Summer storms damage rice and trees

INSIDE
Page 7
Bois Forte
NETT LAKE, MINNESOTA - September 2016
Page 9
Page 12
VOL. 39 NO. 9
www.boisforte.com
Summer storms damage rice
and trees
80-90% of rice crop lost
Three major storms in mid and late July, which preliminary estimates from the United
knocked out power and brought hail and high winds, States Department of Agriculture show
have severely damaged this year’s wild rice crop.
that 80-90% of the rice crop on Nett Lake
has been lost. Holman said the USDA will
At a community meeting hosted August 15 by the issue a final report after the ricing season.
Conservation Committee, Bois Forte’s Ecological
Resource Manager Gabby Holman reported that Representatives from the 1854 Treaty The July 27 thunderstorm devastated the rice crop by uprooting
Authority also attended the meeting to stalks that had already been rendered vulnerable from the high
provide updates on other rice crops in the winds and heavy rain that hit on July 21.
ceded territory. Environmental Division
Power outage leads to many helping others
Director Darren Vogt reported that the
southern portion of the ceded territory, including
Nett Lake, Carlton County and southern St. Louis The July 21 storm blew in during the night and
County were hit the hardest by the heavy rains that power was knocked out at 2 a.m. Emergency
fell July 5 and again with high winds in a storm on Director Mike Connor, the EMS and ambulance
volunteers went out and removed debris on streets
July 21.
in Nett Lake in case emergency vehicles need to get
Vogt provided a report on rice conditions in other out during the night.
More than ten trees fell near the home on Red Pine
Court where Carl Hedlund lives. The blue band marks
trees that need to be taken down to prevent them from
hitting homes in future storms.
lakes in the Ceded Territory where Band members
could rice. He also said updates can be found at
www.1854treatyauthority.org, and he encouraged
Band members to check out the website for more
information and photos.
Mike reported that as employees came to work at
8 a.m. the community was receiving conflicting
reports from the power company on when power
would be restored; with estimates ranging from
hours to days.
(cont. on page 2)
Big Woods Transit awarded $300,000 grant
Bois Forte’s Big Woods Transit
program has been awarded a
$300,000 grant from the federal
government to purchase new
transit vehicles. Fortune Bay
Resort Casino has provided a
10% match, bringing the total to
$330,000.
with wheelchair lifts, along with a non-emergency
medical van that can carry two or three passengers in
wheelchairs and their personal care attendants (the
attendants ride for free). Rowland said she expects
the vehicles to be delivered in four to six months.
Big Woods has also taken over all the shuttle
routes for Fortune Bay, which run three times a
day, 365 days a year, to cover all employees’ shifts.
Nonemployees can also use the shuttle service to
catch a ride to or from Fortune Bay. Shuttles will
also continue to be available for folks working in
The new buses will be used in Nett Lake, and Nett Lake or anyone needing a ride. The parkRowland said the Band hopes to grow the transit and-ride location to catch the commuter route to
program in Vermilion as well. “We are working and from Nett Lake is at the Dam Restaurant year
Transportation Manager Jennie Rowland said with the Chemical Dependency Program and round and also at Zups grocery in Cook during the
the program is using the funds to purchase an Community Health Reps to encourage people to winter.
18-passenger bus and three 14-passenger buses, all utilize our services.”
(cont. on page 5)
BOIS FORTE NEWS • 5344 Lakeshore Drive, Nett Lake, MN 55772 • Visit us! www.boisforte.com • SEPTEMBER 2016
Page 2 • Bois Forte News • September 2016
Tribal, National & State News
Native American restaurant to open in Mpls.
Sioux Chef Jason Sherman, who has visited Bois Forte as part of the KBFT radio cultural
programing is hoping to open the first “fully indigenous restaurant experience” in the Twin Cities.
Chef Sean Sherman, who is Oglala Lakota from the Pine Ridge Reservation, opened the Tatanka
Truck in 2015 – a food truck that features “pre-contact foods of the Dakota and Minnesota
territories.”
Now he’s looking to open The Sioux Chef restaurant, with the help of a Kickstarter campaign.
Sherman’s fundraising website announces this would be the first all-indigenous Native American
restaurant. Sherman hopes to create a gathering place for “exceptional pre-colonial food, a culinary
training center for Native peoples, and a new celebration of our American culture,” the website
Sioux Chef Jason Sherman plates dinners he
reads. Sherman has been running a catering and food education business in the Twin Cities since
prepared for Bois Forte Elders as part of a KBFT
2014.
cultural event in 2015.
(Rice and tree damanage cont. from page 1)
“RTG employees and a lot of people from all over
the community began pitching in to help.” Fire,
Ambulance, and Health staff distributed flyers
with information on the power outage. Water was
delivered throughout the community.
A shelter was set up in Eagle room of the
Government and Community Services Center and
volunteers from across the community welcomed
anyone who wanted to come to cool off from the
high 80 degree temperatures, charge their mobile
devices, pickup water, ice or get a free meal. The
IT staff set up a movie channel to help keep the
kids entertained.
RTG staff made bag lunches, Big Woods Transit
provided transportation, and many people donated
the food from their homes before it would spoil.
Others that had power offered their refrigerators
and freezers to store food for community members.
Fortune Bay sent over water and food, feeding 125
community members on Friday night.
Mike saw a silver lining in the storm clouds,
“Overall I think the learning from this experience
will help us be even more prepared in the future.
