PRESORTED NIGA honors Floyd “Red Crow” Westerman STANDARD Inside this edition – Dangers of abusing Prescription, Over-the-Counter Sota Per Copy U.S. POSTAGE Michael Selvage reinstated to his Chairman post by PAID Tribal Council medications WILMOT, SD Big Coulee District members honored with healthy Tribal Self-Governance PERMIT NO. 1 Workshop Tuesday, April Postmaster: Change service requested lifestyle awards 27th at Dakota Magic Sota Iya Ye Yapi, P.O. Box 5, Wilmot, SD 57279 Invitation: OEP to sponsor Earth Day event ¢ SWC Auditorium ribbon-cutting scheduled for May 7th Convention Center Contents – Time-Dated News/Do Not Delay Oyate Job Fair May 13th at Dakota Magic Convention March 2010 SWO Tribal Council This edition mailed at Wilmot, SD on April 19, 2010 75 Center proceedings Serving the Sisseton and Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation since 1968 Vol. 41 April - Maga Okada Wi - “Moon When Geese Lay Eggs” - Wednesday, April 21, 2010 No. 16 The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate’s Tribal If there are lodging needs, please contact the Employment Right’s Office is sponsoring a Job hotel at 1-800-325-6825 for reservations at your n action taken Wednesday morning, April Fair on Thursday, May 13th, at Dakota Magic expense. I14th, Tribal Council reinstated Michael I. Convention Center. The Convention Center will TERO is requesting that exhibitors contact Selvage Sr. to his post as SWO Tribal Chairman. be providing tables, chairs and power cables for their office by April 26th. There is no cost to Council’s action Wednesday reversed a computers. If there are any participants. This should be a motion made on Thursday, April 8th to special needs, let TERO great opportunity for employers suspend the Chairman pending outcome of know so they can contact and persons seeking employment an IRS investigation into Redshield, Inc. the Convention Center for on the Lake Traverse Reservation. requirements. For more information, There will be a contact TERO at (605) 698-3549. complimentary continental Watch for more information breakfast and lunch for all participants provided in upcoming issues of the Sota. by the TERO office. Lydia (Susie) Amos Rivera, an Elder of the Big Coulee District, is Big Coulee District members were honored at the big push to quit. The Grandparent role has made it easy for recognized for living and promoting April 7th, 2010, session of the Tribal Council for living and her to choose not to smoke or use alcohol so they may follow a healthy lifestyle at the April 7th promoting healthy lifestyles. The members honored were as in her footsteps. As her grandson says, ‘Smoking is bad, huh Tribal Council meeting. From left follows: Grandma.” She can teach them the effect of tobacco, alcohol to right Norma Perko (Big Coulee *Lydia “Susie” Amos Rivera, Elder. and drug use and its major health issues. She teaches them that District Councilperson); Lydia *Brooke Bartunek, Adult. even though tobacco is legal, it’s still an addicting drug that (Susie) Rivera (Healthy Lifestyle *John Hunter Kirk, Youth. many people continue to use every day.” Her family says, “Way Recipient); Gerald German, Jr. (Big *Tanner Bartunek, Youth. to go Mom, Grandma, and Kunshi Susie! We are all so very Coulee District Chairman), and *Branden LaBatte, Youth. proud of you!” Doris Burshiem (Big Coulee District Certificates were presented to the recipients in behalf of Brooke Bartunek Human Services Board Member). the District, Tribal Council, and Human Services Board by Adult Human Services Board Representative Doris Burshiem, Tribal Personal Information: Brooke is 18 years old. Her parents Councilperson Norma Perko, and District Chairman Gerald are Tom Bartunek and Louetta Schoenrock. She has 7 brothers German, Jr. The Ridgerunners Drum Group sang the Honor and sisters, and one niece. Her grandparents are Jeff and Rose Song. Schoenrock and Joan Feather and Errol Bartunek, Sr. She Brooke Bartunek of the Big Coulee Lydia (Susie) Amos Rivera is a student at Summit School and is employed at Bethesda District, is recognized for living and Elder Nursing Home in Webster. Accomplishments: Brooke is a promoting a healthy lifestyle at the April Personal Information: Lydia’s parents were Gabe and Senior, graduating in May 2010 with a 3.7 GPA. She has been 7th Tribal Council Meeting. From left to Naomi Small Amos. She has two daughters (Lesa Rivera on the Honor Roll 7-12th grade. She went to State in Cross right: Norma Perko (Big Coulee District and Lynelle Cruz) and one son (Joe Herman, Jr.). She Country two years and lettered in Cross Country in 7th grade. Councilperson); Brooke Bartunek raised her children as a single parent for most of their lives. She also played basketball four years and went to State twice (Healthy Lifestyle Recipient) and Accomplishments: Some of her accomplishments include with the team. She has been the boys’ basketball