Miisaninawiind :: April 5-11, 2021
Boozhoo and welcome to the Miisaninawiind weekly newsletter!

The Miisaniinawind brings you important news, announcements and updates, designed specifically for the Red Cliff community. But that's not all. The weekly eNewsletter will also provide news about neighboring tribes, communities and broader issues across Indian Country that matter to you.

If you have photos, news or information you'd like to share, please email submissions to communications@redcliff-nsn.gov.

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Red Cliff News & Updates
COVID-19 Community Updates
An up-to-date list of COVID-19 related notices and educational resources can be found on the Red Cliff website.

Tribal Departments and Programs are still offering virtual and social-distance events! Check out the Events Calendar.
Vaccine Distribution
Click HERE for the most recent vaccine update from April 2.

Sign up ONLINE to receive the vaccine.

Please consider getting vaccinated to protect your community!
Red Cliff Boys & Girls Club Partners with Bayfield School to offer extra help for students
Students get help on virtual learning days
Red Cliff, WI – The Boys & Girls Club of Gitchigami has partnered with the Bayfield School District to help youth during the District’s designated virtual learning days.

These select 3-12th graders were identified by the School as students who could most benefit from extra help with online classes. The Boys & Girls Club of Gitchigami is excited to be able to help these students.

Navigating online classes can be challenging for both students and their parents/guardians. Imagine going from in-school learning to full online learning for a year! Bayfield School students had their world flipped moving to online courses, and now many students have a hybrid learning model of two days in school and two days of virtual learning each week. This is where the Red Cliff Boys & Girls Club comes in.

The Club works on School Aid Monday through Thursday. The aid sessions are broken down to two groups. Group One is Monday and Tuesday, and Group Two is Wednesday and Thursday. Each group has a limit of 10 students to allow for safe social distancing. This 10-student limit also ensures enough individual attention is given to each student who needs it.

The Club’s Activities Coordinator Abe Butterfield cooks breakfast for the students to start each morning. Students then get one-on-one homework help with staff. The Club strives to offer appropriate time and space so students can learn at their own pace, allowing youth to have confidence in their education and help them soar!

School Aid runs from 9am to 12pm, and occasionally youth stay a little longer to catch up on work or if they need a little extra help trying to finish up the day’s assignment.

The Club is very excited to be offering this to youth who need us the most, and we are thrilled to have this partnership with the Bayfield School!

Questions can be directed to Club Director Paige Moilanen at 715-779-3722.
Masks Remain Mandatory in Red Cliff
Red Cliff’s mandatory face coverings ordinance remains in effect despite Supreme Court’s decision to reverse Gov. Evers’ statewide mask mandate
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers’ statewide mask mandate has been struck down by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. However, Red Cliff’s Mandatory Face Coverings Ordinance remains in effect. Masks are required within tribal boundaries per the Red Cliff Code of Laws Chapter 59 in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Under the ordinance, masks must be worn in all indoor spaces, including tribal government buildings and tribal businesses. Masks are also mandatory in outdoor public spaces when within six (6) feet of someone who is not a member of the person’s family or household. Masks are also recommended for all other businesses and where social distancing is not possible.

The full ordinance can be found in the Red Cliff Code of Laws.

Fines for violating the ordinance start at $50 and could increase up to a maximum of $500 for repeated violations of the ordinance. Businesses that refuse to comply with the ordinance face fines and potential closure under the new law.

Red Cliff’s Mandatory Face Coverings Ordinance was originally passed by the Red Cliff Tribal Council on July 31, 2020. The ordinance has been in effect since August 3, 2020.

Please continue to do your part to help keep our community safe.
Hereditary Chief Buffalo Featured on Native Report
Red Cliff Elder and Hereditary Chief Robert Buffalo was featured on Native Report, and shared the importance of carrying on Native traditions.

"​​​​First off, know who you are. You're Anishinaabe... I'd like to see all the traditions carried on; from celebration of the seasons to our dance our language our cultural events that we recognize," Buffalo said.
You can watch the video on the Native Report Facebook page.
Miskwaabekong Transit Set
for Return to Full Service
Normal operations will resume April 19
Miskwaabekong Transit will resume operations on Monday April 19, 2021 with normal hours and days of service. Fee collection will also resume and will be collected according to the fee schedule for Zones 1 through 3.
 
