Published Bi-Weekly for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska • Volume 43, Number 1, Saturday, January 3, 2015

Bago Bits…

V i s i t u s a t w w w . w i n n e b a g o t r i b e . c o m

Indianz.com… Legal marijuana is the last thing Indian Country needsWednesday, December 24, 2014An illegal marijuana farm on public

land in California. Photo from Addiction-treatment.org

The editors at Bloomberg View don't think a new Department of Justice policy on marijuana is good for Indian Country:

The U.S. Justice Department is at-tempting to solve a problem that almost no one knew about with a solution that almost no one asked for. The results -- so far, confusion and uncertainty -- have been entirely predictable.

The department announced this month that it would permit marijuana legalization on 300 or so Indian reser-vations in 30 states. The decision has perplexed American Indian leaders, who say that the last thing many tribes want is more lax federal law enforcement.

Whatever one may think of legalizing marijuana -- and there are plenty of causes for concern, especially regarding its health effects -- the way to do it is not to let Attorney General Eric Holder simply pick and choose which federal drug laws he will enforce. Yes, prosecutors have discretion, and it may make sense to use it when a state's voters decide to legalize pot. It makes less sense when local offi cials not only haven’t asked, but also rely on the

federal government for law enforcement, as is the case with Indian reservations.

It's not a matter of autonomy -- tribal rights are protected by treaty -- so much as public health. American Indians have rates of alcohol dependency well above the national average. Ditto for tobacco and illegal drug use. Mortality rates, too. Keep in mind that regular marijuana use causes respiratory problems and impair-ments in thinking and memory (especially in young people), and that for many it leads to addiction.

G e t t h e S t o r y :Editorial: Reservations About Pot on Reservations (Bloomberg Views 12/24)

For this and more stories from around Indian Country visit us at www.indianz.com

The Winnebago Health Department & Tribal Dental Program sponsored & hosted a visit from Jolly Ole Saint Nick, aka, Santa Claus a few days early this year. Attendees were treated to making their own Christmas Cards, decorating Christmas Cookies, and a sit down with the Head Elf himself, Santa Claus.

Santa Visits Winnebago Children Early

The Fun Day with Santa saw many little ones on hand to make their own Christmas Cards. These two young ladies were hard at it making cards for their family.

The Winnebago Dental Clinic staff were instrumental in planning and helping Santa during his visit to Winnebago, here Dental Program staff help frost Christmas Cookies while attendees got to decorate.

Most of the Winners of the Annual Christ-mas Lighting Contest & this year’s Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest. Full listing inside this issue.

——————————————————Postmaster Send Address Changes To

Winnebago Indian NewsP.O. Box 687

Winnebago, Nebraska 68071——————————————————

The Winnebago Indian News (WIN), founded in January 1972, is published bi-weekly for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.

The Mission of the WIN is to inform and to educate the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska of issues that affect them, and to be a vehicle in which stresses positive and benefi cial concerns and points of view.LETTER POLICY: Signed editorials, let-ters and articles appearing in the WIN are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily refl ect the opinion or attitude of the Winnebago Indian News or the Winnebage Tribal Council.The WIN encourages the submission of Letters to the Editor; however, letters must be signed and addressed. Letters may be edited for language and length.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The reproduc-tion of editorial or photography content without permission is prohibited.CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please send change of address with old mailing label to:

Winnebago Indian NewsP.O. Box 687

Winnebago, NE 68071Fax: 402-878-2632

or contact us at our e-mail address: wbagoindiannews@yahoo.com

Phone: 402-878-3221

“Offi cial Newspaper ofthe Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska”

Yearly Subscription RatesNebraska Residents ....................$12.50Out-Of-State ................................$15.00Overseas .....................................$35.00

Advertising RatePer Column Inch ............................$7.00Advertising/News Deadline12:00 Noon Monday Printing WeekPeriodicals Postage Paid(Issn 1060-3026) At Winnebago, NE

Winnebago Indian News StaffJerome LaPointe, Sr. .................... EditorV.J. Wolfl eader...............Offi ce Manager

