In this Issue 

Notes from the Chief’s desk

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TRAM

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From the office of the Tribal Administrator

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News from the Tribal Planner

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Mi’kmaq Culture

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Mi’kmaq Nation Tribal Council  Mi’kmaq Risk Manager Agenda  Mi’kmaq Elder’s Menu  Mi’kmaq Nation Tribal Council  Mi’kmaq Elder’s Activities CalenDiscussions dar  Mi’kmaq Language Keepers  SAMHSA  Mi’kmaq Nation Boys & Girls  Mi’kmaq Housing Club 

Mi’kmaq Advocacy Center

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Mi’kmaq Job Bank

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Feed the Homeless

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Word Find

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Mi’kmaq Nation Community Support Services

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Wisdom for Living in Today’s Society

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Ancestral Knowledge

From the Chief’s Desk On Thursday, March 16, 2023, I participated in the Wabanaki Alliance: Lobby Day at the State House.

From the Desk of the Tribal Administrator

It was an honor to be part of such a prestigious event and to be given the opportunity to speak on behalf of our tribal community. The following are a few excerpts from my speech at the State House. “We, the people” in this legislative body and tribal leaders have an opportunity to shape Maine’s future and rural economy by working together and using our advantages to the best of our ability. It’s our time as leaders in our communities to come together and to build and create opportunities for all residents of Maine-tribal and non-tribal.” “We are asking to be put on the same footing as the 570 federally recognized tribes across the country. Those tribes are subject to federal Indian laws passed by Congress. We are asking to be treated fairly and on the same footing as those tribes. Those tribes have seen 61% personal income growth since 1989, while tribes in Maine have seen a 9% growth over the same period.” “We are not asking for handouts. We are asking to self-determine our destiny.” Online Sports Betting I wrote a comment letter on the proposed regulations on implementing Maine’s mobile sports betting law to Steven Silver, Chair of the Gambling Control Board, and Milton Champion, Executive Director of the Gambling Control Unit. This comment letter is in response to the Proposed Sports Wagering Regulations. These regulations are what we have been waiting for so that we can begin online sports betting. As I stated in this comment letter, The law provides Wabanaki Nations a virtually needed economic opportunity by granting us an exclusive right to offer sports betting within the State while generating revenues for the State government. Maine sports betting law provides the State with 10% of all mobile sports wagering revenues that will support essential services to all Maine residents, police and emergency services and infrastructure needs. Mobile sports wagering revenues will enable the Nation to provide for our citizens with critical social services programs and empower the Nation to satisfy any applicable cost-sharing requirements for federal and state grants. This is something our tribal community needs.

I will keep you updated as information becomes available.

Greetings Tribal Community, Did you know the Tribe as a formal process for filing a complaint against a program? In an effort to offer transparency, our Personnel Policies offer community members the following: ***1500 Program Appeals Board*** Policy Statement – It is the policy of the ABM to address programmatic (services components) grievances in a fair and equitable manner, as expeditiously as possible. If efforts, through the Chain of Command, up to, and including the Tribal Administrator, have failed at resolving a programmatic grievance, rather than taking their grievance before the ABM Tribal Council, the client may request a hearing through the Program Appeals Board (PAB). This request must be made to the Compliance Officer. The Program Appeals Board (PAB) is composed of a group of Program Directors, unaffiliated with the Program in question, selected by the ABM Compliance Officer to hear client programmatic grievances as the final step in the programmatic grievance process. This eliminates the burden for Tribal Council members researching applicable program regulations and allows programmatic grievances to be resolved quickly and equitably. The PAB is a service to the Community. Wela'lin Nichole Francis

Mi’kmaq Nation 7 Northern Rd

Tribal Council Meeting Discussions

Presque Isle, ME 04769 (207) 764-1972 1-800-355-1435 Fax (207) 764-7667

MI’KMAQ NATION TRIBAL COUNCIL MEETING TRIBAL COUNCIL AGENDA 1ST & 3RD WEDNESDAY EVERY MONTH COUNCIL CHAMBERS

March 1, 2023 Tribal Council update: Discussion on Littleton property in working with 1st light Jay Houston would like to install a solar array panel on an individual unit as a donation Dave Putnam came to discuss the salmon Tribal Council increase their salary Tribal Administrator updates Council on the Loring facility

