September 11-17, 2023

Waatebagaa-Giizis (Leaves Turning Moon)

Please join us for our 1854 Treaty Day Commemoration activities on Friday September 29 and Saturday September 30.

Friday September 29 will feature a Chippewa Federation Meeting from 9 AM - 3 PM at Legendary Waters Event Center (37600 Onigamiing Drive in Gaa-Miskwaabikaang). All community members are invited to attend.

Saturday's activities will take place at Memorial Park on Mooningwanekaaning (Madeline Island). There will be a Buffalo Pipe Tobacco & Food Offering along with Treaty talks from 9 AM - 12 PM. Ferry tickets will be available for Red Cliff Tribal Members -- Tribal Members will be able to pick up ferry tickets at the Tribal Administration Building. Please stay tuned for an announcement with more information on a day/time tickets will be available.

Learn about the 1854 Treaty online at www.redcliff-nsn.gov/1854treaty.

Contact the Red Cliff Tribal Historic Preservation Office with any questions at 715-779-3766.

From Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

The National Park Service, in collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Tribal partners, is planning a 33-acre prescribed fire on Stockton Island (Wiisaakodewan-minis) between September 13 and October 15, if weather conditions permit. This prescribed fire will be a cultural burn; objectives include restoring globally imperiled pine barrens habitat with an emphasis on increasing blueberry (miin) production.

The burn could happen this coming Saturday September 16 pending weather conditions.

Cultural burns take Indigenous Knowledge, which is a deep knowledge of a place that has been painstakingly discovered by those who have adapted to it over thousands of years, in combination with fire science to fulfill collective goals of wise stewardship.

“It is critical that we recognize the importance of Indigenous Knowledge as we steward these islands, where the Ojibwe nations maintain Reserved Treaty Rights,” said park superintendent Lynne Dominy. “Along with other forest species, blueberries respond positively to fire. Knowing this, local Ojibwe tribes have used fire to promote the blueberry harvest on Stockton Island for centuries."

Interagency fire specialists will burn approximately 33 acres on the northern end of the Stockton tombolo (a sandy peninsula-like feature) to reduce vegetation including encroaching shrubs and trees, promote the growth of blueberries and other native plant species, and improve wildlife habitat. BIA fire specialists will be on site during and after the burn to monitor that it stays within the prescription as determined in the burn plan. These highly trained specialists will implement the burn only after careful site preparations have been completed and weather and vegetation conditions are assessed. Optimal weather conditions will enable the park to achieve burn objectives and to minimize smoke; too much wind or moisture, or lack of moisture, will affect whether the prescribed fire can take place.

In 2017, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore collaborated with the Red Cliff and Bad River Bands of Lake Superior Chippewa and other Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission member Tribes to conduct the first cultural burn on Stockton Island in many generations, acknowledging the wisdom and cultural practice of using fire (ishkode) within this rare ecosystem. A second burn was conducted in 2021. Both burns have been successful in restoring a more open forest and increasing blueberry production.

While cultural fire is an annual goal at Apostle Islands, it is not always possible due to national fire staffing needs as well as local weather. Park staff are mindful to implement cultural fire during seasonal windows that are consistent with traditional practices and with lower visitation to the islands.

Please contact Apostle Islands National Lakeshore with any questions at 715-779-3398.

The Noojimo'iwewin Center's Sobriety Music Festival is here! Join us on Monday September 11 from 4-7 PM at the Old Pow Wow Grounds for live music, food, raffles, and games.

The Old Pow Wow Grounds are located across the Legendary Waters parking lot.

Please call 715-779-3508 with any questions.

There has been a slight change in dates for this week's Drop In Ribbon Skirt Making opportunity.

Stop by the Giwiidosendimin Project Launch offices on Nuzzo Road Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday (Sept 12-14).

Materials are available. Please contact Amaris with any questions at 715-979-1554.

Join us at Mino Bimaadiziiwin Gitigaanin on Sunday September 24 from 12-3 PM to hear from Gaa-Miskwaabikaang elder Ron DePerry as he discusses the history and importance of our Treaty Rights.

There will be opportunity to filet a fish and enjoy hominy soup. There will also be a fishing pole raffle for the kids!

In 1969, Ron was involved in the eventual 1972 court decision known as Gurnoe vs. State of Wisconsin. Ron and six other tribal members were arrested after they set nets to test the Tribe's fishing rights in Buffalo Bay. The decision was ultimately ruled in favor of the Red Cliff Tribe (and other Chippewa Tribes). Ron is the last living tribal member of that original seven who took a massive chance to protect our rights.

