April - Bois Forte

INSIDE
PRESORTED
STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID
TWIN CITIES, MN
PERMIT NO. 4988
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CHANGE SERVICE
REQUESTED
Bois Forte
NETT LAKE, MINNESOTA - April 2014
VOL. 37 NO. 4
www.boisforte.com
BFDC celebrates grand
opening of Tim Hortons
at Fortune Bay
NHL legend’s franchise a first in Northern Minnesota
The Bois Forte Development Corporation
celebrated the official grand opening of the new
Tim Hortons Café & Bake Shop in Fortune Bay
Resort Casino on February 28. Located just past
the all-new Tamarack Buffet, the Cafe & Bake
Shop occupies a remodeled area of the hotel that
was the former location of the Whispering Winds
Gift Shop.
Fortune Bay is home to the first Hortons franchise
in northern Minnesota. Co-founded by former
Canadian professional hockey great, Tim Horton,
the Café & Bake Shop that bears his name has
grown to be one of the biggest restaurant chains in
Canada. It’s known especially for its fresh brewed
coffee and unique bakery items.
& Bake Shop. “Our coffee is
made with 100 percent Arabic
beans from the world’s most
renowned coffee regions. It is
always brewing and is always
served 20 minutes fresh.”
Deb Pinski, Jennifer Reynolds, Earl Villebrun, Gary Gotchnik, Jim Tolan,
Fortune Bay staff added their Bill Spang and Jaime Ravenelle of Tim Horton’s Corporate cut the ribbon
usual creative support to the during the official grand opening on February 28.
grand opening by adding a
prize wheel, giveaways and customer drawings a week from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. The shop offers a
throughout the day. Some RTC members missed comfortable seating area for 20, and guests are able
the grand opening to attend an Elder funeral in to relax and watch the baking process for fresh, hot
Minneapolis. However, they celebrated the Band’s donuts, bagels, croissants and muffins.
newest business during the January State of the
Band when the new Hortons was first announced The new business drew regional media attention.
and coffee samples were distributed to Band Radio stations KBFT, WELY and WEVE did live
remote broadcasts during the grand opening.
members.
“Tim Hortons Cafe & Bake Shop is committed to
serving the freshest cup of coffee,” said Deb Pinski,
initial manager of the Band’s Tim Hortons Cafe Bois Forte’s newest business is open seven days
(cont. on page 15)
Look for new Ojibwe mural in Virginia this summer
For the past six years, the city of Virginia has
spruced up its downtown with murals on the
sides of several buildings. The Virginia Mural
Committee, a working group of The Virginia
Community Foundation, decided in 2012 that the
theme of this year’s seventh mural project would
honor the Ojibwe heritage of Northern Minnesota.
they voted to participate in
the project by submitting
photos of Bois Forte Band
members and making a
financial contribution.
The
Heritage
Center
and Tribal Government
Nevada Littlewolf, a Leech Lake Band member Communications staff were
who holds a seat on the Virginia City Council and asked to submit photos on a
is a member of the Mural Committee, contacted variety of topics.
Tribal Chair Kevin Leecy about the project two
years ago. Leecy brought the idea to the RTC and
(cont. on page 15)
The Ojibwe heritage of Northern Minnesota mural, which will adorn the
Department of Public Utilities building on 6th Ave, will be similar in size to the
Hartley and Wesley Koski mural shown above that was installed in 2008.
BOIS FORTE NEWS • 5344 Lakeshore Drive, Nett Lake, MN 55772 • Visit us! www.boisforte.com • APRIL 2014
Page 2 • Bois Forte News • April 2014
State & National News
BIA updates
list of federally
recognized Tribes
In January, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
published an updated list of all the federally
recognized tribes in the United States. The 566
American Indian and Alaska Native tribal entities
– including nations, tribes, bands, communities,
Pueblos, and villages – are acknowledged by the
federal government as having:
• immunities and privileges available to
federally recognized tribes by virtue of their government-to-government relationship with the United States,
• responsibilities, powers, limitations and obligations of such tribes, and
• eligibility for funding and services from the BIA by virtue of their status as Indian tribes.
The list is maintained, updated and published by
the BIA’s Office of Indian Services, Division of
Tribal Government Services. It was published in
the January 29, 2014 issue of the Federal Register.
To see the list, visit http://www.indianaffairs.
gov/cs/groups/public/documents/text/idc006989.
pdf. Note that the Bois Forte Band is listed under
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
Governor’s Office
Seeks Tribal
Representatives for
State Boards
Governor Mark Dayton’s office is looking for
tribal representatives for several statewide boards
and councils including:
• Governor’s Interagency Coordinating Council on Early Childhood Intervention
• State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind
• American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation
• Minnesota Commission on National and Community Service
If you or someone you know is interested in
serving our state’s Indian people by ensuring
a tribal perspective on one of these boards
or councils, please contact Allison Jones in
Governor Dayton’s office at 651-201-3422.
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Minnesota Department of Health
criticizes own “structural racism”
In a blunt new report called Advancing Health
Equity in Minnesota, the state’s Department of
Health has shone the spotlight on what it calls its
own structural racism – policies and assumptions
that routinely benefit white people while putting
American Indians and people of color at a
disadvantage.
