Manidoo Giizis Spirit Moon Win Awenen S O d n n e a Ma^h__b\bZeg^pliZi^kh_ma^LZnemLm^'FZkb^Mkb[^h_<abii^pNISITOTUNGZBg]bZgl W st ho Under CZgnZkr2%+))2Ohe',)Gh'* Hoping for a hero BY RICK SMITH becomes easily fatigued and is A two-year battle for the at higher risk for infections and life of a 15-year-old Hessel, uncontrolled bleeding. Mich., boy appears to be The clinic notes it is a rare winding down and the situ- and serious condition and can ation looks grim for the lad. develop at any age. Treatment He needs a hero who shares for aplastic anemia may an ancestry similar to his include medications, blood — South Korean, Anishinaabe, transfusions or bone marrow German and Swedish. transplants. Doctors tried a variety of treatments and medi- cations on Lee. One treatment worked successfully for a year. Last February and March, Lee’s blood cells and platelets were regenerating quite well and held steady through the summer. But his cellular regen- eration began to decline last September and worsened in November. Little improvement was seen last month. Doctors determined there is only one Photo by Jason Grondin last hope for him — find a HAPPY BIRTHDAY — When Courtney Williams went to elk camp in Cheboygan County she turned 13 and Anthony Lee suitable bone marrow donor brought down a 7x7 bull elk that weighed 640 pounds dressed. It was a 75-80 yard shot with a .308 on and perform a transplant as Dec. 23. The antlers were green scored at 383 inches and when dry, will easily beat the 344-inch state Sault Tribe member soon as possible. record. The Cooks, Mich., tribal member and her dad (pictured above) were guided by Sault Tribe member Anthony Lee loved partici- The Mayo Clinic reports Dustin MacLeod who brought his two children on the hunt. Courtney, also a deer hunter, put her name in pating in sports at Cedarville the condition was once con- the tribal elk lottery because she thought it might be fun, she said, and she’ll never forget it. Her family High School where he is a sidered nearly always fatal, will eat the elk, and she will keep a shoulder mount trophy and save the ivory for a later use. sophomore. According to his aplastic anemia has a much mother, Kwi Hitchens, along better prognosis today, thanks with keeping good grades, he to advances in treatment — but Talentino named housing director was active in skiing, basket- in Lee’s case, it depends on The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe ball, football and track. Then if a matching donor can be of Chippewa Indians recently he began to have difficulty found in time. At this point, it announced that Joni Talentino resuming normal breathing appears locating a match will accepted the position of divi- after exerting himself. At first, be the most difficult aspect of sion director for the Sault Tribe doctors suspected mononucleo- his treatment. Housing Authority. Talentino sis. Further testing later on Bone marrow transplants, has been interim director since revealed the problem is aplas- according to the Mayo Clinic, earlier this year after the previ- tic anemia. are most successful if the ous director, Carolyn O’Neil, According to the Mayo matched donor is a relative, accepted a position with the Clinic, aplastic anemia is a but Lee has no compatible federal government. condition where one’s body matches in his family. The next Executive director of stops producing enough new best course is to find a match Membership Services, Kristi blood cells to replenish dying among healthy, unrelated Little, said, “Joni has been cells. A variety of blood cells people with similar ancestry a dedicated employee of the course through one’s blood- between the ages of 18 and 60. Housing Authority for over 18 stream — red blood cells carry Lee’s unique ancestry is a years, serving in a variety of oxygen, white blood cells fight key challenge in this situation. positions throughout her years infection and platelets help The National Marrow Donor of service. It is with great plea- the blood to clot. This means Program (NMDP) says there is sure that I am able to announce someone who has the condition See “Hero needed,” page 4 Ms. Talentino as our next hous- Photo by Rick Smith ing director. I am confident in (L to R), Sault Tribe Membership Services Executive her ability to successfully lead Director Kristi Little with newly appointed Housing the Housing Authority opera- Division director, Joni Talentino. tions and to ensure quality ser- awards over the past five years the United Way of the Eastern vices to our tribal members.” for additional housing activities. Upper Peninsula Board of Talentino has numerous cer- Complementing her work Directors and is a past president tifications from the National is her voluntary involvement of the organization. American Indian Housing in activities of the tribal com- “I am passionate about safe, Council, the Institute of Real munity through the Powwow affordable housing and hom- Estate Management and other Committee, the Dress eownership opportunities for housing and community-related Down/Emergency Assistance American Indians,” Talentino organizations. In addition, she Fundraising Committee, noted. “My focus is to enhance is an accomplished grant writer Victims Response Team and and improve the quality and whose efforts resulted in an the Tribal Court Peacekeepers level of housing services to our additional $1 million in funding Initiative. She also serves with members.” 