Miisaninawiind July 4-10, 2022

Abitaa-niibini Giizis (Halfway Summer Moon)

Chi-Miigwech to everyone who participated in the 44^th Annual Red Cliff Pow Wow! It was a fantastic three days of dancing, drumming, singing, vendors, and cultural traditions.

You can view all photos from the Pow Wow on our Facebook page! All photos will be uploaded throughout this week - keep checking back for all photos! Feel free to like, share, and tag your friends and family if you spot them in one of our photos on Facebook.

The Red Cliff Tribal Historic Preservation Department's History Speaker Series continues next Wednesday July 13 with Leo Filipczak and Amorin Mello! Join us at the Tribal Historic Preservation Office located at 36750Hwy 13 in Gaa-Miskwaabikaang.

See flyer for all other dates and details! Contact THPO with any questions at 715-779-3761.

Mino Bimaadiziiwin Gitigaanin Red Cliff Tribal Farm will host a workshop about composting on Thursday July 14!

Farm staff will tour the fish compost fields, where to date we've composted over eighty thousand pounds of fish waste from the Red Cliff Fish Company.

Staff will also talk about methods for small-scale home compost systems!

Remember to please RSVP by calling 715-779-3782 x4319 or email Farm@redcliff-nsn.gov

Joseph Montano Sr. collaborated with the Duluth Public Schools American Indian Education department to plan a two day educational opportunity for 16 middle and high school students.

The focus of the trip was to learn about tribal businesses and Ojibwe history. The students got to visit the Mino Bimaadiziiwin farm, the Red Cliff Fish company, Frog Bay Tribal National Park, and Madeline Island.

During the evening they had the opportunity to spend some time with Frank Montano listening to him sing and tell stories.

Students and chaperones were fed by Grandma Jo’s Fish and Chips.

Miigwech to the Mino Bimaadiziiwin farm staff, Red Cliff Fish Company staff, Joseph Montano Sr. Frank Montano, Grandma Jo’s, from all the students and staff that attended this two day trip.

From Indian Gaming

Red Cliff Band and Prairie Band member Dustin Goslin has been named Economic Development Professional of the Year at the 2022 Annual Travois Indian Country Affordable Housing & Economic Development Conference. Goslin in the VP of Business & Economic Development for Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures. The conference recognized six companies and leaders who best represent economic development and whose partnerships and projects have improved the quality of life for people in their communities.

MLCV has focused on building economic vibrancy by connecting people and capital to leverage sustainable investments in business, workforce housing, and planned infrastructure to benefit the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and the communities in which MLCV does business. Goslin is leading these sustainable investments with this team. The investments prompting Goslin’s award have included Red Willow Estates and the Mille Lacs Tribal Economy Business Incubator. 

“I have been privileged to be connected to supportive family, friends, co-workers, and organizations that help ignite my passion,” said Goslin. “I am honored that our efforts in economic development were recognized through this award.”

Goslin is a member of the Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation of Mayetta, Kansas and of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Wisconsin. In addition to his work, Goslin is part of numerous community leadership roles including serving as a board member for the Entrepreneur Fund and as a trustee for the Blandin Foundation. 

“The type of projects MLCV has initiated for tribal communities has afforded me the opportunity to continue my passion by leveraging my networks to support and grow others,” said Goslin. “I am grateful that the projects we are involved in are a natural extension of that.”

Red Willow Estates is MLCV’s second affordable workforce housing project that includes 30 townhome units. The project features numerous amenities including a connection to a recreation trail, Ojibwe-inspired landscaping themes, community garden area, basketball court, playground, and an outdoor community gathering area with grills and a fire pit, benches, picnic tables and a covered shelter. The project was the first in the country to be built by a tribal corporation to grow the regional economy, house tribal and non-tribal tenants, and leverage unique sources of capital.

With the Mille Lacs Tribal Economy Business Incubator, MLCV partnered with two well-respected non-profit organizations in Minnesota to bring their model to the Mille Lacs Tribal Economy, which encompasses the three districts of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in Census tracts 9504, 9505, 7704, 9703, 9701, 9702. The model was built around revitalizing urban communities from within, and Goslin and his team helped reformat the concept to apply to rural tribal communities. The pilot concept has now grown to four cohorts and launched an impressive diversity of businesses including a concrete crafting business that specializes in tribal-inspired headstones and a media business that links traditional Ojibwe ways with contemporary technology. MLCV recently received the 2022 Project of the Year Award from the Economic Development Association of Minnesota for the innovative project.

Gaa-Miskwaabikaang leaders hosted Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary-designee Kathy Blumenfeld last week as part of her meeting tour throughout northwest Wisconsin.

Tribal Leaders met with Blumenfeld and other DOA representatives for well over an hour to discuss ongoing pandemic recovery efforts and other issues facing Red Cliff. The group also toured Red Cliff Fish Company.

