Oneida Indian Nation 2020 Annual Report Unto the Seventh Generation Oneida Indian Nation 2020 Annual Report A Message From the Nation Representative Children’s Books Preserve Language, Teach and Oneida Nation Enterprises CEO Valuable Life Lessons ........................................pg. 6 Ray Halbritterr ................................................ pgs. 1-2 Retaining Our Heritage................................ pgs. 7-8 A Message From the Oneida Indian Nation Council .................................................pg. 3 Oneida Nation Enterprises Provides Stability for Members, Community During Providing Resources for Members Challenging Yearr ....................................... pgs. 9-14 of All Generations .............................................pg. 4 Nations Remains Committed to Community, Scholarship Program Offers Opportunities Supporting Neighbors .............................. pgs. 15-16 for Students ........................................................pg. 5 www.OneidaIndianNation.com An offi cial publication of the Oneida Indian Nation Our Commitment to the Seventh Generation The People and the leadership of the Oneida Indian Nation have identifi ed three principal long-range goals to guide the community and economic development activities of the Nation and the administration and the leadership of the Nation. The adopted long-range goals of the Oneida Indian Nation are as follows: Help our Members achieve their highest potential in education, physical and mental health, and economic development; Implement the legal and administrative structure for the stability and protection of Nation sovereignty, treaty rights, and government-to- government relationships; and Acquire, develop, and secure resources to achieve economic and social empowerment and self-suffi ciency for the Oneida Indian Nation. These long-range goals have been adopted by the Nation as a guide toward the accomplishment of a progressive dream. Simultaneously, the Nation plans to use the economic incentives available to a sovereign nation to inject new wealth and create jobs for the Oneida community and, signifi cantly, the surrounding communities. hekólih, greetings. The Oneida Resiliency is among the hallmarks Speople have a long history of our People. United in purpose, of perseverance in the face of and with strong leadership, we have struggles dating back to the always remained spirited in getting times of the Revolutionary War, through these challenges. Today, when our ancestors suff ered the the state and counties recognize A Message from the consequences of siding with the our sovereignty, and look to us as American colonies in their fi ght the economic engine for the entire Nation Representative for liberty. Our Oneida ancestors region. and Oneida Nation remained strong and persistent when they determined, in the Determined Enterprises CEO face of relentless pressure, to stay here on our sacred homelands to Serve while others left to start their There is a Cheyenne saying - “a own government to escape the danger foreseen is half-avoided.” greed, scorn and inequity of the The work we have done together overreaching federal and state as a Nation, and the steps we have governments at the time. And, more taken as leaders to secure a better recently, we overcame years of life for our People, have given us a intense strife and turmoil, fi ghting solid foundation on which we can against state and county eff orts to withstand a crisis such as the one seize our lands and shutdown our we are currently experiencing. businesses. Oneida Indian Nation Annual Report 2020 2 The wellbeing of Members is – and remains – our highest priority. In the beginning of the pandemic, we acted quickly to take a number of actions to support our People. Our fi rst focus was on our Elders and those especially vulnerable to the virus. Our Health Services facility never closed. Our health facility was the fi rst to bring rapid coronavirus testing to the region for our Members and Health Services clients. The Nation was also able Jessica Dowdy (Bear Clan) Executive Offi ce employee to acquire the “Abbot ID NOW” analyzer test for Covid-19 because of the longstanding credibility vaccines speaks to the world-class when we reopened in June, we did of our Health Services and the capabilities provided through our so safely and in a way that will be measures already in place to medical facilities, and the stellar sustainable to see us through this support our Members in response reputation of our skilled employees crisis. to the pandemic. who have done a remarkable job before and throughout the We have been through many The selection of the Nation pandemic. troubled times as a People. But Health Services for distribution together, we have overcome them of the limited supply of Covid-19 We have provided nearly 10,000 all. We can take comfort in the healthy meals to our Elders since fact that our Nation, through the beginning of the pandemic. preparedness, due diligence and Charisse Gibson (Wolf Clan) Elder’s Program employee And our Member Benefi ts Offi ce diffi cult decision making, has remained open as well, and