49735 Gaylord, MI Gaylord, Unit I Director Bernard Bouschor surrounded by a bevy of beauties, 30 No. Permit PAID tribal elders Teresa DeLorme, Rita Dale and Barb Tazelaar. (Photo by Postage U.S. Jennifer Dale-Burton). More elder dinner photos on pages 12. STD PRSRT + News and Features CZgnZkr2%+))2Pbg:p^g^gGblbmhmng` Attention college students Crisis Energy Funds Higher Education Self-Sufficiency Incentive now available Anishnaabek Community Tribe member under the age Award Program to serve only students with and Family Services (ACFS) of 5, a Sault Tribe member announces Low-Income over the age of 65, or a Sault unmet need Home Energy Assistance Tribe member receiving dis- BY ANGELINE MATSON, receiving an incentive award. If it appears that we will Program Crisis Energy Funds ability in their own name. EDUCATION DIRECTOR Instead, the Higher have more applicants than can available beginning Jan. 1, For more information, As you are aware, the Education office will accept be funded, we will adopt a lot- 2009. please contact Anishnaabek national and regional economic NEW incentive award applica- tery system to determine who This program can provide Community and Family issues have not bypassed the tions for the 2008-2009 school will receive incentive awards eligible households with a Services: Sault Tribe. In 2008, many year only during the months of rather than a first-come, first- credit sent directly to the budget cuts were made in order February and March 2009. served basis — which penalized primary heat vendor. The Sault Ste. Marie to reduce spending and oper- Students must also submit to students whose schools ended program will continue until 632-5250 or ate within financial limits. the tribe a copy of their 2008- later than other schools. funding is exhausted. All (800) 726-0093 Although our Higher Education 2009 financial aid award letter By implementing this applicants must submit a Self-Sufficiency Incentive from the school. The incentive change, we hope to provide the completed application to be St. Ignace Award Program was not altered award application process is same award amount for our stu- considered. Applications are 643-8103 or in 2008, I regret to inform you considered INCOMPLETE until dents who demonstrate financial available at all ACFS offices. (877) 44-5608 that there will be drastic chang- we receive this information. need. These most needy stu- Eligibility criteria includes es to this program in 2009. Students must have a FAFSA on dents should not be impacted household income for the pre- Munising We have decided to reduce file at their current institution. by the budget cuts. However, vious three months meeting 387-4614 or the funding for the Self- At the end of the winter- for students who do not show established income guidelines, (800) 236-4705 Sufficiency Incentive Award spring semester 2009, appli- an unmet need, as determined primary heating account in Program from $850,000 to cants must submit grade reports by their institution’s financial Sault Tribe member’s name Manistique $288,361, which is the interest to verify enrollment. Students aid office, the Higher Education and the household must meet 341-6993 or amount on the Self-Sufficiency who have an unmet need will Self-Sufficiency Incentive additional criteria of a Sault (800) 347-7137 investment fund. In previous receive up to $500 for full-time Award Program will cease to years, the Sault Tribe Board of enrollment per semester ($333 exist. Directors had authorized the for term schools) for all pass- Should you have questions principal to be utilized. This ing classes, with a maximum about the change to the Self- has reduced the size of the fund amount of $1,000 per student Sufficiency Incentive Award over the years. If the practice of for the 2008-2009 school year. Program or any education issue, tapping the principal is not halt- Awards will be prorated for please contact me at (906) 635- ed, the entire fund will dwindle part-time study at $40 per credit 4944 or [email protected]. until nothing remains. hour. Classes in which a D (D+, Please know that your educa- NOTICE IMMEDIATELY: D, D-) or E grade was received tion is vitally important, despite Students normally submit- will not be counted towards these unfortunate, budget-driven ting grade reports now for the credit hour total nor counted for changes to the program.