Win Awenen Nisitotung May 17, 2019 • Vol. 40 No. 5 Flower Moon • Waaskoone Giizis Official newspaper of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians FedReg suggests non-Indians possess eagle feathers By Rick Smith were accounted for by the federal gious organization should enjoy procedures, the USFWS seeks for submitting comments to Confusion lurks in a case over government when their ancestors a presumption of sincerity; others public comments on the matter. docket number FWS-HQ- the possession of eagle feathers. were confined to reservations should have the opportunity to Comments must be submitted on LE-2018-0078. Comments may It appears the McAllen Grace while others were more elusive, demonstrate their sincerity in or before July 1, 2019. also be mailed or hand-delivered Brethren Church and the Becket escaping control of the govern- other ways.” The petition and associated to Public Comments Processing, Fund for Religious Liberty are ment and its accounting. The petition also calls for material can be found at http:// Attn: FWS-HQ-LE-2018-0078; asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife After an incident over 10 years reforms of the National Eagle www.regulations.gov in docket Division of Policy, Performance Service (USFWS) to revise ago when federal agents seized Repository to increase funding number FWS-HQ-LE-2018-0078. and Management Programs; U.S. federal regulations to allow the about 50 eagle feathers from Soto and staff to enhance its operation. Comments can be submitted Fish and Wildlife Service; 5275 possession of eagle feathers during a church-sponsored pow- However, in keeping with online at http://www.regulations. Leesburg Pike, MS: BPHC, Falls by state-recognized tribes. The wow. Legal action ensued where, U.S. Department of the Interior gov and following instructions Church, VA 22041-3803. church is in McAllen, Texas, and eventually, the Department of the the Becket Fund is a non-profit Interior (DOI) settled with terms Washington, D.C., law firm. calling for the return of the eagle Current federal law allows feathers and an agreement to con- federally recognized tribes to sider a petition to change existing acquire eagle feathers and other federal rules on the possession body parts of protected birds of eagle feathers and other eagle through the National Eagle parts. The USFWS, a component Repository in Colorado. It does of the DOI, received the petition not allow acquisitions by any on July 26, 2018. other tribes. Here is where it gets confus- Robert Soto, pastor of the ing. According to the Federal church, is also vice chairman Register, the petition asks “to of the tribal council for the modify existing regulations or Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas. issue new regulations concerning The tribe lacks federal recog- the possession of eagle feathers nition, but is recognized by the by persons who are not members state of Texas and the National of federally recognized tribes.” Congress of American Indians. Further, the petition calls for JKL Bahweting School’s Students of the month for March are: Kindergarten: Klayton Franklin, Mason Vaught, Soto explained the tribe cannot the protection of sincere religious Bronx Gehrke; first grade: Aries Woodhall, Nora Baier, Alex Houghton; second grade: Stephanie Murdock, gain federal recognition for the believers — “Members of a state Destiny Robinson, Isaiah Hammon; third grade: Khloe Cantafio, George Tessier, Iyla Nagy; fourth grade: lack of documentation of the or federally recognized Indian Austin Laaksonen, Sierra Snider, Asia Jones; fifth grade: Annabelle Talsma, Drake Rexstrew, Jaron Compo; people. He explained that, the tribe, a Native American church sixth grade: Hue Volrath, Johnny Osborn, Iyla Beaulieu; seventh grade: Alyssa Yirs, Jacob Demolen; and eight ancestry of some Apache people or other Native American reli- grade: Cody Batho, Savannah Wing. Tribes adamant: no tunnel, deal decommission Line 5 BY JENNIFER DALE-BURTON Line 5 and a possible tunnel Chairperson Aaron Payment portions of this line, including a day, a new opportunity, a new MACKINAC CITY, Mich. — under the Straits of Mackinac. said. “I’m looking for the gover- spill in early December 2014, on governor,” said Payment. In a meeting with members of Of the 10 tribes attending, all nor to stand up for the people of the bank of the Manistique River “Unfortunately, the new gover- Governor Whitmer’s staff and were united in their desire to see Michigan.” just 1 mile from Lake Michigan. nor has inherited this problem.” EGLE staff, tribal leaders reit- Line 5 shut down, in line with Enbridge’s Line 5, a The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe Decommissioning Line 5 now erated what they’ve been saying the United Tribes of Michigan 30-inch-diameter pipeline built of Chippewa Indians passed is the only decision that makes since 2014: decommission that resolution. in 1953 that extends a distance a resolution in February 2015 