November 2022

GASHKADINO GIIZIS - FREEZING MOON

13th Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Walk

By: Carole LaPointe

On Friday, October 7, 2022, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and KBIC Niimigimiwang Transitional Home Programs & Services(KNTHP&S) honored the memory of Chelsey LaFernier, and other victims of domestic and intimate partner violence, including sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and MMIW/Human trafficking The 13th Annual DVAM walks in memory of Chelsey LaFernier The event started a little after 11:00 a.m. on an unseasonably cold October morning, with an escort by KBIC Tribal Police! Approximately 75 DVAM walkers proceeded through the KBIC Housing Project, past Chelsey's home, M 38 via Lyons Street, and up to

the Niiwin Akeea Recreational Facility, along Michigan Avenue (aka M 38) The Michigan Department of Transportation office out of L'Anse provided orange cones for walker safety to the Transitional Home The KBIC Dept. of Public works set up the cones and took them down The DPW assisted with table and canopy set up and directional signs to guide the walkers!

Each year, the staff of KNTHP & S tries to start planning in July after the powwow Letters are sent to the community and outside businesses wishing to donate The Youth Director confirms the venue, and both departments work together to set it up in October. Several new vendors donated this year Staff sit down a few weeks before and plan the decorations. Melissa LaFernier and Avis Leinonen are the artists who decide the table settings and set up the raffle

2022 TRIBAL COUNCIL

Kim Klopstein, President Susan J. LaFernier, Vice President Toni J. Minton, Secretary Don Messer, Assistant Secretary Randall R. Haataja, Treasurer Doreen G. Blaker

Robert R.D. Curtis, Jr. Eddy Edwards

Sue Ellen Elmblad

Elizabeth "Liz" Julio Gary Loonsfoot, Jr. Rodney Loonsfoot

Chelsey LaFernier's daughter, Alexxus and her family

Photo by: Roberta Jondreau

This year, everyone chipped in setting up We decided to have a last minute feast because we collected enough donations and 89 raffle prizes! Jamie Jones prepared the Traditional Feast. It featured fresh fish caught by Glenn Tolonen, hamburger/venison stew, wild rice provided by Dynamite Hill Farms, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, salad, and fried bread Shelby Turnquist of Chassell provided cupcakes. The food was so delicious that take home trays were given to participants, and the remaining food was donated to the New Day Treatment center. The walkers were greeted in a warm community

setting and set up for a walking feast and raffle opportunities. Opening remarks by our Tribal President, Kim Klopstein, said, "We hear you and are standing with you to break the cycle and put to an end to this violence, so our children will no longer be affected and have a brighter,

happier, and healthier future!" The Tribal Council stood firm against the violence of any type and proclaimed it in 2009. Carole LaPointe, Team Lead, discussed new funding for the domestic violence programs in 2023 from the Office of Victims of Crime(OVC) through the Department of Justice and Indian Health Service. A Heart Berry blanket was gifted to Chelsey's daughter, Alexxus DeCota, her

granddaughter and fiance, during this presentation. Sierra Ayers, Director of the Walking the Path Together Program, who frequently networks with Niimigimiwang, talked about violence programs in the schools that have been created so that our youth will know the dangers of cyberbullying, sextortion, and other ways violence can occur over social media. Waba Alakayak, an Intimate Partner Violence Prevention worker, talked of activities in which her program works collaboratively with the education program to culturally bring this information to them Carisa LaFernier, Survivor Advocate, Alicia Stein, Part Time unit manager, and Jeani Aho, Part time unit manager, were also introduced

Drum songs by the Four Thunders Drum ended the event

All walkers were presented with a purple T shirt commemorating the event. There is a need for volunteers and more women to help plan and implement the event We want to start a new Women's Advisory Board. If you are interested, please let any staff member of the Niimigimiwang know or call the UM Office at 906.353.4593 or Team Lead Office at 906 353 4596

Aanin Boozhoo,

The President’s office has been very busy during the month of October and throughout the year! The Tribal Council held nine meetings and one hearing this month. Here are some of the issues being discussed at those meetings

Land Claims: The Tribal Council meets biweekly with our attorney who is

representing KBIC on our Land Claims issues. In the near future, our hope is to make an official announcement on the progress of these meetings.

Mashikki License: It certainly has been a long road, there have been many bumps along the way but we are in the final stage of the licensing process, we should have an answer in the next few weeks

Budgets: The Tribal Council held budget meetings and approved increases for the following programs. The Senior Pension Program payments were increased to $500 per month and will be paid in November for Senior and Disabled members who are eligible for the program. The Youth Activity Fund was increased to $500 per child from $250 and increased the Community Needs Assistance Program from $250 to $500. The Council also approved a $1000 COVID 19 Inflation Relief Program payment to all KBIC Members living on and off the reservation. The General Welfare Exclusion Program payment of $3000 was approved to those members who reside in Baraga and Marquette Counties. The Tribal Council also approved $3 00 hourly wage increases for the Enterprise and Government employees.

The following motion is from the 10 19 2022 Tribal Council Meeting (Minutes have not been approved)

Employee Anniversary Dates Amend motion from 10 12 22 meeting Wage Increase

MOTION MADE BY DON MESSER TO AMEND THE OCTOBER 12, 2022 MOTION TO INCREASE WAGES $3 00 ACROSS THE BOARD FOR GOVERNMENT AND ENTERPRISE EMPLOYEES AND TO ADJUST THE WAGE GRID ACCORDINGLY, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2022; THE GOVERNMENT AND ENTERPIRSE EMPLOYEES ANNIVERSARY DATES WILL CHANGE TO OCTOBER 1, 2022 AND ON CALL, TEMPORARY, INTERIM, AND SEASONAL EMPLOYEES WILL RECEIVE EITHER THIS INCREASE OR BE PLACED AT THE MINIMUM OF THEIR GRADE AND IF APPLICABLE WILL CHANGE THEIR ANNIVERSARY DATE TO OCTOBER 1, 2022. CONTRACTED EMPLOYEES INCREASES WILL BE ACCORDING TO THEIR CONTRACT. CO SUPPORTED BY DOREEN G. BLAKER AND GARY F. LOONSFOOT, JR.ALL IN FAVOR (Susan J. LaFernier, Toni J Minton, Don Messer, Randall R Haataja, Doreen G Blaker, Robert R.D. Curtis, Jr., Eddy Edwards, Sue Ellen Elmblad, Elizabeth “Liz” Julio, Gary F Loonsfoot, Jr , Rodney Loonsfoot), OPPOSED 0, ABSTAINING 0, ABSENT 0 MOTION CARRIED

The Pressbox renovations are completed and the Pressbox re opened in their new facility on October 27th with a new bar, kitchen, dining and event area. The hotel renovations are also complete, all hotel rooms have been updated including the front desk area and the hotel conference rooms. The Baraga Ojibwa Casino’s new pavement is complete We invite you to come and visit our new facilities!

I attended the 13th Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month Walk in memory of Chelsey LaFernier on October 7th along with a number of Community events held throughout the month

The Tribal Council approved the Candidates as recommended by the Election Board on October 8th at a meeting held at the Marquette Ojibwa Casino Event Center. The recommendation by the Election Board was to not include a Candidate who did not meet the residency clause according to the Election Ordinance. A notice was sent to the Candidate an appeal hearing was held on October 21st. As a result, the Tribal Council made a motion to overturn the decision of the Election Board and allowed the Candidate to run in the Baraga District.

