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Chairman's Notes
Posoh,
It’s been a long couple of weeks, where do I start? On April 24th, Legislator Warrington, our State Lobbyist Joe Strohl, and I went to Madison. We met with 12 state legislators to gather support for the Kenosha Project at the State level. The meetings were very productive, and other than one state legislator being unsupportive, the remaining legislators were all supportive of the project.
On April 25th we were honored to have First Lady of the State Tonette Walker (Governor Scott Walker’s Wife) join us at Maehnowesekiyah for a round table discussion on Trauma Informed Care. If anyone would like more information regarding Trauma Informed Care please contact Shannon Wilber (715-799-3835) or Tasha Caldwell (715-799-5114 ext. 1263).
On April 26th we had our quarterly meetings with Governor Walker at Red Cliff, Wisconsin. The main topic of the discussion was funding issues within the Clinic. It is an ongoing process that has some good direction for resolve. I was able to discuss the Kenosha Project with Governor Walker and let him know that sometime this summer if and when it hits his desk I look forward to sitting down with him and discussing the project in great detail.
On April 27th I had the opportunity to comment on the health video that Mr. John Teller Jr. is creating to address our low health rankings (72nd out of 72 counties in the State) which is an unfortunate statistic we are recognized for. I am grateful to Gatie Waukau and his staff at the clinic for recognizing this negative trend and taking the initiative to pull us out of this slump. Keep up the good work Gatie and Menominee Tribal Clinic Staff.
On May 1st, Legislator Besaw, Legislator Warrington, and I went to City Hall for the City of Milwaukee to address Mayor Tom Barrett’s negative comments regarding the Kenosha Project. On April 19, 2012, Mayor Barrett, Alderman Hines, and Alderman Murphy gave negative comments to the Midwest Regional Office for the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding the proposed Kenosha Project. During the discussion the point we made was that the Tribe has over 283 enrolled tribal members in the City of Milwaukee and why wasn’t their interest heard when the City was drafting this negative response. I think with the Forest County Potawatomi and their casino in MENOMINEE Valley we know why the city’s negative comments were drafted.
We still struggle with why a tribe would hold back another tribe when it comes to being able to improve the quality of life for the children and elders, the two greatest assets that an tribe has in my opinion. Maybe one day we will have that answer.
Speaking of our elders. I had the humble opportunity to give the welcome address at the 1st Annual Elder Abuse Conference on May 3rd at the College of Menominee Nation Cultural Building. It was a great experience being able to address our elders who have all that knowledge and understanding.
On May 7th I met with the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Tribal Council to get a resolution in support of our Kenosha Project. The Council unanimously passed the resolution. Waewaenon to the Red Cliff Band for their support. The following day we met with the Ho-Chunk Legislative Council and presented our resolution for support. The meeting went well, and the Ho-Chunk will get back to us to let us know if they support or do not support our project. We will remain optimistic for a positive response. The Ho-Chunk Nation is a strong voice and it would be great to have their support of the Kenosha Project.
One of Governor Walker’s requirements to entertain the project is consensus among the 11 Tribes of Wisconsin. That being said we have 8 more tribes to ask for support, and I will keep the membership updated on future meetings with other tribes.
May 13th through the 18th I will be attending the 36th Annual Intertribal Timber Council in Warm Springs, Oregon. I’m sorry to say I will not be able to attend the 35th Annual Senior Recognition Banquet on May 16th or the Headstart Promotion on May 18th. I am proud of our youth and I would like to congratulate all of them for their academic achievements. You are our future leaders. Keep up the good work and continue to make the Menominee Nation proud.
I would like to end by asking everyone to say a prayer for the loved ones we have lost, those who are ill, and our soldiers away from home.
Waewaenon,
Chairman Corn
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