Romulus Casino Subject of EUP Meetings by Rick Smith and Discussed the Proposal Indi- in an Effort to Clear up Vidually with About 45 Elders
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PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Win Awenen Nisitotung Permit No. 30 Gaylord, MI 49735 Namebin Giizis • Sucker Moon Official newspaper of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians April 1 • Vol. 32 No. 4 Romulus casino subject of EUP meetings BY RICK SMITH and discussed the proposal indi- In an effort to clear up vidually with about 45 elders. confusion among Sault Tribe The main concern expressed by members surrounding the pos- the constituency was to be kept sible development of a casino informed — whether good news in Romulus, Mich., Chairman or bad — about events through Joe McCoy, developer Mike official channels rather than by Sawruk and tribal board repre- outside parties. Fewer people sentatives met with members attended a March 9 meeting at in a series of meetings in Sault the same site allowing for more Ste. Marie, St. Ignace and one-on-one discussion of the Newberry from March 2 to project. The same sentiment March 11. The meetings were was raised by a few vocal folks scheduled in areas as requested at a meeting at the Kewadin by board representatives. Casino in the Sault later in the The first issue causing day on March 9, who left feel- bewilderment among mem- Photo by Rick Smith ing satisfied with information bers appears to have been ONE-ON-ONE FACE TIME — Four elders took advantage of one of the Romulus casino development com- they learned about the develop- generated by the wording munity meetings in Sault Ste. Marie to gain a better understanding of the situation from the perspective ment and how it will benefit used in a referendum to repeal of tribal leaders and the project’s key investor. Pictured above are (L-R) Frank Shannon, Grace Gravelle, members. The issue of keeping Resolution 2010-249 — Pursuit Sandy Reining, Chairman Joe McCoy, tribal legislative analyst Mike McCoy, Unit I Representative members informed was again of Settlement of a Land Claim Bernard Bouschor, developer Mike Sawruk, Unit I Representative Debra Ann Pine and Leslie Ruditis. raised in Newberry on March With Respect to Property Meetings covering the subject were also convened in St. Ignace and Newberry. 10. Some folks indicated they in the Romulus, Michigan, have been receiving incor- and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, is also putting up all of the up- services, such as health, hous- Metropolitan Area. According rect information through other partnered with Sault Tribe front costs. All of them.” ing and education programs. A to officials, the question on the sources and want accurate infor- and has essentially agreed to McCoy added that Sawruk tribal casino in Romulus would referendum concerned approval mation from tribal officials. spearhead the Romulus casino will absorb all financial risks be a second chance for the tribe of a partnership with certain About 40 people who attend- project. Sawruk is a success- in return for a significant profit to put more muscle into its rev- individuals to pursue develop- ed the March 11 meeting in St. ful consultant and developer if he succeeds in clearing the enue stream. ment of a casino, not the act Ignace raised questions on how with experience in developing way for the casino. “And if he Sawruk views the U.S. of development. Many tribal the Romulus development may other tribal casino projects in succeeds and our land claim is Congress as where most of the officials and members were impact other projects and had northern Michigan and a few approved in Washington, the work needs to be done. “About apprehensive about the possibil- many questions about the agree- other states. He is president tribe will have complete and 90 percent of what we have to ity of entering into an earlier ment between Mr. Sawruk and of Sawruk Management, Inc., total control over the casino that do at this point involves educat- partnership because of some of the tribe. Again, the presenta- based in Winter Park, Fla. we would develop in Romulus ing Congress on the (Charlotte the individuals involved. tion was well received overall The second matter focused Chairman McCoy described with Mr. Sawruk as our partner. Beach) deal.” how the partnership with That’s how he will make his He said Congressional and answered many questions. on hurdles, risks and rewards After hearing what officials for the tribe in acquiring Sawruk benefits the tribe in the profit, and it will obviously be a approval could take anywhere March edition of Win Awenen benefit to the tribe, too.” from a few months to a few had to say about the casino Congressional approval of a development project at one state of Michigan-Sault Tribe Nisitotung, “There is no finan- The main incentive for estab- years. of the meetings in Sault Ste. land exchange to settle the cial risk to the tribe or our lishing a casino in Romulus, According to official