Vol. XXXI, Issue 21 Ca Hikiruxe wira | Deer Mating Moon November 17, 2017 UCLA School of Law partners with Ho-Chunk Koenig and for Tribal Hayes await NBA Appellate opportunity in Court Clinic NBA G League Page 7 Page 9 Wittenberg casino doubles floor space with expansion opening New hotel slated to open in January Ken Luchterhand day. It has been a lot of long about the journey to achieve Staff Writer hours, stressful situations, the celebrated milestone. Outside the Ho-Chunk Gaming – frustrations and personal “It’s been an interesting Wittenberg casino, it was cold, bar- victories have been made. ride here in the Wittenberg ren, and snowing, but inside it was We all work together hard as area, starting in August warm, dry, and full of people. a team.” 2007, with the concept of The ribbon cutting and opening of The new gaming floor the casino. By November the newly-expanded gaming floor on doubles the previous square 2007, we actually approved Wednesday, Dec. 1, brought people feet, which was 1,000 square funding for Ho-Chunk Gam- from far and wide, all eager to take feet and is now about 2,000 ing – Wittenberg, and by part of an exciting venture that was square feet, Collins said. In November 2008, we opened many months in the making. addition, the added gaming the doors to all of you,” Groundbreaking for the expansion floor increases employees by Walker said. took place Sept. 21, 2016. 80 positions. “Since that time, we’ve Elite elder Dolli BigJohn per- “The Ho-Chunk Nation had the opportunity of for- formed the honorary designation has invested in this property mulating a team to make of being center of the cutting of the and is excited to bring new the best possible gaming Cutting the ribbon for the new Ho-Chunk Gaming – ribbon. LeAnthony Pecore was the restaurant operations, a ho- establishment that we could. Wittenberg addition are (from left) Sean Brunette, master-of-ceremonies. tel, and a wider variety of I want to say thank you to Larry Walker Jr., Kathy DeCamp, Dolli BigJohn, “Today, it is our great pleasure to games that will add to the our department of business, John Murphy, and Perry Funmaker. open up the expanded gaming floor,” growth and attraction of the and Mr. Collins and his Wittenberg,” he said. establishment is now a suc- HCG-Wittenberg Executive Man- village of Wittenberg and staff, for all the efforts that “Since then, we’ve had the cess. That’s not only due in ager Fletcher Collins said during the Shawano County area,” he they’ve made in regards to opportunity to expand and part to the people that we ribbon-cutting ceremony. “All casino said. The hotel is slated to be the advancement of HCG- that was always the plan for employ, but also to those staff, construction, contractors, and finished early next year. this gaming establishment. who come through the door Ho-Chunk executive management “I want to thank my man- (The casino) was made to and spend their time here staff, have worked diligently since agement team specifically be able to expand. To see with us,” Walker said. our groundbreaking to get to this for all the hard work, time, that today, that we’re able to HCN Department of Busi- blood, sweat and tears that look around and see all the ness Executive Director they put in to get to this day, different changes and the Robert Mudd thanked HCN up to the very hour when improvements that we’ve President Wilfrid Cleveland, they opened up the doors,” made to the gaming estab- the staff, construction work- Collins said. “This is only lishment is really good to ers and customers for the the beginning. As you can see,” Walker said. achievement of completing see, we still have a lot of He said that the casino the casino addition. work to do, but we’re ready was created to help advance “We’ve got a development FIRST CLASS MAIL Paid Postage U.S. 203 No. Permit Eau WI Claire, to roll, ready for you, ready and to assist Ho-Chunk going in Black River Falls to bring this exciting experi- people. at Majestic Pines Casino, ence to Ho-Chunk Gaming Fletcher Collins tells “Through the prayers that we have a remodeling go- – Wittenberg.” about the progression were made on behalf of our ing on in Wisconsin Dells, Ho-Chunk Area 3 Legis- of the casino expansion elders and those that came Ho-Chunk Casino, I’m very lator Larry Walker Jr. told project. after them that this gaming Continued on Page 6 INSIDE SCOOP... Letters .............................. 2 News ............................. 3-4 Health ............................. 5 News ................................ 6 Sports .............................. 7 Veterans......................... 8-9 Legals ............................... 9 Legislative................. 10-11 News .............................. 12 Gaming .......................... 13 Notices ....................... 