• American Indians have more than twice the rate of HIV/AIDS as whites.
The report found that:
• American Indians under age 14 are twice as
likely to die as whites. Those ages 15-24 are
more than 3 times as likely, and those ages 2544 are nearly 4 times as likely to die as whites.
• Infant mortality among American Indians is twice as high as among whites.
Calling for a new “health in all” policy, the
report’s authors recommended targeting efforts to
populations with the greatest need, forming more
and better relationships with American Indian
communities and communities of color, and
redesigning the health department’s grant-making
process, among other steps.
Factors contributing to these health disparities
include:
• American Indians have the lowest high school graduation rate in the state, behind not only
whites but also blacks, Asians and Hispanics.
“Your health shouldn’t be dependent on your • American Indians have the highest incarceration income, your educational status, or your skin color, rate in Minnesota - more than 13 times the
number of American Indians are in prison than or your zip code,” state Health Commissioner Dr.
Ed Ehlinger said in an interview with Minnesota whites.
• 38% of Indian children live in poverty
Public Radio.
Don’t Miss the Deadline for Health Insurance Sign-up
March 31 is the deadline for open enrollment under the new Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”).
If you already have health insurance, your savings could be substantial. And if you don’t have any
insurance, this is your opportunity to protect your health and the health of your family.
Band members who live in Minnesota can check out MNsure, the new one-stop health insurance
marketplace for comparing costs and choosing coverage, by visiting mnsure.org. You can also call
Bois Forte Benefits Case Manager Cathy Chavers or Contract Health Clerk Connie Harju at 1 (800)
223-1041 or (218) 757-3295. Band members who live outside Minnesota should contact their tribal
health office to find out what their state is doing.
YOU can help solve crime through Crime Stoppers
So, how does Crime Stoppers work? First, you learn the details of an unsolved crime, and then you
contact Crime Stoppers where no one asks for your name or any information that could identify you.
Crime Stoppers gets all the details from you, and then we pass it onto police without anyone knowing
who you are. The police investigate using your information, and if your information solves a crime you
may receive a reward after you contact Crime Stoppers again.
Crime Stoppers always has cash rewards of up to $2000.00 to pay for information that helps
solve this or any other unsolved crime.
Our guarantee: “Contact with Crime Stoppers is
totally anonymous, safe, and secure.”
Find us at tipshelp.com or call us at 800-222-8477
APRIL 2014
Page 3 • Bois Forte News • April 2014
RTC News
1854 Treaty Authority gets federal
grant to prepare for climate change
The 1854 Treaty Authority, which includes
the Bois Forte and Grand Portage bands, has
received a grant from the Bureau of Indian
Affairs to prepare for global climate change.
The Authority is one of 18 tribes and tribal
consortiums that will share more than $600,000
total in grants.
“The Department of the Interior recognizes that
tribes can often face disproportionate impacts
from a changing climate,” said BIA Director
Michael S. Black in a prepared statement. “The
planning and adaptation processes that these
grants will support are important, not only for
infrastructure, human health, and economic
sectors, but also for the cultural and spiritual
The grants are part of President Obama’s ties that tribes have with our land and natural
Climate Action Plan to reduce carbon pollution, systems.”
support clean energy sources, and prepare for
climate change. The 1854 Treaty Authority will The BIA hopes that plans developed by the
use its portion of the grant funds to coordinate a grantees will serve as templates for other tribes’
vulnerability assessment and adaptation planning efforts to prepare for climate change.
for off-reservation hunting and gathering.
Primary Election Notice
The regular Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Election of the Bois Forte Reservation
Business Committee (a.k.a Tribal Council) will be held on April 1, 2014.
Polling Places
District I
Government and Community
Services Building
5344 Lake Shore Drive
Nett lake, MN 55772
District II
Vermilion Social Center
1610 Farm Road South
Tower, MN 55790
Urban Office
1308 E. Franklin Ave,
Suite 112
Minneapolis, MN 55404
POLLS OPEN: 8 A.M. --- POLLS CLOSE: 8 P.M.
Candidates
SECRETARY/TREASURER
4-year term
DISTRICT I
4-year term
DISTRICT II
4-year term
*David C. Morrison Sr.
Joshua D. Villebrun
Deanna Drift
Denise Pieratos
Peter R. Drift Sr.
Eddie Chavers
Dawn Benner
*Brandon D. Benner
Esther Connor
Gordon Adams Jr.
Troy A. King
Tom Spears
Stan Day
*Raymond A. Toutloff
Vernon Adams Sr.
Tracey Dagen
Elizabeth Deegan
Kelly Dunkley
Annual Report
Copies of the 2013 annual report were mailed to Band member households at the end of
March. The report contains audited information on Bois Forte’s Tribal Government and
businesses employment, revenues, assets and expenditures. The 2013 annual report also
features the artwork of Nett Lake School students creating their image of Healthy Progress.
If you haven’t received your copy of the annual report, contact Wicko Villebrun at the Tribal
Government Center 218-757-3261 or by email [email protected].
