North Country Independent Living Native American Grant

Indivisible with Liberty and Justice for All: 

23rd Annual National Conference on Rural Independent Living

October 20-23, 2017
Spokane, WA

Overview
•	Introductions
•	North Country Independent Living – History
•	Native American Project – History
•	Our Four Tribes & Maps
◦	Structure
◦	Culture
•	What have we done so far?
◦	John Nousaine
◦	Doug Defoe 
◦	Sunshine Lemieux
•	What have we learned so far?
•	Strengths & Struggles & Tips
•	Questions?

North Country Independent Living
•	Established 1988

•	Our Service Area

•	Geographic Diversity

•	Staff
Native American Project
•	Goal - Weave the tenants of Independent Living philosophy into the realm of Native American Culture.  

•	Objectives -  1.  Native American staff  2.  Advisory board 3.  Develop a continuation plan 

•	Outcomes  - 1.   Consumers gain greater ability to make informed decision concerning their lives.  2.  Tribal service providers will develop greater awareness of resources, connections and collaborations.   3.  Consumers become more empowered   
IL in Indian Country
•	Isolated & Rural Communities

•	Disability Rate

•	Underfunded CILS

•	Cultural Competency Issues

•	NCIL/APRIL Response
 Giiwedin

Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Red Cliff

•	Tribe is governed by 9 member council - Chairman, Vice Chairman, the Secretary the Treasurer, and five council members.
 
•	The Red Cliff Tribal Administration is divided into several divisions

•	Operates own Tribal Court
Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Bad River
•	Tribe is governed by a seven member council - Chairman, Vice Chairman, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and three council members. 

•	The administration is divided into departments which are managed by professional tribal administrators. 

•	The tribal court system oversees civil cases while criminal cases are overseen by state courts and enforced by state/county police officers. 
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Lac Courte Oreilles
•	Tribe is governed by a seven member council - Chairman, Vice Chairman, the Secretary/Treasurer, and three council members. 
•	The tribe owns and operates enterprises, businesses, and programs and is the largest employer in Sawyer County.
•	The tribal administration is divided into departments and operates its own tribal Voc Rehab.
•	The tribe operates the LCO Community College, a 40 acre cranberry marsh, a health clinic, youth centers, and a forest products and lumber mill.
St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
St. Croix
•	The St. Croix tribe is governed by a five-member council elected for two-year terms. The Tribal Council is responsible for the general welfare of tribal members and the management of day-to-day tribal business

•	St. Croix is the largest employer in Burnett County and the 2nd largest employer in Barron County

•	Like our other tribes, they are divided into departments – Education, Health Services, Social Services, Legal, Tribal Court and Environment and Natural Resources
    *Info provided from -  www.lco-nsn.gov  & www.glitc.org

Outreach
Outreach
Outreach
2017 Tribal Youth Conference
Red Cliff, WI

What have we learned so far?

•	Strengths - Staff, CIL Support, Familiar, Established Contacts, Opportunity for Independence, Trust and Comfortable

•	Struggles –  Patience, Differentiating services,  Division of Duties, Board Recruiting,  Nursing Home Fallacy, services eligibility 
TIPS TO REACHING OUT
•	Patience
•	Culture 
•	Respect
•	Repeat
Questions?