enforcement, Indian Child Welfare, Family Human Services, Behavioral Health, Mishomis House and the Nooji Center. Working together I believe we can accomplish a two-fold goal of reducing the quantity of drugs coming into the community while providing all community members who are affected by drug use the support and resources they need for recovery and healing. In order to accomplish this, we also need the entire community to be involved in the healing process. This will require people holding family accountable, and that can be difficult. I hope to start the dialogue and use some of the wonderful resources we already have in place to shift from placing blame to taking accountability.    
Q: Police officers often have a bad reputation amongst community members. What is your approach to community interaction and involvement? How do you plan on fostering a healthy relationship between the Tribal Police Department and Red Cliff residents?
A: Far too often, the only exposure to law enforcement the Red Cliff youth have is when officers are called to a home for a disturbance or violent event. Too many times those contacts are the only picture of law enforcement those young folks have, and they carry that into adulthood. I want to work toward a day where the Red Cliff Youth, and the adults they grow to be, can trust the integrity of this department, and trust the officers with the safety of their community and their future children’s community. The best way I know to foster that sense of trust is open communication and positive interactions. I want the department to continue partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of Gitchigami, having officers spend time with the youth playing basketball, shooting pool, eating good food and getting to know each other as individual people.  I would like to begin partnering with the Early Childhood Center, Bayfield Schools and Bayfield PD to create a more positive interactive officer presence and exposure to our community’s youth in their schools and at events. 
I also plan on creating a more open dialogue between the police department and the community at large, as well as Tribal Council. The community should never feel like they’re being left out of the loop when it comes to safety and the implementation and enforcement of policies and public law. A closed door and sense of secrecy only fosters resentment, and I’d very much like to begin addressing that resentment as soon as possible.   
Q: Is there anything else you want Tribal Members to know about the Police Department and its goals?
A: I only ask that the Red Cliff community grant me patience while I get my feet under me as Chief of Police. As with all changes in leadership, there will be an adjustment period. My door is always open, and I value input and constructive criticism. I’ve got some big shoes to fill but that just means I’ve got plenty of opportunity to grow. Let’s grow together.
Dates set for Larry Gordon Memorial Camping Week
Red Cliff Tribal Members camp for free
The 2nd Annual Larry Gordon Memorial Camping Week is scheduled for May 16-22! Red Cliff Tribal Members camp for free at Buffalo Bay Campground.

Please be sure to call Legendary Waters Hotel Front Desk at 800-226-8478 to make your reservation. You must check in at the Hotel Front Desk to receive tags for your campsite.

The free camping week is set for later on in May due to the lingering winter conditions. Tribal Council and Legendary Waters leadership decided these dates would provide a better experience for the community to enjoy camping.

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

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.
Tribal Elder Food Box Program Resumes May 13
The Tribal Elder Food Box Program will resume distribution dates beginning May 13. These free boxes are provided for Tribal Member Elders aged 55+ and will be available at 1 PM on Fridays twice a month at the Red Cliff Food Distribution Center. See flyer for all dates. Please contact 715-779-3740 with any questions. Other food resources and nutrition help is also available to Red Cliff Tribal Members. Contact Red Cliff Family Human Services to learn more at 715-779-3706.

Each box will contain proteins, produce, and shelf-stable items, sourced from Indigenous and non-indigenous local producers and will be representative of traditional foods whenever possible. The average box will be 20 pounds. The contents of the boxes will change for each distribution based on what is available seasonally for the given distribution week.

This project is funded by Feeding Wisconsin's Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection ARPA Grant, and Feeding America National.
Safe Ogaa (Walleye) Consumption
Weweni amwaadaanig ogaawag (Let’s eat walleye safely)!

Before you take to the lakes for spring ogaa (walleye) season, consult GLIFWC’s Mercury Maps to help you make informed decisions about safe fish consumption. Mercury Maps—updated for 2022—are available HERE and at tribal registration stations.