sense. A catastrophic oil spill in pipeline. Gov. Whitmer has been nego- of 4.6 miles beneath the Straits entreating any regulatory author- the Straits of Mackinac would Sault Tribe was invited to tiating with Enbridge regarding of Mackinac, is as dangerous ity, be it federal, state, or other, devastate the tribal fishing indus- a May 3 tribal consultation a tunnel to house Enbridge’s as ever. Line 5 was designed to take all action toward requir- try, as well as shut down water between the Executive Office oil pipeline running through for a 50-year life and is now ing decommissioning of the intakes for numerous communi- of the Governor and each of the Straits. But Sault Tribe says 16 years beyond its design life. Enbridge Line 5 pipeline at the ties and devastate the shoreline Michigan’s 12 federally recog- that is unacceptable. “I’m not This pipeline at any given time Straits of Mackinac and specif- and island ecosystems and tourist nized Indian tribes to collect looking for a deal to be struck contains nearly 1 million gallons ically requesting the Michigan industry — all for an investment input regarding the future of with Enbridge,” Sault Tribe of crude oil beneath the waters Petroleum Pipelines Task Force that probably won’t be relevant of the Straits of Mackinac. For to include in its recommenda- by the time it is completed. www.saulttribe.com 4 to 6 months of the year, the tions the decommissioning of the “A half-billion dollar invest- Straits are ice-covered, making Enbridge Line 5 pipeline at the ment in a tunnel will be either a spill response nearly impossi- Straits of Mackinac. stranded asset (never used), or it ble. Numerous small ruptures Sault Tribe’s position has guarantees climate disaster,” said have already occurred on land not changed. “We have a new Payment. PAID 49735 Gaylord, MI U.S. Postage PRSRT STD Permit No. 30 Sault Tribe legalizes marijuana SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. On April 8, Bay Mills Indian drivers cannot be under the influ- — The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe Community adopted an ordi- ence of marijuana. Permitted of Chippewa Indians Board of nance, allowing individuals manufacture, process and sale of Directors approved a resolution to cultivate, possess and use marijuana is limited to authorized at its April 16 meeting to legal- marijuana, which mirrors state tribal enterprises. ize marijuana on the Sault Tribe law. Michigan voters approved The new Tribal Code, reservation. The new law takes a referendum last fall legalizing Chapter 71: Criminal Offenses, effect May 15. marijuana. Subchapter XVI: Controlled “The wave of legalization The Sault Tribe law also mir- Substances and Related Offenses, of personal or recreational use rors state law: Only those 21 and takes effect May 15 to be in of marijuana has reached the older can possess, use and grow accord with the 30-day referen- Sault Tribe reservation for adult small amounts of marijuana with- dum timeline set forth in the Sault Sault Tribe citizens,” said Tribal in their residence. Those with Tribe Constitution, said Payment. Chairperson Aaron Payment. past marijuana related offenses The tribe will use the time to put “Some will celebrate while oth- may request they be vacated via an implementation plan and press ers have concerns. Fundamental Tribal Court. Marijuana cannot plan in place, according to the Win Awenen Nisitotung 531 Ashmun St. MI 49783 Marie, Sault Ste. change is never easy.” be used or displayed in public; resolution. Page 2 Community May 17, 2019 • Win Awenen Nisitotung Tony Abramson retires after 35 years of service Rarely has a retiring team member commanded such respect and affection. Three former health directors, board members, colleagues, family members and team members from across the tribe packed into the health center auditorium April 17 to pay their respects and rib retir- ing Health Center Clinic Manager Tony Abramson. After an introduction by Health Director Leo Chugunov, Cecil Pavlat presented Abramson with a plaque and an eagle feather and informed the crowd that Abramson has been adopted into the tribe as an honorary member. Former health director Mary Beth Skuppien, said, “Tony loves his wife and family, and his culture, so much. He is known through- out Indian Country as a scholar and a resource. He handled being a Cathy and Tony Abramson spend time with coworkers and friends during his retirement party. non-Native professional in Indian Country with grace and class; he is an example for every one of us. “You are amazing,” she said to him. Opens th Weatherization Program April 29 The Sault Tribe Housing Authority will be accepting applications for the Weatherization Program beginning April 29, 2019 thru May 28, 2019 The purpose of the Weatherization Program is Must be a Sault to provide energy conservation improvements Tribe Household for homeowners in need of repair/replacement to Must Own Home improve the energy efficiency of their home.