KBIC provides $250,000 to L'Anse Fire Department

Tribal Council approved a motion at the December 21, 2022, Tribal Council meeting to provide the L'Anse Fire Department with $250,000 of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to purchase a new fire apparatus for Baraga County as a provision of government services so that the L'Anse Fire Department may continue to respond to fire emergencies and keep the community safe

The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds is a program authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act. This initiative provides $350 billion in emergency funding for eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to help turn the tide of the pandemic, address its economic fallout, and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery.

Honorable William W. Jondreau, Sr.

September 30, 1967 - March 13, 2023

William W. “Bill” Jondreau, Sr. age 55 of Baraga, MI passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 13, 2023 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital with his loving family by his side. He was born in L’Anse on September 30, 1967 the son of the late Alice Jondreau.

Bill was a person who had the opportunity to share all the love that he had inside him. His cup was overflowing so much that could fill everyone else’s cup with love and compassion That’s the man he was and that’s the man we will remember him as. Bill graduated from Baraga High School in 1985. He attended North Michigan University and received his Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice in 1990. Bill had worked as a tribal police officer and game warden for GLIFWC and then began his career with the Michigan Department of Corrections at Baraga Maximum Correctional Facility in 1993 While working for the prison he served as Residential Unit Officer, Case Manager, Residential Unit Manager and retired after 26 years as Assistant Deputy Warden. Bill was a member of Most Holy Name of Jesus Blessed Kateri Tekawitha Catholic Church and served as Parish Council President. He was also a member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Tribal Council, worked in the judicial branch as Associate Judge, Appellate Judge and finally Chief Judge. and was a member of the Ojibwa Senior Center. He served as a former chairman for Lake Superior Community Development Corporation, and volunteered his time to many activities’ events and organizations. Bill was a lifelong member of the Baraga Fire Department, was a Baraga School Board Member, had coached little league for many years and youth basketball. He enjoyed hunting, gill net fishing, boating, camping and was an avid Steelers fan. Bill’s greatest love and joy were his two sons, who he was so proud of.

Bill is survived by his loving sons William Jondreau, Jr., and Steele Jondreau, his sons mother Roberta Jondreau of Baraga, granddaughter Kacey Lee, sisters Helen Jondreau (RD Curtis), Suzanne Jondreau, and DeAnna (Suzette) Hadden all of Baraga, step dad Steve Hadden of Baraga, step siblings Dale Hadden of Alston, and Delana Hadden of MI, fiancé Emily Shardlow of Rockland, step children Danielle (Dustin) Boyak of Bellaire, MI, Trista Shardlow (Ty Mulari) of Rockland, and Ella Shardlow of Rockland, and nephews Ty Curtis (Casey Reynolds) and Robert Curtis both of Baraga. He was preceded in death by his mother Alice, grandparents Boyzie and Mino Jondreau, and step brother Daniel.

Believe it or not, spring is here. April may have come in like a lion but it's nice to think about the longer days and warmer nights ahead Let's embrace this change in seasons and all that comes with it, it's all about perspective.

This past month was a rough one We had some great things get accomplished, but we also had some horrific things happen that put a dent in our overall goal at KBIC. One thing that has remained the same throughout all of this is our perseverance as people to take the punches and continue on. Of course, it's never ideal to endure such a community tragedy, but when all is said and done, it will only make us stronger as people Again, it's all about perspective

Bill Jondreau meant a lot to KBIC. He was a big piece of what our leadership does here and the mission we are trying to meet. The void he has left will take some time to fill. I will miss him very much.

We held a Mandated Reporter training this past month with Leslie Hagen, National Indian Country Training Coordinator. This training is vital for all employees because it allows staff to understand when and how to report instances of child abuse and neglect in their positions. Something that is, unfortunately, all too common within our communities We are going to offer this training for staff on an annual basis with opportunities for elaborate training that Leslie has to offer, both in-person and virtually.