Topics discussed include language revitalization; alternative energy opportunities; land reclamation efforts; improving the Fee-To-Trust process; police pensions; potential tuition waivers for young tribal adults as more young members continue to take higher education; roads and transportation; tourism opportunities; broadband and its importance for the future of Red Cliff.

Chi-miigwech to Secretary-designee Blumenfeld and DOA representatives for visiting in person and for the open discussion on issues facing Tribal nations. It is very important for our Tribal nations to have the opportunity to work with the State to ensure our concerns are being addressed.

L-R: Mike Friis, DOA; John Dillett, DOA; Dawn Vick, DOA; Diane Baker, Bureau of Indian Affairs; Red Cliff Chairman Chris Boyd; Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld; Red Cliff Vice Chairman Nathan Gordon

As of June 2022

Boozhoo!

The first year of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding is just wrapping up. To date, the Tribe has received funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury - State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds totaling $43,401,981, BIA Aid to Tribal Government $ 3,434,686 , and several other ARPA related allocations.

Tribal leadership and staff have been implementing approved projects and continue to plan for the outstanding balances. The following are some approved projects and progress in the last year:

ARPA – U.S. Treasury

$5,017,800 of ARPA and CARES Act funds were successfully distributed to tribal members through the General Assistance Program, equating to 66% of the total tribal membership.

$2,500,000 has been approved for a new Multi-purpose Round House/Cultural Center. The project is now in the design phase with anticipated construction starting later this year.

 $300,000 has been approved to support Ojibwemowin Language Revitalization efforts, supporting the long-term goal of achieving increased fluency in traditional language across the Reservation. Keller Paap has been brought on as a consultant to support Red Cliff’s efforts, along with other grants/programs.

$165,000 has been approved to support cultural events and camps for the community.

$1,000,000 has been approved to repatriate 854 acres of forest and non-forestry parcels from Bayfield County.

$182,000 has been approved for additional land purchases.

$12,600,000 has been approved for new housing development to support the construction of up to 46 new affordable homes and apartments at Red Cliff.

$1,500,000 has been approved for infrastructure at the Cultural Grounds area.

$200,000 has been approved to support ongoing homelessness resources.

$125,000 in additional resources and personnel has been approved for Elder care services.

$210,000 has been approved to upgrade the tribe’s aging IT server infrastructure.

$31,645 has been approved for emergency rescue equipment at the Red Cliff Fire Department.

$4,236,307 has been approved to provide Premium Pay to Legendary Waters, Housing Authority, Buffalo Bay Store and Tribal employees.

$60,000 has been approved to conduct the feasibility of a potential Wellness Center project.

$250,000 has been approved for landscaping, parking lot and awning construction for the Fish Company.

The Red Cliff Tribal Council will continue to assess the community feedback to direct the projects to best serve the community for the immediate and long term interests. Please direct any questions to RCARP@redcliff-nsn.gov.

Boozhoo Gaa-Miskwaabikaang! Red Cliff's portion of this year's Healing Circle Run is scheduled for July 12. Please sign up by calling 715-779-3700.

The Healing Circle Run is a 7-day event that connects 10 tribal nations throughout the Ojibwe Ceded Territory. Please join us as we run our homelands or walk/run in unity from wherever you are.

The Red Cliff Band is seeking bid proposals for design-build architectural and engineering services for a community housing development on the Gaa-Miskwaabikaang Reservation in Bayfield County, WI.

Click HERE to view all details and the entire request for proposals.

Proposals should be submitted by July 21, 2022.

Please contact 715-779-9788 with any questions.

Several changes to Chapter 43 of the Red Cliff Code of Laws are being proposed to the Tribal Council. You can view all proposed changes to Chapter 43 HERE.

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 Monday August 1, 2022 at the Regular Meeting of the Red Cliff Tribal Council. If the Council enacts these changes, the changes shall become effective upon enactment.

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

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.

FoodWIse Nutrition has released its July 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 July 2022 FoodWIse newsletter.

Click image to access the entire ECC June newsletter

Moka’ang Giizis Scholarship through Northland College

85 percent of tuition (renewable each year)

In recognition that Northland College is located on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg, citizens of one of the Ojibwe Tribes whose reservations were created by the Treaty of La Pointe 1854 or whose reservations are located within territory ceded by the 1837 Treaty of St. Peters and 1842 Treaty of La Pointe are eligible for this scholarship. Students need to submit an application and provide proof of tribal enrollment to be awarded this scholarship. The full list of eligible tribal nations is included on the application.

Click HERE to access more information and an application.

RCCHA is hiring for two LTE Maintenance Assistants. Please submit applications by July 5, 2022. Click HERE to view the full job descriptions and apply.