WIIKWEDONG DAZHI-OJIBWE The Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe Miinke Giizis – Blueberry Moon - August 2018 Issue 169 KEWEENAW BAY INDIAN COMMUNITY PROUDLY HONORS Tribal Council Members: ENTERPRISE EMPLOYEES WITH YEARS OF SERVICE AT BANQUETS Warren C. Swartz, Jr., President Enterprise employees were honored for Jennifer Misegan, Vice-President their years of service at both locations. All Susan J. LaFernier, Secretary honored employees received a gratitude gift depending on their years of service. Toni J. Minton, Asst. Secretary Baraga held their banquet on Tuesday, Doreen G. Blaker, Treasurer June 26, 2018, at the Ojibwa Casino Confer- ence Room. Robert R.D. Curtis, Jr. Frederick Dakota Randall R. Haataja Picture by Lauri Denomie. Michael F. LaFernier, Sr. Thirty years of service: Rose Everson (not pre- Gary F. Loonsfoot, Jr. sent) and Nancy Kauppila (above). Rodney Loonsfoot Marquette held their banquet on Friday, Elizabeth D. Mayo June 29, 2018, at the Marquette Casino Conference Room. SPECIAL POINTS Picture by Lauri Denomie. OF INTEREST Ten years of service: Mary Barrette (above) and July 14, 2018 Council Meet- Jerri Nygord (not present). ing Enterprise Employees Hon- ored at Banquets Sherman Chosen incoming KBOCC President Danison Crowned Straw- berry Queen Ten years of service: Jennifer Brozzo (not present), Ojibwa Elders’ Birthdays Ty Curtis (not present), Ricky Laitinen (above, New Employees, Who’s Who right), and Jason Metcalf (not present). Tribal President Warren “Chris” Swartz, Jr. (above, left). Criminal Report Picture by Lauri Denomie. Deepest Sympathy Fifteen years of service: Haven Curtis (not present) and Robert Jacobs (above). LORI ANN SHERMAN CHOSEN AS KBOCC’S PRESIDENT Fifteen years of service: Brenda Aldrich (above, Picture by Lauri Denomie. right), Dianne Brady (not present), and Kurt Twenty years of service: Hope Dakota (above, left), Hamalainen (not present). Tanya Miller (not present), and Christopher Tschury (above, right). Picture by Lauri Denomie. Lori Ann Sherman is the incoming President of Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College (KBOCC). She was born and raised in Zeba and is a member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Picture by Lauri Denomie. Community. She graduated from Twenty years of service: Mary Bawden (not pre- Michigan Technological University Twenty-five years of service: Steve Bish (not pre- sent), Deborah Kurian (above, left), and Chad Ra- (MTU) with a Bachelor of Science sent), and Donald Messer, Jr. (above). jala (not present). Continues page two. (1) Bezhig Sherman named KBOCC President continued: came health distressed, fell to the ground, came in and out of con- sciousness, and needed assistance. These two ladies jumped right (2001) and a Master of Science in Rhetoric and Technical Commu- in to assist. They started to initiate a code, but they were able to nication (2010). work with him tapping a little on his chest, and he came about. In Lori Ann started her professional career at MTU, working with the the meantime, 911 had been called, arrived, and took over. It is Educational Opportunity Department. She worked her way up to really nice to see staff step up so courageously. In a moment of Assistant Director. During her time at MTU, Lori had many different need, they didn’t hesitate to help, and that is pretty incredible. roles from teaching first year students to launching a women’s pro- Although there are so many wonderful programs within the gram. She worked on diversity programming and curriculum devel- Health Department presently, among my goals is to expand our opment as well as recruitment/retention of all students. She stated, services and our hours for the Community. I really want to in- “When the students come in as freshmen, you know you only have crease the availability of hours.” a short time with them, and while you’re glad to see them move on Mr. Pendharkar has been working diligently on a Tribal Opioid in their lives and careers, it’s bittersweet. I do stay in touch with stu- Response Grant. Mr. Pendharkar said, “We have a chance to do dents I’ve worked with throughout the years, and it is very rewarding something very different here, trying to grab the situation. The to receive cards and letters updating me about what is going on in Opioid crisis is a big problem across the country, not just here. their lives.” Part of the program will be medication assisted treatment, but we Lori also states, “When I graduated high school I had every in- have a chance to do a lot of different things with it too. We want to tention to attend college, but I ended up being badly injured from a do medication treatment but include traditional medicine, counsel- fall off a horse, so I wasn’t able to start college right