The following motion is from the 10 14 2022 Tribal Council Appeal Hearing Meeting (Minutes have not been approved)

Appeal of Election Board Candidate Decision

MOTION MADE BY RODNEY LOONSFOOT TO ALLOW ROBERT A. RAJACIC TO RUN FOR TRIBAL COUNCIL IN THE BARAGA DISTRICT. SUPPORTED BY ROBERT R.D. CURTIS, JR. FIVE IN FAVOR (Susan J. LaFernier, Doreen G. Blaker, Robert R D Curtis, Jr , Eddy Edwards, Rodney Loonsfoot), OPPOSED 0, ABSTAINING 3 (Toni J. Minton, Elizabeth “Liz” Julio, Gary F. Loonsfoot, Jr ), ABSENT 3 (Don Messer, Randall R Haataja, Sue Ellen Elmblad,) MOTION CARRIED.

Primary Elections will be held on November 5, 2022. Baraga District Voters will vote at the Ojibwa Seniors and L’Anse District voters will vote at the Zeba Hall. Polls will be open from 10:00 a m 6:00 p m

Marquette Voters will vote at the Harvey Community Center on Thursday, November 3rd, and polls will be open from 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p m Homebound voting for Baraga and L’Anse voters will take place on Friday, November 4th.

If there any topics you would like to be informed about in future issues of the newsletter, please contact me at tckim@kbic nsn.gov

Remember our Veterans on November 11, 2022, and wishing you and your family a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving

Kim

Klopstein, President

Hello! I am very happy to see the Community Newsletter back in action and hope you enjoy it too. This will be our place for all things KBIC! As we bring it back and work out kinks to understand just exactly what our community wants to see and read, please provide your constructive feedback and know that we are listening If you have ideas for stories, submissions, articles of interest, or anything else please let us know so we may get it added for future editions.

If you notice on the front page we started this newsletter as Edition 1 We did this intentionally with the goal in mind that we want to bring a refreshed energy to our newsletter and allow for growth The past two and a half years have been a challenging time for many people, including our community. We lost loved ones, we were vulnerable to the unknown, and many times our patience and common interests were tested. Let this be a space of resiliency to bring joy back into our lives and read about the successes and all the events and programs our community has to offer

Budget update:

On October 12th, Tribal Council approved the FY23 budget The major changes from that process are mentioned in this month’s President’s report. The FY23 budget process was a 3 month long endeavor Budget templates were sent to Department Head’s on August 1st with a first draft completion date of August 12th. From there an internal review was done for correctness and errors by the CEO, ACEO, CFO, and GM. The budget is then balanced and summarized by the CFO and Department Heads are ready to bring their budgets for review with Tribal Council. After review, wish list items, proposed changes, and new proposed staff positions are discussed. Overall, I am very happy with our budget for this year and want to thank Tribal Council and all of the Department Heads for their hard work in bringing it all together.

Meetings:

I want to give everyone an idea of how I manage staff here at KBIC so here is a glimpse: I try and meet with every Department Head on a weekly, bi weekly, or monthly basis. In our 1 on 1 meetings, we typically discuss any upcoming items, pending items, staff issues and successes, and brainstorm ideas Meetings last anywhere from 30 60 minutes depending on what is needed. I feel this provides accountability on both ends and really allows me to get an indication of the workload and progress within the department It also keeps communication at an all time high

I also meet with all Department Heads quarterly in department head meetings. This is where we meet as a whole and discuss organizational matters, provide reminders for departments and staff, and again communicate updates from departments.

More from October:

Our new Health Administrator, Deanna Foucault, started on October 11th Deanna brings a wealth of knowledge from working within the hospital system at BCMH for over 25 years. What I love most is the energy Deanna brings and her sense of urgency to improve, lead her staff, and provide the best health care and services possible to KBIC Look for great things from her and her staff at KBIC Health Systems!

I was able to provide two CEO updates on Indigenous Insights this month. I feel this is really important because it reaches staff, community members, and beyond Keeping our community informed is an important goal of mine and I am happy we have the opportunity to do that with our radio station staff. I hope to continue this on a bi weekly basis

In addition to budget review meetings with Tribal Council, I attended five Council meetings. I also attended:

Supportive Housing meetings with Gundlach Champion and OHM (2)

Domestic Violence Awareness Walk sponsored by the Niimigimiwaang Transitional Home

KBIC LVD Trail MOU meeting

KBOCC MOU update meeting

Health Insurance Renewal meeting with VAST 401K Retirement Committee meeting with Wells Fargo Carbon Credit Sale Update meeting with the National Indian Carbon Coalition

Huron Islands check in meeting with the US Fish and Wildlife Service

Good for UP Cohort meeting

CEO Roundtable with incoming Northern Michigan University President

Spoke at a professional development conference with Connect Marquette on “Diversity in the Workplace”

Lake Superior Community Partnership Board of Directors meeting

Indigenous Knowledge Symposium at Michigan Tech University GapRx340B initial review meeting with Dr Purnank Ghandi

I am going on my 16th month in my position My goal as CEO is to first and foremost, win in the workplace. While this is a daunting task that takes time, please know we are working hard to provide a culture of teamwork, support, and innovation. When people are motivated innovation thrives! This means new creative ideas for services and the way they are put in place for people to benefit from are formed.

“Progress is impossible without change.”

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and start to the 2022 holiday season!

Brigitte

Around the Community Harvest Feast

The Pow Wow and Cultural Committee hosted this year's Harvest Feast The feast was held on Saturday, October 15, 2022 Community members gathered at the Niiwiin Akeaa Community Center for dinner filled with fresh fish, wild rice, frybread, and much more. A mini pow wow was held following the feast; the community enjoyed drumming, and dancing, and a few lucky community members went home with cash from the spot dances.

FishProcessingFacilityand TeachingCenterOpenHouse

By:MichaelLahti

On Friday, October 14th, the KBIC Natural Resources Department (NRD) held an Open House at the Deweyendan

Believe in it!) Indigenous Gardens to showcase the new Fish Processing and Teaching Facilities. These facilities and the community garden are intended to promote food sovereignty and are available for use by community members for a wide variety of food related activities. At least 75 people attended the event, including a group of children and chaperones from the KBIC Youth Program.

The Open House began with an introduction and welcome from NRD Director, Evelyn Ravindran Evelyn provided background on how the facilities came to be and acknowledged the funding sources that made construction of the buildings possible NRD employees and volunteers were on hand to lead demonstrations and provide hands on activities to highlight some of the uses for and services provided by the new facilities. Demonstrations and activities included: storytelling and teachings around the fire, processing of manoomin (wild rice), spinning honey, fileting fish, making birch bark baskets, asemaa ties, sage bundles, balms, and fresh apple cider. Information tables provided handouts and resources related to the facility use, food sovereignty, wild game harvest and processing, and chronic wasting disease.

As with any great event, there were several delicious foods and beverages to sample. Attendees enjoyed traditional foods such as healing teas, cookies from the decolonizing diet project, locally caught grilled lake trout, manoomin, and apple cider. First Catch was onsite to provide lunch, courtesy of the KBIC NRD

Chi miigwech to all of the NRD staff and volunteers (especially Catherine and Mark Sherman) who worked hard to make this event successful and everyone who attended the event in less than ideal U.P. Fall weather. The next event is Waawaashkeshi Camp, to be held on Saturday, November 12th from 10am-2pm at the Teaching Facility.Please join us to learn about skinning and processing a harvested deer Everyone is encouraged to attend; minors must be accompanied by an adult.

If you are interested in using the Fish Processing Facility or the Teaching Facility, you can reach out to Cindy Wiltse, Food Systems Specialist at (906) 524 5757 ext 4244 or Joe Schutte, Operations & Compliance Specialist at (906) 524 5757 ext. 4214 for more information

L to R: Evelyn Ravindran, NRD, stirs wild rice over the fire; Karena Schmidt, NRD, makes salve out of plantain. NRD staff community members with apple cider pressing Patrick LaPointe, NRD, teaches Princess Pierre how to filet a fish A beautiful display of tasty tea samples.

