Miisaninawiind October 4-10, 2021
Binaakwe-giizis (Falling Leaves 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.

Check out our website HERE and our Facebook page HERE.

Want to receive the newsletter each week? Sign up HERE.

Red Cliff News & Updates
Direct Relief Payment Applications Due Oct 15
Red Cliff Tribal Members are reminded to apply for their COVID-19 Health Pandemic General Welfare Direct Relief Payments if they have not already done so. Applications must be received on or before Friday October 15, 2021 at 4:30 PM. Checks started being processed and sent two weeks ago, and will continue to be processed and mailed directly on a rolling basis. Direct deposit is not available.

Nearly 3,000 applications have been submitted – many of which contain multiple Tribal Members eligible for payment, totaling over 7,000 members eligible for relief assistance. Please understand this is a very high volume of applications and checks to process. Staff are working extra hours to process your payments as quickly as possible. Miigwech for your understanding and patience.

Red Cliff Tribal Members aged 18 and older qualify for a $1,200 payment, and Red Cliff Tribal Members under the age of 18 qualify for a $500 payment. If a young adult turns 18 during the enrollment period (Sept 1 – Oct 15), they will receive an adult allocation.

Paper applications along with all submission instructions are available at the Tribal Administration Building. Applications are also downloadable online, and available as an e-application. Completed applications can be returned to the Tribal Administration Building, e-mailed to RCARP@redcliff-nsn.gov, or submitted via the online application. The downloadable application and e-application are available online at www.redcliff-nsn.gov/ARP.

Please contact 715-779-3731 or email RCARP@redcliff-nsn.gov with any questions or for assistance. Again, staff are working as quickly as possible to process over 7,000 payments. Miigwech for your patience as Administration continues to process these general welfare assistance payments and continues to work towards positively impacting Miskwaabikaang now and for the future generations.
Honoring and Preserving Treaty Rights
Treaty Day Events Held on Mooningwanekaaning
Events were held last week to honor Treaty Day - a recognition of the 1854 Treaty of LaPointe that guaranteed our peoples' rights to continue hunting, fishing, and gathering.

Treaty Day events also serve as a reminder of the Sandy Lake Tragedy and how Anishinaabe have been forced to continuously stand up for our rights.

On September 30 there was a feast at Memorial Park on Mooningwanekaaning (Madeline Island). A full day of events were held Saturday October 2 on Mooningwanekaaning, sponsored by Honor the Earth and Akiing 8th Fire.

Events included:

Pull Treaty Fishing Nets
Drum Making Demonstration
Wild Rice Processing Demonstrations
Processing Fish Demonstrations
Finger Belt Weaving Demonstration
Beadwork Vendors
Art and Craft Vendors
Music and Entertainment
Gichi-Gami Property Cabin Tours
Line #3 and Line #5 Healing Paddle
Lacrosse and Double Ball Exhibitions
Indigenous and Local Foods Feast
and more!

Ferry boat tickets were provided free of charge to tribal members.

Miigwech to all who participated and for continuing to honor our ancestors, and for preserving our treaty rights. Aho!
Milwaukee Public Museum Visits Red Cliff
Representatives and staff from Milwaukee Public Museum visited Miskwaabikaang last week as part of their state-wide tour to consult with Tribal nations. The Museum is planning to open a new museum in downtown Milwaukee and will be including an extensive section and exhibits on Tribes across the state.

Collin Price (Ho-Chunk) is serving as the museum's Tribal Consultant during the process.

Price and the museum staff toured Red Cliff, including Frog Bay Tribal National Park, and received information from Red Cliff's Tribal Historic Preservation Office and Treaty Natural Resources staff.

This was the first of several planned meetings with the museum to ensure Miskwaabikaang's history and culture is properly displayed.

