Miisaninawiind June 6-12, 2022

Odemiini-Giizis (Strawbery Moon)

The Red Cliff Band and its Environmental Department have been awarded a $700,000 Indian Community Development Block Grant to clean up and remediate 33 abandoned home sites on trust land. This project will make the home sites suitable and available for new housing developments as the Tribe continues to work towards increasing homeowner, rental, and shovel-ready lease sites.

“This grant award is yet another important moment in our persistent work of creating more housing opportunities for our Tribal membership and community,” said Chairman Christopher Boyd. “Our members, those living here in Gaa-Miskwaabikaang and those currently living elsewhere, need more adequate options. Our recent $12.6M allocation of ARPA funds towards developing new housing will be a great help to our members, and this grant will help us prepare even more sites.”

Red Cliff’s Environmental Department will lead the project, starting with the removal of abandoned trailers, vehicles, tires, garbage, and other items that are in violation of the Red Cliff Code of Laws Chapter 12: Pollution and Environmental Protection.

“The Environmental Department is grateful to receive this grant, and we’re ready to play a role in providing more housing options for the community,” said Linda Nguyen, Red Cliff’s Environmental Director. “Step one is ensuring these sites are cleaned and not causing any further environmental damage.”

This grant award comes after a string of grants and allocations towards the Tribe’s extreme housing shortage. An IHBG Competitive Grant gave the Tribe 12 new single-family units in 2021, with another eight expected to be completed this year. The $12.6M allocation of ARPA funds at the end of 2021 is in the process of developing 46 new units, including 20 rental apartments, 12 rental homes, and 14 homeowner units.

“This grant will provide more great resources for us to keep our development efforts moving forward,” said Nathan Gordon, Red Cliff Vice Chairman. “The reality is that many of our community members have inadequate housing options, or no housing options at all, and grants like this are so important in reversing the shortage. Our members deserve so much more.” 

View the EWONAP June 2022 News Bulletin showing the list of grant awardees HERE.

Boozhoo Gaa-Miskwaabikaang! You are invited to attend a Joint Red Cliff Tribal Council and Bayfield County Board Meeting on Wednesday June 8 at 5:00 PM at Legendary Waters.

The last joint meeting with the Bayfield County Board was held in December of 2015.

The meeting will feature an opening ceremony and several presentations. Red Cliff Health Administrators Diane Erickson and Michael Lang will join Bayfield County's Sara Wartman for a presentation on collaborative public health efforts between the County and the Tribe.

The Tribal County Relations Committee will then have a presentation on land repatriation and a celebration of accomplishing a previous MOU.

The groups will then discuss a joint proclamation regarding the importance of protecting our area's water resources.

Community members are invited to join this meeting. Click HERE for the meeting agenda.

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Regular Tribal Council Meeting set for Monday June 6. The Regular Session is scheduled to begin at 4:30 PM. Click HERE for the June 6 agenda.

~Heather Boyd is a 14 year-year veteran of the NPS, and will be the first Anishinaabe to serve in this role at Grand Portage. She is an enrolled member of the Red Cliff Band~

From Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior

National Park Service (NPS) Regional Director Bert Frost announced the selection of Heather Boyd as the new superintendent of Grand Portage National Monument in Minnesota. Boyd is currently the Administrative Officer at Isle Royale National Park and Keweenaw National Historical Park located in Michigan. She will assume her new role later this summer.

“I am excited to welcome Heather to Grand Portage as the new superintendent,” said Frost. “Her management and administrative skills related to park operations, in addition to her ability to navigate complex cultural resource issues make her an outstanding selection for this park.”

“I am truly honored to become the first Anishinaabe to serve as the Superintendent at Grand Portage National Monument,” Boyd said of her new assignment. “I look forward to joining the community and working collaboratively to co-manage the site with the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.”

Boyd, a 14-year veteran of the NPS, holds a B.S. in Community Development and Public Administration from Central Michigan University and an Associate degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Northwood Technical College. Prior to joining the NPS, Boyd worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in realty and tribal operations. Boyd also currently serves as the Special Emphasis Program Coordinator for her parks and is involved in the NPS employee resource group – CIRCLE (Council for Indigenous, Relevancy, Communication, Leadership, and Excellence).