APRIL 2014
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Page 4 • Bois Forte News • April 2014
Nett Lake
Support Wisdom Steps and
score some great deals
The Wisdom Steps Special Promotions Discount Card is a
great way to support American Indian Elder’s preventative
health programs and to save some money at Tribal Casinos
and golf courses. This year, the card has increased the number
of money saving opportunities and promotions from nine to
fourteen participating casinos and golf courses throughout Minnesota.
The card is a great deal at just $20.00 per card. Each card provides over $500
in discounts. Bois Forte’s Fortune Bay Resort and Casino offers $5 in slot
play, one free bucket of range balls, a buy one get one free buffet and a hotel
room discounted offer, to name just a few of the great deals offered on the
card. The discount card can be purchased on the Wisdom Steps website at
www.wisdomsteps.org or by calling the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe offices
at 1-888-322-7688.
Wisdom Steps is a partnership among the American Indian communities and
the Minnesota Board on Aging that invites Tribal Elders to participate in
activities that build their health. Activities such as participating in health
screenings, attending a health education class, or enjoying a healthy living
activity are promoted. Elders learn that the path to health is easy and can be
walked by visiting with a physician and setting a personal health goal like
losing weight or stopping smoking.
Through your purchase of this card, you are helping to support the
development of preventive health programs for American Indian Elders
across Minnesota reservations and urban communities.
How well do you
know Bois Forte?
1. What is the total number of enrolled Band members
(as of 2012)?
2. How many people live on the reservation (as of 2012)?
3. When did Fortune Bay Resort Casino officially open?
4. How many people are employed by
Fortune Bay Resort Casino?
5. How much money does Fortune Bay Resort Casino inject into
northern Minnesota’s economy each year?
6. How many radio stations does the Band have?
(For answers, turn to page 9)
What is your view of the world?
Today there are seven billion people on
the planet, but imagine for a moment
that the whole world is a village of
one hundred people. If we reduced
the world’s population to 100 people,
proportionally, this is how the world
would look:
Fifty-seven of those 100 people would
come from Asia, 21 from Europe, nine
from Africa, eight from North America,
and five from South America. 51 would
be women and 49 would be men.
Six of those 100 people would own or control more than 50% of the
world’s wealth and five of these six people would be U.S. citizens. One
of those 100 people would have just been born, one would be just about
to die, and only one of those 100 people would have been to college.
Thirty-three would be Christian and 67 would be non-Christian. 80 would
be living in substandard housing. 31 would be unable to read and write.
24 would have no electricity. 71 would not have access to the Internet. 39
of the 100 people in the village would live on less than $2 a day.
One-third of the world’s population is dying from lack of bread, onethird of the world’s population is dying from lack of justice, and onethird of the world’s population is dying from overeating. How do you see
the world?
Source: Matthew Kelly, author and motivational speaker
BOIS FORTE NEWS
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APRIL 2014
BOIS FORTE NEWS
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Urban Office
We need your help to combat heroin
Guest column by Rich Stanek and Chris Eaton
Opiate addiction tears families apart and devastates
thousands of lives. Law enforcement officials are
Hennepin County broke a record in 2013, and it’s targeting the drug dealers who peddle this poison.
not one to be proud of. Last year was our deadliest We’re working in partnership with the county
attorney’s office to ensure that when a person
year for heroin-related deaths.
dies from heroin overdose, the heroin dealers are
Fifty-four people lost their lives as a result of heroin charged with murder.
overdose. Over the past decade, heroin deaths
have increased steadily each year. This extremely But we can’t arrest our way out of this problem.
addictive and dangerous drug has reached into Opiate addiction is a national epidemic and we
homes and families across the county, affecting need your help. Prevention and education are the
most effective ways to combat this alarming trend.
sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and parents.
It may come as a surprise to learn that not all
heroin addictions start with a syringe and a spoon.
For many addicts, it begins in their home medicine
cabinet. Prescription-drug abuse is directly linked
to the increasing popularity of heroin because both
types of drugs are opiates.
When the pill bottle runs dry, some of the cheapest
and purest heroin in the country can be purchased
right here in the Twin Cities. These days, heroin can
be smoked, snorted, injected and even ingested. If
you don’t have to use a needle, there’s less stigma.
Sadly, that is more inviting to new users.
the proposed law would allow law enforcement
personnel to administer a heroin antidote known
as Narcan (or naloxone). It is already saving lives
in other states, and it can do the same here.
Narcan buys law enforcement officers critical time
when they arrive at the scene of a drug overdose by
reversing the effects of opioids. In many cases, law
enforcement personnel are the first to respond to a
911 call; using Narcan could mean the difference
between life and death.
We know this won’t completely eradicate the
You can reduce the risk of prescription-drug abuse scourge of heroin, but if it saves one life, it’s worth
by safely securing the medicines you need and by it.
properly disposing of unwanted medications at
disposal boxes located throughout the county and In 2013, we set a record for heroin deaths. In
the metro area. This is an easy and convenient way 2014, our entire community has the responsibility
to reduce the supply of opiates that could be abused to increase efforts to address this growing publicor sold illegally. Preventing painkiller abuse will safety threat.
help reduce heroin use.