Ron was named Citizen of the Quarter back in 2020! Learn more about Ron and his impact on Gaa-Miskwaabikaang here.

Please contact Savanna Basina with any questions:

savanna.basina@redcliff-nsn.gov

Mino Bimaadiziiwin Gitigaanin is located at 36735 Aiken Road.

Bayfield County will host a public listening session on Wednesday September 13 from 5-7 PM at the County Boardroom (117 E 5th Street in Washburn) to discuss and hear feedback about the drafted Bayfield County Comprehensive Plan.

Community members are welcomed and encouraged to attend and provide input.

View the draft plan here.

Please contact Bayfield County with any questions at 715-373-6181.

Interested in serving the community? Apply for this open seat on the Housing Board of Commissioners. Learn more and apply online.

My name is Shania Jackson "Mashkawizikwe" and I recently started as the Child Support Financial Specialist here in Red Cliff. I have studied Criminal Justice and will be working towards finishing my degree.

I have 3 years in corrections at the Ashland County Sheriff's Office and was a bank teller at Northern State Bank and Chippewa Valley Bank. I have a 2 year old son named Elliott, and I am a Bad River tribal member.

I recently moved over this way, and I am happy to be working in a community like the one I grew up in. If you see me around say hi!

Changes to the Red Cliff Code of Laws Chapter 18 are being proposed by the Red Cliff Legal Department.

The proposed changes pertain to Land Lease Regulations Sections 18.2.3 and 18.2.6. View all details of the proposed changes 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 September 19, 2023 at the Tribal Council meeting.

Changes to the Red Cliff Code of Laws Model Off Reservation Conservation Code are being proposed by the Red Cliff Legal Department.

View all details of the proposed changes 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 October 2, 2023 at the Tribal Council meeting.

Changes to the Red Cliff Code of Laws Chapter 40 are being proposed by the Red Cliff Legal Department.

View all details of the proposed changes 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 October 2, 2023 at the Tribal Council meeting.

The Red Cliff Education Department and Library can help community members applying for the SAVE program to save on their student loan repayments. This program is recommended for folks who have a high monthly loan payment and may save people in paying a more "affordable" amount or may assist in forgiving some of the amount.

The Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, like other income-driven repayment (IDR) plans, calculates your monthly payment amount based on your income and family size. The SAVE Plan provides the lowest monthly payments of any IDR plan available to nearly all student borrowers.

Learn more and apply here.

Please contact the Red Cliff Education Department with any questions at 715-779-3766.

Click to access the entire ECC September newsletter

The Red Cliff Education Department is offering additional financial support for those who have already applied for the Higher Education and Job Training Program.

Want to apply for the scholarship? Here's what we need from you:

Application, Education Plan, Unofficial Transcript, Fall/Spring Schedule.

Click HERE to learn more and access an application.

Chi-Miigwech to all who participated in the 3rd Annual Golf Tournament as part of Red Cliff Days, sponsored by RCCHA!

Tom Polaski's team won first place, and second place went to Wayne Basina's team.

Miigwech!

For more information on this free training to become a certified Home Health Aide, please contact ROSS Resource Coordinator Deb Morris at 715-779-3744 ext 3514.

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.

You are also able to apply for Home Repair Assistance and Down Payment Assistance.

Click HERE to access an application.

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.

Click to access the entire Treaty Natural Resources Division Ganawenjigaade newsletter for niibin (summer) 2023.

Tribal Members have opportunities to collect birch bark from US Forest Service potential timber sale locations. Opportunities are available in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and Ottawa National Forest.

Anyone interested should follow this link, then click on the "birch maps" tab. Under that tab, there are maps of both national forests that show the areas open to birch bark collecting and the approximate size of trees in that stand, if that data is available.

Please note: Tribal members should not remove bark from trees that are already marked with paint. Birch bark can be collected until a timber sale contract has been awarded. Once a timber sale contract has been awarded, tribal members would need to get permission from the timber sale purchaser to collect birch bark within the timber sale units.  

If anyone has questions, they can contact contact Alex Bohman at abohman@glifwc.org or 715-685-2125.

Click HERE to order online!

Wisconsin Conservation Voices is looking for a Native Vote Director who has a deep commitment to Wisconsin’s tribal communities, enjoys managing staff and developing programs, and believes in the power of voting to create positive change. This is a full-time position and there is geographic flexibility within the state. The full position description can be found HERE.