She is an enrolled member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and is excited to continue her NPS career/efforts protecting the resources within the Lake Superior Chippewa ancestral homelands (includes lands in northern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota). Boyd will relocate to the Grand Portage area later this summer. She looks forward to exploring the north shore of Gichi-Gami (Lake Superior) and finding ways to get involved in the local community.

Secretary/Treasurer McCormick, “We are thrilled for Heather Boyd as an Anishinaabekwe to serve as Superintendent, a first for Grand Portage National Monument! Her commitment to service in DOI extends into our community of Grand Portage. Boyd’s desire to learn Grand Portage tribal protocols and bring forward the values of Anishinaabe into her work are crucial. She has demonstrated her knowledge and intergovernmental tribal relations and experience in meaningful tribal consultation, which is at the heart of the co-management through the Annual Funding Agreement between the NPS and the Grand Portage Band. Boyd brings her experience from Isle Royale National Park and Keweenaw National Historical Park, which will enhance our relationship with Isle Royale, Minong, recognized through tribal self-governance in the AFA and as a designated traditional cultural property of the Band. Our Tribal Council is excited to work with Superintendent Boyd and we are proud to see her achieve this rank in the Park Service here at our Grand Portage National Monument.”

Congratulations Heather! Gaa-Miskwaabikaang is proud of you!

Member Elexia Saari has been operating her business formerly known as MiikawaadiziCrafts since 2021, and has recently rebranded as Native Impact Co.

Saari's business uses a mix of traditional and contemporary style artwork, with the goal of creating Native American designed products that make an impact on the modern world while generating visibility for Indigenous fashion design in the current fashion industry.

Saari grew up here in Gaa-Miskwaabikaang on the shores of Gitchi Gami. Saari says she wanted more options when it came to Native American designed products, so she began designing the things that she wanted to see.

From Saari: "When I was growing up, sometimes I felt out of place because I was too 'urban' for the Native kids, and too 'Rezzy' for others. I always felt that fashion was a way to express myself, and I wanted to wear apparel that could help me feel proud of my Native American roots. I decided to design products that could help myself as well as others represent their Native American roots, and so Native Impact Co was created."

Saari is a self-taught graphic designer, but also an artist of many trades. She's worked with beadwork and mixed-medium since she was a little girl. Saari's nookomis (grandmother) taught her what she knew. Saari says after her nookomis passed away, it has been her passion to create art, clothing, and accessories to express her Ojibwe culture and to honor her.

NativeImpactCo, founded in honor of Katharine Grace Basina.

Congratulations on your hard work Lexi!

Visit Native Impact Co on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NativeImpactCo/

You can shop and purchase Native Impact Co items and apparel at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/NativeImpactCo/

Springtime, for many people, is a new awakening of the landscape. Sap is flowing, bears are stirring and even the spring bloom (eventually). With the bloom comes the scourge Alliaria petiolata garlic mustard (Aliases are Poor Man’s Mustard, Hedge Garlic, Garlic Root). This spring biennial is vigorous, having triangular, heart shaped leaves and white four petal flowers. When the leaves are crushed a garlic like order is emitted, giving its name.

During the first year, it will be observed as a rosette with rounded leaves, low to the ground usually not producing any flowers. The second year can be observed as leaves grow up into flowering stems. These tiny white flowers can produce up to thousands of seeds creating a seed bank that can last decades.

It is important to limit this plant's growth due to degradation of biodiversity in the Chequamegon Bay. Garlic mustard can grow very quickly in the spring choking out native spring species we’ve come to know and depend on. The most successful method of removal is by pulling to the root with persistence. Monitoring known patches every spring is essential to reducing populations and gives native species a fighting chance.

This species is edible and can make a wonderful pesto from the leaves and stems can be blanched (reduces bitterness) and eaten with butter.

If found, please contact the Environmental Department at 715-779-3650.

Learn more HERE and HERE.

First and second year plants growing close together.

Starting Monday June 6, the Tribal Historic Preservation Department will host a weekly language table every Monday from 5:30-7:00 PM. This is open to all, and the sessions will be oriented towards adult learners.* 

The THPO building is located at the pow wow grounds, 36750 Hwy 13 in Gaa-Miskwaabikaang. Please contact THPO with any questions at 715-779-3761 ext 4802.

Anishinaabemowein Gabeshiwin (Language Camp)

The Tribal Historic Preservation Department has announced dates for this year's Anishinaabemowin Gabeshiwin (Language Camp)! Activities and learning opportunities will take place July 5-8 at Raspberry Campgrounds.