Miskwaabekong Transit, which provides public transportation on demand services, will operate from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. 
 
Social distancing and hygiene practices have been in place since March 2020 and will continue to be enforced. These protocols include a six-foot distance between passengers, limited passengers on the buses, and hygiene requirements including washing hands with sanitizer. Drivers and passengers will be required to wear a mask, and masks will be available on each bus.
 
To schedule a ride with Miskwaabekong Transit call 715-682-9664.
 
For more information contact Jeff Benton at 715-779-3700 ext 4234 or visit www.redcliff-nsn.gov.
Community Comes Together for Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Awareness
For the month of April, the Red Cliff Family Violence Prevention Program is asking community members to tie a Teal Ribbon around a tree in their yard or near their home in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This Teal ribbon shows sexual assault survivors they have support and are believed!

You can pick up a teal ribbon at the Family Human Services building.

Submit a picture of your ribbon display to jamie.corbine@redcliff-nsn.gov or send via text to 715-292-7855. You can also submit to kathrine.gurske@redcliff-nsn.gov for a chance to win raffle prizes! A drawing will be held April 30.
Awareness
1 in 10 American children will be sexually abused before the age of 18. There are approximately 42 million adult survivors living in the U.S. alone.

This means that you know, and might even love, a survivor.

This can be a tough subject to face, but there is good news: now that you know what your friends could be going through, you have the chance to be a changemaker. Your response could make all the difference for someone going through a tough time!

The Red Cliff Family Violence Prevention advocates are here to help. We serve women, men and children on the Red Cliff Reservation and members of the Red Cliff Band in Bayfield County. Services include crisis intervention, counseling, legal and medical advocacy, and education.

Click HERE to learn more about Sexual Assault Awareness and the Red Cliff Family Violence Prevention Program.
Tribal Council Meeting - April 5
The Red Cliff Tribal Council regular monthly meeting is set for Monday April 5 at Legendary Waters Resort & Casino.

The Regular Session is scheduled to begin at 10 AM.

Click HERE to view the meeting agenda.
Mino Bimaadiziiwin Farm
CSA Shares Now Available
Enjoy fresh, local, and delicious veggies all season long
Red Cliff's Mino Bimaadiziiwin Farm has opened sign-up for 2021 CSA Shares!

If eating fresh, local, and delicious veggies and fruits sounds ideal to you, then a Mino Bimaadiziiwin CSA Share might be just what you need! CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture and is a way for the farm to provide seasonal produce at the peak of freshness, all season long.

Our CSA has been operating since 2017, and includes a wide range of fresh vegetables and herbs, a small selection of fruits, and other items like maple syrup and eggs. Revenue from the CSA helps support Farm operations, which in turn help advance the food sovereignty goals of the Red Cliff Band. We are not certified organic but everything at the farm is grown using organic methods – no chemicals or pesticides here!

WHAT'S A CSA ALL ABOUT?
When you sign up for a share, each week you will receive a box containing 8-11 fresh, seasonal and delicious items produced right here at the farm.

SO WHAT'S IN THE BOX?
We grow over 35 varieties of vegetables and herbs, so you’ll find all your favorites and maybe some new ones to try. Along with veggies and herbs, our fruit production includes strawberries, apples and pears. We also operate a sugarbush and care for a flock of laying hens, so you may find maple syrup or farm fresh eggs in your box too.

We do our best to pack the boxes with all your favorite spring, summer, and fall crops – and we also might introduce you to some new ones! Each box will come with a newsletter describing the contents and include recipe suggestions and storage tips. We want your experience to be rewarding, and we know that it can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming if you’re not sure what to do with the bounty (it even feels that way for farmers sometimes!). That’s why we are here to answer all your questions, provide cooking tips, and support you on your journey of seasonal eating.

WHAT'S THE LOCAL FISH OPTION?
If you choose the Local Fish option (new for 2021!) you’ll receive bi-weekly shares of locally harvested Lake Superior fish. All fish is harvested by Tribal fisherman and processed just down the road at the Red Cliff Fish Company. Options available for some customization of your bi-weekly fish preferences.

WHY ARE CSA PROGRAMS IMPORTANT?
By signing up for a CSA, you are choosing the nutritional benefits of eating fresh and in-season, and you are also supporting the local food system and local farms. You can trust that your food is not only fresh and flavorful, but grown by farmers you know, right down the road. A stronger local food system is more environmentally sustainable, builds community, and is better for your health!