6:00

Meeting called to order

6:00-6:02

Opening Prayer

6:02-6:05

Approval of Agenda

6:05-6:10

Community Concerns

6:10-8:00

Governance (Chief’s Report/MSA Negotiations Update

8:00-8:10

Break

March 15, 2023

8:10-8:30

Program Updates

Tribal Council update:

8:30-8:45

Tribal Administrator’s Report/Nichole Francis

Council approved four grant resolutions

8:45-9:00

Tribal Clerk Update/Teresitia Hamel

CFO updates Council on tribal finances

9:00-9:30

General Discussion/Old Business

9:30

Adjourn

(Meetings may be cancelled due to weather or lack of quorum) Minutes of meetings can be viewed through the tribal clerk

Tribal Chief and Tribal Vice-chief update on the meetings and progress they have been dealing with in Augusta

Bethann Basso request funding for additional staff Behavioral Health had position descriptions approved

HOUSING

Presque Isle /Bon Aire

0 Occupied

0 Vacant

Caribou

8 Occupied

0 Vacant

Littleton

11 Occupied

0 Vacant

Connor

11 Occupied

3 Vacant

Mi’kmaq Nation Boys & Girls Club/Youth Dept Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

3

4

5

6

7

SMART girls

Moccasin Trail

AGES 5-9

PROJECT VENTURE

SMART moves

AGES 5-9

Cultural Craft

Outdoor Activities

AGES 10-12

Moccasin Trail

AGES 10-12

ALL AGES

SMART girls

Creative Arts AGES 13+

11

Cultural Craft

AGES 5-9

SMART moves

AGES 10+

12

SMART moves

13 Moccasin Trail

AGES 5-9

PROJECT VENTURE

SMART moves

AGES 5-9

Cultural Craft

AGES 10-12

Moccasin Trail

AGES 10-12 SMART moves

AGES 10+

AGES 13+

Creative Arts AGES 13+

SMART girls

18

Cultural Craft

19

SMART moves

20 Moccasin Trail

AGES 8-10

AGES 5-9

PROJECT VENTURE

SMART moves

AGES 5-9

Cultural Craft

AGES 10-12

Moccasin Trail

AGES 10-12

AGES 11+

Creative Arts

24

25

26

SMART girls

Cultural Craft

AGES 8-10

AGES 5-9

PROJECT VENTURE AGES 11+

SMART moves AGES 10-12 Creative Arts AGES 13+

AGES 5-9

SMART moves AGES 5-9 Moccasin Trail AGES 10+

Outdoor Activities ALL AGES

21 Outdoor Activities ALL AGES

SMART moves

AGES 10+

AGES 13+

14

AGES 5-9

AGES 8-10

AGES 11+

17

SMART moves

AGES 8-10

AGES 11+

10

Cultural Craft

AGES 13+

27

Moccasin Trail

28

Cultural Craft

Outdoor Activities

AGES 10-12

ALL AGES

AGES 5-9

SMART moves

AGES 13+

2022 YOUTH PROGRAM WIOA Application and Classroom Training Application. 

Verification is required for the following (for adult & youth applications).

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Please include copies of the following with the application:

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ID verification (ex. Driver’s License, Tribal ID, birth certificate, school ID)

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Tribal enrollment- must be enrollment verification from tribal clerk, cannot

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Mi’kmaq Nation Job Bank

accept Tribal ID.

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Documentation of Disability (ex. Doctor note)

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Proof of Residency (ex. Utility bill). Must show the physical address, not PO Box.

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Public Assistance: must be current, TANF, SNAP, General Assistance- State or

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Pay stubs of everyone employed in the home.

The Human Resources Department Tribal.

Wants to update the job bank! If you want to be considered for a temporary position

Adult & Youth Services include:

with us, we need your job application in the job bank.

