January
Hoyan donuts greeted the roughly 1,600 General Tribal Council (GTC) members as they met for the Annual Meeting on Monday, January 4 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center. At the meeting a motion was passed requesting money from the Oneida Business Committee’s budget marked for a potential Chief Executive Officer position be used to replenish the budget for emergency home repairs for tribal elders.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded $205,000 to provide permanent homes and supportive services for 20 Oneida veterans. The grant, which was announced at a press conference held Friday, January 8 at the Norbert Hill Center, is intended to assist those who are either currently experiencing or are at risk for homelessness.
On The January 12 hundreds gathered at the state capital for a Save the Mounds rally fighting not only bitter cold temperatures but also Wisconsin State Assembly Bill 620. The bill would make it easier for individual landowners excavate and possibly destroy Native American burial mounds. The bill failed to pass in April.
The 2016 Honor the Youth Pow Wow took center stage at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center on Saturday, January 30.
February
Newly appointed Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Larry Roberts spoke to Kalihwisaks about his position for the February 5, 2016 issue. Roberts is the third Oneida to head Indian Affairs: Carl Artman served from 2007-2008, and Robert Bennett served as Commissioner of Indian Affairs 1966-1969.
The Oneida Nation moved forward with constitutional amendments after a challenge to last year’s Secretarial Election was dismissed by the Board of Indian Appeals on February 11, 2016. The amendments were:
- Lowering the voting age from 21 to 18
- Changing the tribe’s name from the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin to the Oneida Nation.
- Removing the Secretary of Interior from an oversight role over the tribe.
- Establish the Judiciary in the tribal constitution.
- Remove the first Monday meeting requirement for the annual and semi-annual meetings.
The Lac Courte Oreilles Chippewa band’s chairman used the annual State of the Tribes address to dispel American Indian stereotypes on Tuesday, February 16, 2016.
The General Tribal Council (GTC) took on the Minor’s Fund and Oneida Tribal Integrated Enterprises (OTIE) at the Saturday, February 20 Reconvened Annual (GTC) meeting.
Ron (Deganadus) McLester has been named a Business Link Media Group’s 4th Annual 40 Under Forty Business Achievement Award Recipient for his work at Mohawk and Sheridan Colleges.
The annual Family Fun Night took over the Oneida Nation Elementary School as both gyms were filled with healthy activities for the entire family to enjoy. The event, held Wednesday, February 24, 2016.
March
Oneida Business Committee Chairwoman Tina Danforth won a ribbon for Honorable Mention in the Diverse Art Forms category for her raised beading at the 58th Annual Heard Museum Indian Art Market in Phoenix on March 5, 2016.
April
Oneida tribal citizens took to the shore of Duck Creek at Pamperin Park for the annual Fishing Ceremony on Friday, April 1, 2016. The ceremony marks the start of the spring fishing season and celebrates the tribe’s legal victory reaffirming tribal citizens’ rights to fish the waters of Duck Creek.
The Oneida Nation was well represented at the Wisconsin Indian Education’s (WIEA) annual conference held April 1, 2016 in Madison, Wis. Caden Wilson, 11 was named Outstanding American Indian Student of the year for the 4th through 7th grade category. Indian Parents of the Year will be awarded to Elijah and Rhiannon Metoxen. Outstanding Elder of the Year went to Maxine Thomas. Also winning awards were Linda Orrie for Graduate Student of the Year, and Michaela Welch, and enrolled Stockbridge-Muncee citizen who attends the Oneida Nation School System. Welch was named the 11-12 grade student of the year.
Wisconsin Army National Guard Col. Joane Mathews made history on April 4, 2016 when Gov. Scott Walker, commander-in-chief of the Wisconsin National Guard, promoted her to brigadier general — making her the first Native American female general in the Wisconsin Army National Guard.
The Green Bay Common Council (GBCC) voted to terminate the long standing service agreement between the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and the City of Green Bay which covered land where the two municipalities overlap on Wednesday, April 7, 2016. The service agreement, which has been in effect since 1996, called for $300,000 annual contributions from the Oneida Nation to the City of Green Bay and would have resulted in $3million in payments to the city over the full term of the agreement.
A Special General Tribal Council (GTC) meeting convened on Monday, April 11, at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center.
May
Work began on building a greenhouse that will shelter an aquaponics system that will produce approximately 6000 heads of lettuce a year for the Oneida Nation School System.
Cristina Danforth was elected as the new President of the Native American Finance Officers Association.
The Oneida Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7784 paid respects to the 13 known surviving Oneida WWII veterans on Saturday, May 21, 2016. Each veteran received a letter of recognition and a special plaque featuring a sacred eagle feather.