Spring spearing and netting are an integral part of Anishinaabe bimaadiziwin. But as with any species of fish, ogaawag contain mercury, a contaminant that can cause serious health problems. To limit exposure to mercury, choose lakes with lower mercury levels. Refer to GLIFWC’s Mercury Maps for the safe number of meals of ogaa per month you can safely enjoy for that lake. Ogaa less than 20 inches and fish species lower on the food chain like asaawe (yellow perch) tend to have lower levels of mercury.

For details on safe fish consumption and digital copies of GLIFWC Mercury Maps, see: http://www.glifwc.org/Mercury/index.html

Chi-Miigwech to Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission!
Tribal Council Meeting May 2
The Red Cliff Tribal Council is set to meet on Monday May 2 at Legendary Waters Buffalo Bay Grand Ballroom.

The Regular session is scheduled to begin at 4:30 PM. Community Members are invited to attend.

Click HERE for the meeting agenda.
Family Violence Prevention Program to host MMIW Awareness Walk May 5
Red Cliff Family Human Services and the Family Violence Prevention Program are sponsoring an in-person walk to raise awareness for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women. The walk is scheduled for May 5 beginning at Legendary Waters Casino parking lot.

Registration opens at 10 AM - spin the wheel for a gift bag and shirt before you walk!

You can walk any time between 10 AM - 1 PM, take a picture on your walk and email it for a chance to win a prize. Email your photo to:
aubrey.defoe@redcliff-nsn.gov
andrea.beeksma@redcliff-nsn.gov

Please contact the Family Violence Prevention Program with any questions at 715-779-3706.
Save the Date: Honor Banquet set for May 10
The Red Cliff Education Department's Honor Banquet for Red Cliff and Bayfield graduates is scheduled for May 10 at the at the Bayfield School Gym from 5-7 PM.

Please join us as we honor our 2022 graduates from Red Cliff and Bayfield.
The banquet will include guest speakers, dinner, gifts, and raffles.

Please contact the Education Department with any questions at 715-779-3766 or email education@redcliff-nsn.gov.
Sign Up for Family & Youth Spearing Night
Volunteers and boats also needed!
Families and youth can now sign up for Red Cliff's Family/Youth Spearing Night! An exact date is not yet set depending on weather and ice coverage. Check for the most recent date updates on the Boys and Girls Club Webpage or the Red Cliff Facebook Page.

Please sign up at the Boys & Girls Club or call the Club at 715-779-3722.

Families and volunteers will meet at the Pow Wow Grounds parking lot at 5 PM for departure to Lake Namekagon. Families that sign up will receive a $25 gas gift card for Buffalo Bay to help cover travel costs.

Participants must bring their Tribal ID.

We are in need of volunteers and boats to help make this great night happen for our youth and families!

If you have any questions or would like to sign up, please contact the Boys & Girls Club staff: Paige Moilanen or Dusty LaFernier at 715-779-3722.
Are you a tribal member-owned business interested in having your business included in our Business Directory? Click HERE.
Health & Wellness
Harm Reduction - Keep our Community "SAFE"
Saving lives from HIV and Hepatitis C requires aggressive strategies to reach people at high risk. The purpose of the Red Cliff SAFE Program is to help reduce harm from risky behaviors.

The SAFE Program is operated out of the Red Cliff Community Health Center. This program is available to all members of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa as well as surrounding communities. Individuals can access clean syringes, sharps containers, sterile water, antibiotic cream, alcohol wipes, and condoms. By improving access to these materials, we help people who inject heroin, meth, and other drugs to reduce their risk of contracting HIV and Hepatitis C.

In addition, the Red Cliff Community Health Center now offers Narcan. Narcan is for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose. When you come in for our needle exchange, you can request a dose(s) of Narcan at no charge to you.

If you or a loved one are at risk for HIV or Hepatitis C, we will never judge you or your behaviors. You can access the services by simply stopping at the health center reception and asking for the SAFE Program. The services are provided within the health center setting and are completely confidential.

