MOON FEBRUARY 2023

Otters

Bodwéwadmimwat & Zagbëgon

Potawatomi Language Class

Soccer Clinic

Yoga

Smart Moves

Pokagon's National Youth Group

Otters

Bodwéwadmimwat & Zagbëgon

Potawatomi Language Class

Soccer Clinic

Yoga Smart Moves

Pokagon's National Youth Group

Otters

Bodwéwadmimwat & Zagbëgon

Potawatomi Language Class

Soccer Clinic

Yoga

Smart Moves

Pokagon's National Youth Group

Otters

Soccer Clinic

Yoga Smart Moves

Pokagon's National Youth Group

Tribal Citizen Saturday Meeting

Zisbakwet – Sugar Making

Trough Workshop

IUSB Tour

Rider's Christmas Tradition Continues

5 degrees.

Bitter cold harsh winds.

At least 24 inches of snow in spots.

And we still managed to get our annual luminary out. Bags are leaning over if not completely bent...but we held fast to our 12-year tradition.

Officers are remembered.

Families mourned for.

– Steve Rider, Government Manager

Free Legal Advice for Citizens

Do you need advice or assistance with a legal issue? The Band has arranged for Michigan Indian Legal Services (MILS) and Indiana Legal Services (ILS) to provide free legal services to Pokagon citizens (and in some cases, spouses of Pokagon citizens) regarding certain types of legal issues:

• Guardianships and Conservatorships

• Power of Attorney (Medical and/or Financial)

• Simple Wills

• Real Estate Matters

• Landlord Tenant Matters

• General civil matter legal advice

• Expungements (misdemeanor and low-level felony) [Indiana only]

• Specialized Driving Permits [Indiana only]

For questions about Michigan or Pokagon Band law, contact Michigan Indian Legal Services (231) 947-0122. MILS holds hours at the Community Center on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month.

For questions about Indiana law, contact Indiana Legal Services: 401 East Colfax, Suite 116 South Bend, Indiana (574) 234-8121

Except for criminal matters in Pokagon Tribal Court, there are no asset or income restrictions for Pokagon Band citizens receiving this free legal service. Not all legal services provided include representation in court, in some instances the available legal services are limited to document review, document preparation, and/or providing legal advice.

This month the Tribal Development Program (TDP) at Four Winds Casinos shares the career path of Jennifer Webster, Vice president of Food and Beverage Operations. Jennifer joined the Marketing Department pre-opening in 2007 and then moved into the Human Resources Department a year later. Like so many of us, Jennifer has worked in various departments throughout her career with Four Winds. Jennifer’s commitment to the company as well as her Food and Beverage team continues to shine through each day. She continues to support other employees in their career paths along the way as well as Tribal Development. It is TDP’s pleasure to present Jennifer Webster’s Four Winds Journey.

I began my career in Hospitality at the age of 16 years old working in local restaurants and ice cream shops. When I graduated from high school, I began working at a hotel in my hometown of Kalamazoo, MI. I identified quickly that the hospitality industry would be my career choice. Hospitality led me to Myrtle Beach, SC; Greenville, SC; Canton, MI; and Butler PA before returning home to Kalamazoo in 2003. I held various positions in the hotel industry but quickly became a General Manager of Marriott and Hilton branded hotels; even winning both Hotel of the Year and General Manager of the Year with Marriott.

I took a brief hiatus from hotels in 2006 and worked at a call center in customer service for a bank until June of 2007 when I joined Four Winds as the Call Center Manager. In 2008, I worked in one of the most rewarding jobs I have held in my career as the Manager of Tribal Placement and Development. I had the opportunity to help develop and expand the Program while supporting Tribal Citizens, Spouses and Custodial Parents in their pursuits of employment and advancement opportunities at Four Winds.

I was promoted to Vice President of Hotel Operations in 2010 where I was able to utilize my 18 years of hotel experience. I was able to expand my Food and Beverage knowledge in 2014 when I transferred to Vice President of Food & Beverage Operations.

