Colstrip Quality of Life Corporation Hosts Bar-B-Que to Thank Corporate Sponsors of Breakfast Club

For the past decade, the Colstrip Public Schools and Colstrip Community Parks and Recreation District (CPRD)  have partnered to provide a “Breakfast Club” for Colstrip students, K-5.

On Tuesday, May 14th, a Bar-B-que was held at Rye Park, Colstrip to thank corporate sponsors that support the organization, The Quality of Life Corporation, a 501 ( c ) 3 nonprofit  raises funds to support several activities.                             A primary project is the “Breakfast Club” which runs from 6:30 a.m. until school starts.  Operated at the Isabel Bills Community Learning Center and staffed  by Bonnie Booth students from K-5 can “drop in” for breakfast and engage in academic support activities.  “It’s for morning latch-key kids,” said Rick Harbin, CPRD Director, founding member and current Board member.

“It helps the children of many shift workers here in Colstrip,” he stressed. “It’s important for them not to be at home alone.”

An average of 12-20 students come to the “Breakfast Club” each day, he explained and the staff salaries are supported by donations from corporate sponsors.    If other people are interested in using the Breakfast Club, contact CPRD at  748-3226, Harbin urged.

Harbin said that the following current sponsors are critical to the project’s success:  PPL; WECo; the City of Colstrip; 1st Interstate Bank, Colstrip Electric, Subway, State Farm Insurance and First Interstate Bancsystem Foundation. Other organizations have helped in the past Harbin noted saying that the organization always needs support.

DUANE ANKNEY HD 43, (COLSTRIP) ADDRESSES BIG SKY ENERGY FORUM IN BILLINGS

Representative Duane Ankney, HD 43, Colstrip was one of three speakers, at the opening banquet of the Big Sky Energy Forum Roundtable held in Billings, MT on May 7th and 8th.
The event was attended by key representatives of the energy industry, State folks, even Governor Steve Bullock- who spoke later, and tribal representatives
Ankney who served as the Chairperson of the powerful House Appropriations Committee modestly introduced himself as “jest an old coal-miner who wants to see folks get ‘shoes for the baby.”                           Ankney said that he was very discouraged that Governor Steve Bullock vetoed two bills: HB 218:  Duane’s bill that would have created a program to assist with impacts of oil & gas development and SB 236, sponsored by Alan Olson, Roundup which would have increased funding for the Coal Board (up to 4.8 million), long a critical funding source for southeastern MT, including the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and Colstrip. Ankney made history by shepherding a 100-0 vote for the State Budget. He said “That’s what possible when people of good intention work together.”
The Colstrip representative  also explained that it is possible for the Legislature to override the Governor’s veto through a mail polling process. “I think it might work,” he predicted, “But, Everyone’s support for that is critical,” he urged. “Call the Governor’s office and call your representativesin favor of that,” He said.
Ankey also spoke about other energy possibilities such as oil shale; Co2 pipeline and Otter Creek. Jim Atchison, Director of Southeastern Montana Development Corporation, Colstrip also provided the following statistics that were aired at the conference:

• The average annual payroll at the Cloud Peak Mine, Spring Creek  is $117,000 (salaries and fringe benefits) for 257 workers.  Even the ‘low-paying’ jobs average $70,000-$80,000 per year,
• John Williams, Colstrip, current Coal Board Chairman noted that Montana needs to “embrace the opportunity for coal —it can only improve our quality of life” Williams has served for eight years as the Coal Board Chair. In that capacity he has been extremely supportive of projects for Colstrip, the Northern Cheyenne Reservation and other impacted areas.