Rich Stanek is sheriff of Hennepin County. State
If you have a loved one who is addicted to opiates, Sen. Chris Eaton, DFL-Brooklyn Center, lost her
we urge you to get them into treatment. We also 23-year-old daughter, Ariel, to a heroin overdose
urge you to support new legislation that we recently in 2007.
proposed to reduce the death toll from opiate
overdose throughout Minnesota. A component of
Candidate Forum in Minneapolis
Band members living in the Twin Cities have
organized a Candidate Forum at the Urban
Office on Tuesday, April 15 at 5 p.m.
Candidates will be asked to abide by the rules
set forth by the forum. They will each have
equal time to respond to questions proposed
by the audience and randomly drawn from a
bowl. We will begin with questions at 5:30
with a 15 minute break at 6:30 and questions
resuming at 6:45 to 7:45.
Approximately 25 people came to hear the
candidates debate at the Urban Office.
The forum is being organized by Urban Band
members to provide voters an opportunity
to listen to and question candidates for the
Reservation Tribal Council. The Forum
is not organized or sponsored by the RTC,
the Urban Office staff, or the candidates
themselves.
Sharon Day faciliates the candidate
debate on March 10 while Jacque Wilson
keeps time.
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Everyone is invited and encouraged to bring
a dish to share in the Potluck dinner.
APRIL 2014
Page 7 • Bois Forte News • April 2014
Elders
PB&J, baloney and fried wiener memories!
Dr. Linda Grover
Sometimes it’s the small
things that we do for one
another that have big, and
long-lasting,
meaning.
Today I thought about a
little story that a friend told
to me some time ago, when
we were in our late teens.
It is a pleasant and loving
story that has stayed with
me over the years.
“When I was a kid,” this young man who was
feeling grown-up and nostalgic said, “my
favorite thing to eat was a fried-wiener sandwich.
Every once in awhile, when she wanted to do
something nice for me, my mother would make
one in the morning for me to take to school for
lunch. She’d slice a wiener in half and fry it,
and lay those two slices next to each other in a
sandwich, with some ketchup. Man, the smell of
that wiener frying would be what woke me up,
and I knew she was doing that because she really
liked me and that it was going to be a good day.”
I pictured his mother, who I had never met,
getting up early and deciding to fix her little boy
something special to take to school. When the
sandwich was ready she would have folded it in
waxed paper (that combined origami/envelope
trick mothers knew, in the days before plastic
sandwich bags were invented) and put it into a
bag along with perhaps an apple and a cookie.
All morning, through spelling and arithmetic
and penmanship, he would have thought about
the treat to come. And the day that he and I
chatted, he remembered not just his favorite
thing to eat but also the security and comfort
of knowing that his mother really liked him and
that the day was going to be a good one.
It’s funny what we remember, isn’t it? I thought
today about that story, and about my own mother
lining up slices of bread on the kitchen table in
the morning to make our sandwiches for lunch,
when we were kids. Whoever was helping had
to move quickly to keep up, and I remember
the satisfaction I felt when I mastered the art
of origami/envelope waxed paper folding (tear
off a flat square; set the sandwich in the center;
bring up the top and bottom edges together; fold
a little pleat across the middle; fold the sides to a
point; tuck under the sandwich), though I never
did get them as neat and sturdy as my mother
did. We LeGarde kids liked peanut-butter-andjelly or baloney sandwiches and to the best
of my memory never brought fried-wiener
sandwiches for lunch (thank goodness, in my
humble opinion), but I could surely understand
and feel what my friend was
talking about.
Happy April
Birthdays, Elders!
Eugene Boshey Jr.
4-1
Margaret Benner4-3
Phyllis Boshey4-7
Victoria (Drouillard) Herrington 4-7
Hank Mesabe4-7
Harvey Thompson
4-10
Kay Zika4-11
Melvin Edstrom4-13
Esther Connor4-15
Caroline Boshey4-16
Sydney Adams4-18
Donna Oaches4-19
Helmi Gawboy4-23
Roger Skinaway4-24
William Chavers4-24
From all of the little things
that we do every day, who
knows what treasures take
root and bloom in the hearts
of those around us?
Elder Committee Meeting
The Elder Committee meets the second Monday of each
month, rotating between Vermilion and Nett Lake.
The next meeting will be held on:
Monday, April 7
at 11:30 a.m. in Nett Lake
If you have any questions regarding the Elderly Activity
Committee, please contact Mavis Drift at 218.757.3790.
APRIL 2014
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Page 8 • Bois Forte News • April 2014
Culture
BOIS FORTE NEWS
APRIL 2014
Page 9 • Bois Forte News • April 2014
Anishinaabe women
organize third Water Walk
Bois Forte receives grant for
Language Table project
Thanks to a new grant from the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, Bois
Forte will launch a Language Table/Master Apprentice project as part of the
Band’s language preservation efforts. The goal of the project is to ensure
basic Anishinaabe fluency, proficiency, and literacy among a greater number
of Bois Forte Band members, especially younger people.
Fluent speakers, who will to take on the role of masters, have already been
identified. And there are many people in the Bois Forte community who are
eager to become apprentices so that they can learn the language and pass
along this irreplaceable knowledge.
