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THE SAULT STE. MARIE TRIBE OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS 2004 ANNUAL REPORT The Sault Tribe News, July 18, 2005 Vol. 26 No.10 49735 Gaylord, MI Gaylord, Visit the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians website at: 30 No. Permit PAID www.saulttribe.com Postage U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT Page 2 2004 ANNUAL REPORT July 18, 2005 • THE SAULT TRIBE NEWS Honoring our past, preparing for our future Greetings from Sault Tribe Chairperson Aaron Payment Anee - Boozo, Anishinaabe Negee: Each day I wake, I put down my tobacco and/or pray to give thanks to Gitche Manitou (Great Spirit) for each breath I take, for the wonderful world in which we live, for good health for my family and for the awesome responsibility granted to me as your chairperson. This year marks our 30th anniversary as a federally rec- ognized tribe. We have come a long way and must pay homage to our nokomis, mishomis (grandmothers and grandfathers) who cleared our path. I am excited to lead as we make even greater strides as a developing nation. Our new $30 million St. Ignace Shores Casino development is progressing along on schedule after new In the coming years, we will focus on evolving our prima- management structure put in place. The new casino will have 1,500 square feet of gaming space, an enter- ry governing document, our Constitution, to achieve a true tainment lounge and a 81 room hotel with a breathtaking view. separation of powers protecting the tribe and perpetuating This year, we recognized the contributions of our veterans tional costs to ensure we our way of life. by again hosting the Moving Wall Memorial and have had continued funding to In trying to decide launched plans to establish a permanent Saul Tribe veter- provide the same level or whether or not to run for ans memorial. expanded services. The the position of chairper- I acknowledge the advocacy of those who paved the result? We ended 2004 son, I prayed for direc- way for us. The gratitude I feel for what we have been with a $4,242,471 surplus. tion as I realize our role given is matched only by the seriousness of the responsi- With the exception of as public servants is a bility of planning to provide for our members' needs. 2003, when I served as sacred trust. What came We are a tribe, not a corporation. Our gaming opera- the deputy executive Elder Catherine “Tapun” to me in a dream was the tions and enterprises exist only to provide revenue for our director, we have never Young and Jennifer sheer poverty of our past needed services. Our prime objective, therefore, must be posted a positive bottom Boulley at Sault Tribe and the need to refocus to maximize profits. Realizing that Michigan may be line. Comparing the first Powwow. on our original purpose nearing the saturation point for gaming, we must become five months of 2004 with as a tribe — to meet the Pearl, Katherine “Gotnee” even more competitive in our gaming operations. Our cus- 2005, we have seen a savings of about 19.11 percent or needs of the neediest and Henry Boulley in 1950 tomer service must improve even more to give tourists a $2,518,744. This means that we are operating more effi- first. on Sugar Island. reason to travel to ciently and have Above is a photo of my aunt, my mom, and my uncle. our facilities. excess revenue to They grew up on Sugar Island without running water or However, develop- reallocate for mem- electricity. My grand- ment and expansion bership services. As mother cared for them for its own sake is our gaming market to the best of her ability. hollow. We must matures, we must be Around 1950, veterans never forget that our smarter and more of WWII and family operations are a efficient in the man- members decided to try means to an end ner in which we to provide a better life which is to generate spend the valuable for future generations. revenue to meet the resources we do Seeing the way the rest needs of the needi- have. Elder Sophie “Bazz” Willis at of the world lived gave est first. As we move for- Chairperson Payment’s our veterans the vision Upon entering Celebrating the grassroots effort to establish an election and service ward, we must not annual picnic. to see what life could be the office of chair- area Unit VI to encompass all tribe members who reside outside the forget where we like for our own people. person, it became current seven-county service area. came from and apparent that we remember those who were off schedule and were projected to end $6 million are still in need. Reviving our cultural ways is key as it TABLE OF CONTENTS over budget on the Kewadin Shores new casino develop- reconnects us to our past and our values. Above is a photo ment project. As a result, I convened a committee of team of an elder who met her long lost uncle Steven Boulley's Chairman’s letter.....................................................2 members and tribal board representatives including Unit great-granddaughter at the Bahweting Powwow. What a Map of service area and Board of Directors..........3 III board member Fred Paquin and Vice-Chair Bob beautiful thing — even though separated by generations, Health......................................................................4 LaPoint to try to bring the project back in line. After a that family could come together through our Anishinaabe great deal of cooperation and a focused project manage- ways. Education................................................................6 ment approach, we scaled back the project to near it’s We cannot forget the tribal spirit in which we came to Culture....................................................................8 original budget of $30 million. As you can see above, the be such a great nation. Please join with me to reach out to ACFS....................................................................10 investment in our new and improved facility will be well one another and lend our support for establishing Unit VI Housing................................................................11 worth it as our new vacation destination property will in this same Anishinaabe spirit. Recreation.............................................................12 draw even more customers. On a very personal note, my mother — Katherine The $2.66 million contract payouts on election night, 'Gotnee' Payment, a Sault Tribe member since before fed- Fisheries................................................................13 put us in a position where we could have ended the year at eral recognition, crossed over to the spirit world this year. Law Enforcement.................................................14 a loss. With the previous year ending at a $3 million over I am grateful she lived to see her son become tribal chair- Tribal Court..........................................................15 expenditure, I came into office with significant projected person. Though she turned 60 before she passed, she did Human Resources................................................16 potential loses. not get to benefit from the elders’ land claims distribution. Non-Gaming Businesses......................................17 Additionally, we discovered an arbitration award of $7 This motivates me even more to work toward improving million against Greektown Casino and were in danger of health care as my mother long suffered from heart disease Kewadin...............................................................18 defaulting on our payments to our former Greektown part- and diabetes — the top two Greektown............................................................19 ners. This could have placed Greektown Casino in bank- causes of death for our peo- Financial Overview..............................................20 ruptcy or receivership. With the leadership of our new ple. Self-Sufficiency...................................................21 general counsel, tribe member Steven J. Morello, and the I am so very thankful I 2004 in Pictures....................................................22 cooperation of the tribal have been granted the honor board, we are able to find of serving you as tribal chair- Community Contributions...................................24 settlement terms which will person. Things get challeng- result in savings between ing at times with tribal poli- On the cover: $9 million to $18 million. tics, but I love my job and I The photos on the cover represent health, Upon taking office, I appreciate the opportunity to culture, tribal enterprises and education. All gave a directive to all ser- serve you! important priorities for the future of the tribe. vices staff to project five Chi megwitch, Welcome to the 2004 Annual Report of the Sault percent, 10 percent and 20 Anishinaabe Negee Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. percent reductions. We Jossie Payment at Child Advocacy Award then implemented five per- Photos by Alan Kamuda Bahweting Sault Tribe cent reductions in opera- Powwow. July 18, 2005 • THE SAULT TRIBE NEWS 2004 ANNUAL REPORT Page 3 Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians 2004 Board of Directors Robert LaPoint Cathy Abramson Todd K. Gravelle Joseph Eitrem Dennis McKelvie Paul Shagen Vice Chairman Secretary Treasurer Unit I Representative Unit I Representative Unit I Representative Unit II Representative Unit I Representative Unit I Representative UNIT V UNIT II UNIT I The tribe’s seven - county service area. MARQUETTE Sault Ste. Marie • • MUNISING • NEWBERRY • • HESSEL Naubinway • • DRUMMOND Manistique • ISLAND St. IGNACE • ESCANABA • UNIT IV UNIT III Lana Causley Robert Lambert Sr. Fred Paquin Denise Chase Thomas Miller