PLANTING FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF THE TRIBE NORTHERN CHEYENNE TRIBAL FORESTRY SPRING TREE PLANTING PROJECT GETS UNDERWAY

Deep in the heartland of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, 30 tree planters, 12 inspectors and two tree transporters will be toiling for the next three weeks or so to plant 650,000 ponderosa pine seedlings over 1,800 acres in the 2011 Black Springs Fire Complex.
Stamina and plain old hard work are the keys to making about  $300 per day (before taxes) said  Jerome Whitehawk, veteran inspector for the Tribal Forestry project.  “Some of the veterans can plant 2,000 trees a day,” he reports. “At thirty cents per tree, that’s pretty good money. “And”, he added “even the rookies, after learning the game can average 1,000 trees per day.” The Tribal Forestry Tree Planting Project has been an annual event since 2005 said Terry Spang, a 34 year Director of Tribal Forestry.  Previously, the Tribe relied upon contractors, including non-Indian professional crews. “But when the Cheyennes realized the money that could be made, they became very interested and dedicated,” Spang said. “These are excellent workers and for some, it’s the only time they make money during the year.” The tribal inspectors show up for work at 6:00 am Spang said and the planters at 6:30 am.  Then it’s off to the woods for a long arduous day of tree planting, carrying packs of seedlings that weigh one hundred pounds, packing the necessary “Hoe-Dad” tool, scurrying up steep slopes and down ravines.  Each of the three ten-person crews plants about 10,000 seedlings per day.  Hustle is the name of the game.

WONDERFUL NEWS FOR RESERVATION SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

The Northern Cheyenne Tribe is in the process of implementing a one million dollar grant that should greatly improve the collection and disposal of solid waste on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.

The funding comes from the USDA Clean Water Act, said Jolisa Bahr Whiteface, one member of the Tribal EPA staff that developed the successful application.  (Great job ladies!)

According to Jolisa, who currently serves as the Brownfield Coordinator and also as the Acting Solid Waste Compliance Officer, the grant will largely be used to purchase equipment necessary for a curbside solid waste pickup program.  Under the project, five hundred 300 gallon containers have been ordered and will be provided to community residents.

Once collected, the waste will be processed at the tribally owned transfer station located off Highway 212, near Lame Deer.   That building initially built by the Tribal Housing Authority was vandalized, but grant funds will also be utilized for repairs to get it operational.

The existing canister sites will be closed, which have long been eyesores, especially the Muddy canister site located right off Highway 212. The issue of payment or rates for solid waste collection has not been finalized, White Face explained, however in all likehood, there will be a fee to help cover the “tipping” costs for tribal waste hauled to County landfills.

Highway 212 12 million plus “Re-construct” project underway on Ashland East Project North of Ashland

Construction workers are moving into Ashland, reporting to work on the reconstruction and bridge replacement on the Ashland-East project located in Rosebud and Powder River Counties.                                                                                 The project begins at RP 62.7 and extends east approximately 6.5 miles along National Highway Route 37/US 212.  The Rosebud/Powder River County line is at RP 64.329.  Work will include: :  grading, gravel, PMS overlay, new structure, drainage, fencing, seal & cover and pavement markings.

Reconstruction and bridge replacement on the Ashland-East project located in Rosebud and Powder River Counties is now underway.  The project begins at RP 62.7 and extends east approximately 6.5 miles along National Highway Route 37/US 212.

The project, awarded by the Montana Transportation Commission is funded at twelve million, three hundred and twenty seven thousand.  Wickens Construction, Lewistown has the contract and expects to employ 30-50 people, most veteran employees said Ryan Durbin Project Manager.   The project is slated to be finished by the end of this year.

“EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL” THRIFT STORE IN LAME DEER VANDALIZED

According to Manager, Suzette Cain ,vandals broke into the Everything Beautiful Thrift Store in Lame Deer.  She discovered the “break-in” and damage on Saturday evening, April 6th.     The vandals broke into two desks, stole “teen-boys summer clothes” and sprayed two fire extinguishers throughout the store.

Willis Busenitz, Chair of the Northern Cheyenne Ministerial Association said “the damage from the fire extinguishers was pervasive.  We had to wash off everything in the store.”

