October 16-22, 2023

Binaakwe-Giizis (Falling Leaves Moon)

Boozhoo Gaa-Miskwaabikaang,

In response to community feedback, the Tribe has initiated a market and feasibility study for a Community Wellness Center here in Gaa-Miskwaabikaang. A Wellness Center has been identified as a top community priority with strong support for a local facility that offers health and wellness programming and services for Red Cliff members.

On Wednesday October 18, community engagement sessions will take place at Legendary Waters and the Bayfield School to share the findings of the recent market and feasibility study, and to get the community’s feedback on this project.

Members will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in an interactive vote for the types of services and facilities that they would like to see included as part of a new Community Wellness Center project. Participants will be able to vote for the areas that they feel are their highest priorities. See images below.

Please plan to join us at one or more of the following sessions:

Community Engagement Sessions

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Engagement Session with Elders at Legendary Waters, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Engagement Session with Students at the Bayfield School.

Engagement Session with Community at Legendary Waters, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Fill Out This Survey

All community members are encouraged to take this survey to identify programming, activities, and services you'd like to see included in the proposed wellness center.

These voting boards will be featured at the engagement session:

Boozhoo Gaa-Miskwaabikaang,

Please join us at the Red Cliff Boys & Girls Club on October 17-19 for our Gathering of Native Americans (GONA) event.

This GONA event connects Red Cliff elders, youth, and program staff to address community identified issues.

Please call 715-779-3707 ext 2263 for more information.

Every other Friday, language-culture liaisons representing departments and divisions from across the Tribe meet to discuss and plan ways of strengthening traditional Anishinaabe / Ojibwe language and values in the workplace. Inspired by a conversation about Ojibwe language revitalization with Waawaakeyaash Keller Paap, Red Cliff’s language-culture coordinators have been exploring Ojibwe signs and labels that can be used to spread, share, and support Red Cliff’s indigenous language. The first signs to come out of this initiative are restroom signs. You will soon see new restroom signs throughout Red Cliff government buildings!

These signs will highlight Ojibwemowin as a teaching tool and way to renormalize traditional Ojibwe language and values. They also support the Red Cliff Band’s Resolution 4/20/21E, which establishes and reaffirms Ojibwemowin as the Tribe’s official language; the goals of the Miskwaabikaang Ojibwemodaa Endaaso Giizhik five-year comprehensive Language and Culture Plan adopted by the Red Cliff Tribal Council on May 04, 2020; and the Red Cliff Tribe of Lake Superior Chippewa Mission Statement, adopted by the Tribal Council on December 5, 1994, which reads:

To promote, plan and provide for the health, welfare, education, environmental protection, cultural preservation and economic well-being of Tribal Members and to protect Treaty Rights now and in the future.

In the image below, you will see the three most common examples of restroom signs. Restrooms designated for men will be labeled ININIWAG. Restrooms designated for women will be labeled IKWEWAG. Anysex restrooms will be labeled AWEGWEN IGO, which distinguished Ojibwe language professor and linguist, Dr. Michael Sullivan Sr., translates for us as “whoever.”  

You will notice that anysex restroom signs have symbols for a man, a woman, as well as a nonbinary person. With this symbology, Red Cliff leadership honors Ojibwe traditions that hold nonbinary and other LGBTQIA people in highly respected and revered status and invites our nonbinary colleagues to feel welcome.  

The written Ojibwe script we use is the most commonly taught in this region and is often known as “long-vowel,” “double-vowel” or “Fiero” orthography. Below the long-vowel orthography, words are written in Ojibwe Braille followed by Grade 2 English Braille.  

Keep an eye out for more signage, language-culture professional development, and other opportunities to share and learn about traditional Anishinaabe / Ojibwe language and values! Chi miigwech to the language-culture liaisons for all their hard work.

Please contact the Tribal Historic Preservation Office with any questions at 715-779-3761.

The Red Cliff Tribal Council is set to meet this Tuesday October 17 at Legendary Waters.

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

Mino Bimaadiziiwin Red Cliff Tribal Farm will host an Open House this Friday October 20 from 11 AM - 2 PM. This event will replace the Harvest Feast & Potluck that was cancelled due to inclement weather.

All are welcome!

The Farm is located at 36735 Aiken Road in Gaa-Miskwaabikaang.

Ginanda Gikendaasomin Agindaasoowigamig Red Cliff Library will host a college and career fair on Friday November 17 at Legendary Waters.

This event is open to all! Join us to explore the many college and career options available to you.

The Red Cliff Family Violence Prevention Program will host a Domestic Violence Awareness Walk on Wednesday October 25 from 11 AM - 1 PM. Registration opens at 11 AM at the Family & Human Services Building (88385 Pike Rd, upper level).

Spin the wheel at registration for a prize before you walk! Take a picture on your walk and email it to aubrey.defoe@redcliff-nsn.gov or andrea.beeksma@redcliff-nsn.gov by 4 PM on October 26 for a chance to win a raffle prize.