cheerleader Gerald German, Jr. (Big Coulee District going on to college, sewing Native American regalia, beading, two years, football cheerleader two years, and statistician for Chairman). and gardening. Why this person has been selected (what this girls’ and boys’ basketball for two years. She was Homecoming person has done to promote healthy alcohol and drug-free Queen in her Senior year. She received a State certificate for lifestyles): She was selected by her District for this recognition Certified Nursing Assistant and has been employed at the because, “Lydia has been alcohol and drug free for many Nursing Home in Webster one year. She has been accepted years and has encouraged her sisters and brothers and other to South Dakota State University this Fall for Nursing. Why John Hunter Kirk, a relatives to also be alcohol and drug-free.” Her children write: this person has been selected (what this person has done to youth of the Big Coulee “Our mom Lydia (Susie) Rivera has been alcohol and tobacco promote healthy alcohol and drug-free lifestyles): Brooke District, is recognized for free since 1997. After years of smoking and the birth of her was selected by her District for this recognition because of: living and promoting a 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, it gave her that “Abstinence from alcohol and drugs. Helps encourage siblings healthy lifestyle at the April and friends to live a healthy lifestyle. Stays active in sports, 7th Tribal Council Meeting. Correction/Update – school, and community.” From left to right: Norma John Hunter Kirk Perko (Big Coulee District Youth Councilperson); John Kirk Personal Information: John is the son of Mary Beth and (Healthy Lifestyle Recipient); Ron Kirk. His grandparents are Hunter and Barbara Keene, Ronald Kirk (Father); and the late Floyd Kirk, the late Cleone Provost, and Joanne Gerald German, Jr. (Big A one-car rollover accident Friday night, April 9, 2010, Renville. He will be 17 years old in May. Accomplishments: Coulee District Chairman). claimed the life of the driver, Tyra Keeble, 40, of Sisseton. John is a Junior at Sisseton High School. He is involved in Tyra died at the scene of the accident, on S.D. Highway 10 Band, Chorus, Wrestling, Football, and Track. Why this about seven miles east of Sisseton. person has been selected (what this person has done to promote Tyra was driving a 1998 Chevrolet Blazer when the healthy alcohol and drug-free lifestyles): John was selected by accident happened, shortly before 11:00 p.m. his District for this recognition because, “He’s been accepted as Tanner Bartunek, a youth of the Her passenger, Brent Blackthunder, 29, also of Sisseton, the Youth Staff for the South Dakota Peer Helpers Conference. Big Coulee District, is recognized was transported to a hospital and reportedly suffered life- He goes to Church at Ascension and is a Trustee. He also sings for living and promoting a healthy threatening injuries. base and tenor with the Ascension Choir.” lifestyle at the April 7th Tribal Neither driver nor passenger were wearing seatbelts and Tanner Bartunek Council Meeting. From left to right: both were ejected from the vehicle when it entered the south Youth Norma Perko (Big Coulee District ditch. Personal Information: Tanner’s parents are Tom Bartunek Councilperson); John Kirk (in the Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash, according and Louetta Schoenrock. He has 7 brothers and sisters and background); Tanner Bartunek to the S.D. Highway Patrol which investigated. Assisting one niece. His grandparents are Jeff and Rose Schoenrock (Healthy Lifestyle recipient); and agencies included the Browns Valley Ambulance, Roberts Louetta Schoenrock (Mother). Big Coulee District healthy lifestyle awards County Sheriff’s Department, Sisseton Police Department and Continued on Page 4 the Traverse County (Minn.) Sheriff’s Department. he Sisseton Wahpeton College will hold a ribbon-cutting for the new auditorium on Friday, TMay 7th, at 11:00 a.m. Following the ribbon-cutting a meal will be served, and campus tours available. Branden LaBatte, a youth of the Big Coulee District, is recognized for living and promoting a healthy lifestyle at the April 7th Tribal Council Meeting. From left to right: Branden’s father Tim LaBatte; Healthy Lifestyle recipient - Branden LaBatte; and Branden’s Auntie Helena. http://www.earthskyweb.com/sota.html must be signed and the author’s name will appear in print. ***** Letters must not contain libel and must be brief, ideally 500 There is no way your Sota staff could possibly cover all words or less. Letters may be edited for content. Omissions the many activities in the schools and Districts of the Lake will be identified with periods . editor’s explanations will be Traverse Reservation. We encourage our readers and friends to provided in [brackets]. 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