The emergency also brought a lot of people
together. Folks who don’t work for Tribal
Government stepped up and volunteered to make
sure our Elders and the community was cared for.”
The same could be said for the Vermilion
Community were the storm hit even harder. Kevin
Strong and the Vermilion maintenance crew had
dozens of down trees to deal with and immediately
began clearing the roads. Executive Director
Corey Strong expedited the business of bringing
in Jerome Goggleye, and his logging equipment to
BOIS FORTE NEWS
remove trees that were an immediate hazard after “While no one likes to take down trees, we need
the storm.
to do this for future safety,” said Carol Burr,
Commissioner of Housing. “One broken tree
A cooling station was set up in the Woodlands nicked the corner of a home. If the entire tree had
Ballroom at Fortune Bay and food, water, ice come down, it could have caused serious damage
and electricity for charging mobile devices were and injury.”
made available to anyone in the community.
Telephone service was limited in some areas, but Larson said loggers will also:
the maintenance and emergency personnel in both • Remove trees from the area where the next eight communities were able to stay in contact with their homes are scheduled to be built as part of Phase radio systems.
III of the Band’s Tax Credit Housing Project, and
• Remove 60% of the trees in the area south of
No one was seriously injured by the storms in Red Pine that will be used for Phase IV of the either community. The tradition of helping one same project.
another proved to be alive and strong.
The RTC has directed Forestry and Housing to
Plan to manage trees near populated areas
assess which trees should be removed from Nett
Lake. Forestry’s Larson will also oversee a timber
Following the storms that brought down or damaged sale that the RTC has approved to remove stormmany trees on the reservation, Housing, Forestry damaged trees.
and Planning and Community Development
Departments are planning some changes to how to
manages trees near populated areas.
“Miraculously, all but one of the large trees fell
between houses and across the streets in Vermilion
without hurting anyone, or damaging homes or
cars,” said Andy Datko, Director of Planning and
Community Development. “It quickly became
apparent how lucky Bois Forte was. We learned a
valuable lesson; this could have been disastrous.”
To help ensure the safety of reservation residents
and guests, Bois Forte’s Chief Forester Dave
Larson said the Band will:
• Remove all trees within 50 feet of existing structures, and
• Remove all leaning trees within 80 feet of
existing structures.
Nett Lake will still be open this
year, but the harvest will be low.
Check boisforte.com for updates.
Go to
www.1854treatyauthority.org
for the latest information on rice
conditions on lakes in the
1854 Ceded Territory.
SEPTEMBER 2016
Page 3 • Bois Forte News • September 2016
RTC News
From the desk of the Tribal Chair
Boozhoo,
It has been very busy here
at Bois Forte. Our per
capita payment checks were
mailed. We included the
remaining Nelson and Nez
Perce monies which brought
the total per capita to
$1125.00 per person. I want
Cathy Chavers,
to take this opportunity to
Tribal Chairwoman
thank the staff that worked
hard on this effort so that
most Band members hopefully received their
check on Friday, August 12.
If you did not receive a per capita payment,
please call Angie King at 218-757-3621 to verify
which address your check was mailed to. Checks
with incorrect addresses or no addresses can be
picked up at the Government and Community
Services Center in Nett Lake. If you pick up
your check in person, you will need to show a
picture ID and submit an updated address. If
you are sending someone to pick up your check,
that person must submit an updated address and
a note giving your permission to pick up the removed from the tax rolls. This land has been
earmarked for future economic development but
check.
we had to wait for it to be put into trust status.
Bois Forte and the Grand Portage Tribal Councils
met with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in The council has been reviewing and re-evaluating
Duluth regarding a petition to pursue putting Bois Forte businesses; WELY, the Y Store, Nett
moose on the endangered species list. Both Lake C Store and Fortune Bay. The CEO at
Tribes are opposed to this request because once Fortune Bay has resigned and our Planning and
an animal is put on the endangered species list, Community Development Director Andy Datko
it is almost next to impossible to remove them. is filling this position on an interim basis. We
There is a long process with the Endangered are up-dating the job description for the General
Species Act; if anyone is interested in more Manager position at Fortune Bay and it will be
information, you can access the website under posted and opened for Bois Forte Band members
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/. We will keep to apply first.
you informed throughout the process.
There have been numerous meet and greets and
We are pleased to announce that we were formal meetings with Governor Mark Dayton, Lt
informed by Diana Rosen, Regional Director of Governor Tina Smith, U.S. Senator Al Franken,
the Bureau of Indian Affairs that 228.34 acres Congressmen Rick Nolan, State Senator Tom
of land (around Hwy 1, 77 & 169) has been Bakk and others. They are very interested to hear
approved for Fee to Trust status as of August 8, Bois Forte’s concerns and projects and we plan
2016. Our application for this land transfer was to continue strengthening these relationships.
submitted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs over
two years ago on May 19, 2014. It is land that Migwetch
Bois Forte was paying taxes on and will now be
recorded as Trust land with St. Louis County and
RTC members Brandon Benner, Cathy Chavers, David
Morrison Sr. along with CFO Kim Griener and Public Works
Director Joel Astleford met in Nett Lake with U.S. Senator
Franken and his staff on August 17. The discussions covered
a variety of topics including prevention, intervention and
after-care for substance abuse; mental health resources; and
keeping the TERO program strong with upcoming major road
construction projects in the area.