Miigwech to Collin Price and Milwaukee Public Museum for including and consulting with Miskwaabikaang!
Printed Version of Weekly
Miisaninawiind Now Available
Boozhoo Miskwaabikaang! In addition to the weekly E-newsletter, you now have access to a printed Miisaninawiind each week! You can find the printed Miisaninawiind at most tribal buildings, including:

-Administration Building
-Legendary Waters Resort & Casino
-Buffalo Bay Gas Station
-Family & Human Services
-Elderly Feeding (Also included in Elder's home-delivered meals!)
-Ginanda Gikendaasomin Library
-Tribal Historic Preservation Office at the Cultural Grounds
-Red Cliff Community Health Center
-Red Cliff Chippewa Housing Authority
-Food Distribution
-LCOOC Outreach
-Red Cliff Fish Company
-Peterson's Foods

& More!

The plan is to eventually offer individual subscriptions if you wish to have this mailed directly to your home address! In the meantime, you can pick up at the locations listed above. You also still have access to the E-newsletter each week!

Just like the E-newsletter, the printed version contains news, resources, and events designed for the Red Cliff community. Do you have photos, news, or information you'd like to share to be included in the Miisaninawiind? Email submissions to communications@redcliff-nsn.gov.
Wildlife Videos:
🎵 Splish splash I was taking a bath 🎵
Wildlife Bathing in Miskwaabikaang
Migizi, Makwa miinawa gidagaa-bizhiw (Eagle, bear and bobcat) in Miskwaabikaang August - September 2021.
Resource Reminder: Victim Specialist Services
The Red Cliff Police Department offers special services for victims of crimes.

Click HERE to learn more and get connected with the RCPD Victim Services Specialist.
Tribal Council Meeting
The Red Cliff Tribal Council is set to meet on Monday October 4 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.
Proposed Changes to Code of Laws Chapter 7
The Red Cliff Fisheries Department has proposed changes to Chapter 7 of the Red Cliff Code of Laws. Changes include edits to Section 7.1 Definitions and the addition of Section 7.21 Cisco Quota.

Public comment on this proposal is encouraged. Please drop your comments at the Tribal Administration Building or forward them directly to the Tribal Council. This proposal will be voted upon on Tuesday October 19 at the regular Tribal Council meeting.

Click HERE to view the proposed changes.
Business Development Corporation
Seeking Accountant
The Red Cliff Business Development Corporation is seeking an accountant that will be responsible for all financial operations and reporting for the BDC. Applications are due by October 8, 2021.

Click HERE to view the entire job posting and description.
Click HERE to apply online.

The Red Cliff Business Development Corporation (BDC) serves to seek out opportunities for creating revenue for the Tribe’s general fund; create employment opportunities for the tribal community and utilizing local, regional, statewide, and national strategic relationships in accomplishing all objectives to the fullest potential. The BDC governing body is a seven (7) member board of directors, with majority being of Red Cliff tribal membership and one ex-officio position held by the Red Cliff Tribal Council Treasurer role.
 
Indian preference will be applied in the case of equally qualified applicants, but all qualified applicants will be considered.

Please direct any questions to Vickie Ackley, BDC Executive Director at vickie.ackley@redcliffbdc.com.
Are you a tribal member-owned business interested in having your business included in our Business Directory? Click HERE.

Tribal Members and non-tribal members planning to do business within the boundaries of the Red Cliff Reservation are reminded to please submit a Business Permit Application. Completed permit applications should be sent to the Red Cliff Legal Department, 88455 Pike Rd, Bayfield, WI 54814.
Emergency Rental Assistance Available For
Tribal Members in Ashland and Bayfield County
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program is still offering help and is accepting applications. This program is open to Red Cliff Tribal Members who rent housing in either Ashland County or Bayfield County.

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program can pay up to 12 months of rent and utilities for qualifying households. It is NOT required that applicants live in tribal housing or have past due bills.

Visit www.redcliff-nsn.gov/erap to learn more and apply.

Contact 715-779-3700 ext 4208 or ext 4209 with any questions.
Health & Wellness
October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in her lifetime ~ Do you know your risk for breast cancer?

