Pokegne k Ya t h danawa l

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Check Out the New Wellness Center Challenge

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Sign up for the Sugar Making Trough Workshop

Come Celebrate the Grand Opening of Four Winds South Bend Hotel

Join us as we celebrate the new expansion including the Hotel, Cedar Spa, Edgewater Café, and Ribbon Town Conference, and Event Center.

Enter for a chance to be one of the first guests to experience the new Four Winds Hotel with a complimentary one-night stay between Saturday, February 25 - Monday, February 27, including complimentary breakfast served in Ribbon Town from 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. To enter, please call (888) 376-9988 before February 10, 2023.

Pokagon Citizens Family Day

Saturday, February 25 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

• Pokagon Citizens and immediate family members of all ages welcome.

• Live entertainment including carnival games, face painting, magicians, characters, balloon artist, and complimentary food offering.

• The Buffet, Kankakee Grille, and Timbers will be open with 50% Citizen discount.

• Tours of the Hospitality Suites, Edgewater Café, Cedar Spa, and Pool area will be available.

Please turn to page 10

Chairwoman’s Corner Bozho,

It looks like winter finally made its way to us! What a busy January we’ve had. Migwėtth to those of you who joined us in person and virtually for our Saturday Citizen meeting on January 13. We appreciate hearing from you and value your opinions and suggestions.

After announcing the date of the grand opening for the Four Winds South Bend Hotel at the media event and tour, we’ve received upwards of 50 media outlets sharing our exciting news. March 1 will mark the culmination of a nearly two-and-a-half-year journey to realize our vision to expand Four Winds South Bend. Please refer to the story on the front page of this newsletter for details on the pre-opening festivities for our citizens and their families!

On Thursday, January 26, we presented our Voluntary Contributions from Class II gaming revenue from Four Winds South Bend to the City of South Bend and several local non-profits. This is our final year of the program. Several guests, including South Bend Mayor James Mueller, many of the check recipients, and members of the South Bend City Council were on hand for the presentation. Not only is South Bend home to hundreds of our Pokagon Citizens, but also many of our employees that work at Four Winds South Bend. We are very proud to support the city, along with these important organizations that play a vital role to serve the residents of the community and help make South Bend a better place to live.

I want to remind you that as a Pokagon Citizen, you have access to free legal advice in both Michigan and Indiana. Remember that our Tribal Court is not able to provide legal advice. On page 10 in this newsletter, you’ll find contact information for Michigan Indian Legal Services (MILS) and Indiana Legal Services (ILS). Please take advantage of this free service.

There are many activities happening in the next couple of months. Be sure to watch for updates in the weekly Bodéwadmik Blast, and the monthly Pokégnek Yajdanawa. Here’s a snapshot of what’s coming up.

• Zisbakwtokan Sugar Camp. This family-friendly activity needs volunteers, and the dates are determined by the weather. Email Cusi Ballew at Peter. Gibbons-Ballew@PokagonBand-nsn.gov for information.

• Let’s Make Regalia takes place on Saturdays from 12 – 5 p.m. at the Center of History & Culture. Future dates are February 5 and 19, and March 5 and 19. You may RSVP with Amy Morseau at AmyJo.Morseau@PokagonBand-nsn.gov.

• Our Annual Meeting is Saturday, March 18 at the Pokagon Family Activity Center. Stay tuned for details. We’re excited to have this meeting in person once again.

• The Wellness Center is hosting a 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament on Saturday, March 25 at 9 a.m. The tournament is free for members of the Healthy Lifestyle Campaign, and $10 for individuals from the general population, or $30 a team. There are divisions for everyone! Mixed youth, Men's, Women’s, Coed, Elders, and Generational. Contact the Wellness Center to register.

Watch for my next bi-weekly address on Friday, February 10. Until then, stay warm and know you may always reach out to me or anyone on Tribal Council.

P.S. Don’t forget to do something sweet for all the valentines in your life.

Migwėtth,

Rebecca Richards Tribal Chairwoman

Attention Tribal Elder

Elders should have received or will receive your 2023 Social Security Benefit Amount Statement.

Every year the Pokagon Band Elders Program needs a copy of your Social Security Benefit Statement, a completed application, and a copy of your Medicare card. If you wish to get the reimbursement for the Medicare Medical Insurance. (Medicare Part B - $164.90)

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (269) 782-0765 or (800) 859/2717.

Please submit this information to: Pokagon Band Elders Program, Beth Warner – Elder Specialist, PO Box 180, Dowagiac, MI 49047

Fax Number: (269) 782-1696

E-mail: Beth.Warner@PokagonBand-nsn.gov

Zagbëgon registration for the 2023-24 school year opens Wednesday, March 1.

Eligibility: Must be at least 3 years old by September 1.