Since working in Food and Beverage and with the assistance of TDP, I have obtained my Certified Food and Beverage Executive Certification. I am so pleased to say that with the assistance of the TDP Tuition Reimbursement Program, I was the first of my mother’s children to have earned a college degree in May of 2022. It is not easy working full-time, maintaining a home and family while taking classes, but it has truly been worth the effort.

Since beginning my career with Four Winds, I have developed many great working relationships and friendships. I have benefited from having some wonderful mentors who have offered me guidance and advice over the years. I encourage you to take advantage of all the great opportunities that the TDP Program offers. Some of the Programs that I have personally benefited the most from are Leadership Classes, the Mentorship Program, and Tuition Reimbursement.

Tips for a Better Grocery Shopping Experience

When you plan ahead and shop wisely, you can buy plenty of healthy foods without breaking the bank. The key is organization! Planning for each trip to the grocery store is half the battle. Before hitting the market, keep these tips in mind:

• Plan your meals on a weekly or monthly basis. Use a calendar to stay organized and set a reasonable weekly or monthly food budget.

• Look through your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry to see what you already have and what you need. Then create a shopping list based on recipes you like and the foods you have on hand.

• Plan a meatless meal 1 or 2 nights a week. Tofu, eggs, beans, and nuts are healthy protein foods that are good for your wallet, too.

• Look for discount markets and membership warehouses in your area. You may find deals at membership warehouses, but warehouse prices are not always the lowest. Warehouse stores may also tempt you to buy more than you need. Buy food you know you will use, or split bulk items with a friend.

• Buy a coupon organizer and use it to file coupons. Throw out coupons when they expire. Download coupons and use a store loyalty card to get the best prices on food you buy regularly.

• Check out grocery store fliers and websites for weekly sales. Plan meals and snacks around items that are on sale. Try not to get sidetracked by items you don’t need.

• Take reusable grocery bags with you each time you shop. Some stores offer discounts when you re-use bags.

Supermarkets may seem designed to make you overspend, but there are ways to stay on budget. It may take a bit more time, but advance planning and careful shopping can help you save:

Skip items that are easy to make at home, such as soup, pasta sauce, and salad dressing. Spend money on convenience items like mustard and bread.

Pay attention to the unit price, which appears on the shelf tag next to the item’s price. Compare the unit prices of similar products or different sizes of the same product to find the cheapest option. This can help you find the better bargain.

Instead of foods packaged in single servings, buy larger containers. When you get home, divide foods like raisins, nuts, applesauce, crackers, and whole wheat pretzels into your own small containers or bags.

Buy a block of cheese instead of shredded or sliced cheese. You save money by grating or slicing cheese at home.

Skip meats that are cubed, pounded, or seasoned before they are sold. Instead, choose plain cuts of lean meat, poultry, and fish for big savings. When meats, fish, or poultry are on sale, buy extra. When you get home, divide the packages into smaller portions and freeze for future use.

Prepare produce at home to save money. Pre-cut or peeled fruits and vegetables tend to be quite expensive.

Buy dried herbs instead of fresh, especially when fresh herbs are not in season. Dry herbs will work in most recipes calling for fresh but use smaller amounts.

Ki gkéndan né Did you know?

Did you know, that before European contact there were about 270 Indigenous languages spoken north of present day Mexico? Each one having numerous distinct dialects within. Today there are only about 160 Indigenous languages that remain spoken today. It is very important to learn our language to keep our identity as Bodéwadmik.

Acorn Squash with Wild Rice Stuffing

• ½ cup wild rice

• 2 squash for stuffing – acorn, carnival, or sweet dumpling squash will work well

• Vegetable oil · Salt and pepper

• ½ pound ground bison

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 1-2 ribs celery, chopped

• ½ teaspoon rubbed sage or 4 fresh sage leaves, minced

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder or 2-4 cloves fresh garlic, minced

• ½ teaspoon oregano or Italian seasoning

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon pepper

• 1 - 4 oz. can mushrooms, drained (optional, but delicious)

• ½ cup dried fruit and nut mix OR ¼ cup dried cherries and ¼ cup mixed nuts

1. Wash your hands before preparing food.

2. Prepare the wild rice: rinse wild rice in water, drain and add to 3 cups water in medium-sized pan. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover and cook until rice is tender, about 30-45 minutes. Drain excess liquid.