Winnebago Tribal Council

John Blackhawk......................ChairmanDarwin Snyder ................Vice-ChairmanLouis Houghton, Jr. ................ SecretaryThomas E. Snowball, Sr. ........ TreasurerCharles W. Aldrich ................... MemberMorgan F. Earth ....................... MemberDarla LaPointe ......................... MemberTravis Mallory ........................... MemberLawrence Payer ....................... Member

I Was ThinkingPage 2 — Winnebago Indian News, Saturday, January 3, 2015

by Lance Morgan

Phone: 402-878-2272

The next issue of the WINNEBAGO INDIAN NEWS will be published on January 17, 2015. DEADLINE for this issue will be January 12, 2015.

When Ho-Chunk, Inc. first started out one of the fi rst things we did was take over the Heritage grocery store. The store was no treat and was losing about $10,000 per month. In fact, I had several employees write to the Tribal Council to have me fi red or to have the tribe take it back over. Good times!

We made a lot of changes and got it to break even and even made a little money when we added gasoline to the store. But what surprised me about the whole thing was that the store acted like the bank in our community. A lot of people didn’t have bank accounts and simply cashed their checks at the store. We would have to keep a lot of cash around on pay days.

We were a community that was largely “unbanked.” Not having a bank account can hurt you in a lot of ways. It costs you money to cash checks or to pay bills with money orders. You tend to have a lot of cash around, which can lead to a lot of poor fi nancial decisions, especially at Bingo. You also don’t really develop credit. You also tend to get credit from high rate places like car dealers, furniture stores, or pay day type lenders.

We made a decent amount of money cashing all these checks, but I didn’t think it was a good idea to maintain the store as the town bank. When we got a chance we invested in Liberty National Bank and currently own about $300,000 in Liberty Stock. That isn’t a big number really in the scheme of that bank, but since Ho-Chunk, Inc. and the Tribe are

Thoughts from Tribal Banking …large customers, we have been able to slowly develop a real banking relationship with the Tribal entities and with dozens of tribal members.

I told the bank, that just assume that every Indian that walks in is a cousin of the Tribal Chairman and treat them ac-cordingly. For those who don’t remember, Indians weren’t exactly a common sight in the bank back in the day. So investing in the bank was a way to create access to the credit system for all tribal members.

Our investment in Liberty Bank has worked on several levels. The bank is very profi table and our investment grows a little every year. We have a bank that has learned tribal fi nance which is very unique and more importantly we have a place a tribal member can go and feel comfortable opening up a checking account and maybe even asking for and getting a loan.

Why write about all this? It is because Ho-Chunk, Inc. has been working on a bank share purchase for over a year and by the time you read this it will be offi -cial. We will own 31 percent of the Native American Bank, in Denver Colorado. It was originally the bank started by Elou-ise Cobell of the Cobell Settlement fame. The bank is owned by about 20 tribes. It started about 15 years ago and has really struggled fi nancially, especially during the fi nancial crisis about 7 years ago.

Their struggles were our opportunity and we were able to purchase at a steep discount on our shares, which will make us the largest shareholder. Our invest-ment was contingent upon restructuring the bank’s capital structure. They agreed to our suggestions and we made our in-vestment. The bank still has a lot of work to do, but it is now profi table and we think it has a bright future.

My goal is to build a branch someday in Winnebago, which really is a long way from cashing checks on payday at the Heritage.

Contact me at hochunk@aol.com

In My OpinionWinnebago Indian News, Saturday, January 3, 2015 — Page 3

JESUS OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN OUTREACH Pastor Ricky Jacob

MY LITTLE REFLECTIONChristmas Day was a beautiful day.

The sun was shining brightly, giving us hope. On Christmas day we were traveling to Norfolk to our Mother House. As we were traveling southwest, I noticed a cloud like an angel with beautifully spread wings in the clear blue sky, leading us to where we were going. What an epiphany moment! It was a precious moment to cherish. I am grateful for my eyes to behold the beauty and wonder of our Creator.