Maternal Child Health Hosts Infant & Pregnancy Loss Awareness Walk

KBIC Health System Maternal Child Health hosted a walk supporting Infant Loss and Pregnancy Awareness Month on October 19, 2022 The walk began at the Ojibwa Campgrounds, continued on the non motorized trail, and finished at the Ojibwa BP Lisa Denomie gave a blessing near the water, and Miranda Mukka's short presentation included the following:

"Some of you may know that October is Infant Awareness Month. It is estimated that tens of thousands of families in America grieve the loss of a baby each year. The purpose of this walk is to recognize this unique grief of bereaved parents and to demonstrate support to the families that suffered a tragic loss. Most of us, if not all of us here, know someone who has had a miscarriage. Here are some statistics: Every 1 in 4 women will experience a miscarriage in their lifetime. About 10 20% of pregnancies, end in miscarriage with the number likely higher considering a lot of miscarriages can go unnoticed. 1 in 160 pregnancies will result in stillbirth. While these statistics are sobering and sad, this information needs to be shared so parents don't feel so alone.

October is also known as SIDS Awareness Month From 2009 2019, 1,436 babies died in Michigan from sleep related deaths. In 2019 alone, 149 babies died due to unsafe sleep environments In Indian Country, our numbers are even higher than average. It is our responsibility to bring attention to this subject and to promote safe sleeping habits. If you know someone who has recently lost a child, grieve with them and think before you speak Whether it was through miscarriage, stillbirth or SIDS, these parents are mourning the death of a loved one and need our support. Today, we walk for our babies to remember and honor them "

Stuart

Swartz

Facility Attendant Niiwin Akeaa Community Center & Youth Programs

My name is Stuart, and I was born and raised here on the reservation. I enjoy being able to provide a safe and fun environment for the kids as well as watching them grow. I have also spent time in the National Guard, driving across the

country in a truck and in various other positions here for the tribe Some of my hobbies include video games, working out, and bowling

Stuart can be reached by phone at the Youth Center (906)353-4643

Jailyn Shelifoe

Survivor Advocate

Niimigimiwang Transitional Home & Services

Boozhoo!

My name is Jailyn Shelifoe, I am a 21year old mom to my almost two year old daughter, Nyla, and one more on the way!

I graduated from L'Anse High School in 2019 and attended Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor for a year until the Covid 19 pandemic came about. In the midst of the pandemic, I started as a full time Unit Manager at the Niimigimiwang Transitional Home and worked there for two years until I applied for the job as a Survivor Advocate I am very eager to work this job because I love to be there for those in need, whether that be advocating for them in any way they need me, or just being someone, they can always count on and trust.

Jailyn can be reached at jshelifoe@kbic nsn.gov

DeAnna Foucault Health Administrator KBIC Health Systems

I am a Registered Nurse and have lived and worked in our community as a nurse for 28 years. I have worked at Baraga County Memorial for my entire career but am excited for the opportunity to begin a new career as the Health Administrator

DeAnna can be reached by email dfoucault@kbic nsn.gov or by phone (906)353-8700

My Childhood Was Stolen, Says Linda Raye Cobe, Indian Boarding School Survivor

By: Frances Madeson, Truthout

Linda Raye Cobe, 64, is a member of the Lac Vieux Desert Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Tribe, whose healing journey led her to publish in 2015 a short courageous and straightforward memoir called Red, White & Blues. In it, she tells what happened to her just before her 6th birthday, when she, her siblings and cousins were taken from their family homes in Watersmeet, Michigan, to the Holy Childhood School in Harbor Springs, an Indian boarding school five hours away. Cobe writes of arbitrary beatings raining down from the nuns as they screamed that the holy children under their care, whose childhoods they were ending with their fists, were “good for nothing, stinking little, dirty Indians ”

That trauma was followed by another adoption out of her family and tribe to a white family in Baraga, a village on the Keweenaw Bay of Lake Superior named for Bishop Baraga, a near mythical figure (in local white lore), whose 35 foot shrine is a local attraction Though just a little more than an hour’s drive from home, it too was a world apart, which was the point of the forced assimilation of Indian children into the white world. At first, her adopted parents lavished her with toys, dolls, even a bicycle, none of which she’d ever had. But by the fourth grade, she was being routinely sexually exploited by her adopted father as well as the family priest, as her adopted mother looked away. It went on until Cobe finally escaped into a young marriage, the first of four

Though it’s still difficult for her to speak publicly about the toll of victimhood and the price of survival (the further assimilation of her own four children), Cobe went to the Pellston, Michigan, stop of U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s “Road to Healing” tour on August 13, 2022 It was a long and emotional day, and she honestly wasn’t sure if she was going to testify or not. But in the end, she did speak, because Cobe hadn’t heard anyone else make her point: While she was only at boarding school for one year, her parents had been so weakened and overwhelmed by their powerlessness at having their children removed to a boarding school, that it was easier for the state to pry her and her younger sister away from her family into adoption Cobe was the very last speaker on that historic day in which the crimes committed against her, and the atrocities against so many others, became part of this country’s official record.

On September 30, Cobe spoke again at a remembrance ceremony on her tribal homelands in Watersmeet on “Orange Shirt Day ” Orange shirts are worn in recognition of the need for a truth and reconciliation process about the horrors of Indian boarding schools and in solidarity with the pain of those who suffered from enforced assimilation There was a sunrise water ceremony, prayers, honor songs, a two mile walk and a community lunch. As she and her cousin Bobby Hazen spoke about the anguish of what had happened to them at boarding school, little children sunk into the safety of their parents’ arms. After their remarks, some of the older boys were part of the drum circle, and a few of the girls danced in their traditional jingle dresses.

This interview is the result of conversations with Linda Raye Cobe in Watersmeet and at a similar Indian boarding school remembrance event held in July in Baraga.

Frances Madeson: What’s it like to come back to a place as beautiful and alive as this, surrounded by lakes and dense forests, but one with so much personal history, and so many layers of experience?

Linda Raye Cobe: It’s mixed

In Watersmeet, we were so poor, my parents went and brought a couch home from the dump; that’s what my sister and my two brothers and I slept on the four of us slept on the couch, and I think that one green wool blanket we shared was one [my father] brought home from the Korean War. There were bugs in the couch and I remember having scabs on my arms from being bitten We had an outhouse, no electricity or running water. We didn’t celebrate birthdays or Christmas or anything because we didn’t have money for toys and cakes But we were happy; we didn’t know what we were missing. We made our own fun; we didn’t need friends because I had so many cousins that lived right next to us. And we were always into mischief, and exploring, making toys the boys would make bows and arrows, and the girls, we’d go picking berries and apples, we’d chase animals in the woods, that kind of thing.

And then the culture shock was that strangers come and get you and your little cousins, and the adults not being able to act I mean someone comes to get your kids today, what would you do, you know, if they say they’re taking your kids, and there’s nothing you can do about it? It would drive you over the edge It was all about the land grab. If we were assimilated into their society, then they could have the land for free, and they didn’t have to fulfill the treaty obligations.

After Watersmeet, I didn’t really have a childhood, it was stolen from me. I was 5, turning 6 that fall that they came and got us, and we were taken so far from home As a kid, you have no comprehension what the heack is going on, why they are taking us away from our parents, breaking up our family.

Linda Raye Cobe at the edge of the woods at her childhood home in Watersmeet, Michigan, where she used to run "free as a bird" before being taken to Indian boarding school in Harbor Springs, more than five hours away from her parents, whenshewasonly5yearsold

Photoby:FrancesMedeson

And then they drop us off with the nuns and there’s no more running around in the woods free as a bird You’re in boot camp, military boot camp. They got you up before the crack of dawn, 4 o’clock in the morning, to get up and ready and dressed for church every morning before school. Then they would come and inspect your bed, and it better be straight, and if it has a wrinkle it’s getting torn apart and you’re gonna have to make it again. And just really cruel, they would beat you for anything, and so you had to watch kids get beaten, we were just scared to death. You don’t know where it’s coming from, you can’t look up, you can’t look down, you can’t open your mouth, you can’t smile. I was slapped hard across the face just for smiling at my cousin across the room So, your whole identity’s taken from you, and you don’t know what you are, and you don’t know why.