Activities will include makizinan (moccasin) making, anishinaabe language learning, traditional cooking, films, and much more!

Stay tuned for more details. Please contact the Tribal Historic Preservation Department with any questions at 715-779-3761.

The Red Cliff Band is seeking bid proposals for seasonal lawn care services for tribal facilities and grounds. The chosen lawn care service provider will work under contract to manage the seasonal lawn care and grounds keeping needs at 20 tribal government properties. These properties are spread throughout the reservation and encompass roughly 27 total acres.

Proposals should be submitted by June 16.

View all details and submission instructions HERE.

Boozhoo Gaa-Miskwaabikaang! Red Cliff is embarking on a master plan for the Highway 13 commercial corridor and would like your input. We want to preserve what you love about the community and fix what we can.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

A market analysis was conducted in the fall of 2021 revealing the need for a new convenience and gas station with ample retail space. Five sites along the Highway 13 corridor were studied for commercial development.

Click HERE to view potential plans and provide your feedback.

Having trouble with the website but still want to provide your feedback? Call or email 218-279-2429 or heidi.bringman@lhbcorp.com

Red Cliff Tribal Members will have the opportunity to vote for two At-Large Council Member positions this July. The deadline to declare your candidacy is June 20. Submit your candidacy or direct any questions to secretary@redcliff-nsn.gov.

View all election details at www.redcliff-nsn.gov/election.

Tribal Departments host community events throughout each week!

Library, Youth, Behavioral Health, Government, Experiential Learning, Traditional Crafts, and more! View the events calendar to access details for all scheduled events.

Events are always being added -- check the events calendar regularly!

Click image to access the entire Behavioral Health June newsletter.

Bridger Foster Is a third year Nursing student who is working towards a Bachelor of Science in nursing at Bethel University in St. Paul MN. He was born and raised in Bayfield and has grown up learning to love traditional and western medicine.

Bridger is working towards his larger goal of attaining a Physicians associate (PA) degree with the desire to work in global disaster relief and health, specializing in pediatrics. His desire to learn all shapes and forms of medicine has led him to many different sides of healthcare.

Bridger’s interest in wholistic care has led him to pursue any hobby that gets him outside. Whether it’s being a, kayak guide, ski or sailing instructor or simply being part of nature, Bridger believes this is what it takes to achieve wholistic health.

Welcome, Bridger!

Breakfast gives you energy to start the day. A healthy breakfast is important for everyone. Get the morning nutrition you need with these quick breakfast ideas.

Make instant oatmeal with low-fat milk instead of water. Toss in raisins or dried cranberries and chopped walnuts.

Layer low-fat plain yogurt with your favorite crunchy whole grain cereal and blueberries.

Blend a breakfast smoothie with low-fat milk, frozen strawberries and a banana.

Grits topped with a sprinkle of low-fat cheese and spinach or tomatoes. Add a cooked egg on the side.

Top a toaster waffle with low-fat yogurt and peach slices.

Stuff a whole-wheat pita with a sliced, hard-cooked egg and low-fat shredded cheese.

Spread a flour tortilla with peanut butter. Add a whole banana and roll it up.

Spread low-fat cream cheese on a whole-grain toasted bagel. Top with sliced strawberries.

Add lean ham and low-fat Swiss cheese to a toasted whole-grain English muffin.

If your taste buds just don’t crave traditional breakfast foods, try these choices:

• Hummus spread on a whole-grain toasted bagel with cucumber and tomato slices on top.

• Leftover veggie pizza

• Low-fat cottage cheese with fruit

• Leftover rice mixed with low-fat yogurt, dried fruit and nuts. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

• Corn tortilla with mashed avocado, black beans, salsa, and low-fat shredded Cheddar cheese

Power up with a healthy breakfast and you’re off to a great start!

For More Information

Contact Carol Basina Nutrition Educator

Red Cliff Food Distribution

715-779-3740

FoodWIse Nutrition has released its June 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 June 2022 FoodWIse newsletter.

Click image to access the entire ECC June newsletter

Boozhoo Club Members, we've got more great summer programming starting this June! Howah! See flyers for these new program dates and details. Also, see the entire June Program Guide to learn more about all the activities listed on our June calendar.

The Wild Rice Retreat located on Old San Road in Bayfield is offering some of its daily classes at no cost to local Indigenous community members.

Click HERE to view their weekly calendar and to see which classes are offered for free.