Every year around this time, my brother calls and invites me to the Christmas dinner that he organizes for the poor. About fi fteen years ago or so, my brother and his wife decided not to exchange family gifts but instead use the money (that would buy gifts for each other) to buy food and serve the home-less people at St. Frances Siena House in north Omaha. My brother told me that the fi rst few years were diffi cult for them. When he decided to do this, his kids, especially the younger ones, did not like the idea and really missed getting personal gifts. However, now more than decade has passed, and his kids and grandkids are looking forward to Christmas Day. They were waiting for December 25th to come, not only be-cause Christ, the King of the Universe, is coming, but they are also excited about preparing food and serving the homeless. Most of all, they liked the idea of becoming a family to those who for one reason or another do not have family on Christmas day. My brother tells me that, at the beginning, he and his family had to provide everything and serve the food by themselves. But now many volunteers came on board and are donating material goods as well as vol-unteering to serve the meal. He related to me that he is very impressed to see the many good and generous people wanting to help and serve others.

In a few days we will see another new year coming in. Looking back on the year 2014, I could declare that the year was good with many ups and downs. I am sure I made many mistakes, know-ingly and unknowingly. For all that has been, thank you God. And for all that

“Christmas Peace”

What do you want for Christmas? My mother would often ask this and I would curtly reply with ‘mom, you always taught me that it was the thought that counted.’ What I was getting at was if I simply gave her the answer to her ques-tion then what thought on her part went into the giving?

If you are at a loss for what to want for Christmas I would like to offer you a suggestion. The ideal Christmas gift is peace. This is not the utopian type of peace and tranquility where one merely overlooks the evil found throughout this world. This type of peace that the world offers, the live and let live kind of lifestyle, is self-centered and hurts everyone involved.

True and lasting peace is found in the Christmas gift that keeps on giving. It is found only in the Christ child born of Mary, begotten of His heavenly Father, and humbly laid in a manger in the town of Bethlehem. The shepherds watching their fl ocks at night were the fi rst to hear of this Christmas gift.

We fi nd this Good News according to Luke the Evangelist: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and say-ing, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” [Luke 2:13-14 ESV]

While this gift came down from heav-en above and its offer of peace extends to all, however only those who please God receive it. You might think that this is unfair. Who can please God? How does one know if he or she has pleased God enough? The answer is that you and I cannot please God by our actions or our curbing our wayward actions.

will be I thank you God. I used to make New Year’s resolutions at the beginning of every new year. Of course, I break them even before the month of January is over. But like someone said, “it’s better to make the resolutions and break them than not make them at all.”

So here I am standing at the door of a new beginning and privileged to take an-other clean slate and start all over again. I was wondering what can I do and how can I begin? A passage from the gospel of St. Matthew came to me. Matthew 21:28-30 says this: “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the fi rst and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘ I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?” This passage struck me this morning. I always want to do what God wants me to do. I identify with the fi rst son who says, ”No” but ends up doing what his father wishes him to do.

Another thing came to my mind as I ponder on another new year is that of a movie, called, “Pay it Forward.” In that movie, a young boy attempts to make the world a better place by paying it forward. The word “Forward” meaning instead of paying back the favour to the person who helped you (who has been helped before by others) they will be the fi rst to bring a blessing to other people by giving special favours.

This all sums up to what Jesus came to tell us, that we should “love one an-other” without counting the cost.

In this coming year of 2015, I certainly will resolve to follow the command of Jesus which He showed by example, of loving each and every one of us no matter who we are.

Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!

May God bless all of us in the coming New Year 2015.

Until next time, may the Spirit of God be with you,

Sister Hilda Choi

God is pleased only with His Son which He publicly declared twice. The fi rst time was at Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. The second time was on the mount of Transfi guration. Each time God the Father encourages those who hear to listen to Jesus. God is pleased with you when you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Jesus promised that he who believes and is baptized will be saved.

When it comes to the very best Christmas gift of all time, much thought went into such a gift. Actually the love of God, gracious and forgiving love, moved Him to send His Son into this world. What a joy it is to have peace with God!

Such Christmas peace moves one to love and forgive others. Christmas peace unites and reunites families to-gether. One who is reconciled with his or her loving heavenly father is moved to love and forgive others, as well as to love and forgive oneself.