PRICES
*Our CSA runs for 18 weeks from June 22 through October 19.

Full Season Share - $475
Cost for Red Cliff Tribal Members - $350
Cost for low-income Red Cliff families - $75
(must be eligible for other food assistance programs to qualify for Low-income Shares)

Full Season Share Plus Local Fish Option - $575
Cost for Red Cliff Tribal Members - $450
Cost for low-income Red Cliff families - $100
(must be eligible for other food assistance programs to qualify for Low-income Shares)
*Fish will be included bi-weekly

SIGN UP
You can download and fill out this form and drop it off at the farm, email it, or mail it. You can also sign up online. Printed copies will be available at the farm as well. We are located at 36735 Aiken Road, right next to the Red Cliff Community Health Center. Just reach out if you have any questions! 715-779-3782.

Spaces are limited, sign up today!

CSA pick-up will be Tuesdays from 3pm to 5pm at the Mino Bimaadiziiwin Tribal Farm, beginning June 22.
Working To Create a Healthier Community
The Red Cliff AODA Reduction Team is a coalition of community members and local service providers that works together to promote prevention and recovery from alcohol and substance use.

There is an AODA Reduction Team meeting scheduled for Thursday April 15 at 9:30 AM.

All are invited to join the meeting to bring ideas to the table as we work towards a healthier community.

For questions and more information, contact Chris Boyd at 715-779-3706 ext 5025 or via email at chris.boyd@redcliff-nsn.gov.
Cultural Consultant Needed
The Red Cliff Indian Child Welfare Department is seeking a Cultural Consultant who has experience working with children and families who have experienced intergenerational and historical trauma and are receiving child welfare services.

The consultant should be proficient in the Ojibwe Language, Culture, Ceremonies, and Traditions. Traditional practices will be used to address the health and root cause of intergenerational trauma, promote self-esteem and resiliency, keep families intact, help with identity formation and/or reclamation, be utilized as a coping skill, connect children, adults, and elders and promote positive community integration, help to assign meaning and purpose to life.

The contract would begin May 1, 2021 and would end May 1, 2022.

Bids must be received by April 5, 2021 no later than 4:30 PM.

Click HERE to view the entire posting and submission requirements.
Proposed Code of Law Changes
The Red Cliff Legal Department is proposing changes to the Red Cliff Code of Laws.

The changes pertain to Chapter 16 - Business License and Tax Law; and Chapter 18 - Land Lease Regulations.

The proposed changes will be voted on at the May 3 Tribal Council Meeting.

Click HERE to view the proposed changes.

Public comment on these proposals is encouraged. Please drop your comments at the Tribal Administration Building.
Red Cliff Offers Emergency Rental Assistance Program
The Red Cliff Band is now offering an Emergency Rental Assistance Program to Red Cliff Tribal Members to provide relief for home renters who are having difficulty paying rent and utility bills.

Click HERE to learn more about the program and to download an application.
2021 Tribal Council Elections

This year, Red Cliff Tribal Members will have the opportunity to vote for a Chairperson, Treasurer, and three At Large seats.

The Primary Election is set for May 7, and the General Election is set for July 6.

Tribal Members interested in running for Chairperson or Treasurer need to formally submit their candidacy by Wednesday April 7.

Tribal Members interested in running for an At Large seat need to formally submit their candidacy by Monday June 21.

All voting will occur at Legendary Waters Resort & Casino.

For all 2021 Election information and important dates, visit:

Red Cliff Tribal Member In
Race for Bayfield County Judge
Red Cliff Tribal Member Vince Kurta has declared his candidacy to become the next Bayfield County circuit court judge.

Kurta is currently serving as an assistant district attorney for Sawyer County. After earning his law license, Kurta joined the Haukaas Law Office and represented several townships in Bayfield County.

Kurta then became a staff attorney in Bad River where he handled contracts and government work.

Kurta's opponent is incumbent Judge John Anderson, who has served as Bayfield County circuit court judge since 2003.

More information about Kurta can be found HERE.

The election is set for April 6. Red Cliff and Bayfield County residents can find voting information for the April 6 election at www.myvote.wi.gov.
We're hiring childcare positions!
Health & Wellness
Virtual Sharing Circle - Every Tuesday!
A new weekly Virtual Sharing Circle begins Tuesday April 6 and is open to all who may struggle with addiction, are affected by addiction, and/or support the recovery lifestyle.