14-15 Want something special placed in the Hocak Worak? HOCAK WORAK NEWSPAPER BOX 667 P.O. WI 54615 BLACK RIVER FALLS, Limited space is available so HOCAK WORAK NEWSPAPER send your request in early. TEL: (800) 472-3089 FAX: (715) 284-7852 The cold, snowy night outside was met with warm, cheery voices inside the Please notify the Newspaper of Ho-Chunk Gaming – Wittenberg casino during the ribbon-cutting ceremony Submissions will be handled on any address changes or corrections on Dec. 1. a first come first serve basis. PAGE 2 LETTERS Ca Hikiruxe wira 17, 2017 Letter to the Editor, This is concerning working This is unhealthy for these Personnel Department to at- ings. This is simply unprofes- side the Nation. for the tribe: Do we oper- individuals, and stymies prog- tend this meeting. sional, yet it happen. For the sake of our youth ate with professionalism or ress within the Nation’s busi- At the meeting, the mom at- This is not practicing confi- and other tribal members, we chaos? nesses and services, which ul- tempted to take over the meet- dentiality. This simply should need to do better as profes- Work standards in Ho- timately affect the well-being ing. She was disrespectful to not be happening. sionals. Chunk tribal departments and of all tribal members. me and to personnel protocol. Because of this and other We need to withhold our programs need to operate on a It appears that operating Witnesses are to watch and similar breaches of profes- own subjective feeling about professional level. An analy- on a professional level is not listen, yet she tried to take sional protocol by Ho-Chunk others and about issues, and sis of current practices would possible, or is extremely dif- over the meeting. staff, I resigned. we need to practice profes- reveal a number of concerns. ficult in this kind of environ- This is not professional- I could not work in a place sionalism consistently. As tribal members, we ment. So many tribal member ism. This is CHAOS. This with these types of things go- As a clan leader once told should all be concerned about employees rely more on their is a relative of a staff person ing on. This is about as un- me, “Don’t be afraid to ask poor, ineffective services to grudges and their connection getting involved where she professional as you can get. questions.” tribal members. to relatives than they do to should not be. No wonder more Ho- Pinagigi for reading this Changes need to happen. professional standards. This is Executive Directors Chunks who earned and article. I hope you all tell our Not slowly, but rapidly! Not For example, employee not following their own pro- learned their professionalism leaders that we need change. small, but big! must adhere to the practice of tocol. Unfortunately, this was outside the tribe won’t come Unfortunately, many tribal confidentiality. but one of many experiences and work for us. Who would? Respectfully, members who are employees Once I was at the meeting with Ho-Chunk staff behaving In a recent Hocak Worak ar- for the Nation act on their where a staff person’s mother unprofessionally, in the short ticle, Gordon Thunder stated Francis Steindorf (Wahkanjah feelings rather than by pro- showed up. Concerning con- time I worked for the tribe. that the time has come that we Hoonk) fessional standards. These fidentiality, this staff person This was less than three need to do things differently. Tribal Elder and Educational feelings about their own work did not keep the issue confi- years ago, so I am not writing I believe this is one of the Consultant ethic, and that of others, too dential. about ancient history. things he was talking about. Father, Grandfather, and Great often influenced by past dis- The staff person told her This very unusual and We need to first learn about, Grandfather appointments of others. mom (who was not even an unprofessional activity took and then adhere to, profes- [email protected] In short, they hold grudges. employee). This mom some- place. Mothers should not be sionalism within the Nation, Sometimes for a lifetime. how got permission from the allowed into personnel meet- just as we would have to out- Dear Editor, Ho-Chunk Nation GIS The law that violated our Please review and com- Constitution is out for a 45- ment on this law that violated day review on the Nation’s our Constitution by having presents web site Ho-ChunkNation. the audacity to tell sovereign com General Council branch they The law? Office of General now report to the Legislative The Ho-Chunk Nation Hunting Lands Website! Council Establishment and Branch! Organization Act The illegal act to review on This website developed by Ho-Chunk Nation Geographic Information Systems provides This illegal law established the Ho-Chunk Nation website Ho-Chunk Nation members with the ability to scout and research their favorite hunting the premeditated political is the Office of General Coun- property with an interactive map.