Water is the most basic necessity of life. Not only does it sustain
our existence but also refreshes our weary souls and invites us
to experience awe at the magnificence of creation. Water is so
integrated into every part of our daily life that we often take it for
granted. The danger of this is that we no longer respect it. When
we cease to appreciate water, the result can be massive pollution of
our lakes and rivers.
Recognizing this threat for our generation and the next, Sharon Day, a
Bois Fort band member, is taking action to stop it. Beginning on April
22nd, 2014, she will lead a group of Anishinaabe women on a monthlong walk along the Ohio River. Starting at the confluence of the
Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
these women will carry a sacred vessel of water 981 miles to Cairo,
Missouri at the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
The 2014 Ohio River Water Walk is the third organized by the Anishinaabe
women. In 2013, these women walked 1752 miles from Lake Itasca to Fort
Jackson, Louisiana. Those who follow the Anishinaabe tradition learn to
respect the water as a life-giver. As they walk, these women not only draw
our attention to the pollution of natural water sources but also remind us
that when we take time to be thankful for the blessing of water, we learn to
respect it. In order to learn more about the 2014 Water Walk, please visit
www.Nibiwalk.com.
Twice weekly language tables are proposed for the Nett Lake sector
of the reservation and for Vermilion. Masters will teach basic grammar,
vocabulary, and the double-vowel writing system. The language curriculum
Ojibwemowin, including two textbooks with four accompanying workbooks,
will be used to supplement the teachings. Armed with their new knowledge,
apprentices will begin recording and transcribing information from the
masters.
Preserving our language is vital for ensuring a strong, healthy and selfsufficient tribal nation. If you would like to get involved in the Language
Table/Master Apprentice project, please contact Don Chosa at 218-7573261 or [email protected].
How well do you know
Bois Forte? Answers
1. What is the total number of enrolled Band members
(as of 2012)?
3,350
2. How many people live on the reservation (as of 2012)?
460
3. When did Fortune Bay Resort Casino officially open?
August 1986
4. How many people are employed by
Fortune Bay Resort Casino?
More than 500 in peak season
5. How much money does Fortune Bay Resort Casino inject into
northern Minnesota’s economy each year?
More than $30 million
6. How many radio stations does the Band have?
Two: WELY 94.5 FM End of the Road Radio in Ely, and KBFT
89.9 FM Bois Forte Tribal Community Radio in Nett Lake.
APRIL 2014
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Page 10 • Bois Forte News • April 2014
Youth
What’s happening around the Boys & Girls Club?
B&GC working on Arts & Crafts as part of
the Wednesday afternoon “Culture and
Tradition” hour. Terry Strong, pictured at
right with B&GC members Kianna and
Brian, visits the B&GC after school on
Wednesday afternoons and leads an Arts
& Crafts session as part of the Culture and
Tradition hour.
Nett Lake Boys & Girls Club salutes
their members of the month Makenna Villebrun and
Davonte Boshey. This special recognition is given to
students who show up every day, go out of their way to
help staff and other club member with homework, help
make supper, maintain a positive attitude, are involved
in the community and have good attendance at school.
Brynn Chosa (far left) and
Marriah Kingbird (near left)
proudly display the puzzles
they created with help from
Terry Strong.
Scott Morrison (left) works on
a Lego project.
Arianna Swinson (right) is a
talented artist.
The Boys and Girls Club welcomes two new
volunteers. Jake Isham began in February
and is helping with Power Hour, football
practice in the gym, art projects and exercise.
Charlie Holmes, who also began volunteering
in February, is teaching club members the
fundamentals of boxing.
Update from the Superintendent
The 4th quarter of school began at the end of March. Parent/Teacher Conferences are going to be held on April 7th and 8th. Conferences
are an important great opportunity for parents to learn about the great things their children are doing and get tips on how to help them
do even better. As we have done in the past, we will have the parents fill out a satisfaction survey. If there are things we can improve,
we want to know what those areas are and make an effort to make the changes.
The third-sixth grade students will be taking the Reading Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments in April and the Math Minnesota
Comprehensive Assessment at the beginning of May. The students, teachers, and paraprofessionals have put in lots of time and effort
to ensure the students will do well on these tests. However, we need your help.
Superintendent
and Principal Rae
Villebrun
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Please talk to your child about how important it is for the students to do their very best on these assessments. When the children know
you expect them to do well, they will try harder. They want to please you and make you proud. Any time you can praise them for doing
a great job on their school work, it is motivation for them work harder.
APRIL 2014
Page 11 • Bois Forte News • April 2014
Virginia Indian Education ensures cultural programs in district
By Dorothy Oie
Indian Education at the Virginia schools promotes cultural learning and language as the foundation for a successful student. Culture is integrated into
classroom curriculum through Native resource speakers and demonstrations. After school elementary and high school Anishinaabe Clubs are held once
per week for culture, language and assorted activities . During the summer, high
school students return to school one day per week for Ojibwemowin
Revitalization Camp (ORC), formerly know as Language & Lunch. With 9% of the student population American Indian, the Virginia Parent Committee
and staff ensure implementation of cultural programs into the district schools.
(Below) Virginia elementary
Anishinaabe Club visits the Bois
Forte Heritage Center.
(Below) Char Lewis shares
aadizookaan with 6th grade students.