For the month of March, I attended:

Branding/Website update review meeting

LAnse/LVD trail discussion

EPA Equitable Resiliency Charette and Open House Promise Neighborhood budget review meeting

Cybersecurity training for Tribal Leaders Policy Review Workgroup meeting

Media training for Tribal Leaders and Communications Fellowship with NCAI in Washington, DC

Monthly President, CFO, and CEO meeting

WODA Development "Blackrock Crossing" housing meeting

KBOCC Liberal Studies degree program review meeting

Tribal Court budget meeting

Ignite Your Idea planning meeting with Syncurrent and KBOCC

Mandated Reporter training with National Indian Country Training Coordinator, Leslie Hagen

Weekly department update meetings

Two Tribal Council meetings

Held one exit interview

90-day probationary review meeting with a department head

An event coming up in April that I am excited to see come to fruition is the "Ignite Your Idea" with Innovate Marquette, Syncurrent, and KBOCC. This event is something we have been discussing since last fall It's a fun event because it will allow community members, especially youth, to understand how to build up an idea for entrepreneurship that they may feel is out of reach. The event will prepare those individuals with the knowledge and tools to move forward with their idea and, hopefully, bring it to life Also - there's the chance to win a pretty cool electric skateboard! So, please, if you or you know someone with an awesome idea, send them to this event, you don't want to miss out!

To end, I want to thank the community for their continued support and encourage anyone who has an issue or wants to discuss something related to the government to please come see me, my door is always open

Stay healthy, Brigitte

Natural Resources Department wins grand prize with Brownsfield story map

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) Natural Resources Department (NRD) received a Brownfields Small Technical Assistance Grant from United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2019. With this grant a story map of the Brownfields sites was developed to help with one of the Brownfields Program’s four elements; public participation During the early stages of the pandemic, public participation was difficult so the opportunity to create a story map was the answer.

The story map was created by KBIC Librarian, Dawn Browning, and submitted to the 2021 Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc (ESRI) Tribal Story Map Challenge and won the grand prize In 2022, EPA Region 5 Brownfields Project Manager, Sarah Gruza, nominated KBIC NRD to receive recognition for their success in utilizing a variety of forms of EPA brownfields assistance at the National Brownfields Conference in 2022. KBIC was awarded this honor for all the outstanding contributions in Brownfields redevelopment for the story map The KBIC Environmental Response Program Specialist, Serene Gauthier, was unable to attend the Brownfields Conference but accepted the award in person on March 6, 2023.

This story map has led to multiple federal partnerships, funding resources and encouraged other tribes across Indian Country to create story maps.

Brownfields Tribal Response Program: A Tour (arcgis.com)

KBIC Fire and Emergency Management readies for the upcoming fire season, seeks candidates for full-time and on-call positions

The KBIC Fire and Emergency Management department is preparing for the upcoming fire season. This includes annual refresher training, physical fitness testing, and readying equipment that has been in winter storage Maintaining readiness is a priority component of the department. Tribal personnel not only respond to wildland fires on the L’Anse reservation but also provide assistance to interagency partners locally, regionally, and nationally. In 2022, the department was ordered for off-unit assignments 4 times. These assignments included the ChequamegonNicolet National Forest, the Mescalero Apache tribe in New Mexico, the Wind River Agency in Wyoming, and to the Okmulgee Agency in Eastern Oklahoma. These assignments are 14 days, not including travel, where shifts range from 10-16 hours or more per day.

When not on assignment, the fire crew performs hazardous fuels reduction activities such as prescribed fire, mechanical thinning and brushing, and fuel break maintenance. Training is also of critical importance for gaining knowledge and attaining advanced fire qualifications. Last October, three employees attended the week-long Engine Operator (ENOP) course in Bay Mills. This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge/skills necessary to perform the functions described in the Engine Operator Position Task Book as well as address the standards, procedures, and techniques to be an engine operator on a wildland or prescribed fire.

Last year, the program submitted a project proposal for a 5 person fuels module to the BIA, which was subsequently approved and funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding is for a period of 5 years and creates 5 full-time positions with benefits. The module will conduct fuels reduction activities on the reservation as well as throughout the nation. They will also perform fire suppression duties as well The department is also looking for on-call firefighters to supplement staffing as needed To apply for any of these positions, contact the Personnel department at (906)353-4176 or Tom Chosa, FEMD Director, at tchosa@kbic-nsn.gov.

Tubing activity at Mount Ripley

Tubing Hill

On Friday, March 10, the KBIC Youth Programs headed to Mount Ripley's Tubing Hill for round two. The weather was a bit chiller than last, but that did not stop the youth from enjoying many laughs and rides up and down the hill.