May 2008 Nah gah chi wa nong (Far end of the Great Lake – Fond du Lac Reservation) Di bah ji mowin nan (Narrating of Story) FDL Head Start children listen to an explanation of how to collect maple sap during a sugar bush outing at the Savage family property in Sawyer. This year 180 three- and four-year-old children participated in this annual event. See a story on the ma- ple sugar harvest on page 6. 1720 BIG LAKE RD. Presort Std CLOQUET, MN 55720 U.S. Postage CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED PAID In this issue: Permit #155 Cloquet, MN Primary Election results ...............2 55720 Candidate statements ................3-4 Parenting page ..............................5 Sugar bush....................................6 Star science students ....................8 RBC thoughts ................................9 Older Than America premier .....15 Page 2 | Nah gah chi wa nong • Di bah ji mowin nan | May 2008 Primary Election results require new election in Brookston; Regular Election for Chair and District I to go ahead as scheduled on June 10 By Deborah Locke The Regular Election for the Brookston Repre- he need for a new election in District III, sentative will be held sometime in August. Read- June 2008 FDL election Brookston, reveals the remarkable impor- ers should refer to the FDL website for the final- Ttance of a single vote, and the measures ized election plans. The Minnesota Chippewa procedures and dates required to correct a miscast ballot. Tribe’s Executive Committee set the new District According to Fond du Lac Reservation’s Election The Brookston election was invalid, accord- III Primary Election date, as required by the MCT Ordinance No. 10, in order to be eligible to vote for a ing to a legal opinion by Election Contest Judge Constitution. The new Brookston Primary Elec- public official, voters must be 18 years of age, enrolled Suzanne Ojibway Townsend. An enrolled Band tion ballot will contain only the names of the Band Members, and have resided in their District for Member who did not live in the Brookston Dis- candidates who qualified for the April 1 Primary at least 30 days prior to the election, unless they are trict for 30 days prior to the primary election on Election. Only voters who were properly listed casting an absentee ballot. April 1, 2008 voted in District III. In her opinion, on the voter roll for District III as of the April 1, Absentee ballots must be requested in writing, in- Townsend wrote that the Band Member did not 2008 Primary Election will be eligible to vote in cluding the name, birthday, district, and address of the intentionally vote in the wrong district, and was the new Primary Election, Townsend wrote. voter. To cast an absentee ballot, an eligible voter who confused about where she was supposed to go. The results of the April 1 Fond du Lac Reserva- has never resided on the reservation of their enroll- She should have voted in District I. tion Primary Election were posted early in April. ment must declare in their affidavit which district has The vote tally for District III showed only a The results were as follows: been selected in which to cast the ballot. Voters may single vote difference between the candidate Chairman: Karen Diver: District I, Clo- not change their district for absentee voting purposes who came in at second place (Anna Wait, 42 quet: 226; District II, Sawyer: 73; District III, without actually residing within a different district for votes) and third place (Mary Northrup (41 Brookston: 71; absentee ballots: 178; total: 548 30 consecutive days. In addition, it is necessary to ob- votes). Incumbent Roger Smith received 45 or 46.72 percent. Patricia Petite: District I: 142; tain a notary public signature on the absentee ballot. votes. District II: 31; District III: 25; absentee: 69; total: The request for an absentee ballot must be received Townsend wrote that a difference of one vote 267 or 22.76 percent. Robert Abramowski: Dis- in a reasonable amount of time, so the ballot can be would make a difference regarding which top trict I: 90; District II: 21; District III: 31; absentee: mailed and returned prior to the deadline. To receive two candidates would advance to the Regular 91; total: 233 or 19.86 percent. Ricky DeFoe: an absentee ballot, send a request to FDL Reservation, Election on June 10. She added “Although the District I: 29; District II: 10; District III: 26; General Election Board, P.O. Box 430, Cloquet, Minn. ineligibility of a single voter in an election would absentee: 16; total: 81 or 6.91 percent. William 55720. Ballots will be returned to the same address. not usually be assumed to affect the outcome of Dufault: District I: 20; District II: 2; District III: 8; The deadline for receipt of the absentee ballots is the election, in this particular case, it is reason- absentee: 14; total: 44, or 3.75 percent. 