I was adopted to a white family in Baraga and that was a continuation of losing my culture after going to boarding school for a year, and in the family that I lived with, the father was an alcoholic and sexually abused my sister and me for years, so there’s a lot of traumatic memories in that regard.

I’m trying to find my way back. And the way to find your way back is once you reach a stage in your life when you’re introspective, and you want to know who you are, what is your purpose in life?

It is really hard for me to get up and tell my story. I keep thinking it’s gonna get easier, but it’s not I’ve always been a self-conscious person; when I went to college I did horribly, horribly, when I had to get up in front of the whole class

It’s difficult to bare your soul, and yet it’s the truth of what happened Why am I carrying all this shame from the abuse and the trauma? But it’s the voices you have to reverse, all of that self talk “What a worthless nothing piece of crap you are, you’ll never amount to anything, your parents don’t love you. You’re dirty, you’re stupid” all of that negative verbal abuse, and then the physical abuse, and the sexual abuse. It takes a lot of strength to fight your way back, and to change that self talk and believe in yourself It’s part of our intergenerational trauma that many people still don’t know about what we survived just to be here alive

So here you’re already well on your individual path, and over the horizon comes the rise of the Indian boarding school healing movement?

It’s exciting, because we’re finally being heard and taken seriously. We have a role model to look up to in Deb Haaland Her initiative offers so much hope and inspiration, something you want to see keep moving forward and progressing

What are you hoping for?

That the truth will come out And that those who harmed, raped and killed little innocent children will be held accountable. The church it’s not just the Catholic Church, but all of the denominations that did that.

We hope that our people will heal; that’s the biggest hope, that we heal and change our communities so our children will have a future to look forward to, and they can be proud again of who they are.

And what’s the inspiration?

The inspiration is hearing my brothers and sisters in Canada and in the U S sharing their stories, and that they survived that

My brother took his own life; he couldn’t get past what happened. I look at my family and I see all of the disparity that other families didn’t necessarily have to go through, but it’s so common on reservations fatal accidents, for instance. My other brother died in a car wreck; I lost my two younger sisters to diabetes; my mother died of diabetes; my father died of alcoholism, cirrhosis of the liver

We lived in poverty, we had domestic violence. Now I understand what white privilege is all about We didn’t have toys, we didn’t have books, we didn’t have sheets and warm blankets on our bed We struggled, and we had to go to school and face kids who made fun of us, for years. And you didn’t fit in and always felt awkward and out of place And you felt like no one cared.

And then after a year, the nightmare was over but it doesn’t ever really leave you?

A short time before when I did get home, my parents had split up, because my dad was beating my mother so badly, he almost killed her She took the youngest girl and moved to Milwaukee Back then, they had a relocation program; they hooked her up with a good job in Milwaukee, and so our younger sister didn’t go to boarding school, but she didn’t get to grow up with her siblings, either. And my two older brothers stayed with my dad; [Social Services] took my other sister and me because they said he couldn’t take care of us, that we were being neglected. Because we were poor

We came back home in July, 1964 On August 3, I remember everyone being over at the house. When everyone’s over at the house, it makes me remember the day they came and got us to take us to school. It was kind of the same thing, everyone was coming over to the house, my uncles and everyone was like, they were on the verge of “You’re not taking my kids” kind of one of those situations

The social worker and the foster mother came, they knew my dad was an alcoholic, and came and said, “We brought you this beer, and we’re gonna take these girls because we can provide a better home for them than you can,” and he’s like, “OK ” Later down the road, I heard that he had told somebody that he thought it was gonna be temporary But after he’d seen what they did, what they had the authority to do, to take us kids to boarding school, I think he wasn’t gonna fight the foster care By then, they had kind of talked him into giving up his rights.

But you know all we heard was “Your parents didn’t love you, don’t love you, that’s why they gave you up; your father’s nothing but a drunk, your mother’s a whore.” They would totally badmouth anything to do about my culture and family, so I didn’t know anything about it. I’m still finding relatives I didn’t know I was related to

What’s that like?

Strange, because I didn’t meet my grandparents on my mother’s side, the Oneida side I think I only know a few cousins; there’s so many I haven’t met yet. I don’t know, I guess I’ve accepted so many things over my 64 years that it’s just one more thing, that oh well what can you do about it? Nothing.

That’s the truth part. What about reconciliation?

I don’t think 10 “Our Fathers” and five Hail Marys is gonna cut it, or an apology from the church I think it needs words mean nothing… what is the action you’re going to take? Where are the prosecutions? Some of these people are still alive. That’s a crime what they did, and we don’t even know how many are buried in this country. Just look at Canada, so you know it’s gonna be… there’s even more boarding schools in our country than there was in Canada. At one point in history, 80 percent of all Native kids were in boarding schools, in the early 1900s And it gets in your DNA, the grief and trauma, and going back to the Indian wars when they would wipe out the total tribe, and whoever made it didn’t have time to grieve or provide decent burials or anything For so many, their whole families are lost and gone, so what do they do with that?

And they never acknowledge all the contributions we’ve made. In our country, our highways are built on Native-engineered trails. Our form of government was modeled after the Iroquois. Natives had the first tennis shoes, they would dip their feet in the sap of the rubber tree. The Boys and Girls Scouts’ principles are built on, you know, how to build a fire or survive in the world, is built on our culture It was the Navajo code talkers who, after being forbidden to speak their language and beaten for it, save the war How would they have won it without that?

Why did you write your book?

All my life, as people would start getting to know me and ask how I grew up and all about my family, when I started to tell them, they would be shocked that I went to boarding school “What’s that? What are you talking about?” A lot of white friends and even Natives, the young assimilated ones, a lot don’t know about boarding school and still don’t to this day. In all of my counseling I have been taught that I was a victim, but also a survivor, and I thought why not use that to help another victim so that she doesn’t feel like, well… I always felt like the only one that all the stuff ever happened to you That’s how you feel when it’s happening to you, when you don’t know why, or what, and you don’t know how to make sense of it

One survivor at Pellston said something really profound, that our Native culture was stolen from us. We didn’t have our coming of age ceremonies when you would go fast and find your vision quest. So, our spirit is crying for our culture, and that’s why they drink themselves to despair and turn to drugs, because it was stolen. It’s like a soul wound.

What ceremonies have you done since returning to your culture?

I’ve done sweat lodges, led by women with only women participants It’s very spiritual You go in there and you pray, it’s like going to church, but better it’s a cleansing. You know, I used to worship that Bishop Baraga shrine Now I could just spit on it.

Note: This interview has been lightly edited for clarity

My Childhood Was Stolen, Says Linda Raye Cobe, Indian Boarding School Survivor (truthout org)

Copyright Truthout org Reprinted with permission

FRANCESMADESON

FRANCESMADESON

FRANCESMADESON

Court Report - October 2022

Shane Pittsley

Sentencing on 10/13/2022, 2022 076 CR, C1, §5.15 Operating under the influence:

1. $500.00 Fine.

2 Defendant is financially responsible for the costs of lodging, random drug and alcohol testing and any other expenses incurred while incarcerated, if any

3. Ninety days jail, eighty nine days suspended jail pending successful completion of all terms and conditions of probation. Credit for one day served

4. Defendant shall obtain a substance abuse screening and follow all recommendations until successfully completed Sign a release of information for the court for monitoring purposes.

5 Three six months probation with the $10 monthly fee.Probation shall be drug, alcohol restricted. Defendant shall report to the Probation Office at a minimum of one time per month or at the discretion of the probation office.