The Sharing Circle is scheduled from 10 AM - 12 PM every Tuesday and is facilitated by Red Cliff AODA Services Coordinator Linda Dunbar.

For more information and to gain access to the virtual group, please contact Linda Dunbar at 715-779-3741 ext 2413.
Discussing Alcohol Use With Your Kids
Small Talks is a statewide campaign created by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services that encourages adults – especially parents and caregivers – to have short, casual conversations about the dangers of underage drinking with the kids in their lives starting at age 8.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month
Now is a great time to talk with kids about alcohol. We've created new materials that offer practical, evidence-based advice to help you feel more prepared to have small talks.
Updated webpage
Visit the Small Talks: Start Talking, It Makes Difference webpage for more tips and more tools, including answers to tough questions you may get during a small talk and step-by-step guidance on how to teach kids to say "no" to alcohol in peer pressure situations.
Fact sheets
Check out our new facts sheets before your next small talk.
This fact sheet is part of our partnership with the Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative to raise awareness about underage drinking and its associated risks.
Behavioral Health April Newsletter
Red Cliff Behavioral Health has released its April newsletter.

Click HERE to access the full newsletter for behavioral health resources. This month the focus is on alcohol use and stress management.
Artful Healing Paint Night
Now Offering Kids Paint Night
Red Cliff Behavioral Health is now offering a paint night for kids!

The kids painting event is scheduled for April 29 from 5:30 - 6:30 PM.

Please RSVP by calling 715-779-3741 ext 2408.
Virtual Recovery Meetings
There are various AA / NA / Alanon group meetings offered around the Chequamegon Bay area.

Click HERE to access the different meeting links and information.
For other Health Center information or general questions call: 715-779-3707 or Email  RCHealthCenter@redcliffhealth.org

Click HERE to visit the Red Cliff Community Health Center website.

Click HERE for COVID-19 Updates and Resources.
Family & Human Services
Help Our Children By
Becoming a Foster Parent
You could help change the lives of our youth by becoming a foster parent!

Call Red Cliff Indian Child Welfare for more information on becoming a foster parent.

715-779-3747.

Love. Protect, Help.
You Can Be A Respite Care Provider
Red Cliff Indian Child Welfare is seeking community members who are interested becoming a respite care provider.

Respite care providers help keep our families together!

For more information please contact Red Cliff Indian Child Welfare.

715-779-3747
State Moratorium on Utility Disconnections to end April 15
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) voted unanimously to allow utilities to move forward with disconnection of service for nonpayment at the end of the annual winter moratorium on disconnections on April 15, 2021.

The move comes following a moratorium preventing utilities from disconnection for nonpayment during het ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

To avoid disconnection, customers who have fallen behind on payments are encouraged first to contact their utility to set up a payment plan. If customers are having difficulty paying their energy bills, they may be eligible for assistance from the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP). To apply online go to energybenefit.wi.gov or to find out where to apply in person or by phone go to http://homeenergyplus.wi.gov/ or call 1-866-HEATWIS.
FoodWIse Newsletter - April 2021
FoodWIse Nutrition has released its April 2021 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 April 2021 FoodWIse newsletter.
Education
Opening on ECC Policy Council
The Red Cliff Early Childhood Center is seeking one Head Start representative to it on the 2020-2021 Policy Council.

Responsibility and Authority of the Policy Council Board

The Policy Council shall give comments, participate, and approve or disapprove the following matters as outlined in the Head Start Act, Section 642(c)(2)(D):

a) Activities to support the active involvement of parents in supporting program operations, including service plans and ECC Policies & Procedures.
b) ECC recruitment, selection, and enrollment priorities.
c) Applications for funding including budgets.
d) Personnel policies and decisions regarding hiring, firing, and standards of conduct for program staff.
e) Policy Council shall represent and be the voice of the Red Cliff Early Childhood Center parents.

If you are interested please contact Cindy Garrity at 715-779-5030 ext 2551 or email cindy.garrity@redcliff-nsn.gov by 12:00 PM Friday April 2.
Bayfield School District Weekly Updates
The Bayfield School District will be releasing
weekly updates for parents and students.