8 p.m. on the day of the election. The Election Board able to assume that one ineligible vote did affect The results for District I (Cloquet) Represen- office will be open June 2-7, 2008 and on June 9 from the outcome of the election.” (italics in original tative were: Eugene Reynolds: 117; absentee: 77; noon to 4:30 p.m. text) total: 194 or 25.39 percent. Wally Dupuis: 111; Important dates to remember are these: June 10 The request for a ballot recount was filed by absentee: 64; total: 175 or 22.91 percent. Char- (general election); June 12 (general reservation Roger “Bouda” Smith, incumbent, and by Mary lin Diver: 74; absentee: 35; total: 109 or 14.27 election board publishes election results) and July 8 Northrup. The hearing on the contested ballot percent. Gerald Mrozik: 31; absentee: 6; total: (winning candidates assume office). The election for was held April 11, 2008. 37 or 4.84 percent. Harold Diver: 33; absentee: RBC Chair is reservation-wide, and will be held in all The new Brookston Primary Election date 2; total: 35 or 4.58 percent. Kristine Shotley: 11; districts on June 10. On that date, Cloquet District vot- is tentatively scheduled for June 10, the same absentee: 16; total: 27 or 3.53 percent. Don Wi- ers will elect an RBC representative. day that voters will go to the polls to vote for esen: 44; absentee: 26; total: 70 or 9.16 percent. The Primary Election for a representative will be re- the Chair (a reservation-wide office). The Chair Shawn Ammesmaki: 38; absentee: 7; total: 45 held in the Brookston District on June 10. Brookston candidates advancing to the General Election or 5.89 percent. Elwin Benton: 48; absentee: 24; voters will vote for a chair on that date, and for a From Patricia Petite, Director, and currently for the Fond Lac Reservation for a better tomor- through: investing and support- are Incumbent Karen Diver and Patricia Petite. total: 72 or 9.42 percent. Primary Election candidate. The General Election for President, FDL Tribal College du Lac Tribal College. I made a con- row. Below is a review of some ing education from birth through District I (Cloquet) voters will advance one of The results for District III (Brookston) a Brookston representative will be held at a date to be scious decision to further my own issues I will address as the Chair of higher education, where options the two Primary Election finalists (Incumbent Representative were deemed invalid in April announced in August. Dear Fond du Lac Band education with the hope of leaving a the Fond du Lac Reservation: for training and careers can pave Eugene Reynolds and Wally Dupuis) to office. by Suzanne Ojibway Townsend, Election Contest Members, legacy of education to my family and • We are Anishinaabe people with the way towards self-sufficiency My name is Patricia community. My education includes a rich culture, honorable values, and fulfilling lives. Investing in our The mission of this publication is our intention to be a vehicle of divi- “Patty” Petite and I a bachelors degree in Psychology, a long-standing traditions, and a Band Members and assisting them Nah gah chi wa nong to provide the Anishinaabeg com- siveness. To that end, we do not pub- would like to thank all Masters in Education, and a Doctor- language that is in need of revital- with educational needs, such as munity of the Fond du Lac Band of lish editorials, opinion pieces or letters of you for your support ate in Education from the University ization. I will support these efforts advising, release time from work, Di bah ji mowin nan Lake Superior Chippewa, Fond du Lac to the editor. There is an abundance of of Minnesota. to the extent possible, practice our encouraging upward mobility and Translation: Far End of the Great Lake – Fond du Lac Reservation; Narrating of Story in the primary election, Reservation, with news and information opportunity for the publishing, airing which has allowed me to advance to I believe it’s important for fel- values of respect and kindness, rewarding self-determination, as- TABLE of CONTENTS Community news ................14 that will be of help to them in their and dissemination of material of per- the general election for Tribal Chair. low Band Members and employees and seek the guidance and support sures a wise and productive future Primary election .................. 2 Older Than America ........... 15 everyday lives. In addition, our goal sonal opinion in other communication As you consider who will best to know and understand my main of elders. Band membership. Candidates ........................3-4 Published monthly by the Fond will be to highlight many of the hon- vehicles available throughout the area, represent your interests in this im- reason for running for the position • I will energetically support our • I believe Fond du Lac needs to du Lac Reservation Business Parenting ............................