Christian Pelto

Sentencing on 9/27/2022, 2022-049-CR, §3.1002 Entry Without Permission:

1 $150 00 fine, suspended upon successful completion of all terms of probation.

2. Defendant is financially responsible for the costs of lodging, random drug and alcohol testing and any other expenses incurred while incarcerated, if any.

3 Sixty (60) days jail, credit for ten (10) days served, fifty (50) suspended jail pending successful completion of all terms and conditions of probation

4. Defendant shall obtain a substance abuse screening and follow all recommendations until successfully completed Sign a release of information for the court for monitoring purposes. Entry to Healing to Wellness court pending successful completion of in patient treatment.

5 Three to six months standard alcohol and drug restricted probation with the $10 monthly fee. Defendant shall report to the Probation Office at a minimum of one time per month or at the discretion of the probation office.

Christian Pelto

Sentencing on 9/27/2022, 2022 058 CR C3, §3.206 Resisting Arrest:

1. $500 fine, suspended upon successful completion of all terms of probation

2. Defendant is financially responsible for the costs of lodging, random drug and alcohol testing and any other expenses incurred while incarcerated, if any.

3 Two hundred and forty (240) days jail, credit for sixty (60) days served, one hundred and eighty (180) suspended jail pending successful completion of all terms and conditions of probation

4. Defendant shall obtain a substance abuse screening and follow all recommendations until successfully completed Sign a release of information for the court for monitoring purposes. Entry to Healing to Wellness court pending successful completion of in patient treatment.

5 Three to six months standard alcohol and drug restricted probation with the $10 monthly fee. Defendant shall report to the Probation Office at a minimum of one time per month or at the discretion of the probation office.

6 Defendant shall write letters of apology to Officer Smith and Officer Loonsfoot of the Keweenaw Bay Tribal Police Department and submit to the probation department for review

Christian Pelto Sentencing

on 9/27/2022, 2022 072 CR, §3 413,

Forcible Entry of Detainer:

1 $300 fine, suspended upon successful completion of all terms of probation.

2 Defendant is financially responsible for the costs of lodging, random drug and alcohol testing and any other expenses incurred while incarcerated, if any

3. Ninety (90) days jail, credit for ten (10) days served, eighty (80) suspended jail pending successful completion of all terms and conditions of probation.

4 Defendant shall obtain a substance abuse screening and follow all recommendations until successfully completed. Sign a release of information for the court for monitoring purposes Entry to Healing to Wellness court pending successful completion of in patient treatment

5. Three to six months standard alcohol and drug restricted probation with the $10 monthly fee. Defendant shall report to the Probation Office at a minimum of one time per month or at the discretion of the probation office.

6 No contact with Brittany Niemi or Florence Treadeau

Jessica Norman

Sentencing on 10/21/2022, 19 143, Controlled Substances (Sale of Dilaudid)

1. $1,000.00 Fine, suspend $500.00 if paid in first six months.

2 One hundred eighty days jail credit for twenty nine (29) days served, suspend one hundred fifty one (151) days pending successful completion of all terms of probation

3. Defendant is financially repsonsible for the costs of lodging, random drug and alcohol testing and any other costs that may have incurred while incarcerated, if any.

4 Six to twelve months standard alcohol and drug restricted probation with the $10 monthly fee. Defendant shall report to the probation office as instructed. If the Defendant leaves the area, she shall send in a monthly payment per month and call the Probation Office at least one time per month.

Jessica Norman

Sentencing on 10/21/2022, 20 020, §3 1301,

1. $250 Fine.

Conspiracy

2 Thirty (30) days jail, suspend thirty (30) days pending successful completion of all terms of probation.

3 Obtain a substance abuse assessment and follow all recommendations until successfully completed.

4 Defendant is financially repsonsible for the costs of lodging, random drug and alcohol testing and any other costs that may have incurred while incarcerated, if any 5. Six to twelve months standard alcohol and drug restricted probation with the $10 monthly fee Defendant shall report to the probation office as instructed. If the Defendant leaves the area, she shall send in a monthly payment per month and call the Probation Office at least one time per month.

Banishment shall be held in abeyance Banishment will be reviewed in the event the Defendant is found to have violated the terms of her probation

Marquette Halloween Party

The Youth Programs staff hosted the annual Marquette Halloween party on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at the Harvey Community Center. They enjoyed lunch from Jet's Pizza, a bean bag toss game, candy bags, and they all chose a pumpkin to take home.

Baraga Halloween Party

The Youth Programs staff hosted the annual Baraga Halloween party on Sunday, October 30, 2022, at the Niiwin Akeaa Community Center Gymnasium. Lunch consisted of homemade chili and hotdogs. Youth participated in a Halloween themed cake walk, candy bags, and got to take home a pumpkin Unseasonably high weather allowed the youth to enjoy the new park behind the community center

Meet the Candidates Baraga District

Hello, my fellow KBIC Members

I would like to introduce myself as an incumbent for KBIC Tribal Council My name is Donald “Don” Messer Jr; I am the son of the late Donald Messer Sr. and Linda (Mayo) Messer

I am once again humbly asking for your vote as I am seeking

re election for KBIC Tribal Council.

Over the last term, I have gained knowledge, wisdom, and experience, and doing my best in serving the tribe and the membership. I have witnessed and experienced the good, bad, and ugly of our striving successful tribe. Past leadership has brought us to where we are today We must continue the progress and move forward.

I am currently working with the State of Michigan on being licensed so that the KBIC can run and operate both Cannabis dispensaries This has been a task as the process is very detailed Once the process is complete, we will be able to work on our own grow operations and dispensary here on the reservation

The KBIC has grown so much over the last few years with Internet Gaming, cigarettes, cannabis, and moving forward with every day business operations. I would like to continue to help the tribe grow and move forward

I respectfully ask that you vote for me, Donald Messer Jr

Thank you Aniin,

My name is Rodney Loonsfoot and my Anishinabe name is Wasagazo (Shining Wings) I am from the Loon Clan. Loon clan serve as leaders of the Anishnaabe tribal community. I have been honored and very blessed to serve my community as third generation councilman.

Charles Loonsfoot (Chuck) was

I am a husband to the greatest wife in the world, Jammie Loonsfoot I’m also a brother, an uncle, and dad of four I’m especially proud to be a grandpa of eight. Just like my children, I love my community

Let me share some community service I have been honored to have been a part of:

KBIC Tribal Veteran Service Representative

Baraga County Toys for Tots Organizer/volunteer 2011 present Co founder of the KBIC Wiikwedong Ogichidaa Society Honor Guard

Michigan Governor’s appointment, Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Trustee Appointed to assist the State in addressing tribal veteran’s issues.

First Tribal Veterans Service officer in Michigan KBIC Eagle Staff carrier for 12 years.

My Vision for the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community “Let us break the cycle”

PROMOTE CULTURAL IDENTITY

We need to teach new young singers, so I plan to open a Drum Social. Much of our culture and the beauty of that culture and traditions are passed from generation to generation often passed on through our Songs. Please reach out to me if you would like to attend at 7:00 pm at the Seniors on Sundays Here we discuss things like Regalia Closet, Harvest Feast, Talking circles, many others Open community meetings evenings/Saturdays to meet with and listen to the needs of community who want to attend Draft a Professional Development and Tribal Management plan that reflect our cultural values and teachings.

PROMOTE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH FOOD SOVEREIGNTY

Rejuvenate Food sovereignty; Strengthen our fishing and beef economies

KBIC (Gighoon)Fish House, Maple syrup, logging, firewood, apartment buildings for tribal members Build up with casino hotel in Harvey.