Work Experience:

Applications can be picked up at the administration office or print ed online at www.micmac-nsn.gov.

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To learn employment skills and get experience.

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Training is for 13 weeks at 20 hours per week, with a training wage equal

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minimum wage.

Classroom Training: 

Students requesting assistance for school or training programs must fill out the Classroom Training Application, in addition to the WIOA Application.

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Students must provide an acceptance letter if it is their first year, or other verification of enrollment.

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All students must submit copy of their class schedule.

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Supportive Services:

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Can only be used on adults participating in the Work Experience or Classroom Training programs.

Applications must be turned into Cheryl Smart HR Assistant/Office Manager at 764-1972, Ext. 153

If you currently have an application in the job bank, please update your information. Please contact Cheryl Smart Human Resource Assistant/Office Manager E-mail at: [email protected] Visit at: 7 Northern Road Presque Isle, ME 04769 Call at:

207-764-1972 Extention 153

Last Chance to Test Your Home for Radon Gas The Environmental Health Department would like to offer a free Radon Gas test for your home. The current test kits will expire later this year and without any community interest, we do not plan to order more. Take advantage of this free test while you can. If you have NOT already had your home tested in the last 2 years, give the Environmental Health Department a call at 764-7636 and we would be happy to test your home. For more information on Radon Gas and its affect on your health, go to https://www.epa.gov/radon.

Today’s Tips Back to Basics Think about what you have and what you need If the power went out right now, or you had to leave your home, do you have what you need to weather the storm? What if you had to quarantine yourself in your home? Are those essentials gathered in one place or scattered all over the house? Have you even thought about what you need? Thinking about it is the first step. No Power Line is Safe to Touch - EVER

Are you weather ready? Be weather aware, before, during and after severe weather. Sign up for emergency alerts to receive life-saving information from your state and local municipality at www.ready.gov/alerts.What's invisible, odorless and can kill you?

Do you know the risk? Anywhere it rains, it can flood. Learn your risk level for floods by entering your address at https://msc.fema.gov/portal/search.

What (not) to do after a flood Avoid wading in floodwaters. They could be contaminated and contain dangerous debris. And downed power lines can electrically charge the water, causing electrocution.

Mi’kmaq Nation

Mi’kmaq Nation

Community Support Services Department

Community Support Services Department LIHWAP Low Income Home Water Assistance Program

Office Location ; 37 Midway Drive

LIHWAP is to help pay for water and sewer arrearages. You can apply for this assistance by supplying a disconnect notice to the Community Support Assistance if you have been approved for LIHEAP. If you have not been approved for LIHEAP, you will need to do an application for Emergency Assistance.

Presque Isle, ME 04769 Mailing Address: 7 Northern Road Presque Isle, ME 04769

Outreach/advocacy services are available by appointment on a needs -only basis. Most of our services can be accessed via telephone, mail, email, fax, and text. WALK-IN CLIENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

Community Support Services Emergency Assistance

Emergency Assistance is a fund that can help with household, personal, grocery, or utility needs once per year. It works very much like the city/town general assistance. There is an application. You do have to prove a “need”. Proof of current (last 4 weeks/30 days) income and receipts for bills paid are required. Assistance is limited to $75.00 per Mi’kmaq Tribally Enrolled Members in the household.

LIHEAP The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) serves to help with the higher cost of utilities in the winter. These funds support heating costs such as fuel oil, kerosene, electricity, and propane. LIHEAP can also help with rent where the heat is included. The application, proof of 4 weeks/30 days income, and a utility bill are required for applying.

Child Care Development Fund CCDF provides a subsidy for child care costs for parents who are working, attending school, or getting training for employment. There is an application process and only Maine state licensed child care providers or relatives of the children can provide care and be paid from this program. In addition to the application, parents applying must provide 4 weeks/30 days of income, an official schedule, and verification of employment/attendance in school or training.

Micmac Food Pantry Our food pantry is maintained at the Community Support Services Office. Please call to schedule a pick up. Deliveries are available only due to emergencies or illness.