3. While rice is cooking, prepare the squash: preheat oven to 375°F. Wash the outside of the squash, and slice in half. Scoop out seeds and discard.

4. Brush cut sides of squash with vegetable oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place squash in baking dish cut side up and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Roast squash until tender when poked with a fork or paring knife, about 30 to 50 minutes, remove from oven.

5. While the squash is roasting, prepare filling by sautéing ground bison with chopped onion, celery and spices until meat is cooked through and vegetables are soft. Add mushrooms, cooked wild rice, and dried fruit and nut mix. Stir gently until well mixed. Taste and adjust for spices.

6. Divide the filling between the squash halves, use a spoon to fill the squash bowls and mound the filling on top.

7. Cover the pan with the foil and return to oven until hot through, about 15-20 minutes. If you have a food thermometer, 165°F is perfect.

8. Serve immediately and offer salt and pepper.

Notes and Ideas:

• Squash may be stuffed with a variety of meats, legumes, grains, vegetables, nuts and spices.

• Some people like to drizzle a bit of maple syrup over the top for serving

Mondays from 6 – 8 p.m. • February 6 – April 24 • Community Center

Tribal families are invited to bring their own craft supplies for a night of crafting and community socializing. Please bring a dish to pass for the weekly potluck. Limited supplies for traditional crafts may be provided if available and requested prior to gathering. Contact the Center of History & Culture for additional information.

November 1, 2022, through April 1, 2023

Pokagon Band Elders

Snow Removal Reimbursement Application Form

Name: ________________________ Address: ____________________________________

City: ________________________State& Zip Code:

Phone No: ____________________ Tribal ID: _________________

THIRD-PARTY SNOW REMOVAL SERVICE PROVIDER INFORMATION

Name: _______________________ Address: _____________________________________

City: _________________________ State & Zip Code: _____________________________

Phone No: ____________________ Business Name: _______________________________

Pokagon Band Elders anywhere in the U.S may be reimbursed for snow removal services provided to their residence by third party service providers. The maximum reimbursement an Elder may receive over the entire season is $200 per household.

You are responsible for finding your own third-party snow removal service provider. You will not be reimbursed if you are the person who removed snow from your own driveway. Except for those residing at Phase ll (Rent to Own), those residing at Pokagon Band Housing are ineligible for reimbursement, as the Pokagon Band already provides snow removal.

To be eligible for reimbursement, you must complete and return this application. Additionally, you must include the invoice(s) or receipt(s) from third party service provider. All invoices or receipts must be from the third-party service provider and not the Elder. We may contact your third-party snow removal provider for verification. Incomplete applications, applications without invoice(s)/receipt(s), and applications received after April 15, 2023, will not be processed.

The completed application with accompanying invoice(s)/receipt(s) must be returned to: Elder’s Council / P.O. Box 180 Dowagiac Michigan 49047. Any questions call Elder’s Hall at (800)-859-2717 or (269)-782-0765.

By my signing below, I certify that all information provided on this application is true/correct.

Signature of Applicant: _________________________________ Date: __________________

Print Name: _________________________________________________________________ will be held at the

Please do not arrive before 10:30 a.m. for the

Tribal Council February Calendar of Events

Stay connected. Check PokagonBand-nsn.gov for the latest information. Join all meetings virtually via Microsoft Teams.

6 Tribal Council Special Session, Administration, 10 a.m

7 Gaming Authority, New Buffalo, 10 a.m.

11 Tribal Citizen Saturday Meeting, Community Center, 10 a.m.

13 Tribal Council Special Session, Administration, 10 a.m.

14 Gaming Authority, South Bend, 10 a.m.

20 Tribal Council Special Session, Administration, 10 a.m

21 Gaming Authority, New Buffalo, 10 a.m.

27 Tribal Council Special Session, Administration, 10 a.m.

28 Gaming Authority, South Bend, 10 a.m.

Tribal Council March Calendar of Events

Stay connected. Check PokagonBand-nsn.gov for the latest information. Join all meetings virtually via Microsoft Teams.