Grand Portage Chair Norm Deschampe,
Lt. Governor Tina Smith, Leech Lake Chair Faron
Jackson, Bois Forte Chair Cathy Chavers, Mille
Lacs Sec/Treasurer Carolyn Beaulieu and Bois
Forte Sec/Treasurer David Morrison met with other
Tribal Leaders in July as part of the MN Indian
Affairs Council effort to strengthen Tribal-State
collaboration on the problem of Substance Abuse.
SEPTEMBER 2016
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Page 4 • Bois Forte News • September 2016
Reservation Community News
2016 Member Survey
Highlights
County Highway 23 was part of the 150 miles of chip seal
work St. Louis County tackled this summer. Chip work, which
adds five-to- ten years to the life of a road, is a process of
installing an oil base, then gravel, followed by a thick oil
base top coat. Bois Forte Public Works collaborated with the
County on the seven-mile stretch from Palmquist into the
Village of Nett Lake as well as two miles of Indian Point and
Sugar Bush. Chi mii gwech Public Works for a great job!
Donnie Villebrun helped build the new 10 x 20 foot storage
unit attached to the Nett Lake C Store. Donnie worked with
Walt King and Mike Bass. Mike is a Band member who owns
MBC Construction Company and primarily hires Bois Forters
for the many construction projects he does in the area. Nett
Lake C Store Manager, Greg Strong, said the storage unit will
free up space for customers in the laundrmat and store by
moving inventory boxes off the floor and out-of–the way.
BOIS FORTE NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2016
Page 5 • Bois Forte News • September 2016
(Big Woods cont. from page 1)
All routes are phone call based (see Need a Ride? below). Transit service includes pick
up and drop offs for anyone along the Highway 115 route corridor from Nett Lake to
Vermilion, including Orr, Cook and Gheen. We provide door to door services.
Rowland said all routes are determined by public interest and employee suggestions. “We
are opening to creating new routes wherever we get a core of people committed to riding
the bus,” she added. Many thanks to drivers Patrick Connor, Allan Howg, Tom Spears
and Dave Steel who have been putting in lots of overtime since April to meet the demand
for rides, and to new drivers Aaron Villebrun, James Ryan, Carolyn Wakemup, Harvey
Thompson for joining the crew.
For more information, visit the program’s newly updated website www.bigwoodstransit.
com (kudos to Darren Landgren for his work on the website).
Need a Ride?
Call Big Woods Transit at 888-757-1540 or 218-757-0287. Leave a message with your
phone number (Big Woods does not have caller ID), and your call will be returned.
Big Woods Helps Out after Big Storm
During the state of emergency declared after the July 21 storm, Big Woods Transit
staff checked on residents in Nett Lake Village and Palmquist, drove Band members to
the cooling station, transferred food to working freezers, and made and distributed
sandwiches. The Band’s emergency preparedness manual is being updated based
on what Big Woods learned from the storm, such as the need to station a bus and
driver at Vermilion.
SEPTEMBER 2016
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Page 6 • Bois Forte News • September 2016
Urban Office Picnic
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BOIS FORTE NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2016
Page 7 • Bois Forte News • September 2016
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1. Dave Morrison helps hang a banner.
2. Food crew feed over 240 people.
3. Doreen and Sharon Day share a laugh.
4. Hope Flannigan led a ceremony.
5. Representative Brandon Benner greeted the crowd.
6. A prize from the fish pond.
7. Shannon Geshick and Larissa Goodsky helped with raffle prizes.
SEPTEMBER 2016
20
8. Our cooks – Mii gwech to Betty Jane Schaff and her crew, Mom Elizabeth “Betty” Bowstring,
Aunt Florence “Flossie” House, friend Robey Lynaugh and daughter Erika Schaaf.
9. The kids were busy at the fishpond.
10. Pete “Chief” Boney shares his balloon sculpture.
11. Elder bingo is always a must.
12. Jacque explains the rules for the horse race.
13. Pavillion C at Wabun was a busy place.
14. Kids tables were full of hungry youngsters.
15. The artists from Twisted Balloon and Clown Town provided sculpted balloons and body paint.
16. Kids of all ages love a picnic.
17. Raffle prizes galore.
18. Games to learn Ojibwe from Hope Flannigan.
19. A good old-fashion tug-of-war.
20. New Representative Travis Morrison helps setup food.
21. Markie Solis approved of the fun.
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Page 8 • Bois Forte News • September 2016
Elders
Fond memories of Onigamiising
Many old-time Onigamiising-ikwewag/ininiwag have memories of the old Duluth
train depot that we hold dear. The Duluth Depot closed as a train station in 1969
(Amtrak returned train service from 1977 to 1985) but reopened in 1973 as an arts/
history/cultural center.
Next time you are in Onigamiising, if you are looking for something fun to do,
the Duluth Depot is a good place to go. This summer my husband Tim and I have
brought grandchildren to see the paintings at the Duluth Art Institute, the Veterans
Memorial Hall, the child-sized interactive Finnish farm, the lumber exhibit, and the
Ojibwe Gallery, which displays the Eastman Johnson paintings of Ojibwe people
Dr. Linda Grover
of Grand Portage and Fond du Lac as well as cultural and historical artifacts. And
the train display, of course, which is right on the same tracks on which so many
people traveled for more than a century. I traveled them, myself, from time to time, when the Depot still
operated as a station.