My vision further includes:

Expand Cemeteries at Assinins and the Pinery At Assinins, expand 300 by 200 foot extension to north side of Assinins. At the Pinery, expand the north side of road Community facility in Baraga and Zeba ponds Rebuild and expand Boyzie Jondreau Field, Senior meals/recreation and sports complex

WASHINGTON DC Regarding Canal land claims, seek support of legislative sponsorship and introduction of a Bill Continue discussions and lobby for a bill with Rep. Bergman and Talib and Sen Peters and Stabenow

my father and was a proud veteran. Joseph (Joe Toe) was my grandfather, also a veteran. I served in the National Guard for two years, from 1982 to 1984 and, in the United States Marine Corps from 1984 through 1993.

Continue discussion with Gov Whitmer and USFW, the turnover of all moose fallen in motor vehicle incidences in Marquette Baraga County; MOU for restoration of reclamation of the Huron Islands.

Federal Boarding School Initiative Truth and Healing Commission; KBIC Resolutions Draft resolutions of support for HR5444 and S2907 HR5444 establishes the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act and S2907, in the Senate establishes the Truth and Haling Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act.

VETERANS Seek support and develop Camp Ogichidaa Pilot Program

I still have work to do as your councilman from the Baraga district and would appreciate your vote on November 5.

I am always open to any conversation to make our tribe better Lets’ have coffee

Miigwetch!

PLEASE VOTE RODNEY LOONSFOOT (906) 201 0064

My name is Martin C Curtis Jr. I was born here in L’Anse Michigan Son of Barbara Miller Curtis and Martin C. Curtis Sr. of Zeba. My Grandparents are Henry and Suzan Miller also of Zeba. I graduated from North Dickenson High school in Felch Michigan I attended Haskell Indian Jr. College in Lawrence Kansas and Northern Michigan University in Marquette Michigan Today I am a student at the Ojibwa Community College here in Baraga Mich.

I am currently employed at the New Day Inpatient treatment center. I have worked there for the last 23 plus years.

I have also worked as the KBIC youth director, a dealer and pit boss for both Ojibwa Casino’s, Eagle Radio.

I served on the Pow wow committee (10+yrs.), the Youth committee (10+yrs ), Cultural Committee (3-4yrs ), Drug Court Board (10+yrs.)

The reason I want to run for and be voted on the council?

Work for and with the people in a way that we may grow stronger. May it be working with the Youth, our Elders, and other intertribal groups whos’ goal is to improve quality of life for ALL our people

Migwetch, Marty

Hello, members of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

My name is Everett Ekdahl Jr, and I respectfully ask for your vote in the upcoming Primary Election I am a lifelong resident of Baraga, and my parents are Doreen Blaker and Everett Ekdahl Sr I am happily married with two sons. I have worked for our community, all my life and my career has been with law enforcement since 2004 The KBIC Tribal Police Department has given me many great opportunities and the tools to become the officer I am today I am currently a Sergeant and canine handler for the department.

I have been lucky to do many things in our community, including coaching youth sports It is amazing to coach and watch the youth grow throughout the sports year. I had the privilege to teach in both Baraga and L’Anse as the KBIC Tribal Police school liaison officer for several years. The program that I taught was T.E.A.M teaching, educating, and mentoring I recently attended a training called, Motherhood is Sacred and Fatherhood is Sacred in Arizona. This training is geared towards helping mothers and fathers get back on the right path to strengthen their families. I am excited to see this program implemented in our community and look forward to being a part of the program as a teacher

If elected to Council, I plan to keep our elders and youth a priority For the youth, we need to invest in them and make sure they have the support and tools needed to grow into strong, confident adults in our community. For the elders of our community, we need to make sure they have what they need to live a comfortable life Our elders taught us what we needed to know and showed us the ways to become successful in our community

We must develop ways to keep career employees instead of being a springboard. Exploring ways to fill our vacant jobs in our community so our businesses can flourish Keeping the infrastructure of our community strong and looking for business opportunities for KBIC to purchase or build into our community

Miigwech, for your time, and please consider voting for Everett Ekdahl Jr in the KBIC primary election on November 5th

Clearing of the sky cloud woman Misanaquadikwe, in Ojibwe, is my spirit name The one who can clear a cloudy day. My name is Tashina Emery I am the daughter of Jeanne Emery. I teach during the day as the Liberal Studies Department Chair at our Tribal Community College

I run a jewelry business during the evening I write into the night, a storyteller earning my MFA in Creative Writing at the Institute of American Indian Arts Doing it all while being a first time mother, worrying and caring for my little brown baby and all future brown babies I have a master's in art & Public Policy from the New York University’s Tisch School of Art and Design and I am an alum of University of Michigan Penny Stamps School of Art and Design. My mother, my family, my students, and my community empowered my urgency to assist my people I am interested in serving our community and running for council. I would be honored to get the chance to contribute and support our people.

“Mom, when I run for council. My soul motto, my catch phrase will be: I Am The daughter of Jeanne Emery ” Slowing down each word, getting a little Darth Vader’s ultimate secret in there and mixed with a House of Dragon’s queen long successional name to the throne. Native humor laughs and cries simultaneously. I teased her, but not really joking, you and your name is why I’m running My mom is what a leader looks like strong, resilient, all giving, and most importantly kind.” My mother is the soul, institutional memory of our Tribal Center She is what I strive to have for our coming generations.

But we both laughed, “Mom I am serious.” And she knows I alway am I’ve been “Business” since third grade running for class president every year, even at eight years old, I had to be serious, vocal, and had the need to contribute

If you need to know my character, who I am, then know my mother. I’m apart of her. Her optimism lives in my heart. I’m hopeful. I will be vocal, transparent, raw, and vulnerable. Having a saint as a mom, made me a fighter, wild, and a risk taker My fight comes from protecting my mom, in defense to a women who wouldn’t hurt a fly and wouldn’t say no to anyone who needed help.

When she could say no, in some cases she did, and no one listened And I wouldn’t let that happen again I was her voice, a shield. Now, I am that for my cousins, my nieces and nephews, and my family And I’d love to be that for our community

I want you to think of your mothers as you vote Even better think of the legacies of your mothers. People often ask me what being native is? I define Native as the survivance for our mothers, our community sharing the survival of our mothers before us Imagine a mindset of abundance, abundance of love and abundance of success. Our success is that of our mothers, a matriarchy for healthy native futurism. And how beautiful to see so many young people running this year I’m so hopeful for our community.

Boozhoo,

My name is Tina "Connor" Murray, I am married to Steven Murray Together we have 7 children and are in the process of adopting a 2 year old. We also have 3 grandchildren.

I have worked in various positions for over 20 years. I am currently working in accounting as an accounts payable clerk I have been in this position for 3 years In 2019 I was appointed to the powwow committee by the president and have been serving on the committee since I am also serving my first term on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) committee. I was an alternate on the constitutional committee and was part of the constitutional convention until covid. I am a foster parent for emergency placement I have volunteered to coach elementary basketball for Baraga schools. I also coached for Rez Runners, which I would like to bring back It was a good program, and it gave our youth an opportunity to visit other reservations. I have in the past volunteered for the Harvest Feast and other community events.

The reason I decided to run for tribal council is that I am not liking what is going on with the tribe and the tribal council. The closed sessions, unethical voting from council members that should have abstained, the division of our current council, the lack of respect that the council has for one another, and the lack of the council's respect for the employees these are some of the things I would work on changing We do not work for the tribal council; they are supposed to work for us. I am a fighter, and I do not give up. If I believe in something, I will fight for what I believe in I believe in this community and believe in the tribe. I believe in what we could be We cannot vote the same ole same ole, and expect things to change or get better. That is why I'm asking for your support in the upcoming tribal election

If you have any questions for me, you can contact me via Facebook messenger. I will be happy to answer any questions or concerns.

