WINTER 2020 WWW.HOCHUNKINC.COM PATHWAYS QUARTERLY UPDATE
Each day’s work is a step for tomorrow.
HO-CHUNK FARMS: HISTORICAL RESERVATION LAND PURCHASE Ho-Chunk Farms announced its first farmland purchase in January with a $1.3 million deal for 231 acres of reservation land northeast of Winnebago, Nebraska
“This is a huge step for the long-term sustainability of Ho-Chunk Farms and the continued opportunity of purchasing tribal lands from non-native sellers,” said Aaron LaPointe, manager of Ho-Chunk Farms.
Just 25% of farmable land on the Winnebago Reservation is owned by the Tribe or tribal members, LaPointe estimates.
In addition to the Ho-Chunk Farms purchase, the Winnebago Tribe is currently evaluating a purchase proposal for numerous other parcels totaling a record number of acres.
“This signals the Tribe and tribal entities are in the business of buying land,” LaPointe said. Aaron LaPointe, manager of Ho-Chunk Farms, center, along with Jason Hulit, left, and Jeffery Thomas Jr., stand in the newly acquired reservation farmland. This spring, Ho-Chunk Farms will plant an additional 5,000 acres of leased farmland on the Winnebago Reservation. The company — a and increased agriculture land values for the “Everything we do is based on sustainability,” subsidiary of Ho-Chunk, Inc. — will also purchase Winnebago Tribe. LaPointe said. “That includes economics, the farm equipment to expand its machinery line. environment and traditional ways.” The goal is to increase tribal employment in The Dawes Act of 1887 allowed tribal lands to be farming and reduce contracted work. divided and taken, resulting in a checkerboard This spring, Ho-Chunk Farms will plant 440 acres pattern of land ownership on reservations of USDA Certified Organic crops, including 270 Since Ho-Chunk Farms started in 2012, it has across the United States. newly-certified acres. The company is currently changed the dynamics of reservation farming transitioning 591 acres to certified organic, an By the early 1900s, the Winnebago Tribe had lost increase of 340 acres from last year. ownership of about two-thirds of its northeast Nebraska reservation. Ho-Chunk Farms’ direct investment in the Winnebago community is facilitated by revenue The remaining tribal land has been held from organic and commodity crops. “in trust” by the federal government. Tribal farmland is leased to the public in a bid process Ho-Chunk Farms, the Winnebago Tribe and managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Leases community partners are promoting food have historically been under fair market value. sovereignty with a number of projects, including traditional Indian corn, raised bed vegetable Tribal policy allows Ho-Chunk Farms to match Ho-Chunk Farms fall 2019 soybean harvest. gardens and a new summer farmers market in any bid, increasing tribal land value by millions. the Ho-Chunk Village. Ho-Chunk, Inc. is owned by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska with a mission to advance quality of life on the reservation. Federal contracting is a significant financial driver of that mission as the company continues to diversify across a range of industries.
Ho-Chunk, Inc. entered federal government contracting in the early 2000s. Since then, its divisions have earned dozens of awards, including U.S. Department of State Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year in 2007.
Today, most of the organization’s employees work in federal contracting, including at EXCELLENCE IN FEDERAL CONTRACTING offices in Winnebago and Bellevue, Nebraska; Fairfax, Virginia; Colorado Springs, Colorado; The U.S. Department of State recognized The company is part of All Native Group, the Huntsville, Alabama; and at government a Ho-Chunk, Inc. subsidiary with a federal services division of Ho-Chunk, Inc. ANG is facilities across the nation and abroad. our largest division and specializes in providing prestigious honor for its work in federal services to federal government clients. Ho-Chunk, Inc. invests its growing contracting government contracting. revenues to improve life in the Winnebago “We lead with integrity and excellence,” said community through programs, partnerships HCI Management Services recently received Heath Rist, CEO of All Native Group. “These core and direct contributions. Priorities shared with the Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Small values have set us apart for over two decades the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska include youth, Business Contracting. and continue to guide our future.” education, employment, housing and elders.