When I was a girl, a trip on the train was a very big deal! For our sixth grade expedition (!) to the State
Capitol building and the Como Park Zoo, my friend Joanne and I wore our good cotton shirtwaist
dresses, hers pink and mine mint green, and the most stylish of shoes for girls that year, low-cut tennies.
The train ride, and the hamburger and French fries lunch at the elegant-looking St. Paul train station,
was as much a part of the occasion as the Capitol and Como Park.
Although train service ended more than thirty years ago some of the things I recall are so clear: picking
Tim up at the station when we were in high school; Tim and I as newlyweds sitting up overnight on the
way to Chicago; a Thanksgiving Day morning when the engine died on the way to Minneapolis and we
were delayed for two hours out in the snowy countryside; a sunny summertime visit to Tim’s family
in Minneapolis with our little girls who, outfitted in cute peasant blouses, occasionally touched their
French-braided hair in wonder that their mother was able to figure out how to do that, and also to feel
if the braids stayed in place. Another memory I have, this one especially loved, is of my Uncle Tommy
telling me how my grandfather traveled by train, without a ticket and at astonishing physical risk, in the
old days. Ask me about it sometime when we see each other.
Today we are lucky that this historic treasure is still standing, and I know that the people who visit the
Depot as an arts/history culture center are building their own special memories. There is only one other
thing I would wish for: that one of these days we might see the return of fun, convenient, exciting,
memory-making actual train transportation again. I would love that, wouldn’t you?
A Minute with Millie
August was a pretty okay month. Course, it might have been cause it was my
birthday month. Sitting here, morning coffee and…watching the sun rise once
again. Great day in store. Whilst clearing out the house and getting the sewer line
working again, course I think the washer gremlins decided that they didn’t like the
taste of my sock and spit it out, thus plugging up the line, there was quite a crew of
us sitting. Naturally, there were two of us women supervising, whilst the men did
the hard work and the kids stood around looking for an escape from possible trouble.
We got to talking about my plans for reupholstering the chairs with the material I got
from Loretta during one of her sales she had in June. Carolyn remembered Uncle
Rug showing her how to cover chairs. He showed her to set the rocks along the yard.
Uncle showed a lot of us how to do stuff like that. Sometimes, I forget just exactly who I learned some
of my skills from. She told Bobbi my plans whilst I was busy helping in the kitchen. Well, being told to
stay out of the way more like. Darn good thing Mike was familiar with the ways of women and was very
polite about telling me to stay out of the way. Once I followed that advice, the line was fixed “in jig time.”
Millie Holmes
Happy September
Birthdays, Elders!
Rae Edstrom
Roger Whiteman Michael Drouillard Marian Holmes
Dorothy King
Joseph Zika
Edward Chavers Loren Connor
Frank Villebrun
Edith Villebrun
Kenneth Boney Curtis Palmer
Geraldine Hanks Barbara Goodsky Stephen T. Pete Clarence Roy Jr. 9-3
9-3
9-5
9-5
9-5
9-6
9-7
9-9
9-11
9-17
9-18
9-22
9-23
9-25
9-26
9-28
Happy Belated Birthday to Debra Leecy
who celebrated on August 24.
Missing your
cane?
Anyone missing
a silver cane is
invited to retrieve it
at the Government
or Community
Services Center.
Was just like the old days, when the whole family got involved in projects like that, uncle working on
something, us kids getting in the way, parents telling us to let him be. Yep, those days are still here. It’s
all in how one looks at it.
BOIS FORTE NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2016
Page 9 • Bois Forte News • September 2016
Per Cap
What are you going to do with your Per Cap?
“I’m going to take my Mom
(Victoria ‘Wicko’ Villebrun) to Hinckley
for her Birthday on August 23.”
Ray Villebrun
“I’m going to get some households
items and take care of a few bills.”
Kyle Littlewolf and daughter,
Delilah
“Either a plane ticket to California to
visit a friend I’ve known for 25 years
or a good ticket to watch the Packers
get beat by the Vikings.”
Jim Morrison
SEPTEMBER 2016
“Not sure, but will
probably save it.”
Nyla Hernandez
“It will get spent, probably with
grandkids back-to-school clothing.”
Dan Lumbar with granddaughters
Cela (age 5), Trinity (age 3) and his
wife, Debbie.
“Get some new tires for the car and repair a few
other things.”
Monica Porter with daughter, Nitanis (16 months)
“I may buy a generator for my
home and help my mom (Marcella
Connor) replace a damaged door.”
Mike Connor
“School clothes for
the kids and possibly a
weekend vacation.”
Charles Holmes
“My check is going in the bank and later this
summer I’ll take a trip to Valley Fair with my
niece, Bridget Villebrun.”
Samantha Thompson
“Maybe I’ll buy a computer. It was
nice to hear the amount is more
than I expected.”
Timothy Columbus
“I’m going to have fun
and spend it on Jane!”