You can view the school's weekly updates on their website:

You can also find the weekly updates on the
Bayfield School District Facebook page.

Message from Beth Paap:
April 5th marks the beginning of the fourth quarter of our school year. The last few months will move by quickly. We continue to work toward expanding our school days and creating safe ways that we can have many of the end of year activities and events that are important and meaningful.

This year has been a great challenge for us all. I want to thank each of you for helping us ensure your child continues to learn in a healthy and safe way.

Respectfully, Beth Paap
Access Scholarship Opportunities
Red Cliff Community Members have access to a variety of scholarships.
Click HERE to visit the Education Department's Scholarships page.


Upcoming External Scholarship Opportunities

Bayfield Education Association Aspiring Educator Scholarship
Click HERE for details.

10 Scholarships for 2021 Native Students
Click HERE for details.

AISES Together Towards Tomorrow T3 Scholarships
Applications now open! Click HERE for details.

For anthropology/archaeology, or other cultural studies. Deadline April 26.
Boys and Girls Club of Gitchigami
Free Meals for Club Members
The Red Cliff Boys and Girls Club continues its free meal campaign for club members through April.

Meals for Friday and Saturday are handed out at Red Cliff Food Distribution every Friday from 11 AM - 12:30 PM.

To register youth as a Boys and Girls Club Member, please call 715-779-3706 or visit the Red Cliff Boys and Girls Club webpage.
Treaty Natural Resources
Housing Authority
Red Cliff Fish Company
Legendary Waters Resort & Casino
News Across Indian Country
GLIFWC, law enforcement
stress safety during fishing season
Last spring, an incident involving gunfire on Wisconsin’s Little Saint Germain Lake in Vilas County put tribal fishermen in danger and interfered with court-affirmed treaty rights. Going into the 2021 spearing season, GLIFWC wardens and an interagency network of law enforcement officers are planning to conduct patrols along Ceded Territory waterbodies where tribal harvesters engage in fishing activity.
 
“If you hear or see anything that resembles harassment of tribal harvesters, please call in a report to GLIFWC or your local County Sheriffs Department,” according to GLIFWC Chief Conservation Enforcement Officer Adam McGeshick. “No family should have to fear for their safety while fishing.”
 
Ojibwe tribes are entering their 37th consecutive spring spearing season of the modern era. Predictions from anti-Indian protesters in the late-80s that tribal spearfishing would decimate fish populations and harm the tourist economy never materialized. Yet some residents still look for opportunities to harass and threaten native people as they go about harvesting walleye and other species over the short two-three week season.
 
“We will not tolerate tribal harvester harassment of any sort,” said GLIFWC Voigt Intertribal Task Force Chairman John Johnson Sr. “The season is about cultural tradition and nutrition--an opportunity for Ojibwe people to feed their families. We call upon all of the communities in the Northwoods lake country to help be a part of the solution.”
 
Additionally, GLIFWC is encouraging tribal harvesters to follow the Four Cs (see below) if
encountering a harvesting harassment situation. The Four Cs stand for Create Distance, Confirm your Location, Call 911, and Check in with GLIFWC.
 
Through a collaborative management process, GLIFWC participates in fish population survey work throughout the year. Safe harvest numbers are established annually and both tribal and state quotas are set for the respective harvest season. Each fish taken by Ojibwe spearers is documented by creel teams overseen by GLIFWC wardens. It’s an exacting monitoring system, unmatched by any other resource management agency in the three-state region.
 
GLIFWC would also like to encourage all harvesters this spring to continue to follow Center for Disease Control guidelines by maintaining a minimum six-foot buffer from other individuals, and by wearing personal protective equipment when in common areas. GLIFWC wishes all tribal and non-tribal harvesters a successful and safe spring.
 
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission is an intertribal organization comprised of 11 member Ojibwe bands, located in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. GLIFWC works with member bands to both manage and preserve off-reservation treaty reserved rights and resources. Please visit glifwc.org for more information about GLIFWC.
 
Report harvester harassment
Non-emergency GLIFWC enforcement line (715) 685-2113.
 
Contact GLIFWC Public Information Office: Dylan Jennings (715) 348-6594 or Charlie Rasmussen (715) 209-1607.
Community Events
Interested in upcoming events?

Red Cliff Tribal Administration Office 
88455 Pike Road 
Bayfield, Wi. 54814 
715-779-3700