Earlier this week, members of the Ministerial Association and eleven volunteers from St. Labre cleaned up the “mess”.  They worked twelve hours to reopen the store on Wednesday.  Suzette wants to thank and recognize the volunteers:  September Walksalong, Nancy Washington, Darcy Littlemouth, Deanna

Limberhand, Carol LaForge, Scott Shreffler, Mary Ann Stoffregen, Lenora Wolfname, Nadine Busenitz, Dennis Bauer and Willis Busenitz,  Northern Cheyenne Housing donated respiratory masks, said Cain, because there was so much fire extinguisher powder, it was dangerous to breathe.  “We had to wear respirators and rubber gloves and use HEPA filters for the shop vac” she noted.

Two notes were left at the scene. One said “F___ you, we robbed you”.  The other one said “Thank you for the stuff.”  These notes were confiscated by the Police who are investigating the crime.

“I was very disappointed and let down, but they could have done much worse” Suzette said.  “They were burning candles instead of turning the lights on which could have caused a fire.  But,  they didn’t take some of the valuable stuff like power tools, computers, microwaves, computer monitors etc. so I guess in the long run we were blessed.” Pastor Bauer added “Now people are double blessed because the clothes are fire-proofed and deloused.”

TRIBAL TRANSIT PROGRAM “the REZ Runners”    FACE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS

The Northern Cheyenne Transit Program is facing financial problems.  As a result,  all riders, including the elderly and handicapped may now have to pay full  fares, according to Acting Director Janis Spear. The program, established in 2008 under the Leroy Spang Administration was funded by a federal grant from the Federal Transit Administration (about $500,000).   That funding enabled the Tribe to purchase two buses and begin providing public transit services on the Reservation, one of the poorest in MT. That grant paid for all the costs of the program (salaries, gas etc.)

Until now, the elders and the handicapped were able to use the Transit system for free.  According to Mickey Burns, former Transit Liaison Specialist, who helped worked for the transit program when it first started, the program waived fees for the elderly. Then TERO Director, Eugene Limpy hoped that transit services would always be free for the elders and handicapped, Burns said Spear, who is serving in an acting capacity pending reorganization of the Tribal Transportation programs, said that the Tribal Transit Program no longer receives federal funding pending another grant cycle and that they are looking for alternative funding with some good prospects.

“In order to continue providing the service, everyone may have to pay to keep the it going,” Spear said.  The program needs to produce revenue.”  The fares (taken from the tribal website) are:  one-way—$2.00 (more than 10 miles) ; round trip—$3.00 and in the Lame Deer area—.50 cents. Therefore, we assume it would cost an elder from the Lame Deer area $1.00 to use the Transit system to go and eat lunch at the Elderly Program and then return home. This is the case when the elderly van often breaks down, or the program does not have gas cards or a driver. “I worry about that,” said Pauline Eaglefeathers, elderly program employee.  “Especially towards the end of the month when budgets run low”.  In addition to the funding challenges, both of the Transit buses are in need of major repairs.  Spear also said that the Saturday Billings run will be temporarily suspended.

Five new members added to Montana Circle of American Masters Rosters by Montana Arts Council including Jay Dale “JD” Old Mouse, Northern Cheyenne Flute Master