(Above) Jonas King, Shawn Campbell
and Charlie Myhr are eagar to eat
their Animoons Wiisiniwin.
(Above) Carmela Aguilar and
Maraea King enjoy beading in
Anishinaabe Club.
Congratulations to the Bois Forte Quiz Bowl Team of Noah Squires, coach Lisa
Squires, Tyla Adams, Adriana Day, Molly Deatherage, coach Harvey Thompson
and (not pictured) coach Terry Strong. The team earned Second Place in the
Bug-o-nay-ge-shig School Ojibwe Knowledge Bowl held February in Walker.
The team’s hard work and determination paid off as they reached the finals
and eventually finished just short of defeating Circle of Life, one of the top
Quiz Bowl teams in Minnesota.
APRIL 2014
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Page 12 • Bois Forte News • April 2014
Tribal Gov’t News & Reports
Apply now for education
financial aid
Bois Forte Forestry station
needs firefighters
Bois Forte Forestry is now looking for hard working, dependable
individuals to fill part-time and full-time positions as
Wildland Firefighters.
Wildland Firefighting is a diverse profession that provides an
assortment of job experiences as well as personal ones. In this
rewarding position you will learn how to run firefighting equipment
such as: chainsaws, wildland fire engines, water pumps and other
useful skills. The position may also require you to travel to some
of the most remote and beautiful area’s throughout the United States.
Wildland Firefighting is rewarding work that will provide
you with many career opportunities.
If you are interested in a job of a lifetime,
contact the Bois Forte Forestry Office at 218-757-3177.
Charles (Chaz)
Wagner with Bois
Forte Wildland
Engine-1 at Fort
Apache Reservation
(Arizona) June 2013.
70%
of the people 12 and older who abuse prescription drugs get them
from friends and family.
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Step One: Complete online the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA)
• As soon as you (or your parent/s) have filed the 2013 Income Tax Return, go
to www.fafsa.ed.gov.
• The Federal deadline for the online applications for the 2014-2015
academic years is June 30, 2014 C.S.T. Any corrections or updates must
be submitted by midnight September 12, 2014 C.S.T.
• The State (MN) deadline is midnight C.S.T. 30 days after the start of the semester.
• College deadlines – colleges have various deadlines, check with the ones you are interested in attending.
• This is a free application so if you are asked to pay a fee, you went to the wrong website.
• If you don’t have internet access: On or near Nett Lake/Vermilion, contact our office and schedule an appointment to use a computer or for assistance. Metro area residents can contact the Urban Office for computer/internet access.
Step Two: Complete the Minnesota Indian Scholarship Assistance
Program (ISAP)
• Priority deadline is June 27, 2014
• Complete online at www.getreadyforcollege.org
• Must be completed every year you are attending college.
• Remember to submit proof of tribal enrollment. You may copy of the front and back of your tribal ID.
• Please contact the ISAP’s office at (800) 657-3866 with questions.
• ISAP runs out of funds EVERY year. They award on a first come, first
serve basis. It is not uncommon for them to run out of funds as early as
April or May.
Step Three: Download and print the Bois Forte Scholarship
Program application
• Forms are available at www.boisforte.com
• It is recommended to complete this application at the same time you
complete the other applications.
• Must be completed every year you are attending college.
• Other documents you will need to submit:
- Grades from previously funded semester
- Signed Student Agreement
- Non-MN based schools will require the Out of State application, also found on the website.
- An education plan may be requested for students who have been placed
on financial aid probation or suspension.
• All awards are made on a first come, first serve basis. If funding becomes exhausted for the current fiscal year, students with completed application packages will be placed on a waiting list should additional funds become available.
APRIL 2014
Page 13 • Bois Forte News • April 2014
Bois Forte Development Corp.
Get on track to a healthy future
Reprinted from the Fortune Teller – Official “February is Healthy Heart Month so we wanted
to do our part by bringing education to our band
newsletter for Fortune Bay Resort Casino
members,” said Isham. “We have a high incidence
Leading a healthier lifestyle is something we rate of diabetes and diabetes goes hand in hand with
should all strive to achieve, but beginning those heart disease. We want people to know the signs and
first steps are sometimes the hardest ones to take. symptoms of the disease so they can get treated.”
However, Bois Forte Health Services officials were And the sooner people know they might have a
at Fortune Bay Resort Casino Thursday, February health problem, Isham said the more likely they
27th, trying to show people that a little discipline can stop the damage to their body.
could go a long way to achieving a healthier future.
“If diabetes goes untreated for a long period of
“Proper nutrition, diet and physical exercise are time, a person can start feeling the damage of high
key,” said BF Diabetes Program Coordinator Doris blood sugar, such as damaged vessels in the eyes,”
Isham during the Healthy Heart and Diabetes said Isham. “Vision gets blurry and people can
Conference. “A lot of people don’t realize that get actual bleeding in their eyes – those damages
food plays such a big part in either making it worse cannot be reversed.” But that’s only the beginning.