reports, Marie, one elder expressed the Charlotte Beach land issue and members under our agreement according to McCoy and other the Romulus casino devel- belief that work to establish the moving forward to develop a with Mr. Sawruk. He is respon- tribal representatives, is that opment meetings were well casino should start as soon as casino in Romulus. sible for securing all necessary revenue from the five Kewadin received overall. At the March 2 possible. “The sooner the better, Mike Sawruk, who was born political and legal approvals casinos is not keeping pace with meeting at Nokomis-Mishomis and for arranging financing. He growing demand for members’ Place, representatives explained I think,” she said. Tribal leaders meet with HHS over annual budgets FROM NIHB ing was the National Tribal elimination of the following The 13th annual National Budget Workgroup’s IHS bud- grants for health promotion HHS Tribal Budget and Policy get recommendations for fiscal and disease prevention, healthy Consultation recently brought year 2013. In a presentation youth (National Congress of tribal leaders from across the to HHS leadership, Chairmen American Indians), chronic nation to Washington, D.C. Gary Hayes (Ute Mountain Ute care (Institute for Healthcare from March 2-4. Over the three Tribe), Ned Norris Jr. (Tohono Improvement), elders long days, officials from various O’odham Nation) and Vice health care, childrens’ and HHS operating divisions — President Rex Lee Jim (Navajo womens’ health, urban domes- including Centers for Medicare Nation) presented the national tic violence/sexual assault, the and Medicaid Services, tribal budget priorities, such as National Indian Health Board Centers for Disease Control a 10-year plan to fully fund IHS Cooperative Agreement and the and Prevention, Substance and a $1.431 billion increase in National Native American EMS Abuse and Mental Health “must-have” spending for fiscal Association. Services Administration and year 2013. They also presented As the letter states, “As Health Resources and Services HHS officials with the top 10 tribal leaders, we were sur- Administration — provided health priorities as ranked by prised that the fiscal year 2012 comments, and received recom- tribal leaders nationally with Congressional justification mendations from tribal repre- behavioral health identified as proposed these cuts, especially Photo courtesy of U.S. HHS sentatives on issues pertaining the top priority. considering that we had just Sault Tribe Board of Directors Unit I Representative Cathy Abramson to Indian health. In addition to these requests, met and developed our fiscal (Left) shakes hands and exchanges greetings with U.S. Health and Secretary Sebelius also took the tribal representatives also yer 2013 budget recommenda- Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at the 13th annual the time to address the meet- presented Secretary Sebelius tions with the agency and these National HHS Tribal Budget and Policy Consultation in Washington, ing formally. She expressed the with a letter signed by numer- proposed eliminations were not D.C., from March 2 to March 4. Administration’s sincere desire ous tribal leaders regarding the discussed.” to improve Indian health saying, proposed eliminations within Tribal leaders expressed son Cathy Abramson, testified tribes and a uniform definition “We are committed to having the fiscal year 2012 IHS budget. much concern over the cuts and on cross-cutting issues associ- of “Indian.” The written recom- the department do everything it At a total savings of less it is hoped this issue will be ated with the implementation mendations are available on the can to address on-going chal- than $6 million, the fiscal year settled in a way deemed satis- of the Patient Protection and NIHB website at www.nihb. lenges.” 2012 IHS Congressional budget factory by all those involved. Affordable Care Act, such as org/tribal_resources/tribal_ The focal point for the meet- justification recommends the Additionally, NIHB chairper- improved consultation with resources.php. 2 Notes and Notices April 1, 2011 • Win Awenen Nisitotung ACFS seeks public comments on the Newspaper deadlines Below is the Win Awenen Child Care Assistance Program Nisitotung production sched- Anishnaabek Community an office of the federal gov- changes to the way the CCDF CCDF program plan will be ule for the rest of 2011. If and Family Services (ACFS) ernment’s Health and Human program operates and we would available from May 1 to May there are any questions or operates the Child Care Services Administration for like to hear from current and 27, 2011, at the ACFS office at concerns, please don’t hesi- Development Program, more Children and Families. previous parents and child care 2218 Shunk Road, Sault Ste. tate to contact Jennifer Dale- commonly known as CCDF In 2011, ACFS intends to providers who are licensed by Marie, MI 49783; direct local Burton at (906) 632-6398, or child care assistance, in all apply for continued funding CCDF or receive CCDF funds.