By being a woman and getting older, your risk for breast cancer increases. A personal or family history of breast cancer also increases your risk as does extremely dense breast tissue, which can mask or hide a breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for Native women. You can limit your risk by incorporating healthy behaviors in your life and getting regular breast cancer screenings.
  • Women ages 40 to 44 have the option to start annual breast cancer screening
  • Women ages 45 to 54 should have a mammogram once every year
  • Women age 55 and older should switch to mammograms every two years or can continue with yearly screening
  • Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years. Native women should always talk to a doctor or nurse right away if they notice any changes in their breasts

Healthy behaviors that will help lower your risk include:
• Increasing physical activity
• Quitting smoking
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Limiting alcohol

The Red Cliff Community Health Center offers breast cancer screening onsite through the Marshfield Mobile Mammogram Bus. The Red Cliff Health Center is offering $15 gift certificates for completing your mammogram for a limited time, call 715-779-3707.
Mobile Mammogram Unit
Comes To Red Cliff Monthly
Quick, Convenient, Confidential
How important are mammograms? VERY! It’s so important that we bring a state-of-the-art digital mammography unit directly to you! We have a mobile unit that comes 1-2 times a month, no need to drive to Ashland or Duluth to get a mammogram. You will get the same quality, service and professionalism that you would get in your doctor’s office.

During your private mammogram, a licensed and certified female technician will conduct a thorough medical history, answer your questions and perform the exam, using the latest in digital imaging. In less than 30 minutes, you’ll be done. Your digital images will be electronically sent to a team of radiologists specially trained in breast imaging for the most accurate diagnosis. Expect to receive your mammogram results by mail within 30 days. If anything unusual is detected, you will be called as soon as possible..

“3D” Advanced form of breast imaging – NEW! 3D mammography is a new type of digital x-ray mammogram which creates 2D and 3D-like pictures of the breasts. This tool improves the ability of mammography to detect early breast cancers and decreases the number of women “called back” for additional tests for findings that are not cancers. Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurances cover 3D imaging which means NO out-of-pocket expense for you!

Remaining 2021 Clinic Dates For Mammograms:
Thursday October 14
Tuesday November 30
Call (715)779-3707 to schedule your appointment today. In our busy lives, we have plenty of reasons to ‘put off until tomorrow’ – but one thing we can’t put off is our health! The 2022 schedule for mobile mammograms will be coming out soon.
Pink Shawl Survivor:
RCCHC Employee Shares Her Cancer Story
Red Cliff Tribal Member and RCCHC employee Anna Martineau-Merritt was honored at the 10th Annual Powwow for Hope that was held virtually in August.

Pink Shawl Survivor
“Aaniin/Boozhoo, Biidasinookwe indigo, Migizi indoodem, Miskwaabikaang indoonjibaa. My birth name is Anna Martineau-Merritt. I am a Red Cliff Tribal member and I work for the RCCHC. I have been married to Kevin for 40+ years. We have a hobby farm, three dogs and no kids, lots of nieces and nephews. At the age of 53 on 8/1/18 I was diagnosed with DCIS Breast cancer in my left breast. I went for several excisions, MRI and ultrasounds and my last excision was on 10/15/18.

The margins were not good enough for the doctor, so she sent me to the Radiology Oncologist and the Medical Oncologist. One wanted to radiate me and the other offered me drug therapy. I chose to seek out a traditional medicine man. I am still cancer free.”

Chi-Miigwetch Anna – we are very proud of you!
Red Cliff Awarded CDC Grant
Funds to be used for new Elder program
On August 30, 2021, Red Cliff received notice of award for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Community Health Worker COVID-19 Response and Resilience grant. This grant provides $350,000 per year over a three-year period. Red Cliff was one of sixty nine awardees across the country to receive this competitive funding.
 
The goal of the program is to build and strengthen work done by Community Health Workers (CHW) in the community for COVID-19 prevention and resilience. CHWs are frontline public health workers who have a trusted relationship with the community and are able to facilitate access to a variety of services and resources for community members.

Red Cliff will be focusing on building an Elder program in which our elders are supported both in the health and community settings. This gap was identified in the Health Division strategic plan and staff are excited to move this project forward. Please watch for more information as the program is developed.
Indigenous Pink Day is an annual breast cancer awareness campaign held every October.

How to celebrate with us:
Wear Pink
Wear pink to honor breast cancer warriors and survivors.

Share
Share a picture of yourself on social media wearing pink using #IndigenousPink. Tell your friends and family about Indigenous Pink Day and ask them to wear pink. Encourage your organization or business to wear pink.