By Cindy Kittredge, Folk Arts and Market Specialist

Whether it’s a traditional Cheyenne courting flute or a bamboo fly-rod, the work created by the most recently endorsed Montana  Circle of American Masters reflects the artist’s Montana connections and helps to deepen an  awareness of what it means to be Montanan. In December, the Montana Arts Council added to its distinguished roll of Montana’s Circle of American Masters (MCAM) in the Visual Folk and Traditional Arts by endorsing a bamboo fly-rod maker, a leather artist, a creator of traditional Cheyenne flutes, a Crow beadworker and a bowyer. These five artists join the roll call of other Montana folk and traditional artists whom the program has honored. Jay Old Mouse, Lame Deer: This flute maker is considered by the Northern Cheyenne people to be the designated keeper and maker of the Cheyenne courting flute, which was handed down to him through the lineage of known keepers, from Turkey Legs in the late 1800s, to Grover Wolf Voice, to his grandfather Black Bear, and naow to Old Mouse. The honor and the flute-making skills were bestowed on him when he was in his early twenties by his grandfather with a long list of cultural protocols to follow. Old Mouse was a certified carpenter at the time he became the keeper and, to this day, he uses the historical methods and protocols in making and playing the flute.
The courting flute was originally used by a male suitor to attract a mate. It  is also used in prayer, as a source of social entertainment, to honor individuals at events like funerals and birthdays, and as a tool to alleviate suffering.             Old Mouse follows his grandfather’s teachings and plays when asked at funerals, graduations, in schools, in church and at weddings. Because of his commitment to the protocols handed down to him and to providing comfort to his community through his performances, Old Mouse is highly regarded among his people. He is also concerned about teaching both natives and non-natives about the significance of the Cheyenne courting flute. To teach about the flute, he has presented at Cheyenne Frontier Days, the National Folk Festival in Butte, the Cheyenne Immersion Camp, American Indian Heritage day at Miles City Community College, the American Indian Housing Initiative at Penn State, and for 20 years for international guests of the Cheyenne Trailrider, a tourism enterprise operated by his adopted parents, Zane and Sandy Spang of Ashland. .

MusEco Media Education Project at Lame Deer High School
By Francesca Pine

You may have seen KTVQ’s “Green Man” series at some point, but two weeks ago, the Green Man (aka Scott Prinzing) came to Lame Deer to talk to  students during an assembly.  The Green Man is known for emphasizing or has already emphasized communicating information and resources about sustainable living and sustainable business to the public.  From his academic background in American Indian Studies, combined with his lifelong study of music and his particular interest in the music of Montana Indians, Scott has developed a specialty area in contemporary musical expression of American Indian people.  Scott delivered Indian Music: More Than Drums and Flutes, a presentation about the variety of musical genres explored by American Indian musicians, past and present.  (Source: www.museco.org)

FEDERAL SEQUESTOR HOW WILL IT AFFECT NORTHERN CHEYENNE?

(Reprinted from the Fort Peck Journal)

Federal budget cuts could harm Chief Dull Knife College and other tribal colleges. According to a report by the American Indian Higher Education Consortium AIHEC, a six percent cut in operating funds is expected across the board. On top of that, research funding will drop from all federal sources. Programs such as TRIO are expected to e cut by $66 million and federal work study programs will be cut by more than $50 million.

“Sequestration undermines the trust, treaty, and statutory obligations to American Indian tribal governments. It is a travesty to democracy and could be cataclysmic for American Indian higher education, which impacts every aspect of life in our nation’s tribal communities and reservations, “ said AIHEC President Carrie Billy. A report in the Community College Times, a publication of the American Association of Community Colleges, states that many community colleges, including the tribal colleges, will be affected negatively by the automatic federal funding cuts. Last week many associations, special interest groups including AIHEC outlined the potential effects of the sequestration. The effects of sequestration can be especially devastating for tribal colleges, according to AIHEC, which represents 37 tribally controlled higher education institutions that includes CDKC. According to AIHEC, federal cuts to tribal colleges, all of which are already operating shoe-string budgets, would result in campus reductions to student financial aide, support services like day care and tutoring.

These cuts could trigger a devastating domino effect, according to AIHEC officials, since American Indians have higher drop out rates and higher mortality rates from accidents, disease and homicide.

Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, KS is expected to take the worst hit of all. Because of the way the sequester is structured, the immediate impact on direct federal programs is likely to be greater. This would be felt on colleges funded directly by the B.I.A,.

Haskell is looking at an immediate budget cut of as much as 29 percent. This would put further stain on Haskell’s faculty and staff. Right now, they are already furloughed (put on leave without pay) for 12 weeks. If it continues, the university could be at risk at being closed. While the budget cuts also affect other federally funded programs serving Tribes, it in not known at this time the specifics for the Northern Cheyenne Tribe But, we do know that the Tribe recently approved a budget increase.