CEO's Corner

Happy March everyone! Even with the snow still flying, I can feel Spring ready to return This time of the year can be difficult for many with the length of winter setting in and lack of sunlight being had. This can lead to lack of movement, depression, and just an overall low well-being To help with this within our Tribal

Government offices, I have approved an employee walking program that will take place March 6th to May 26th. The “Step into Spring” 12-week Employee Walking Challenge will give staff the opportunity to get movement in on their lunch break. I approved an extra 15 minutes for lunch, with supervisor approval, for staff to take part in this. There will be prizes throughout with check point prizes at 6 and 12 weeks.

For the month of February, I:

Attended a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples meeting with KBIC and DOJ Staff We are working on our community MMIP plan, this should be completed and presented by May.

Attended a monthly President, CEO, and CFO meeting

Assisted with the BIA Budget Formulation Ranking tool process for estimated areas of funding need

Attended a meeting with Woder Group, a housing development group out of lower Michigan

Submitted BIA Annual Narrative reporting for COVID funds

Met with health staff to discuss a new approach for our dental recruitment efforts

Held a Quarterly Department Head meeting

Attended a Healing to Wellness graduation ceremony

Held two Policy Review Workgroup meetings

Met with Bob Larson, Kiwanis, on a book drop initiative they are doing with underserved populations

Met with Innovate Marquette and Syncurrent on a potential entrepreneur event coming to KBIC in late April

Met with Accounting office to begin reviewing and making changes to our current Purchasing and Procurement policy

Met with MI DHHS on assistance with understanding pharmacy claims

Met with our branding and web design consultants, The Marketing Department

Met with KBOCC on updating MOU

Attended a virtual Marquette Master Plan listening session

Met with NRD and MTU staff to discuss climate resiliency for the Integrated Resource Management Plan

Attended the reveal of the eagle statue at the health clinic

Held weekly and bi-weekly department update meetings throughout the month

Some great news for our summer youth program - KBIC was awarded $30,000 to support the summer food program for participants and staff. This award comes from the No Kid Hungry community nutrition program We are very grateful and excited to offer this to our summer youth participants. Great job team!

In my last Indigenous Insights update I discussed the new KBIC News interview updates with Department Heads that will highlight different departments and staff on a regular weekly basis The goal is to increase communication between the community and departments and allow for a better understanding of what is happening in the community and Tribal Government. Look for updates in March from Housing, Elder Nutrition, KBIC Health Systems, and the Transitional Home. If you have comments on this or want to provide feed back please reach out so we can better serve you

Earlier in February, I was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees. This is a great honor and one I am not taking lightly. My hope is to have a voice on the board for my community, indigenous peoples, and other underserved populations I want to bring a fresh light on what matters to students who enter campus and leave behind their communities to further their studies at NMU. How can we bring a better sense of belonging and allow students to see the fullest potential in themselves? It goes beyond getting a degree and having that stamp on your resume, I just want to visibly show that if you can see it, you can be it and inspire confidence in others. Representation matters. Thank you to everyone for their support in this appointment, my term expires in 2031.

Lastly, here is your reminder to like our official Facebook page, “Keweenaw Bay Indian Community”, and/or follow us on Instagram, kbic tribe, to stay up to date in all that is happening within our community!

Stay healthy,

Brigitte CEO Update on Indigenous Insights

Radon Action Month (CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE)

But our paying partners, EGLE and SWP, also felt it was important to offer this opportunity to all elders within Baraga and Houghton Counties There were three total pick-ups in Baraga and six in Houghton

In addition to residential recycling, this event also gave tribal government the opportunity to clean out their old electronic waste. The CEO’s Office organized and made possible a collection and hauling by the KBIC Public Works Department. Two trailers full of E-Waste with a total of 63 monitors and TV’S were brought to this event from KBIC Government, with 158 overall collected for the whole event. In total, a half semi-truck full of TV’s, monitors, and other e-waste that included printers, keyboards, computers, laptops, VCR’S and cellphones was collected.

Electronic Waste collection events are vital to helping keep our reservation lands clean Since these events have been made possible, KBIC Environmental Response Program Specialist, Serene Gauthier, has reported not reported any electronic waste found during illegal open dumping investigations. Electronic Waste has a negative lasting effect when discarded in the natural environment. Soils, drinking water, wildlife and fisheries can all be compromised from the materials found in electronic waste Contamination from lead, mercury, and cadmium, just to name a few, can have a negative impact on KBIC member’s treaty rights

January was National Radon Action Month. The Natural Resources Department distributed 80 charcoal radon tests for anyone to take at the following buildings: KBIC Health Clinic, Tribal Center, KBIC Library, Seniors Center, and the L’Anse Community Library

These tests allow the user to test their building at their own convivence It is important to test your home for radon as you cannot smell it, see it, and is the leading cause of lung cancer, only second to smoking. Radon is heavy so it is important when testing your home to place it in a basement or crawl space, if not, the most lived in space. The NRD Air Quality Program offers free radon testing and indoor air quality assessments to all tribal members Please contact our Air Quality Specialist at (906)524-5757 extension 4218.

About Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odorless gas that can cause illness and even death to someone exposed long enough. Origins of CO can come from leaks in heating systems in your home, blocked vents, or exhausts from motors Not only is there a chance of exposure in your home,