felt less of an impact from the continues to assist when and where pandemic than the community at- they can. large. Getting Back We understand how challenging this time has been for you, your to Work families, and for all of us. While the pandemic is still with us, things Our businesses support the continue to improve. We will programs and services for our continue to stand together and Members, so it was imperative take care of one another and make to reopen all of our operations decisions based on their impact to as quickly and safely as possible. future generations. During the pandemic, food Our enterprise leadership team donated from our businesses began working as soon as we closed NN7 ki\ki\ wa, helped support the continuation with local and state agencies on a of a daily lunch program for our plan for reopening. Soon after, we Elders, distributing instituted a comprehensive health and safety plan that has been 110,0000,000 Ray Halbritter extremely eff ective in ensuring that, healthy meals. A Message hekóóliih.h As wee movve foorwr ard from a year thhat wasa Sllikek no ototheh r, we dod so acknowledgging thhat whihilee it from the was asas diffi cultl and chhallengingn as any,y it ala soso wass a year tht at unddere sccored ouru colleectivve reesilil encec . Thhe sps iri itt Oneida Indian ana d deetet rmminattioon of our People,e havini g beb en triied andn Nation Council teestted forr gene erationsn , rer mam inns ass strong asa ever.r NaN viv gatingn the obstat cles placced beefof re us byb thee Turtle Clan panddemmic hasa beee n deemaandinng for susuree. WiW th poosittivive nen ws on thhe horizoon through vacccini e deevelopment and administratitionon acrc oss the counu try,y we can refl ece t huh mbblyy on the accommplishments ourr Meemmbers andn our Natioon haavve made over the lasa t yearr. WeW do soo witth prp ide annd certitudu e thata thee future remainins brb ightt for genneerattioi ns to como e.e DalaleeR Rooood CliCl ntn HilHi l Wolf Clan Whhat we haave builtl togogetther fof r ouo r coommunniti y ovo err the past feww dececades hasa enaablb edd us tot remmaiin fi rmly foccussede ono ourr missioion – to prrovide the best eduucatitioonal andn careeere opporrtut nitiiess, annd cuc ltural enricchment and heheala tht caree serrvicess, thhaat allow our Peeople to liive theh irr livi ese to thhe fulllesst potennttiaal juust as tht e Creaeatot r innteenddedd. ThTherre are maanyn exxcitinng enndeavvorors wew willl beb moving RayRa Hallbritter Keller George ChuCh ckk Fougnigng er forward wiw th in thhe comim ngg mono thhs,s andd years, ahhead.d Nation ThT e sus ccess off our enterprisses has put ouru Nata ioion in Reppresentatiativev coontrol of itss own deesstiinyy, whhici h mem ana s prp ovidinng Meembmbers wiw th more pprrogo ramsms andd serviicees tht at not only prpresservee our heritagage aand cuultlturure fof r fuf turer geneneratioi ns, but buili d ono an ece onommic fouundn attioion that will ene sure ouur futut ree succcesss. KimKi JaJ cobbs NtNatNaation Clerkeerrkk Bear Clan WeW ’r’ e eaeageg r to movve fof rwwaarrd ass a Peoe ple, beyyonnd ththisi paanddemmic, inintoo a new era thhat wiill be justt the beginnnin ngg off mana y brigghth thih nggs tto comme – unu too thehe sevventh geenerar tiionn. N7N ki\\ wa, Onneie dada Indndian Naatit ono Counncil Briiann Pattterersons PetP e Johnohn Oneida Indian Nation Annual Report 2020 4 Providing Resources for Members of all Generations The guidelines stressed previous Taking Care of Elders policies and procedures, but also added new precautions to The Nation has maintained its ensure a healthy and safe learning commitment to providing Eldersders environment for the children. with as many resourcesurces aas possible during thehe panpandemic. One of those The staff says the parents have done resoresources is the daily lunch served a wonderful job of educatingg theirtheir by Elder’s Center staff , Charisse children about thee impoimportance of Gibson (Wolf Clan), Nancy Stratton sanitizingng andand washing hands. and Brenda Hicks. Safety from the Start “We are doing everything we can to Between 40 and 50 Nation he Nation’sn s EarEarly Learning keep the kids safe and healthy when Members, as well as other TCentCenter re-opened its doors they’re here, while also maintaining American Indians age 55+ in the on June 10, 2020 to families of a fun, collaborative environment,” local area, came to pick up their Members and employees. Adhering Tricia said. lunches daily at the Center. With to social distancing guidelines, curbside pick-up, Elders were able the center took all necessary Assistance for Families to maintain their social distancing precautions to ensure a healthy and and minimize any unnecessary happy learning environment. The Nation was also able to physical interaction. secure a new one-time benefi t for Tricia Narolis, manager of Members through a $1,000 debit The curbside pick-up option the Early Learning Center, card administered by FSA TPA to became available last April and assistant manager cover essential services and living when Charisse returned to TiT na Fox, put together expenses during the pandemic.