Miisaninawiind August 22-28, 2022

Manoominike-Giizis (Ricing Moon)

In a win for four Ojibwe tribes in northern Wisconsin, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Monday that Wisconsin can’t impose property taxes on lands owned by the tribes or their members within the permanent homelands (reservations) they negotiated in the Treaty of 1854. The Lac Courte Oreilles, Bad River, Red Cliff, and Lac du Flambeau Bands of Lake Superior Chippewa had appealed a 2021 ruling by federal district court Judge James Peterson to the contrary.

Following the Supreme Court’s rule that Congress must explicitly authorize a tax that falls on Indians on Indian land, the Court of Appeals found that Congress never authorized property taxes on the Tribes’ reservations. The Court rejected the State’s argument that any time land passed from non-Indian ownership to Indian ownership, it remained taxable. This means Wisconsin can't tax Ojibwe lands that have returned to tribal ownership after a period of non-tribal possession.

Vanya Hogen, who argued the case on behalf of the Tribes, said “We are very pleased that the Court of Appeals acknowledged the Tribes’ unbroken Treaty rights and recognized that Congress never authorized the State to impose these property taxes. This is an important victory for the Tribes and their members who have long been subjected to unauthorized taxes—and in some instances, threatened with the loss of their homes.”

"It comes down to our treaty rights and our right to govern our own lands," said Red Cliff Chairman Christopher Boyd. "Gaa-Miskwaabikaang just reclaimed roughly 1,500 acres in the past five years, and we're working very hard to provide enough space for our tribal members to live and exercise their treaty rights. A tax on our lands would put all of that in jeopardy. It's important to remind the state and federal governments that all Tribal Nations are Sovereigns, with their own government and rights to regulate. This decision reaffirms our ancestors' negotiated Treaties with the United States. Aho!"

Read the entire court judgement HERE.

The Red Cliff Chippewa Housing Authority is accepting and processing applications.

The purpose of the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) is to prevent mortgage delinquencies and defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacement of homeowners experiencing financial hardship after January 21, 2020.

Funds from the HAF may be used for assistance with mortgage payments, homeowner’s insurance, utility payments, and other specified purposes.

Our HAF plan has been approved by the U.S. Treasury and the funds have been received by RCCHA as of 08/18/2022.

If you need any assistance filling out the application or have any questions, please contact Liz Boyd or Shane Basina at 715-779-3744.

Applications are available at the RCCHA office or by clicking HERE.



Please email HAF@redcliffhousing.org with any questions  

Creative Native Beading is owned and operated by Red Cliff Tribal Member Renee Belanger! Renee uses intricate beading to create stunning earrings, bracelets, and other jewelry. Renee's creations are available through purchase, and she also takes custom orders!

Follow Creative Native Beading on Facebook and Instagram to see her creations

and to get in touch with Renee. Aho!

From Renee:

"This is the most rewarding and fulfilling work that I have ever done, and it gives me a connection to my ancestors and cultural heritage that I had never felt in the past. As you support my work, whether it's in a purchase, a like, a share, or a comment, I hope you can feel the joy and love that goes into each piece. Miigwech for your support!"

Red Cliff’s Ginanda Gikendaasomin Library and Mino Bimaadiziiwin Farm will be hosting a Beekeeping 101 workshop this Tuesday August 23! Join instructors Justin Hanson and Amanda Peterson-Teschner at 5 PM at the Library, located at 36750 Hwy 13 N. #2 (Cultural Grounds).

Learn the basics of beekeeping, including details about the Queen Bee and the lifecycle of the worker bee, as well as a tutorial on the various tools you’ll need to keep your own bees. You’ll also get to see the different parts of a hive.

For more information, please contact Kathy Barri at 715-779-3766 or email Kathy.barri@redcliff-nsn.gov.

The Red Cliff Tribal Council will meet this Tuesday August 23 at Legendary Waters.

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

Click HERE to view the meeting agenda.