Get Screened
Talk to your healthcare provider for advice and information on breast cancer screenings.

Click to access the Indigenous Pink Cookbook.
Cancer Support Group
at Red Cliff Community Health Center
Unfortunately our group has not met due to COVID-19. However, we have still been receiving and gifting out our Comfort Bags to newly diagnosed community members.

The lap blankets are created by the loving stitches of Red Cliff tribal members and members of the South Shore Quilters. The bags include a lap blanket and may include items such as hand sanitizer, word search, word find, crossword puzzle books, note pad, pens, a mask and/or other items.

If you were diagnosed or know someone who has been diagnosed recently and you would like extra information or would like someone to talk to, please reach out to us and we can help direct you to the most appropriate contacts. There are members of our CSG that would also be available for support if you should want that as well. We also have caregivers who are willing to share in support with any of you caregivers!

Screening: Get It Done!

  • The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends mammograms annually starting at age 45. If there is a family history of breast cancer, then speak with your primary care provider (PCP) to discuss earlier screening.

  • Breast self-exams should be conducted on a regular basis. If you are not sure you are conducting your self-exam correctly, ask you PCP for a Clinical Breast Exam (CBE).

  • It is very important to remember that breast cancer doesn’t just affect women, men can get it as well.

  • Regular exercise such as walking, can help reduce stress and may reduce high blood pressure which can help reduce cancer risk factors.

  • Wisconsin Well Woman Program (WWWP) is a great resource and can be applied for. This program pays for specified screenings and diagnostic services related to: breast and cervical cancer.
  • Covered services are available from participating providers, at no cost to Well Woman clients. A woman who is diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer or a precancerous cervical lesion, and who is eligible for WWWP, may be eligible for Wisconsin Well Woman Medicaid (WWWMA). WWWMA covers treatment costs for breast and cervical cancer.
    
Contact Barb Gordon, Medical Benefit Specialist at 715-779-3707 ext 2238.
 
Red Cliff Pink Shawls gathered for the annual Red Cliff Pow Wow this year! We have not been able to gather to assemble pink shawls as we have in the spring/summer. We look forward to trying something “virtual” in the near future so keep an eye out for that!

Mardella Gustafson 715-779-3707 ext 2221, Anna Merritt 715-779-3707 ext 2280.
We're Hiring - Come Join Our Team!
Red Cliff Health Division continues to grow and hire. The health staff are committed to serving the community and are a great team to work with!
 
Positions we are recruiting for:
·        Community Health Worker (CHW)
·        Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
·        Case Manager
·        AODA/Mental Health Counselor
·        Community Health Nurse
 
Please click HERE for more information.
Red Cliff Flu Vaccine Update
Red Cliff Community Health Center has received half of this year’s order for influenza vaccine for seniors and adults. The Clinic team will begin vaccinating elders over the age of 65 and high-risk patients immediately. Eligibility will increase as additional vaccine is received.

Vaccine for Children (VFC) is provided by the State of Wisconsin, and we anticipate arrival in the next two or three weeks. As the pandemic continues and the delta variant is spreading, it is critical to immunize your entire family for Influenza.  Covid-19 infections will be more serious, and possibly deadly, if additional infections occur at the same time.  Also, the health care system regionally is under strain, which makes it even more important to prevent the most common reasons for hospital admissions in the winter, which are influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia.

Influenza vaccines are not only for the medically vulnerable. Rather, they are important for the entire family in order to protect seniors and anyone with underlying medical conditions by reducing their chances of being exposed to influenza.  Many patients think the influenza vaccine caused them to feel sick after receiving the vaccine. However, it takes 2 weeks for the influenza vaccine to be effective.  Any symptoms of illness experienced after receipt of the vaccine are symptoms of an infection to which the patient was already exposed.  The vaccine is not perfect, but it is 80% effective at preventing influenza. Also, the vaccine shortens the number of days of illness, allowing people to return to work or school sooner, and it reduces the length of time that any one can spread the infection to others.

Pneumococcal vaccine is included in childhood vaccines. Adult pneumococcal vaccine is given routinely to adults at 65 years of age. However, it is also strongly recommended in any one with any underlying medical conditions, or tobacco use. This year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are recommending any one over 50 get the vaccine as well. A pneumococcal vaccine with in the last 5 years is most protective.