Miigwech

My name is Robert Rajacic. I currently work at KBIC Housing and Indian Country Sports The reason I am running for tribal council is because I have always been a servant of the people. I have always helped any chance I can, at powwows, funerals, and other ceremonies What I’d like to accomplish on council is to bring the people back together and show more love to one another

I e in fighting for our rights and being a voice for the people I have taught archery to the youth and adults through KBOCC. I’ve been a beartown firefighter. I’ve built homes and other buildings from the ground up I have always enjoyed working with my hands and helping others. When I’m not working or drumming, I’m a full time dad I love the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking. Spending time with my family and friends because without them, I wouldn’t be who I am today.

L'Anse District

Edward Michael Edwards (known as Eddy) KBIC #276 My mother was Nancy Louis Edwards (Jondreau) and my father was Rodney David Edwards My mom was 4/4 enrolled KBIC and was born in Beartown in 1942 She was the daughter of William Boyzie Jondreau and Mary Meno Cardinal. My mom was relocated by the BIA to Los Angeles in 1960 after graduating from Baraga High School She was promised a college education but that was proven untrue. My mother met my father in Los Angeles in 1961 and they got married and had five kids I was the middle child born in Los Angeles in 1965.

Our family traveled back and forth to the rez during summer breaks since I was a baby. I eventually met my future wife at the Baraga pow wow in 1994 and we married on the north shore of Keweenaw Bay in Assinins at a sunrise ceremony in 1996. In 1998, we moved from Los Angeles to Baraga I graduated high school in California at the age of 17 in 1982 after spending my junior summer as a foreign exchange student in the Netherlands. I was then nominated by Congressman Carlos Morehead of Pasadena, California to attend the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. I spent 2 years on campus exceling in honors calculus, physics, military studies, and sports I played on the baseball and football teams and highlights include pitching a 1 hitter/win over West Point in 1983 and catching a touchdown against New Mexico State in 1984. I also flew trainer jets, including the T 33 intermediate jet trainer, the T 38 advanced jet trainer and the big Boeing 737 radar training jet

I decided against a career in the military and transferred to UCLA. 1985 was my first year at UCLA I was a member of the American Indian Student Association, a member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, and I was a starter on the UCLA rugby team Highlights at UCLA include helping start a pow wow at UCLA in 1986, scoring twice against the #2 in the nation, University of Arizona in Rugby. And my fraternity’s annual Sailor’s Ball. I eventually graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1988. Starting while at UCLA, I worked part time in concert production at venues like the Inglewood Forum, The Universal Amphitheatre, The Anaheim Pond, and others. Highlights include working and hanging backstage for many different artists like Luther Vandross, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Santana, Mary J Blige, Elton John, Warren G, Nine Inch Nails and even Marilyn Manson.

After UCLA, I went to work for my family’s billboard advertising business in North Los Angeles County I grew up in the business and became manager in 1990. I leased land, applied for county billboard permits, dug holes, poured footings, erected steel billboards, and could even hand paint and install an entire billboard

During that time from 1988 to 1996 I trained in the martial art style of Kenpo Karate Highlights include earning a red/black belt, competing at the Ed Parker International Karate Tournament in Long Beach in 1993 and winning 2nd place in the green belt heavyweight division at the Western United States Karate Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada in the summer of 1994 That day I had 5 fights. Won 4 and lost 1.

In 1998, my wife and I moved to Baraga I got a job from tribal housing as a tutor at the Zeba annex. I also got a job as a substitute teacher at the Baraga and L’Anse schools I was eventually hired by the tribe in 2001 as director of retail planning and operations. Highlights of that short lived job include helping build the Pines Convenience Center and Smoke shop, Eagle Country 105.7FM and the Rockin’ Eagle 98.7FM radio stations. Soon after, politics rose its ugly head and my job was eliminated by the council and I was laid off in 2003.

In 2004, I applied for, interviewed, and was hired as the executive director of the tribe’s Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Housing Authority (KBOHA) Highlights include growing the scope of the housing authority and its purpose from annual revenues of $1.8 million to over $12 million a year, increasing employees to over 60 without any tribal support funding. Expanded programs and services including elder chore services, homeownership opportunities, supportive housing, home repair grants, Individual development accounts, financial literacy and more We built the infrastructure for Beartown Housing development. We brought in and handed out 17 mobile homes after hurricane Katrina. We started the curbside trash business that became the transfer station. We took over the former super 8 in Baraga from the casino and created supportive housing units and market rate apartments

In 2008, with a $150,000 grant from the tribe, KBOHA created what is today known as Lake Superior Community Development Corp. (LSCDC), a $3.3 million non profit corporation with 501c3 exempt status It is a native community development financial institution (CDFI) certified by the US Treasury since 2009.

Lake Superior CDC is an approved HUD 184 Indian Home loan lender, a USDA 502 home loan packager, a Licensed 1st mortgage broker in the State of Michigan, a Licensed Consumer Lender in the State of Michigan, and I am a Licensed Mortgage Loan Officer (MLO) LSCDC is the only Native CDFI that is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBI).

We are wholesale brokers for Rocket Mortgage. We are mortgage brokers for the Chickasaw Community Bank of Oklahoma LSCDC is making home loans and business loans to Indians across the whole state

In 2009, the KBOHA had bought the shuttered Baraga Mobile Mart and renovated it into what is now the Ojibwa BP We had built the profitable Ojibwa Building Supply (2005 2016), and we built a licensed, bonded, and insured construction company known as Ojibwa Builders (2008 2016). Ojibwa Builders built the $1 5 million 10,000 sq/ft early childhood development center on time and under budget. We built and sold to tribal members at a discount a dozen homes in the Beartown Housing development We built and paid for one of the best buildings the tribe has, the Zeba Hall We built and paid for the start-up of the Rez Stop in L’Anse, which created more jobs and more profits. We took over the former super 8 in Baraga from the casino and invested over $250,000 to create supportive housing units and market rate apartments. Housing bought up many parcels around the rez including a 30 acre sand pit next to BCMH In 18 years of directly managing millions in federal grants from multiple federal agencies, the organizations I have managed for the tribe have never had any audit findings, significant deficiencies nor any material weaknesses, not one

While my job status was evolving, my wife and I became licensed foster parents and started helping kids around the rez who needed some help and we eventually adopted 3 KBIC girls. We knew about the Indian Child Welfare Act, and we used it In 2000, we went to Muskegon to pick up a newborn 4lb. KBIC baby girl. We brought her home to the rez In 2002, we went to Ft Meyer Florida to pick up another KBIC baby girl caught up in the foster care system We brought her home to the rez In 2007, we went to Green Bay to pick up another KBIC baby girl caught up in the foster care system in Brown County We brought her home to the rez. Today, they are all smart, beautiful Anishinabekwe water protectors.

Oh yeah, in 2004, while working full time and raising babies, I earned my master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix Online

I know a bit about our traditional ways. I have been to sweat lodge, I have fasted, I have prayed with Leonard Crow Dog, Arvol Looking Horse, and Brother John. I have been to sun dance ceremony I have danced traditional at pow wows across this whole country and even at a pow wow in Athens, Greece in 1996.

I am learning our ojibwemowin, I have made maple syrup, harvested wild rice, set gill nets, tanned hides, made moccasins, speared fish, read and understand federal Indian law, protect treaty rights and fight for our land claims, amongst other things.

I have served the community for 3 terms, from 2010-2013, 20142016 and 2020 to 2022. I am thankful for the opportunity. I am experienced in every facet of tribal government and if the community still wants me to serve, I can mentor the younger council members and contribute to making our community a better place to live,

Vote for Eddy Edwards November 5th and December 15th!

Mino giizhigad. Makwa Odena nindonjibaa Maang nindoodem.