Jane Villebrun
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Page 10 • Bois Forte News • September 2016
Youth & Education
Update from the ISD 707 Superintendent
Before we leave summer though, I want to mention
that we had another record-breaking summer
school. We continued to have large numbers
of students coming every day, which we really
appreciated. Thank you to parents and guardians
for sending your youngsters. We emphasized math
and science this summer and took a few sciencerelated field trips. We appreciate the work of the
teachers and paras who helped: Julie Whiteman,
Bonnie Anderson, Chantel McGleno, and Natasha
Land. Our goal, as always, was to increase students’
Superintendent and
abilities, so they “hit the ground running” when
Principal Steve Thomas
school resumes in the fall. We accomplished that
As summer nears an end, and a crisp fall approaches, and had some fun along the way too. We wrapped
there is always that excitement in the air of starting up our summer school with a trip to the Duluth
a new school year! Our new 2016-17 school year Water Park.
is just days away. The first day of school is the day
after Labor Day, Tuesday, September 6. We will We received our MCA test results recently. If you
have an open house from 12-1:30, open to anyone recall, we had an unbelievable year last spring,
in the community interested in visiting our school, when our number of proficient students doubled.
especially our parents and guardians.
This time, we dropped back just a bit. A lot of
Can you believe summer
is almost over? I hope
you all had special family
time, and of course,
enjoyed our interesting
summer weather! Being
a “weather guy” as I am,
I have to note that aside
from the strong storm
fronts, it was another
great summer in our
beautiful North Country!
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Program Director - Full-Time
Nett Lake and Lake Vermilion
This position is responsible for leading programming for youth
ages 6-18 and serving as role models to a diverse population.
Individual must be energetic, motivated and enjoy working
with youth. High School diploma required. Experience or
training in coaching sports teams, teaching, visual arts or
performing arts is helpful. Hourly wage, vacation and 401K
Benefits. (Equal opportunity employer and program provider.)
Apply online: www.bgcnorth.org/join/employment. Application
deadline: Open
You do so much to protect them.
This advertisement was originally created by the Boston Public Health Commission. Any further use is prohibited without their expressed permission.
Youth Development Staff - Part Time Position
If you would like to be a part of this great success
story, we would love it. Parents can especially help
by assisting your children with their assignments
and showing support for them. Be sure they’re
in school and on time. If you would like to be a
volunteer, we would appreciate your help. Call our
office and let me know if you want to be a part
of the success of Nett Lake Elementary (218-7573102). And, as always, feel free to stop in or call
anytime.
Kolby Adams, a DARE
program graduate
and sixth grader at
Tower asked to be in
the newspaper and say
Boozhoo to
Bois Forte News readers.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland
This position is responsible for developing, evaluating,and
implementing youth programming and assisting with facility
management. Applicant must be highly motivated and
passionate about working with youth. BA/BS and prior
youth experience preferred. Flexible schedule required.
Compensation based on experience, benefits included. Apply
online: www.bgcnorth.org. Application Deadline: Until Filled
hard work goes into our program every year and
we were sure we would have done better, but it
turns out North Woods and the rest of St. Louis
County Schools, as well as the state as a whole,
followed the same trend. That usually means the
test was disproportionately more difficult than it
might have been. Either way, we intend to take a
close look at things and continue working hard to
increase our students’ proficiencies and can’t wait
to get started again.
But maybe you never
realized how much sugary
drinks could hurt them.
After all, your kids are
sweet enough already!
Choose Water
or low-fat Milk.
This project is supported by the Minneapolis Health Department with Statewide Health Improvement Program funding, Minnesota Department of Health.
BOIS FORTE NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2016
Page 11 • Bois Forte News • September 2016
Culture
Wolf Island visit
By Lee Johnson, Forest Archaeologist - U.S. Forest Service
On July 28, three staff members from Bois Forte Heritage Center, two staff
members from Superior National Forest, five Elders, and one grandchild,
visited the historic Jon Jaeger Cabin on Wolf Island in Lake Vermilion. The
group left from Timbutktu resort and traveled to Wolf Island by pontoon
under beautiful July skies. Participants enjoyed a picnic lunch, hiking trails,
a tour of the 1929 log cabin, and an informal presentation on the history of
Wolf Island.
Wolf Island is a 55 acre island in Wolf Bay on Northern
Lake Vermilion that was purchased by Minneapolis
architect Jon Jaeger in 1901. Mr. Jaeger, along with
local log builders from Tower and Embarrass, built
a rustic log cabin on the south shore of the island
in 1929. The well-preserved cabin is considered
an excellent example of rustic, Adirondack-style
architecture, with a massive stone fireplace that
looms over the east side of the structure.
Bois Forte Heritage Center sponsored a trip to Wolf Island in July
for youth and Elders. Pictured visiting the island are Heritage
Center Staff Bev Miller, Martha Anderson, and Felicia Mason
along with Bois Forte Elders and youth Luanne Drift, LaVonne
Drift, Bernard O’Leary, Lorraine O’Leary, and Peggy Connor.
According to Mr. Jaeger’s diaries, local Ojibwe from Lake Vermilion had a canoe building workshop on the island in the early 20th century, and camped on
the island in the late summer and fall on their way to and from the rice beds on the Vermilion River. The cabin and island remained in private hands until
2010, when the McPeak family transferred ownership of the island to the Trust for Public Lands.
The Trust for Public Lands will revert ownership of the island and cabin to
the Superior National Forest in 2017. The Superior National Forest has been
engaged in consultation with the Bois Forte Band on how to best preserve
and manage the island into the future. The Superior National Forest is in the
process of nominating both the island and cabin to the National Register of
Historic Places.