The goal is to expand sites within the next year. The current services are available Monday – Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm except holidays. You can get more information by calling (715) 779-3707.
NARCAN Training Available
Have you been trained and are looking to get a refresher or are you looking to get trained in the use of NARCAN?

It only takes 30 minutes to learn how to save someone from an overdose.

Do you own a business in Red Cliff and want to get trained? A training for you and your employees can be arranged.

If you’re interested in learning more, please contact Justin Hansen at the Noojimo’iwewin Center at 715-779-3707 ext. 2397 or jhansen@redcliffhealth.org
For other Health Center information or general questions call: 715-779-3707 or Email  RCHealthCenter@redcliffhealth.org

Click HERE to visit the Red Cliff Community Health Center website.

Click HERE for COVID-19 Updates and Resources.
Family & Human Services
Family Connections: A Virtual Community for Parents and Caregivers
Hosted by the National Family Support Technical Assistance Center, “Family Connections” is a virtual community for parents and caregivers who support loved ones facing substance use and/or mental health challenges. Families tell us they need credible resources, guidance on accessing help, and the opportunity to connect with others facing similar challenges. Monthly gatherings will focus on a specific topic, provide tips and tools, and offer the opportunity to network with other families.

Family Connections take place the first Thursday of every month at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Join us for our April discussion topic “Conversations About Our Children” on Thursday, May 5th from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. ET.

Description: When it comes to our families, we are the subject matter experts. As our children grow, we track obvious physical needs such as clothing, food, sleep, and the occasional band-aid. We also track mental health concerns that may not be as easy to see: worry, sadness, fear, or something that’s just “not right.” That’s why our May Family Connections features the most experienced experts we know - you.

Join members of the NFSTAC team, Gail Cormier and Lachelle Wade Freeman, for an open dialogue about lessons learned, reframing our language, and valuing your own expertise during “Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week."

Click HERE to access.
Education
Click image to access an ECC Application!
Bayfield School District Updates
Find Athletic Schedules and School Events on their Calendar.

You can view the school's news and updates on their website:

You can also find updates on the
Bayfield School District Facebook page.
Access Scholarship Opportunities
Red Cliff Community Members have access to a variety of scholarships.
Click HERE to visit the Education Department's Scholarships page.
Boys and Girls Club of Gitchigami
Treaty Natural Resources
Housing Authority
Services Offered at New Hope
The RCCHA ROSS Resource program, RCHC Behavioral Health and NWCEP, DWD/DVR, GLITC VRNA Staffs would like to announce the satellite service office for wrap around programs is now open at New Hope main building.

Please come check us out. We have Vocational, Employment, Mental health and Substance abuse services offered.

See below flyer with the specific days and hours currently offered.
Emergency Rental Assistance Program Update
Attention members who are receiving Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds:

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program recently announced that Red Cliff had received additional funding from the U.S. Treasury to fund the Emergency Rental Assistance Program through September. However, the Treasury has not changed its eligibility requirements.

ERA is a temporary assistance program for renters financially impacted by the pandemic. It is federally funded, but administered by tribes, states, and municipalities. Red Cliff serves tribal households in Bayfield and Ashland Counties. Per Treasury requirements, a qualifying household can receive ERA for twelve months, with an additional three months of continuing assistance when needed. Unfortunately, this means households that have already received fifteen months of assistance cannot receive more.

If your household has received fifteen months of assistance and is no longer eligible, but still in need, please contact the Red Cliff Family and Human Services Department at 715-779-3706.

Please contact Liz Boyd at eboyd@redcliffhousing.org with any questions.
NAIHC Launches Housing Assistance Resource Hub for Native Homeowners
Website lists tribal and state mortgage, utilities and rental assistance services
The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC), in partnership with Wells Fargo, launched a Tribal Housing Assistance Resource Hub that lists mortgage, utilities and rental assistance services offered by state and tribal programs through the federal Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) and the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). The website is designed to be a tool for American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian homeowners, individuals and families to find a variety of tribal housing services offered on and off tribal lands. 