My Christmas prayer is that you would be blessed with Christmas peace; you and your family, as well as your extended family, friends, co-workers and even those you are estranged from.

I close with this sacred thought: ‘For in [Jesus] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.’ [Colossians 1:20 ESV]

Those of you who are led by God’s Spirit come and receive His Christmas peace, received through the Word and Sacrament ministry freely offered at Jesus Our Savior Lutheran Church: Sunday school and Bible Class at 10 a.m. followed by Divine Service at 11.

Family Thank YouGreetings relatives and friends, the family of the late Garrette Thomas Walker

Sr. sends their heartfelt thanks to all those who shared their love and time with us in our time of loss. So many relatives and friends came by with words of en-couragement, prayers, donations, hugs, stories and their presence. Thank you Stuart and Hillery Snake Sr. for your timeless efforts, service, prayers and love. Thank you to the cooks for their hard work. The food was delicious. Thank you Father Dave Korth and St. Augustine for a beautiful service. Thank you to the Winnebago tribe, Wake and Burial, Veteran’s Association and last but not least, THANK YOU MARY REDHORN. Mauna bless us all from the Walker Family.

New Community Events Outlet…http://n8tiveluv.wix.com/winnebago-wo-rak-piwo-rak-pi meands good news..

For the community, info on upcoming events, if you have something for me to post email me and I will post for you. Since there is no other community event page for Winnebago. I created this.

Thelma WhitewaterElder Abuse Prevention/Intervention CoordinatorP.O. Box CWinnebago, Nebraska 68071402-878-2231 ext. 1315402-878-2766 fax

Winter Round DancePage 4— Winnebago Indian News, Saturday, January 4, 2015

Indians Sports Schedule

Indians Varsity Basketball1/02 Fremont-Bergen Tourney (2 & 3) A TBA1/6 Norfolk Catholic H 8:001/9 Laurel-Concord A 8:001/10 Oakland-Craig H 8:001/13 Emerson-Hubbard “Rumble on the Rez” A 8:001/16 Wynot H 8:001/20 Ponca “Battle of the Indians” A 8:00

Lady Indians Varsity Basketball1/02 Pierce A 6:301/6 Norfolk Catholic H 6:001/9 Laurel-Concord A 6:151/10 Oakland-Craig H 6:001/13 Emerson-Hubbard “Rumble on the Rez” A 6:151/15 GACC (West Point CC) H 6:001/16 Wynot H 6:151/20 Ponca “Battle of the Indians” A 6:15

Indians Junior High Basketball1/12 Wakefi eld A 3:001/15 Macy H 4:301/22 Bancroft-Rosalie H 5:001/24 Bancroft-Rosalie Tourney A 9:00

Lady Indians Junior High Basketball1/12 Walthill H 3:001/15 Macy H 3:301/19 Homer H 3:001/22 Bancroft-Rosalie H 4:001/24 Bancroft-Rosalie Tourney A 9:00

Couple more pictures from Santa’s visit to the Blackhawk Community Center Gym, l to r; Raven had to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what she wanted for Christmas; while this year Silas & Les got a break from having to wear the Red & White for all the kiddies.

Winnebago Indian News, Saturday, January 3, 2015 — Page 5

Around Bago

This past Saturday we auctioned off a guitar signed by Aaron Neville with the proceeds going towards the Winnebago Tribal Court Mitten Fund. Thank-you to Absolute Screen Art from South Sioux City, NE for the top bid of $2,300!!!

A Winnebago Daughter…WinnaVegas Casino ResortRaises Christmas Funds Congratulations on starting

your 4th consecutive year at UNL fl awlessly.

Jade Alexandria Zach fi n-ished her semester with 7 (seven) A’s helping to earn her mark on the Dean’s List at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for Fall 2014.

Congrats on the 4.0 henu jade!

Your entire family isextremely proud of yo

LOVE YOU

Community NewsPage 6— Winnebago Indian News, Saturday, January 3, 2015

Rez Cars Oil Change Service Includes:• Up to 5 quarts of major brand oil • New oil fi lter

• Lubrication of the various fi ttings on your vehicle’s undercarriage when applicable.