Please call 715-779-3706 with any questions.

Respiratory season is right around the corner! Be prepared by getting your vaccines.

Red Cliff Community Health Center will host a mass vaccination clinic for COVID-19 boosters and/or Flu vaccines on Wednesday November 1 from 2:00-6:00 PM at Legendary Waters.

Please call 715-779-3707 with any questions.

The Red Cliff Education Department is collaborating with the Bayfield School District to provide attendance incentives for students!

There will be quarterly drawings for some big prizes! In order to be eligible, students just need to be present in class. The Education Department thanks the Red Cliff Family Violence Prevention program for assistance in this as well.

The Education Department will draw names from the list of nominated students with high attendance, selecting winners from the middle and high school. Winners will be able to select a prize of their choosing, including noise canceling headphones and Samsung tablets.

Please contact the Education Department with any questions at 715-779-3766 or via email to education@redcliff-nsn.gov.

In 1990, Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson signed the proclamation of Wisconsin Wolf Awareness Week, a time to celebrate these important animals by highlighting the threats to their survival, spreading the word about what you can do to help wolves stay protected, and helping humans learn to live alongside them.

Applications are now being accepted for the Elder Home Modification Project. This wonderful initiative will help at-risk elder homeowners remain safely in their homes. The project will make safety improvements to households.

For more information or help with filling out an application, please contact:

Barb Gordon, Red Cliff Community Health Case Manager-715-779-3707 x 2307

Drew Grant, Red Cliff Aging Disability Resource Specialist (ADRS)-715-779-3706

Sarah Tourdot, Red Cliff Elderly Director-715-779-3706

Join us at this year's Baby Welcome Gathering hosted by Giwiidosendimin Project LAUNCH and Zaagichigaazowin Home Visiting Program at 88985 Nuzzo Road on October 28!

We are welcoming and honoring babies born between August 1, 2022 - July 31, 2023. Aho!

Boozhoo parents! This Circle of Security Parenting Class begins November 1, 2023. This program aims to help you understand your child's emotional needs, support your child's ability to manage emotions, and enhance the development of your child's self esteem.

For more information or to sign up, please contact Cindy Garrity or Jamie Goodlet at the ECC.

Boozhoo Elders! Until further notice, the daily elderly meals will continue to be available for pick up at the Food Distribution Building Monday through Friday between 12:00 - 1:00 PM. Home delivered meals will be delivered as usual.

Miigwech for understanding! Please contact Family & Human Services with any questions at 715-779-3706.

The Red Cliff Tribal Council is seeking community members to serve on various boards and committees. These entities work to serve the community and provide a communication channel between the Tribal Council and the community.

The American Lung Association is offering a Woodstove Changeout Program to help participants replace non-EPA certified wood stoves with new, cleaner burning devices.

Burning wood produces emissions that are widely recognized as harmful to human health. Many of these harmful emissions can occur both indoors and outdoors and many devices operate around the clock. People with lung disease face special risks, but so do children, older adults, people with cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Click to access the entire Behavioral Health October newsletter

Fall Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. This period is also sometimes called the Annual Election Period. During this time, you can make changes to your health insurance coverage, including adding, dropping, or changing your Medicare coverage. Even if you’re happy with your current health and drug coverage, Fall Open Enrollment is the time to review what you have, compare it with other options, and make sure that your current coverage still meets your needs for the coming year.

You can make as many changes as you need to your Medicare coverage during Fall Open Enrollment. The changes you can make include: 

1. Joining a new Medicare Advantage Plan
2. Joining a new Part D prescription drug plan 
3. Switching from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan 
4. Switching from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare (with or without a Part D plan) 

Regardless of how you receive your Medicare coverage, you should consider:  

• Your access to health care providers you want to see 
• Your access to preferred pharmacies 
• Your access to benefits and services you need 
• The total costs for insurance premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing amounts  

If you have Original Medicare, visit this page or read the 2024 Medicare & You handbook to learn about Medicare’s benefits for the upcoming year. You should review any increases to Original Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance charges.  

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or a stand-alone Part D plan, read your plan’s Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and/or Evidence of Coverage (EOC). Review these notices for any changes in: 

• The plan’s costs 
• The plan’s benefits and coverage rules 
• The plan’s formulary (list of drugs your plan covers) 

Make sure that your drugs will still be covered next year and that your providers and pharmacies are still in the plan’s network. If you are unhappy with any of your plan’s changes, you can enroll in a new plan. If you want assistance reviewing your options, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for individualized counseling.

Even if you are happy with your current Medicare coverage, consider other Medicare health and drug plan options in your area. For example, even if you do not plan to change your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you should check to see if there’s another plan in your area that will offer you better health and/or drug coverage at a more affordable price. Research shows that people with Medicare prescription drug coverage could lower their costs by shopping among plans each year. There could be another Part D plan in your area that covers the drugs you take with fewer restrictions and/or lower prices.

Click to access the entire ECC October 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.

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.