“It’s important for our indigenous people and families to have access to programs that can help make life a little easier during an already challenging time, and the National American Indian Housing Council’s Tribal Housing Assistance Resource Hub offers a centralized location to find tribal housing services,” said Adrian Stevens, NAIHC board chair and executive director of Seneca Housing Authority. “With funding from HAF and ERAP programs, tribes are continuing or expanding their housing assistance services to tribal members living on and off tribal land. For families across Indian Country adjusting to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, these emergency housing assistance programs can be vital to keeping a roof over their heads.”

Congress established the HAF and ERAP in response to the pandemic to help states and tribes alleviate the impacts of COVID-19. The HAF provides a minimum of $50 million for each state and $498 million collectively for tribes or Tribally Designated Housing Entities and the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. At the Resource Hub website, visitors can scroll over a map and click on a state to find a listing of state and tribal HAF and ERAP services as well as all housing services offered by tribal housing programs in that state, such as home loan assistance, homebuyer education, elder and veteran housing and other services.
 
“NAIHC appreciates our partner, Wells Fargo, for supporting housing assistance programs and offering platforms to share information, resources and opportunities for homeowners across tribal communities,” said Chair Stevens.
 
Over the past three years, NAIHC, with assistance from Wells Fargo Foundation, has awarded nearly 40 tribes with additional funding to provide maintenance needs for senior-owned homes and offer additional resources to address the impacts of COVID-19. Also, with help from Wells Fargo, NAIHC moved its Leadership Institute training program designed for tribal housing professionals to an online platform while continuing to provide needed technical assistance directly to tribal housing programs. The Housing Assistance Resource Hub is another project that strengthens the collaboration between NAIHC and Wells Fargo.

“Wells Fargo is proud to support the great work of NAIHC in addressing the critical housing challenges facing American Indian, Alaskan Natives and Native Hawaiians over the last several years -- especially in advancing NAIHC’s work in keeping people housed and supporting tribal members in accessing the critical homeowner and rental assistance that is available,” said Eileen Fitzgerald, head of Wells Fargo housing affordability philanthropy.
 
Visit the NAIHC Tribal Housing Assistance Resource Hub HERE.
Homebuyers Wanted,
Pre-Developed Sites Available
Multiple lease sites (8) in current development will be ready for a home to be placed in 2022. Clearing, utilities, driveway and slab done – giving you a leg up on development!

To choose your site, bring in your pre-approval from a mortgage lender and select your manufactured home! These sites provide a homebuyer with immediate equity as the site development cost is subsidized with grant funding. Act soon to have a new home in 2022!*

For more information and for map review of sites, please contact Liz Boyd, Homebuyer/Homeowner Program Manager at 715-779-3744 ext. 3518 or email eboyd@redcliffhousing.org.

If you haven’t prequalified, we also can assist with getting you matched with a mortgage lender!

Don’t miss out! Own your own home today!

*Please note: lead times for ordering homes can vary; and COVID still does have impact on supply chains, labor and transportation. Home ordering must take place soon in order to have a home delivered & placed in the 2022 year.
Housing Job Opportunities:
Red Cliff Chippewa Housing Authority is currently seeking a Receptionist / Office Assistant.

View position details and application instructions HERE.
RCCHA Board Meetings
The Red Cliff Chippewa Housing Authority Board meets once a month. Click HERE for the entire schedule of 2022 RCCHA Board meetings. Meeting agendas are posted HERE.
Residential Resource Coordinator
Available For Housing Tenants
Red Cliff Chippewa Housing Authority tenants now 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.
Red Cliff Fish Company
Legendary Waters Resort & Casino
News Across Indian Country
Click flyer to learn more
Bad River Ojibwemowin Program
Red Cliff Tribal Administration Office 
88455 Pike Road 
Bayfield, Wi. 54814 
715-779-3700