In addition to your Oil Change service includes a thorough inspection of:• Brake fl uid • Coolant • Power steering fl uid

• Transmission and Differential fl uid • Belts and Hoses • Air fi lter • Lights • Windshield Washer fl uid • Wiper blades • Tire wear and Tire pressure

Oil Change-Routine oil changes are one of the simplest and least expensive maintenance measures you could perform on your investment-your vehicle, and it is one of the most important for prolonging the life of your vehicle.Regular oil changes can help improve gas mileage and help keep the interior of your engine cleaner, lubricate your engine and catch & remove combus-tion elements that are destructive to your engine.Oi l changes are recommended every 3 ,000 mi les or 90 days , which ever comes f i rs t .

Services at REZ CARSWE HAVE GIFT CARDS TOO!!!

Rez Cars 402-878-4210Now Offering Oil Changes!

Tire Repairs, Mount and Balance Tires, Window Tinting, Windshield Replacements

New Tires and Rims, We still detail Cars, Inside and Out

MON-FRI9AM - 5:30PM

SATURDAY BY APPOINTMENT

2012Dodge Avenger SXT

Nice Ride, 51 k miles

1.5 miles north of Winnebago on US Hwy 75/77

Call For Prices !

TIRES TIRES TIRES!!!

Nice Gas Saver, 74 k miles

2009Ford Focus

$10,000

2010Chevy HHR

2006Dodge Ram

2007Ford Five Hundred

2008Jeep Compass

$8,500

Nice Clean Car, 68 k miles 4x4, HEMI Power, Highway miles WOW!, 45 k miles

$7,000$9,000

$6,500

Nice Car, WOW!, 71 k miles

$6,500

Project Step Up NewsNow offering student support services at:Little Priest Tribal CollegeWestern Iowa Technical Community CollegeNebraska Indian Community College **New additionNortheast Community College/College Center **New addition

What does that mean?Step Up is a support services grant that provides assistance to students in

approved programs of study. The programs need to fall under 3 areas: HEALTH, EDUCATION, OR INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE. All programs must lead to a diploma or associates degree.

Step Up is able to assist with:College Application process Tuition/books/fees (if not eligible for fi nancial aid)Required equipment and supplies. Example: Welding equipment,nursing shoes, construction tools, etc.Interpersonal and job skills through Work It Out workshopsTransportation assistanceChild Care assistanceStipendEmployment assistance after graduation

SIGN UP N OW FOR THE SPRING 2015 SEMESTER!! Contact us for more information:Hochunk Center600 Fourth St, Suite 222 Sioux City, IA 51101712-255-7167

Around Winnebago…At one point in “The Winnebago Indian News” paper you posted a picture of

main street Winnebago and my friend Patti Wroth Valladolid sent it to me. Judg-ing from the vehicles it was probably taken circa 1952-54.

the fi rst building on the right side was the Belt Café and Bus Depot, which my Mother Martha Belt ran from 1942-1954. Next door the large brick building was the Horak Grocery Store (the present site of the Post Offi ce), then came an alley, next a brick Apartment building, then a vacant lot, then a Barber Shop (Bert was the last Barber I remember there) and Genevieve Lowry had a Beauty shop on one side of the shop, next door was the original Post Offi ce (going west of there my Father, Paul Belt had a Welding shop). Across the street south from the Post Offi ce on the corner was a Bank, then next door was Goerge Gill’s Grocery Shop, then a vacant lot and then a small restaurant ran by the Bentz family, south of that was O.E. Buckley Implement Store (later known as Buckley-Boyd).

To the left of your picture the Sweet Shop, which from 1939-1942 was a Gas Station and Burlington Bus Stop ran by my Mother, Martha Belt. If you remember right there was an apartment on top of the Ramona, My family lived there in the mid 1930’s, later Burley and Nita Chamberlain lived there. Cross the Street going south was the Alam Hardware, then a restaurant ran by Bert & Shug Chamberlain (they later ran the Chief Motel), then south the law offi ces of D.D. Whitcomb, then a Bar, then south of that the Grocery Store ran by Sam Riven, then the Skelly Gas Station ran by Alvin Hassell. Quite a bit south of that was the Indian Hospital.