If left untreated, damage can also be done to the
or making it better.”
heart and kidneys and people can start getting
Thursday’s conference was chock full of neuropathies. “The sooner a person can get blood
informational booths and guest speakers who sugar under control, the less damage that can
hammered home the importance of making the happen to their body,” stressed Isham.
right choices when it comes to maintaining one’s
health. Plenty of great handouts were given at So what can you do to ensure that you don’t fall
informational booths, including tips to eating victim to diabetes or heart disease? Some of the tips
right, tips to quit smoking and tips on easy exercise are obvious, such as eating more fruits, vegetables
and whole grains. You should also try to eat fewer
programs for those who lead busy lifestyles.
foods that are salty, high in fat or fried.
Registered Dietician Melissa Gryzbowski laughs with
Allan Connor and Virgil Sohm during an interactive
presentation she headed up at the Healthy Heart and
Diabetes Conference Thursday. She was talking about
the importance of reading labels on food items and had
attendees guess which ones were the healthiest before
letting them know if they were right or not.
Bois Forte Band member Pete Isham, left, reads over
some material while waiting for his blood work to come
back. RN Terry Defoe, right, administered the AC1tests,
which measures blood sugar levels.
Isham thanked the speakers who attended the
conference, including Ray Hawk, Jen Kober, Terry
Defoe, and Melissa Gryzbowski.
“They are professional people who are well-tuned to
what they are talking about,” she said. “They gave a
lot of insight to the challenges we face and offered
Other tips include:
tips on how people can make the right choices when
• Being active at least 3-4 times a week. Try it comes to their well-being.”
walking. Start with 5 to 10 minutes and work up to
30 minutes at a time.
Bois Forte Executive Director Corey Strong was
• Losing weight. Even 10 to 15 pounds makes a also impressed with the conference and thanked
big difference.
everyone who came out to learn more about getting
• Stop smoking or using tobacco.
on track for a healthy lifestyle. “We need to take
• Learn to control stress rather than letting it control better control of our lifestyles and this helps us to
you. Do something that makes you smile every day do that,” said Strong.
– walk in nature and be
with people you love.
Isham has been doing
these
conferences
for several years and
while there is still
much work to be done
– she believes the
conferences have made
Bois Forte Health Services officials were also a difference in people’s
manning the booths to answer any questions as it lives.
relates to ways they can prevent themselves from
“I think people are
getting diabetes or preventing heart problems.
much more aware of
Several screenings were also available including the diseases than they
blood pressure checks, AIC testing (blood sugar were, say 10 years
tests), weight checks, BMI (measuring body fat) ago,” said Isham. “I
think we are getting
tests and a host of others.
APRIL 2014
more people diagnosed early because they are
coming in to get checked out and that has been
very beneficial for getting them back on the right
track to a healthier future.”
April changes at Y Store
and Ledge Liquor
Construction on the Ledge Liquor Store is winding down
and plans are underway to move into the new space in
mid- to late-April.
New spring clothing and tackle is arriving on the shelves
of the Y-Store also in mid-April.
Stop by the Y Store and check out the
exciting new changes underway!
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Page 14 • Bois Forte News • April 2014
Community News & Announcements
Lyle Lumbar
Lyle Lumbar, age 71, of Ham Lake MN passed away peacefully, surrounded by the
love of many, on February 24. Lyle’s generosity and kind spirit touched many. He
will be deeply missed.
Lyle was preceded in death by his parents: Joseph Lumbar and Lucy (Soreyes);
brothers: Francis, Russell, Richard, Charlie, Stan, and sisters Marian and Carol
(infant). He is survived by loving wife, Sheila; children: Jennifer (Justin) Zeis,
Lyle Jr. (Yendis), James; brother, Milton; 6 grandchildren and numerous nieces,
Lyle Lumbar
nephews, cousins, brothers and sisters in-law. Bois Forte Band member and
longtime member of Pipefitters Local 539. In 1985 started Lumbar Mechanical and
was named American Indian Entrepreneur of the Year in 1997 by the MN American Indian Chamber
of Commerce.
The family wishes to thank the dedicated doctors, nurses and staff of the 3rd floor at Mercy Hospital.
A Celebration of Lyle’s life will be held at KOZLAK-RADULOVICH BLAINE CHAPEL (107th Ave.
NE & Hwy. 65) Friday, February 28th, 2014 from 9:30-11:30 AM with a time of remembrance at 11
AM. Interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Play Ball!
After what some would describe as a “soul crushing” winter, one of
the more welcome signs of spring is the start of Minnesota Twins
baseball. Bois Forte’s commercial radio station WELY End of the
Road Radio 94.5 FM is broadcasting many spring training games and
will carry all regular season games. Listeners outside of the radio
broadcast area can stream the games online at www.wely.com.
WELY was chosen from among 81 competing radio stations as 2013
Affiliate of the Year by the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball
Team and presented with the prestigious John Gordon Award before
an August game at Target Field in Minneapolis.
To get baseball fans Twins Mascot TC greets the fans.
get fired up for the
2014 season, WELY
helped promote this
year’s winter Twins Caravan that welcomed Twins
celebrities to Ely’s Amici Event Center on January 22.
Third baseman Trevor Plouffe, pitcher Anthony Swarzak,
former catcher and current coach Terry Steinbach and
Hall of Fame pitcher and television broadcaster Bert
Blyleven made the trip north to visit fans, sign autographs
and answer questions on the upcoming season.