For those that may not know me, my name is Gary F Loonsfoot, Jr. I am the grandson of Philomena Ekdahl, Wayne Swartz, and Ellen Fisher My parents are Gary Loonsfoot, Sr. and Gail Swartz-Koski I am the eldest child with 3 brothers and 1 sister. My loving wife’s name is Peggy Lynne. Together, we have 4 amazingchildren, Cody, Gary III, Vanessa, and Dante Our three oldest have blessed us with 9 beautiful grandchildren. I was born and raised in Baraga County, with the exception of living in Gwinn, MI during my middle school years. My father was hired at the MQT Branch Prison. He transferred back home when Baraga Max opened their doors I enjoy spending time in the great outdoors of the UP, especially on or near Gitche Gumee. Along with hunting and fishing, I also enjoy golfing, bowling, watching UFC, as well as a weekly disappointment from September to December, courtesy of an un named NFL team from Chicago

Over the last 6 years, I have had the honor and privilege of serving the community as representative on the KBIC Tribal Council, and am seeking your approval to continue to do so I am hoping that my performance has warranted your trust in me and has earned your vote

There were definitely some highs and lows during this time We have had to make some very tough decisions, especially in regards to COVID 19. Our responsibility to our members, especially the elderly, as well as those with underlying conditions took precedence, followed by the rest of the membership With the closure of our casinos, as well as several other buildings and programs, we faced the future with unimaginable uncertainty. Luckily for us, the Feds supplied support dollars to states, tribes, municipalities, and individuals to ensure that we would be able to provide for our communities and families during these trying times We are still feeling the affects of “RONA” to this day. The recent inflation crisis has us all cutting back and making tough decisions. And just as we have done in the past, our tribe is distributing funds to try and help our members endure the ridiculous prices at the pump, in the grocery store, at the pharmacy, and just about every other service and good imaginable. This final disbursement will just about use up the last of our Federal aid monies.

Now, more than ever, it is imperative to invest in opportunities that will generate income necessary for the tribe to continue to offer the programs and services our membership is dependent upon. Two businesses that have proven to be “immune” to the COVID shutdown were cannabis and online gaming I am proud to be involved in the implementation of both of these opportunities to the community. But now is no time to rest on our laurels. Although brick and mortar gaming remains king, cannabis is still a cash crop, and online gaming is raking it in, competition in the market will always be a threat. We must continually improve on what we have. Reinvesting back into our businesses, employees, and offering services & products that are better than our competitors is the key to their continued success At the same time, we must continue

expanding and diversifying our business portfolio. Researching and pursuing more business opportunities will enable our people to be less dependent on Federal aid and funding and be more self sufficient and sustaining

Aside from my support of increasing our economics, I am a strong advocate of tribal and individual rights. I have assisted with the creation of ordinances that give tribal members the same rights as those that are non tribal, in relation to cannabis possession, growth, extraction, transportation, and testing on the reservation I felt it was wrong for a non tribal member to have the legal right to be in possession of cannabis, while the tribal member was in violation of the law for doing the exact same thing at the exact same location I am also a strong advocate for our language and culture. While as the THPO Director, I was able to reclaim the recorded voices of our elders, and the machine that played them, which were in possession of one of the local school districts I was also involved with getting Anishnaabemowin into Lanse and Baraga schools I also helped develop the MOUs with both districts and the KBIC. At the time, the THPO was generating $2.5 million, annually I expanded our area of interest and raised the fees we collected from environmental companies that were, and still are, required to consult with Native American Tribes

This action prompted the FCC to investigate as to how we could possibly explain ourselves for claiming rights to states along the Mississippi River. I explained to the Director of the FCC, as well as their attorneys, that the copper from our region has a unique chemical signature. The copper vein that runs from Isle Royale, through the Keweenaw, and into Wisconsin is very bears copper that is very unique and distinguishable from other mines and sources. It is this information that enabled our tribe to continue collecting the fees associated with the Section 106 process Well, that only lasted until the FCC decried that environmental companies no longer had to pay tribes for their consultation I guess this is the kind of thing that happens when a president appoints a former lobbyist for Verizon to the Director of the Federal agency that oversees communications.

Our hunting and fishing rights are another issue that I am very passionate about As an avid hunter and fisherman, I believe the rights preserved by our ancestors are vital to the survival of our people, today No matter what happens with the economy, we will still be able to provide food and water for our families. These rights are constantly under attack and continuously need to be defended.

There are so many more issues and topics I could discuss, but I’ll wrap it up right here. If there are any questions, concerns, or issues that you would like to discuss, feel free to reach out to me at any reasonable time (8am 10pm). My home number is (906)524 5517, my cell # is (906)201 1445, and my email is gfloonsfoot1@hotmail.com

Miigwech for your continued support.

My name is Haven K Curtis I am the daughter of Karen (Picard) Curtis and the late Robert (Big Bob) Curtis.

I was raised in Zeba along with my 4 brothers and 2 sisters, and that is where I still reside today. I love where

I grew up and the people that I grew up with. Me and my husband raised our 3 sons in the same place my parents

raised their family I am running for tribal council because I believe that there is no greater honor than to be a voice for the people of this wonderful community It has always been a dream of mine to be able to represent our tribe and community.

I would like to see a council that is unified, working as a team with one common goal. No matter how difficult the task.

To show the youth and elders of this community that no matter how different we all are with our opinions that we can all work together towards one common goal, the best for the people

Thank you all,

Haven K Curtis

Greetings. My name is Paul Smith and I am seeking your support for this year's tribal election. For those who do not know me, I grew up in L’Anse, graduated from L’Anse High School, and obtained a bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University I have four children, all who are tribal members, as well as countless family members from both my mother's

and father’s side. I have lived on and off the reservation, experiencing the benefits and hardships of both.

The big question; why do I want to run for Council? My focus is the growth and continued development of our tribes treaty rights Regardless if you live on or off the reservation, if you're a tribal youth or a tribal elder, if you’re a citizen of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, our treaty rights affect you.

What are our treaty rights? As you may already know, treaty rights consist of hunting, fishing and gathering practices However, we also have an area of the treaty known as the “trade and intercourse act,” which is directly related to commerce and our land claims. I believe this can be vital in our position to promote the general welfare of the tribe It is my intention, once elected, we as the tribe can create a “sales tax”

that would be implemented not only on our reservation, but through our treaty, eventually in our Home Territory as well The generated revenue can be specifically and permanently aimed towards the promotion of healthy food programs, grants for healthy food tribal businesses, continued support and increase to elder and youth sponsored programs in our area, and to reach those elders beyond the reservation. Funds that currently support these programs can be redirected to other areas of the tribe; employee wages, community sponsored events and community assistance.

Additionally, I have personally seen situations where the tribe has been solicited by an organization for funding I feel, in return, there should be some benefit for the tribal community for our donation

As an example, the YMCA of Marquette would frequently ask the tribe for funds to support their programs They would receive those funds and that would be the end of it It is my proposal that we stipulate that those organizations receiving our funds shall create a benefit to offer our tribal membership Schools, besides L’Anse and Baraga school districts, those districts in the surrounding areas, I would ask them to create and implement a history course that would be part of the general course of studies pertaining to our customs and traditions. Of course, this concept would be evaluated on a case by case basis, but the idea of asking for something back isn’t a far reach

In respect to those tribal leaders current and past, for those who implemented new ideas and those who supported them, my focus isn’t about creating “big business”. I feel big business takes too much time to implement and process for the members to benefit from. Those who do big business with the tribe, seem to benefit more than you or I Yes, I do believe in business development and economic growth for the tribe and its members. However, I don’t want to put the tribe in a business position that creates more internal fighting and animosity amongst ourselves. I don’t want to borrow money from other tribal programs to support other business ventures My idea is to use the sovereign status of our tribal government, create the tribal tax and use those funds to have a set and permanent place for our youth and elders I strongly believe this can be accomplished through our treaty rights and would have a significant positive impact for our tribe

Therefore, please support me in this year's election Vote Paul Smith, keeping it simple.