Celebrate fellowship in sobriety with some traditional foods this Wednesday August 24!

Stop by the Noojimo’iwewin Center between 4-6 PM to join the celebration. The Noojimo’iwewin Center is located at 37450 Water Tower Rd in Gaa-Miskwaabikaang.

For more information, please call 715-779-3508.

Elder Food Box Program this Friday

Join Alexandria Butterfield and Morgan Reardon at Red Cliff’s Ginanda Gikendaasomin Library this Saturday August 27 to learn how to make Beaded Cabochon Earrings!

The class will begin at 10 AM and is for adults only. There will be light refreshments – feel free to bring a snack to share.

The Library is located at the Cultural Grounds at 36750 Hwy 13 in Gaa-Miskwaabikaang.

For more information please contact Kathy Barri 715-779-3766 or email kathy.barri@redcliff-nsn.gov.

Howah! Farm Stand Fridays are back at Mino Bimaadiziiwin Gitigaanin Red Cliff Tribal Farm -- and the Farm Stand will be moving around Red Cliff! Let the Farm know where you think they should set up next to reach more community members. The Farm Stand is open from 10 AM – 4 PM every Friday through October.

Mino Bimaadiziiwin Tribal Farm believes that food is medicine, and everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy foods, and that local food systems have the power to transform our communities and lives.

The Farm Stand is open to everyone and features a Sliding Scale Contribution System (Pay-What-You-Can). The Farm also accepts EBT/SNAP benefits!

The Farm is located at 36735 Aiken Rd in Gaa-Miskwaabikaang. Call the Farm with any questions at 715-779-3782 or send an email to Farm@redcliff-nsn.gov.

Keep up with Farm happenings on Facebook and Instagram!

Howah! The Red Cliff Tribe is excited to host its sixth annual Red Cliff Cultural Days, scheduled to take place September 16-18, 2022 in Gaa-Miskwaabikaang (Red Cliff). A full event schedule along with individual event details and contact information can be found at www.redcliff-nsn.gov/culturaldays.

Events and attractions include a two-day pow wow, carnival & amusement rides, canoe races, cultural stations, 3 on 3 basketball tournament, softball tournament, car show, golf tournament fundraiser to benefit the Red Cliff Kids Holiday gift giveaway, fireworks, food and craft vendors, as well as a DJ and live music. All events are open to the public.

Click image to access the entire Behavioral Health August newsletter.

Click image to access the entire summer TNR Ganawenjigaade newsletter.

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.

By Esme Stallard

From BBC News Climate and Science

Next month Nasa will send a new crew into space. And for the first time there will be a Native American woman aboard.

Astronaut Nicole Aunapu Mann, of the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes, will be mission commander - responsible for all phases of flight.

She will go to the International Space Station on 29 September, Nasa says.

"I think it's important that we communicate this to our community, so that other Native kids... realise that some of those barriers that used to be there are really starting to get broken down," she added.

Ms Mann says that in her allocated 3.3 lb (1.4kg) for personal items she will take "a dreamcatcher that my mother gave me when I was very young".

Ms Mann will be with three colleagues on the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as part of the Crew-5 mission.

She could also go to the Moon. In 2020 she was selected to be in a pool of astronauts eligible for Nasa's Artemis program that will send humans to the Moon.

Read more about Mann and the mission HERE.

From LDF BDC:

"Our team celebrated with the community this past week a successful Grand Opening of the new Workforce Training and Business Development Center.

Speakers from our team, along with Tribal President Johnson and EDA Representative Tom Baron, shared additional insight on the opportunities and partnerships that come with developing the new Training Center.

The idea of creating a workforce training and business development unit started in 2018. Our team hopes to create new opportunities for those within and around the community with the new training center.

The facility was completed in February this year, 2022. The pandemic created delays, but our commitment to the Center never wavered. Given the changes in the workforce landscape over the past couple of years, we are developing training curriculums that best serve the Northwoods today and that will help shape its future."