• Tier 1: Pokagon Band citizens, siblings, and/or residents in a Pokagon household;

• Tier 2: Other Native Americans;

• Tier 3: All Other; Special consideration will be given to PBOPI employees for Tier 3 status pokégnek bodéwadmik zagbëgon + center of history & culture + elders council

Please join our community for a Spring Ghost Supper

Community Thibakwéwen

Thursday, March 30 | 6 - 8 p.m. | Community Center

Please join Zagbëgon and the Pokagon Band Community as we renew the connections with our ancestors and reunite in the ghost supper. The community has been in the reunification of our sacred ways for many years. As part of that process it is our duty to see that these connections are passed down to our future generations. Our community will pray for the past three generations, the current generation, and the future three generations as has been done since time immemorial. At the ceremony there will be a sacred fire to offer prayers to the creator for our ancestors by offering a spirit plate in our loved one’s honor. Main dish, beverages, and dessert will be provided. Please bring feast bags and dish (preferably purchased) to pass in honor of your loved one who has passed.

For additional information, please contact:

Donald.Sumners@PokagonBand-nsn.gov or Rebecca. Williams@PokagonBand-nsn.gov

RSVP preferred but not required at the QR code below.

“Jiibye Dbikat Wiikdewin is a time for the spirit world and the world of man. The spirits depart for the spirit world away from the cold of one more winter. Wandering spirits, long lost, were called to feast with an ancient song. They appeared slowly, hesitantly as some were injured in their lives and were shy about their appearance. Many were not given the proper ceremony in death. These spirits remain forever on the earth’s face. Those spirits that return to the spirit world will return on the arrival of the first thunders and the song of many frogs in early spring along. Many only migrates to their warmer summer camps to subsist on the fish that spawn all summer. Fresh meat from the four-leggeds is a welcome variation in diet. To take the life of a nursing mother of any four-legged is forbidden to us by Creator. Stories of familiar old Nishnabe humor tell from many years ago that this annual migration soon came known as the journey to the happy hunting grounds, or mino dowenjge kaa.”

-Stewart King

Community Circle Events Scheduled Community Circle

We invite you to attend our upcoming townhall forums to discuss village designing for the Dowagiac Edawat, Hartford Edawat, and South Bend Edawat. The topics for these townhalls include types of housing needed, desired amenities, and other improvements, and areas of emphasis for development (environmental preservation, safety, ease of maintenance, recreation).

• Dowagiac Edawat Focus Townhall*

March 7, 2023 • 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Pokagon Band Community Center

27043 Potawatomi Trail, Dowagiac, Michigan 49047

• Hartford Edawat Focus Townhall*

March 8, 2023 • 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Nabit/Stone Soup Lab

501 W. Main Street, Hartford, Michigan 49057

• South Bend Edawat Focus Townhall*

March 9, 2023 • 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

South Bend Government Office

3773 Locust Road, South Bend, Indiana 46614

*Meetings will focus on these Edawats but discussion shall not be limited these particular villages.

An online survey will be released at a later date for those who cannot attend the in-person townhalls.

If you would like to be notified of online survey availability or be reminded of these events, please contact Robert Torzynski AICP, Planning Manager at (269) 782-4896 or Robert.Torzynski@PokagonBand-nsn.gov

Adeline Dixon Retires after 11 Years of Service

“Adeline has been a terrific team member of the Facilities Department,” expressed Cecil Wilson Sr, Director of Facilities. “She made it a point to acknowledge and talk to people in the various buildings that she worked in. Adeline not only did her job but also took the time to train other staff when needed. She is one of the teammates that you hate to see go because filling her shoes will not be easy. We all hope she enjoys her well-earned retirement.”

We wish Dr. William Birch, who has provided counsel to the Pokagon Band Tribal Police Department since 2015, a happy retirement. He has been available to our officers 24/7 whenever they are in need of assistance.

SATURDAY,APRIL 22 • 10A.M . – 1P.M .

In December, the Pokagon Band Tribal Police Department celebrated the dedication and service of Deputy Chief, Mike Bradley. Mike retired from the Tribal Police Department after nearly six years with the Department.

Mike’s 35 years of Law Enforcement experience began at the Berrien County Sheriff's Department, where he rose through the ranks and became their Emergency Manager for many years. Mike became a very well respected and renown Emergency Manager, not only for Berrien County, but also for Michigan. Mike eventually was promoted to Chief Deputy and retired as Chief Deputy in 2017. Soon after, Mike joined the Pokagon Band as Emergency Manager and then shortly after that became the Deputy Chief. Mike served two hats while with the Pokagon Tribal Police Department, one as Emergency Manager and the other as Deputy Chief. Mike facilitated the Health Task Force during the COVID pandemic for the Tribe, as well as served on a National Emergency Manager Committee and a Michigan Emergency Manager committee chosen by the Governor.