GIVING BACK Ho-Chunk, Inc. employees helped raise a record $53,254 for the Winnebago Boys & Girls Club.
Each year, our employees identify a critical need in the community that is in line with the Tribe’s priorities. Through the Ho-Chunk Way Employee Donations Program, employees may directly give back through payroll deduction.
To date, $101,050 total has been donated to Winnebago community groups. Ho-Chunk, Inc. matches employee donations up to $25,000 annually.
Checks are presented twice a year. This spring, we will present the first check to HoChunk Renaissance, the Tribe’s language program. The Winnebago Senior Citizens Center was the first Ho-Chunk Way recipient in 2018. HO-CHUNK UNIVERSITY $75 MILLION HR Training Coordinator Willy Bass organizes and facilitates courses for Ho-Chunk University. DEVELOPMENT CREATING A POSITIVE WORKPLACE TAKES SHAPE We’re excited to announce the launch of Ho-Chunk University, our employee Ho-Chunk Capital recently completed learning and development program. work on the first of many mixed-use Over the past few months, we have been working to improve the way we offer educational buildings in Flatwater Crossing, a opportunities to our employees. We believe these opportunities will provide our employees with master-planned residential community meaningful personal and professional growth. located along the Missouri River in Through instructor-led courses, online platforms and partnerships with other educational institutions, South Sioux City, Nebraska. Ho-Chunk University works to meet the learning needs of our employees across the company. The contemporary-style, 19,500-square-foot Current course offerings include Crucial Conversations, Generations in the Workplace and building features commercial space on the leadership workshops. A series on cultural awareness covers everything from Winnebago ground level and 14 apartments in the top powwow and meal etiquette to values and the Tribe’s 12 clans. two floors.
Flatwater Crossing is the region’s largest new development in decades. It spans 200 acres.
Plans include a unique mix of apartments, HONORING A LEGACY townhomes, cottages, village homes, standard The work and legacy of Frank LaMere continues homes and estate homes, which will add in many people and ways. We are humbled a total of 1,000 new housing units to the to honor this Winnebago Tribal member and Siouxland tri-state region of Iowa, Nebraska and activist. A new park was recently dedicated in South Dakota. his memory in South Sioux City, Nebraska, at Flatwater Crossing, is designed as walkable Flatwater Crossing, a community development neighborhoods with scenic views, trails, project of Ho-Chunk, Inc. greenways and public plazas. Many turned out for this public event, including his family, Winnebago Tribal leaders, regional Ho-Chunk Capital is also working on the next business and civic leaders. phases of Tax Increment Financing roll-outs to advance development. ON THE HILL We congratulate Annette Hamilton on her congressional testimony. Annette is our Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. She testified late 2019 in the hearing “Native 8(a) Contracting: Emerging Issues” before the U.S. House Small Business Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations. Ho-Chunk, Inc. is proud of the exceptional value and performance its contracting divisions deliver to federal clients. This work directly improves lives in the Winnebago community. SHARING OUR STORY Tribal leaders across Indian country, nonprofit organizations and local community programs frequently visit Ho-Chunk, Inc. and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska to learn from our success. Meet some of our recent visitors.
We hosted guests from the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians We also hosted guests from the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, from northwest Michigan. We shared our approach to economic and shared our approach to economic and community development. development and provided a tour of our tri-state developments.
Led by Felicia Masquat, our education and youth coordinator, seniors Leaders from the Meskwaki Nation met with Aaron LaPointe, from the Winnebago Public School toured our locations in Winnebago manager of Ho-Chunk Farms, to learn about new farming initiatives. and learned about the many available careers and our education The Meskwaki Nation, also known as the Sac & Fox Tribe of the programs, including the summer internship program. Mississippi in Iowa, is located in east central Iowa.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION Sam Burrish, Ho-Chunk, Inc. Communications Manager [email protected] • 712-266-6452 www.hochunkinc.com