after high ing, as well as non-Opioid things like physical therapy, acupunc- school. I started taking a few classes at a community college and ture, community education, and Naloxone distribution which is a learned about a transfer program through MTU that offered commu- drug used to reverse an overdose. The idea is to have more op- nity college students the opportunity to attend a four-year university tions, and I think integrating behavioral health and traditional medi- for the summer, have a mentor in their field of interest, and be intro- cine are the other options that will make our grant very unique. It’s duced to staff/faculty. This program was called Michigan College a good thing that will bring a lot of benefits to the Community.” University Partnership (MICUP). I eventually became the director of The Tribal Opioid Response Grant is nearly $200,000.00 for over this program and really enjoyed working with many community col- two-years. The grant is due August 20, 2018, with an anticipated leges throughout the state. KBOCC was also a part of the MICUP start date of September 30, 2018. Award recipients are expected program.” to provide services to the population of focus by the fourth month For the past five years Lori Ann has worked for the Keweenaw after the grant is awarded. Bay Indian Community as the Natural Resources Director. The Mr. Pendharkar said, “Ultimately, you want to treat, you don’t Natural Resources Department has numerous programs designed want these people to continue to suffer, and there are more and to protect and preserve Treaty Rights for the next seven genera- more problems with this disease in terms of violence in the commu- tions. The department also developed and implements a Summer nity and families breaking apart, so the ultimate goal is to try to Youth Program focusing on environmental issues. help.” Regarding Lori Ann’s new role as President of KBOCC, she has Soumit Pendharkar is married and has a three-year-old which this to say, ”During my time at MTU I’ve had the pleasure of working keeps them quite busy. In his spare time he enjoys playing tennis with some of the graduates from KBOCC. Some of our finest MTU and has found his way to the Gate’s Tennis Center in Houghton. students transferred in from KBOCC and have gone on to be very He has found the area very accommodating; he just has to drive a successful in their professional careers. I have seen firsthand all bit to find it. the dedicated hard work KBOCC has done with each individual stu- ~ Submitted by Lauri Denomie, Newsletter Editor dent and look forward to continuing that high level of excellence. I have been overwhelmed by all the congratulations from family, friends, and most of all the local community.” Meet Dione Price. Dione is the Lori Ann said, “This is a dream job for me. My passion has al- new Environmental Response Pro- ways been education. I’ve personally experienced the difference gram Specialist at KBIC. Dione said, education can make in a person’s life, and I am so excited to be “Growing up in both Baraga and able to continue my career with KBOCC and provide opportunities Houghton Counties, I’ve always had to my Tribe and Community. I look forward to working with the a love for this area and the environ- KBOCC Board of Regents, and we have discussed various strate- ment. I have my Bachelor’s of Sci- gies to increase our enrollment and offer some new programs.” ence from the College of Agriculture Lori Ann has a son, Jacob, and future daughter-in-law and Natural Resources at Michigan Mariah. Lori Ann resides in Pelkie, MI, and has two dogs. She has State University. I am excited to be been involved in numerous volunteering activities including working working in the Natural Resources with K-9 units for Search-n-Rescue. She has been a foster parent Department to help with environ- throughout the years when needed. mental remediation and preservation of tribal lands. I grew up horseback riding, and in my free time, I enjoy sharing that joy with my daughter.” Meet Soumit DANISON CROWNED STRAWBERRY QUEEN Pendharkar. Mr. Pendharkar was re- Sydney Danison, the daugh- cently hired as the ter of Angela (Tollefson) and Health Director at Randal Danison, was crowned the KBIC Health Strawberry Queen at Chassell’s Systems, Donald A. 70th Annual Strawberry Festival LaPointe Health and on July 6, 2018. Sydney is a Education Center Keweenaw Bay Indian Commu- located in Baraga, nity descendant, and is the Michigan. He relo- granddaughter of Helen cated to the area (LaFernier) and the late Gary from Traverse City, Tollefson. Michigan, when he Sydney is a 2018 graduate of Picture by Lauri Denomie. accepted the Health Chassell High School. She is a Director position, member of Health Occupations taking office on June 25, 2018.