Download the Bois Forte Language App
There’s an app for that! “That” is the Ojibwe
language, and the app is free. To get it:
• Go to the App Store (for Apple devices) or the Google Play Store (for Android devices)
• Tap the search icon at the bottom of the screen
• Type “bois forte ojibway” (for Apple devices) or “bois forte” (for Android devices) into the search blank at the top of the screen
• Tap the Search button
• When Bois Forte Language App appears, tap Get (for Apple devices) or Install (for Android devices)
The app is free, but you must have an Apple iCloud or Google Play
account to download it. If you don’t have an account, you will be
prompted to create one. As part of creating the account, you will be
asked for credit card information. You will not be charged, because
the app is free, but you still need to enter the credit card information
to activate the account. If you don’t have a credit card, you can buy a
prepaid card at Walmart, Target or your local pharmacy.
SEPTEMBER 2016
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Page 12 • Bois Forte News • September 2016
Tribal Gov’t News & Reports
Keeping Band members healthy
Negotiating health care coverage and insurance plans can seem overwhelming. “It can be a time consuming process,” Whiteman said. “We’re here to help
That is why the Bois Forte Band has two new Patient Benefits Care Managers you sort through it.”
– Jeanine Whiteman in Nett Lake and Kristal Strong in Vermilion – whose
job is to make getting insurance a painless process.
For more information, contact or stop in to see Jeanine Whiteman in Nett
Lake at 218-757-3295 or [email protected], or Kristal Strong in
“Why Do I Need Insurance?”
Vermilion at 218-753-2182 or [email protected].
Many Band members’ medical and dental care is covered by the federal
Indian Health Service, either at an IHS or tribal facility under direct care.
Direct Care is when a person of U.S. Native descent can use our clinic and
not be billed for services (except lab/dental fees) as long as ancestry can be
documented. Tribal enrollment is not required for direct care at our clinics.
But this type of care only goes so far.
The Purchased Referred Care program (formally known as Contract Health) can
help eligible Band members with payment of medical/dental costs not covered
by your primary health insurance. The Purchased Referred Care program is
the payer of last resort by federal law. All other alternate resources must be
pursued first before the Purchased Referred Care program can pay.
“The Purchased/Referred Care program does have an annual funding limit
per individual.” Strong explained. “If a patient needs further medical care,
and is relying on direct care for all their medical needs, they will be out of
luck and the patient will have to pay for their own medical costs if they don’t
have health insurance. Having health insurance definitely allows you to take
better care of yourself. You don’t have financial pressure associated with
going to the doctor or dentist.”
“When you have health insurance you are more likely to see a doctor for
routine checkups and preventative care. We are here to assist people with
finding the health insurance coverage you need,” Whiteman said.
Here’s another reason to sign up for insurance: the Affordable Care Act –
Obama care – will penalize you if you don’t. “The annual fee for not having
insurance in 2016 is $695 per adult and $347.50 per child (up to $2,085 for
a family), or it’s 2.5% of your household income above the tax return filing
threshold for your filing status – whichever is greater. The longer you go
without health insurance or applying for an exemption, the more you will pay
in penalty fees” Strong said. There is an exception for native people who live
on a reservation, but only if you apply for the exemption.
Having Band members sign up for insurance also allows Bois Forte to stretch
its health care dollars further. The reason is something called third-party
billings: reimbursements from an outside source for health care services
provided at the Band’s clinics. These third-party billings are proving to be
an important source of revenue for the Band, and they are saving the Band
money that can be spent on other health care programs and services.
“So How Do I Sign Up for Insurance?”
Easy – by letting Whiteman and Strong do the work for you. They can
• Explain available health coverage resources
• Evaluate eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid, MinnesotaCare, county assistance for food and cash, Veterans’ VA benefits, Elders’ social security, and private insurance programs
• Guide the process of signing up for coverage
• Ensure compliance with insurance regulations
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Meet Your New Patient Care Managers
New Patient Care Managers Jeanine Whiteman and
Kristal Strong with Third Party Building Supervisor
Kathy Holman (center).
Kristal Strong
Kristal Strong knows what patients need. As a Licensed Practical Nurse,
she spent eight years in both hospital and clinic settings, working in areas as
diverse as primary care, orthopedics, and gynecology. She also worked as a
desk triage nurse and trainer, but found she preferred face-to-face nursing.
That commitment to seeing people as individuals has carried over to
Strong’s new role as Patient Care Manager at the Vermilion Clinic. “I am
currently training with the state to be a specialized MNsure ‘navigator’
for the process of signing up for insurance.”
Strong was born in Virginia to Ken and Isabelle Strong. She graduated
from Tower High School and attended Mesabi Community College. She
is the granddaughter of Ruth Ann and Albert Strong and Alice Burntside
and Anthony Boney.
Jeanine Whiteman
Jeanine Whiteman has worked in many capacities for Bois Forte’s Indian
Child Welfare Department, including ICW Case Manager, foster care
licensing, and Family Base Worker.
“I made the switch to this position because it’s an important service for
Band members,” she said. Whiteman also enjoys the regular work hours
that allows her to spend more time with her husband of 21 years, John
Whiteman Sr, and their children John Jr, Jenna, Jaden and Jacob.
She has lived in Nett Lake her whole life, she attended Nett Lake Elementary
School and graduated from Orr High School before taking Human Services
classes at Mesabi Community College. Whiteman is the daughter of Beverly
and David Steel and the granddaughter of Cecelia Gonier.