6 Tribal Council Special Session, Administration, 10 a.m

7 Gaming Authority, New Buffalo, 10 a.m.

11 Tribal Citizen Saturday Meeting, Community Center, 10 a.m.

13 Tribal Council Special Session, Administration, 10 a.m.

14 Gaming Authority, South Bend, 10 a.m.

20 Tribal Council Special Session, Administration, 10 a.m

21 Gaming Authority, New Buffalo, 10 a.m.

27 Tribal Council Special Session, Administration, 10 a.m.

28 Gaming Authority, South Bend, 10 a.m.

Elder's Council February Calendar of Events

Stay connected. Check PokagonBand-nsn.gov for the latest information. For the winter months, the Elder’s Business Meeting will begin at 11 a.m. at the Community Center. Please mark your calendars for Thursday, February 2. The Elder Social is Thursday, February 16 at 11 a.m. at the Community Center.

Open Positions Available

The following open positions are still available. Please refer to the Pokagon website or the Legislative Edition to read the position descriptions, qualifications, and details on how to apply.

• Election Board

• Enrollment Committee

• Ethics Board

• Family Welfare Commission

• Food Sovereignty Committee

• Ggaténmamen Gdankobthegnanêk

Pow Wow Committee

• Health Board

Per Capita News

The Enrollment Office needs the following individuals to update their addresses. Please contact the Enrollment Office at (269) 782-1763 or the Finance Department at (269) 462-4209.

You can update your address on the PokagonBand-nsn.gov website under Citizens > Enrollment or phone (269) 782 -1763 for an address form by mail.

Per Capita Important Dates

Wednesday, February 15 Monday, February 27 Tuesday, February 28

Wednesday, March 15 Thursday, March 30 Thursday, March 31

Friday, April 14 Thursday, April 27 Friday, April 28

Monday, May 15 Thursday, May 25 Friday, May 26

Thursday, June 15 Thursday, June 29 Friday, June 30

Friday, July 14 Thursday, July 27 Friday, July 28

Tuesday, August 15 Wednesday, August 30 Thursday, August 31

Friday, September 15 Thursday, September 28 Friday, September 29

Friday, October 13 Monday, October 30 Tuesday, October 31

Monday, November 13 Tuesday, November 21 Wednesday, November 22

Friday, December 15 Thursday, December 21 Friday, December 22

Elder's Benefit

Soon to be 55 years old? Please submit an Elder's Benefit Registration form for benefits to Elder's Hall. The form is available on the Pokagon Band website, search “Elders Services” on www.PokagonBand-nsn.gov. Submit the completed documents by mail, fax, or email.

Mail: Pokagon Band of Potawatomi

Attn: Elder's Hall

P.O. Box 180, Dowagiac, MI 49047

• Kee-Boon-Mein-Kaa Pow Wow Committee

• Mno-Bmadsen Board Director

• Native Youth Council

• Ogitchedaw Board of Directors

• Pokagon Rights Board

• Tribal Art Committee

Fax: (269) 782-1696

Email: Social.Services@PokagonBand-nsn.gov

The Elde'r Specialist at Elder's Hall can answer questions, call (269) 782-0765 or (800) 859 2717.

The Social Services Department needs the following individuals to update their address and phone number for Elder's Benefit. Please contact the Enrollment Office at (269) 782-1763.

Tribal Council Directory

(888) 376-9988 toll free or (269) 782-6323 office

CHAIRWOMAN

Rebecca Richards (269) 519-0150

Rebecca.Richards@PokagonBand-nsn.gov

VICE CHAIR

Gary Morseau, Sr

(269) 519-6497

Gary.Morseau@PokagonBand-nsn.gov

TREASURER

Alex Wesaw (269) 462-1170

Alex.Wesaw@PokagonBand-nsn.gov

SECRETARY

Sam Morseau

(269) 462-1830

Sam.Morseau@PokagonBand-nsn.gov

Elder's Council Directory