June
The Oneida Nation hosted a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, June 8 to open the new Highway 54 One Stop. The new store features better foot and traffic flow, seating areas, more pumps including diesel, and direct access to the trail
A special General Tribal Council (GTC) meeting was held on Monday, June 13, 2016, at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center. The GTC approved a $1300 per capita payment for Fiscal Years 2017-2021.
The 2016-17 Miss, Jr. Miss and ‘Lil Miss Oneida Pageant was held Thursday, June 29 at Thornberry Creek at Oneida. Katy Bermke was named Mis Oneida, Kaylee Schuyler won Jr. Miss, and ‘Lil Miss is Avery Nooyen.
July
The Oneida Nation unveiled a new tribal seal after constitutional amendments officially changed the tribe’s name to the Oneida Nation. The new flag was raised Friday, July 1 to kick-off powwow weekend.
The 44th annual Oneida Powwow from July 1-3, held behind the Norbert Hill Center, drew in hundreds of dancers from numerous tribes across Indian Country as well as thousands of spectators who took in the sights and sounds of the 2016 Oneida Powwow.
The annual Household Sweep was cut short after three-and -a-half-hours due to extreme heat. Two of the employees were overcome by the 90 degree weather on Wednesday, July 13.
On Friday, July 29, Oneida’s Norbert Hill Center played host to the 20th annual Oneida Relay for Life walk for cancer research.
August
A full agenda was barely touched as Oneida Seven Generations Corporation (OSGC) ate up the entire four hour time limit set by the General Tribal Council (GTC) held August 10, 2016.
Thornberry Creek at Oneida hosted a Year from Here preview event featuring LPGA golfers Alison Lee and Cheyenne Woods. The golfers competed in a three – hole exhibition in anticipation of the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic next summer.
September
A show of Solidarity for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe was held in the heart of Oneida, Wisconsin on Thursday, September 8. There were several area protests throughout the year held to call attention and show support for water protectors in North Dakota protesting construction of a crude oil pipeline.
The James Watrous Gallery in Madison hosted the exhibit Beading Culture – Raised Beadwork and the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin September 16 to November 6.
The 2016 Oneida Big Apple Fest was held September 17.
October
A pantry plan was passed by the General Tribal Council (GTC) during the reconvened Special GTC meeting on Sunday, October 2.
The annual white corn harvest kicked off with the annual Harvest Fest and Husking Bee.
The new Flying Leafs community lacrosse field was opened to the public after a tobacco burning on Monday, October 24.
Executive Director Alice Skenandore of Green Bay’s Wise Women Gathering Place received the Justice Award from the Governor’s Council on Domestic Abuse Madison, Wisconsin, on October 26.
The General Tribal Council (GTC) convened for a third time in an attempt to finish the Semi-annual Meeting agenda on Sunday, October 30 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center.
A car crash on October 31 took the life of passenger Braxton Kasee, 13. A Town of Oneida firefighter John Brocker who responded to the crash also passed away from a heart attack.
November
The annual Three Sisters Pow Wow took place Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center.
The Oneida Nation’s Robert Cornelius Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7784 celebrated their 70th anniversary in conjunction with Veterans Day on Friday, Nov. 11, 2016. Numerous tribal and state dignitaries were on hand to thank the many generations of Oneida Warriors who sacrificed much in the service of these two great nations.
The General Tribal Council (GTC) reconvened to finish a GTC meeting on Monday, November 14 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center.
In recognition of their outstanding work restoring and caring for wetlands, Wisconsin Wetlands Association awarded the Oneida Nation a 2016 Wetlands Award at a November 10 event.
Patricia “Trish” King was appointed to the Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee (TTAC).
Winners of the Kalihwisaks Photo Contest were first prize Kanani Nunies, second place Cody Cottrell, and in third was Eliza Skenandore.
The annual Community Thanksgiving Feast served about 250 people and raised $250 for the Oneida Giving Tree program.
December
A benefit was held on Friday, Dec. 9, at the Colonial House in Freedom. Generous donations of food, a silent auction and music performed by Wade Fernandez, Rockin Daddy’s, and the Big N Tasty Blues Band highlighted the evening. At least $6,000 was raised to purchase a truckload of wood to deliver to the water protectors that are still braving the winter elements near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota.
Oneida Civic Center was the place to be on Saturday, Dec. 10, as the facility’s staff and volunteers presented Oneida’s annual Breakfast with Santa. Generous donations of food and gifts for children were made by Festival Foods of Green Bay and numerous other donors.
The Oneida Business Committee signed a donation agreement with Pulaski Community School District for $15,000, set to be renewed annually for the next three years, for a total of $45,000. This donation will allow for the opening of the Oneida III class at PHS and allow for the extension of the program to Pulaski Community Middle School and the district’s elementary schools.