SEPTEMBER 2016
Page 13 • Bois Forte News • September 2016
We need your help in locating these Band members
If you know any of the individuals listed below, please have them call the Enrollment Office at 218-757-3261, ext. 162. If you know that someone
on this list is deceased, please send documentation of death (memorial card, obituary, death certificate, etc.) to: Bois Forte Enrollment Office, 5344
Lakeshore Drive, Nett Lake, MN, 55772.
Unknown Whereabouts as of
August 5, 2016
BELLANGER, KRISTIN MAE
BELLANGER, RUTH ANN
BONESS, MCKINLEY RAYMOND
BONEY, VERNON DEAN
BOSHEY, CREE OJIBWE
BOSHEY JR., STEVEN WILLIAM
BROWN, NATHAN ALLEN
BROWN, PATRICIA LYNN
CHOSA, LEON EUGENE
CHOSA III, VINCENT JOSEPH
COLUMBUS-KALSTABAKKEN, DEAN
MATTHEW THOMAS
CONE, KODA LEE
CONNOR, DAVID JAMES
DAY, CRYSTAL MARIE
DAY, JEANNA MARIE
DECORAH, LAMONT WESLEY
DEFOE, DANIELLE ELIZABETH
DORSHER, GARRETT ALLEN
ELISE, JOSANA
ENGRAV-REID, DANA LYNN
FISCHER, KARI ANN
FISHER, JESSICA LYNNE
FRISCH, JOSEPH THOMAS
FOREMAN, LORI
FRIZZLE, BEVERLY MAE
GAWBOY, ANNA MARIE
GLASS (BUNKER), CARLOS ALONZO
GOGGLEYE, MURIEL ANN
GUENTHNER, BRANDON LEE
HARDING, ALTON
HILL, RACHEL
HOWARD, PATRICK ALLEN
ISHAM, LIDEAH DINAE
JOHNSON, JOSHUA JAMES
JOHNSON JR., JAMES DORAN
LAROQUE SR., CURTIS DEAN
LARSON, ISABELLE ALICE
LEECY, JUSTIN JAMES
LIGHTFEATHER, CRYSSA SHAWNICE
LIGHTFEATHER SR., MICHAEL JAMES
LITTLEWOLF, STEPHANIE ANN
LITTLEWOLF, TONI LYNN
LONG, JEAN LOUISE
LUMBAR JR., RICHARD ALAN
MANVILLE, PAULINE
MAURUS III, JOHN RAYMOND
MCDANIEL, KIERSTA YVONNE
MILLER, AMY REBECCA
MYHRE SR., CHARLES WESLEY
NEVITT, DIANE VAUGHN
OSTBY, MCKINNON LEONARD
PETE, STEVEN BRUCE
PORTER, BRIAN JAY
RITCHIE, JAMIS JON
RUSZCZEWSKI, DOROTHY
SALAVEC, PAULETTE ELAINE
SANDERS, DIANE
SANTA, DALTON DANIEL HERBERT
SANTA, JEREMIAH DWAIN
SANTA, SASHA GARNET
SHEEHY, CARLA SUE
SHEEHY SR., WILLIAM MURDOCK
SKINNER, RONALD LEE
SMITH, JERALYN JEAN
SMITH, MOLLY LIGHTFEATHER ROSE
SOLIS-NOYOLA, FRANCISCO JAVIER
STILLDAY, DEVEN RAYE
STILLDAY JR., BRIAN DEAN
STRONG, AARON VINCENT
STRONG, ALICE MARGARET
STRONG, ALLISON ROSE
STRONG, ASA DEREK
STRONG, BRENNON WAYNE
STRONG, BRYAN MATTHEW
STRONG, CONSTANCE LOIS
STRONG, COURTNEY ROSE
STRONG, JAYSON EDWARD
STRONG, JERROD ALLEN
STRONG, JODIE LYNNE
STRONG, JON
STRONG, KEVIN JAMES
STRONG, LUKE ALLEN
STRONG, MELYSSA
STRONG, ROBERTA ANN
THOMPSON, DOROTHY GESHICK
TOLRUD, THOMAS JOHN
TURNER JR., WENDY MAE
VIVIER, ALEX
WASHINGTON, BRYANNE ROBERTA
WEST, SCOTT SEAN
WHITEMAN JR., EUGENE
WOODS, SHANNON JOELA
No childcare is provided
so please make other
arrangements.
SEPTEMBER 2016
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Page 14 • Bois Forte News • September 2016
Community News & Announcements
Henry “Hank” Mesabe
Henry “Hank” E. Mesabe,
79, “Migizi”(his Indian
name which means
bald eagle), Nett Lake,
formerly of Duluth,
passed away on Saturday,
August 6, 2015, at the
Cook Care Center.
He was born on April 7,
1937 in Nett Lake, and
lived a simple life as a
carpenter and wood carver. After retirement he
still enjoyed both in his spare time. He also loved
gardening, canoeing, fishing, and anything to do
with the great outdoors. His favorite passion was
riding his motorcycle.
Henry “Hank” Mesabe
American Heritage, from organizing and directing
the Nimiwin Pow Wows at Spirit Mountain to help
organize plans for the Elder’s Committee on the
reservation. Hank honorably served his country in
the U.S. Air Force. He lived life as he wanted and
he cherished his family and friends. Hank was a
member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa and
proudly lived his last 6 years on the Bois Forte
Reservation. He is truly loved by family and
friends and will be surely missed by many.