Of course the most popular Twins celebrity with children
was the TC mascot. Be sure and catch the Twins and
other great radio broadcasts on WELY 94.5 FM
Thanks to Eric of Eric Sherman Images for sharing his
photos with Bois Forte News readers.
(Top) Hall of Fame pitcher and television broadcaster Bert
Blyleven signs autographs. (Bottom) Seated to the left of TC
and Blyleven are coach Terry Steinbach, pitcher Anthony
Swarzak and 3rd baseman Trevor Plouffe.
BOIS FORTE NEWS
A Minute with
Millie
The other day, I was
thinking. Yes, NJL, I do
occasionally think. At
any rate, my thoughts
upon this day took
me in the direction of
spring. Maple sugar to
be precise. I thought
Millie Holmes
about those little sugar
candies. My mom still
has the little tins that they were made in. I
know, everyone has their favorite parts of the
different seasons.
Well, after clomping around in the mud,
coming in with wet coats, wet hair and
dreading the comb outs, Gramma sometimes
had a treat or two for us. It was always hard
to decide if I should savor the sweetness or go
for the rush. Hahaha. I’d end up having to eat
the candy pretty fast cause everyone else was
eyeing up the little bar in my hand.
So, there we’d be. Trying to look all innocent,
pitiful and hiding the lip smacking whilst we
framed our faces to get one more bar didn’t
always work. It wasn’t until I was a bit older
that I learned the fine art of wheedling more
candy. It was great when the second piece
would be handed to us.
I know, I know. I’ve probably written a time
or two about such a sweet as the maple sugar
candy. To get one or two, I’ll probably have
to go out and make my own. How in the
world did I survive this long without maple
sugar candy? It’s fast becoming an obsession.
Ya think a group of us could go out and make
some maple sugar candy?
Laugh at the weather
Q. When do monkeys fall from the sky?
A. During Ape-ril showers!
Q: Can February March?
A: No, but April May!
Q: Why is everyone so tired on April 1?
A: Because they’ve just finished a
long, 31-day March!
APRIL 2014
Page 15 • Bois Forte News • April 2014
(Murals cont. from page 1)
Topics submitted included Powwows, females dressed in traditional regalia, drummers,
veterans and cultural activities such as hunting, fishing, ricing, sugar bushing, etc.
Bois Forte submitted approximately two dozen photos. Others northern Ojibwe Bands also
sent in photos to be considered for the new 2014 project. The Mural Committee then began
working with local artist Sue Martinsen on the design and layout.
Another example of the Virginia Mural project is this 2009 mural
featuring Marty Biondich, which was located at 519 Chestnut Street.
Those working on the mural were not yet at liberty to share images of their work with the Bois
Forte News. However, Sue Martinsen did provide a brief description of some of the subjects
that will appear in the new mural that will adorn the Department of Public Utilities Building, located on 6th Avenue near the Virginia High School.
According to Martinsen, the new mural will be using a combination of historical and contemporary images of people and scenes, including Bois Forte
veterans, clan symbols, and a Spirit Tree. She said work is progressing well and the mural project is on schedule to be installed this summer.
The general public is invited to support the project too: donors who contribute $50 or more will have their names, or the names of those they wish to honor,
painted directly on the mural. As this issue went to press, there were 30 name spaces available for purchase; visit www.virginiafoundation.com/murals to
download a donation form.
(Tim Hortons cont. from page 1)
Duluth television stations WDIO and KBJR broadcast stories and the
Mesabi Daily News Sunday business section carried a story on the new
Café and Bake Shop.
4
The
RTC
and
Development
Corporations
are
in discussions with
the Canadian based
Hortons about the
possibility of a second
franchise that could
be a drive-through at
the popular Y Store
on Highway 169.
Fresh, hot and tasty…
come check out the
coffee and treats at Tim
Hortons at Fortune
Bay. Earl Villebrun
(left) is one of the many
talented bakers busy
preparing baked goods
for the shop.
APRIL 2014
BOIS FORTE NEWS
Page 16 • Bois Forte News • April 2014
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 Newspaper.
MCT Housing Applications
The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Finance Corporation
will be at the Nett Lake Government Center
on Tuesday, April 25 from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
to take mortgage applications for their
home loan program.
If you are interested in applying for a mortgage loan or have questions
regarding our Home Loan Program, contact Cyndi Cwikla
at 218-335-8582, extension 150 to schedule an appointment.
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Finance Corporation
First-Time Homebuyer Education Class
Name:
Address:
Saturday, April 5, 2014
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Building
15542 State 371 NW, Cass Lake, Minnesota
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:
First-time Homebuyer Education is a requirement of the Minnesota Chippewa
Tribe Finance Corporation for qualified buyers.
This is the ONLY class we will be offering this Spring, so please reserve your spot
in this free class with Cyndi Cwikla at 218-335-8582, extension 150
or [email protected].
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 April
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.
No Childcare is provided so please make other arrangements.
Deadline for
May issue:
April 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
Kevin W. Leecy
Chairman
David C. Morrison, Sr.
Secretary/Treasurer
Karlene Chosa
District I Representative
Brandon Benner
District I Representative
Ray Toutloff
District II Representative
APRIL 2014