I love seeing the pictures of old Winnebago and the Agency. Thanks for sharing.

Earl L. Belt

Community NoticesWinnebago Indian News, Saturday, January 3, 2015 — Page 7

Lovely 1 bedroom apartment available for persons 62 years of age or with a disability in Walthill, NE.

Controlled access building with laundry facilities. Rent based on income.

Apartment For Rent

This institution is an equal opportunity provider

For more information, call

712-258-4765or write: Weinberg P.M. Inc.,

600 4th Street, Suite 306, Sioux City, Iowa 51105

WinnebagoSelf Storage

www.winnebagoselfstorage.com

5x10 - $35/month10x10 - $45/month10x20 - $65/month

402-878-4210

Native American OwnedManufacturing Housing Company

LOOKING TO HIREConstruction trades including,drywalling, roofi ng,

electrical, plumbing, framing, sidingWeekdays! 1st Shift! Attendance bonusus!

Apply at: Cascatra Homes 909 17th Ave. Central City, NE 68826308-946-5400

randy@cascatahomes.com

PUBLIC NOTICE WINNEBAGO TRIBAL CODE PROCURING ALCOHOL FOR A MINOR & MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCING At a duly convened Tribal Council Meeting held on February 19, 2014, a motion

was passed to adopt Resolution #14-47 to approve revisions to the Winnebago Tribal Code Section 1B-503 General Sentencing Provisions, Section 1B-706 Maximum Fines & Sentences and Section 3-715 Contributing to the Delinquency of a Child.

Section 3-715 of the revised code states, in part, that “any person who gives, sells or otherwise provides alcoholic liquor to a person under the age of twenty-one commits the offense of procuring alcohol for a minor.” The code further states that “procuring alcohol for a minor is a Class II offense and shall be subject to a mandatory minimum penalty of thirty (30) days imprisonment and a fi ve hundred dollar ($500) fi ne.”

This will be effective March 21, 2014. A complete copy of the Winnebago Tribal Code including these sections can be

found on the offi cial Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska website at: www.winnebago-tribe.com/tribal_court.html

HCCDC Offers FREE Financial ClassNow that the holidays are over, are you starting to feel that fi nancial pinch

that most of us seem to endure? Starting January 8th, 15th and 22nd 2015 from 2-4PM, Ho Chunk Community Development Corporation will be offering a FREE basic fi nancials class. Our class will cover budgeting, importance of a bank account, how to make the account work for you and a variety of other topics. This will be a three part class that will conclude on January 22nd and it is free to the community. If you are interested, please call 402-878-2192 and speak to Jason Huntington to sign up. Limited space available. If you are not able to attend the classes in January, we will be offering classes in February. Classes will be located upstairs in the HCCDC conference room.

WinnaVegas Casino Resort currently has openings for:

• Casino Manager • Table Games Manager • Food and Beverage Manager • Executive Chef • Bingo Manager • Guest Service Program Manager • Food & Beverage Staff • Porters • Cage Cashiers

Applications can be obtained online at https://winnavegas.com/employment/ Email your application to julia.snow@winnavegas.biz or tina.lewis@winnavegas.biz , fax to (712) 428-9422, or drop off in person to 1500 330th St., Sloan, IA. As provided by federal law, we do reserve the right to preferential hiring practices as it pertains to Native American applicants when considering applications. Win-nebago Tribal Members strongly encouraged to apply. WinnaVegas Casino Resort offers an excellent benefi ts package, including paid vacation, sick leave, medical, dental, vision, 401k, and more! If you are ready to join a fast-growing, fun work-ing atmosphere, APPLY TODAY!

Masthead SceneThe Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest was a big hit this year, in addition to

the Annual Christmas Lighting Contest. Winners for this years contest were; Sandy “Mackey” Scott-4th, Ebony St. Cyr-3rd, Victoria Kitcheyan-2nd and Fe-licia Blackhawk-1st.

Winnebago Indian News, Saturday, January 3, 2015 — Page 8

WinnaVegas “Winter Round Dance”