If you have questions about the flu vaccine availability, please call the Health Center at 715-779-3707.
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
FoodWIse Newsletter - October 2021
FoodWIse Nutrition has released its October 2021 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 2021 FoodWIse newsletter.
How To Get Kids To Eat Veggies:
5 tips and tricks to help you win the green battle
1 Keep calm and carry on with feeding kids vegetables!
This is not a sprint; it is a marathon! You will not win the fussy vegetable eater battle in one or two goes. It takes time and patience. You need to keep going. Introduce vegetables to them and, if they don’t like it – which is highly likely – do it again a few days or weeks later. Be prepared for twists and turns, they might like spinach today and you get all excited about it – rightly so – and, at the next meal, they dislike their spinach all over again!

2 Avoid bribes and rewards related to vegetables and sweet treats.
I hate being the ‘educational’ police and I am a big believer that we all do what works and what we feel is best! This is a judgment-free zone and I aim at focusing on what has (and has not) worked with my kids! Bribing kids into eating vegetables with rewards such as sweet treats has not worked for me. It seemed to have sent a message that eating vegetables is a chore (or even a punishment) and treats are a reward (hence, good stuff). I quickly found that bribes made my kids develop a terrible relationship with vegetables and the number of treats needed to convince them to eat their greens got bigger and bigger.

3 Start a vegetable garden.
It is amazing how kids, who deeply dislike their greens, can quickly get interested in growing vegetables! The good news is that vegetables that kids see growing (even partially) become a much more interesting meal. While I can’t claim I had a one hundred percent success rate, my kids will at least try something they have grown. 

4 Visit a farm that offers vegetable/fruit picking.
If gardening or plant-sprouting projects aren’t your thing, but you still want the benefit of getting your kids to experience how nature works, a visit to a farm is your next best option. Admittedly, it is more common to find fruit picking farms than vegetable ones. Nevertheless, a lot of ‘vegetables’ such as pumpkins and tomatoes are actually and botanically – fruits! Also, the benefit of seeing how food is grown can have implications beyond that food. Green battles aside, picking fruit and vegetables is a fun activity for the entire family and a visit to a farm is well worth it.

5 Start with safe veggies for kids.
Not all veggies are equal! Think brussel sprouts vs spinach, or okra vs zucchini. It is easier to imagine that the more bitter and/or textured veggies are going to take longer for kids to develop an appetite for! You will have better chances for a green conversion if you start with ‘safe’ flavors such as carrots, corn, zucchini, spinach, etc.

For More Information
Contact Carol Basina Nutrition Educator
Red Cliff Food Distribution
715-779-3740
Education
Bayfield School District Updates
Blood Drive at Bayfield High School Gym
Thursday October 28, 2021
9 AM - 2 PM


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
Job Opportunity: Construction Project Manager
Red Cliff Chippewa Housing Authority is seeking a Construction Project Manager to work within the homeowner private home repair and rehabilitation programs. The Construction Project Manager will plan, organize, and direct project work including conducting inspections, preparing scopes of work and cost estimates, and preparing documents associated with project management. Incumbent will coordinate contractor work schedules, inspect and monitor the work of outside contractors.

Click HERE to view the full job description and to apply.
Aged Appliance Replacement Program
The Red Cliff Chippewa Housing Authority is now accepting applications for its Aged Appliance Replacement Program.

The program is designed to serve Red Cliff Tribal Elders in replacing major appliances, such as stoves, refrigerators, hot water heaters, and furnaces. Eligible applicant households can receive up to $1,100 towards new appliances. The assistance will be paid directly to the vendor for any appliances.

Click HERE to access an application.
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
New RCFC Gear and Products!
Zesty jalapeño smoked whitefish dip, new tank tops, new long sleeve tees, and of course superior fish!
Legendary Waters Resort & Casino
News Across Indian Country
New Madeline Island Ferry Schedule
Call 715-747-2051 ahead of time for any Madeline Island Ferry schedule changes.
Red Cliff Tribal Administration Office 
88455 Pike Road 
Bayfield, Wi. 54814 
715-779-3700