Seattle, WA; 3 brothers, Sonny, Skip and David;
2 sisters, Ada and Sophie; 6 Grandchildren,
Dayba (Billy) Leonard, Stephanie Becker, Brittini
Nelson, Bobbi Jo Taylor, Donna Jo Nelson and
Gregory Vanderpoel; 7 Great Grandchildren,
Kaitlyn Leonard, J.J. Leonard, Olivia Taylor,
John, Charlie and Natalee Becker and Isabella
Taylor; along with numerous nieces, nephews,
cousins, and many friends.
There will be a celebration of life gathering from
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death 11am to 3 pm Saturday, (August 13th) at the
by a grandson, SGT. William H. Taylor, US Nett Lake Government Services Center. Gene
Goodsky will be the spiritual advisor. The Bois
Army; and 2 sisters, Sis and Sally.
Forte Honor Guard will accord military honors
Hank is survived by 3 daughters, Lecia (Lari) and the Nett Lake Drum will play. Arrangements
Taylor of Esko, MN., Lissette (Brad) Nelson are with Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook. To send
of Hermantown, MN and Laurie (Dennis) a condolence to the family or sign the online guest
Hank was actively involved in his Native Vanderpoel of Orr; 1 son, Shawn Hanson of book, please go to: www.mlakerfuneralhome.com.
Bois Forte author publishes book of poetry
Bois Forte Band member Dr. Linda Legarde Grover has published a new poetry collection titled The Sky
Watched – Poems of Ojibwe Lives. The book, which is available from amazon.com and spdbooks.org, tells
the collective story of a Minnesota Ojibwe family against the backdrop of history that begins with creation
and continues to this day.
Writing in both English and Ojibwe, Dr. Grover gives voice to children, adults and Elders, of Indian boarding
school students and traditional tribal storytellers, and of the Manidoog, the unseen beings who surround our
lives every day. The Sky Watched is the first bilingual English-Ojibwe book of its kind, with poems that are
not translated but instead written in both languages.
Dr. Grover is an Associate professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She
is also a regular columnist in the Bois Forte News (see page 8) the author of The Dance Boots (University
of Georgia Press, 2010), which received the Flannery O’Connor award and the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize,
and of The Road Back to Sweetgrass (University of Minnesota Press, 2014), winner of the Wordcraft Circle
of Native Writers and Storytellers 2015 fiction award and the Red Mountain Editor’s Award.
Excerpt from Linda Legarde Grover’s poem
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW IN LIFE
YOU’LL LEARN AT BOARDING SCHOOL
Speak English. Forget the language of your grandparents. It is dead. Forget their teachings. They
are ignorant and unGodly. Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Indians are not clean. Your mother
did not teach you to be clean. Stand in line. You will learn cleanliness. This is a toothbrush. Hang
it on the hook next to the others. Do not allow the bristles to touch. This spreads the disease that
you bring to school from your families. Make your bed with mitered corners. A bed not properly
made will be torn apart. Start over. Remember and be grateful that the boarding school feeds and
clothes you. Say grace before meals. In English. Do not cry. Crying never solved anything.
BOIS FORTE NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2016
Page 15 • Bois Forte News • September 2016
Lyla and Lola Hort are
celebrating their 3rd
Birthday on September 15.
Quinn “Taquin” (Wolf) Tuchel,
We love you and invite everyone to wish you
a Happy 11th Birthday on September 14.
Love, Mom, Dad and all the gang
Happy Birthday,
girls!
Love,
Mom, Dad, the boys
and the rest of the gang
SEPTEMBER 2016
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Page 16 • Bois Forte News • September 2016
Bois Forte regularly sends out important
information in the mail. 1854 Treaty Info.,
community meeting notices and RTC
announcements are examples of items that are
regularly mailed. It is essential that we have
your correct mailing address so that you can
receive this information.
If you have moved recently, or are not receiving
regular mailings, please fill out the change of
address form below and mail to:
Angie King
Bois Forte Enrollment Coordinator
5344 Lake Shore Dr
Nett Lake MN 55772.
Please note, you must check the box below
your signature if you want us to give your new
address to the Bois Forte News.
Name:
Address:
City/ State/ Zip:
Date of Birth:
Signature:___________________________
Date: __________
_____Yes, I would like this new address
shared with the Bois Forte News
Please send us your email address if you’d like
to begin receiving the Bois Forte News in your
email box:
The Bois Forte News
___________________________________
BOIS FORTE NEWS
The Bois Forte News (BFN) is published monthly by
the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. The BFN encourages
submission of articles, community announcements and
photos. There is a $10 charge for personal announcements.
Contributions are subject to editing for grammar, length
and malicious/libelous content. BFN will attempt to
include all material submitted by Band members and
guests. Multiple contributions from the same source may
be excluded or rotated to future issues to insure equal
access to all. Paid ads are accepted.
Visit www.boisforte.com for rates and insertion order.
The BFN is distributed for free to Band members and is
available to others for $10 per year.
Deadline for
October issue:
SEPTEMBER 9
Submit material to:
Bois Forte News
1101 Sibley Memorial Hwy. #507
Lilydale, MN 55118
651-260-2420 phone; 651-452-1640 fax
[email protected]
Tribal Council
Cathy Chavers
Chairwoman
David C. Morrison, Sr.
Secretary/Treasurer
Brandon Benner
District I Representative
Travis Morrison
District I Representative
Ray Toutloff
District II Representative
SEPTEMBER 2016