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A look back at 2018

January

A Special General Tribal Council (GTC) meeting was held January 16 to hear two petitions. The first petition from Leah Sue Dodge to request outside representation for the GTC was removed from the agenda in a vote 710-580. The second petition from Gina Powless to create a banishment law failed by a show of hands.

The Golf Range Association of America named Thornberrry Creek at Oneida one of the top 50 golf driving ranges in the United States.

The Annual GTC meeting was held January 28. The GTC accepted an outside audit of the Oneida Nation’s finances, meeting minutes, treasurer’s report, and other reports.

February

Honor the Youth Powwow was held February 17 at the Radisson Inn Hotel and Conference Center.

Family Fun Night was held February 21.

The #1 ranked Oneida Nation High School (ONHS) Girls Basketball Team lost to #5 ranked Gillett in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) regional basketball tournament on February 26. Four Lady Thunderhakws received Marinette & Oconto All-Conference honors: Yelih Rodrigiez, Malia Jacobs, M’Kenzey Ackley, and Sadie Schuman.

March

The #5 ranked ONHS Boys Basketball Team lost to #1 ranked Phelps in the WIAA regional basketball tournament on March 3.

Seymour High School Senior Hailey Oskey was named Miss Basketball by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. Oskey currently plays for University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.

On March 19 a Special GTC meeting was held to hear items carried over from the January 28 Annual GTC meeting. The GTC accepted a land acquisition report and Treasurer’s report and asked for another GTC meeting in 60 days to hear requested reports concerning the Oneida Airport Hotel Corporation (OAHC) and Oneida Golf Enterprise Corporation (OGEC).

Former Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke visited Oneida March 23.

April

A Wisconsin bill that recognizes Tribal ID cards as official forms of ID for all state purposes was signed into law April 3. Tribal ID’s can be used to vote in state elections or pick up prescriptions.

ONHS students held a pancake feast on April 5 to thank NWTC staff and students for construction of a new sugar shack behind the Norbert Hill Center.

A freak snowstorm dumped 21 inches of snow in the area the over the weekend of April 13-16. The Oneida Police Department (OPD) and Oneida Department of Public Works (DPW) stepped up to handle car accidents and to clear snow from buildings.

The Oneida Trust Scholarship was named in honor of Susan White who was the Director of the Trust and Enrollment Department for 20 years on April 25. White passed away June 25.

May

A Special GTC meeting was held May 12 where a report on the Oneida Airport Hotel Corporation (OAHC) was accepted, a report on the Oneida Golf Enterprise Corporation (OGEC) was tabled, as was a Capital Improvement Plan for 2018-2023.

Oneida shared the results of a St. Norbert College three-year study that showed that Oneida is annually responsible for $744 million in output and $214 million in compensation and 5465 jobs.

US Navy-Vietnam veteran Mike Hill participated in an Old Glory Honor Flight to Washington DC on May 23.

June

The annual Woodland Indian Art Market took place June 1-3 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center.

The Annual Youth and Elder Fishing Day was held June 2 at Osnu’sa? Kanya.ta’la (Finger Lake).

A Special GTC meeting was held June 18 in which two items were tabled and a report on blood quantum from Sustain Oneida was accepted as information only.

Oneida crowned new royalty June 20 at the annual Miss Oneida Pageant. Emily Skenandore was named Miss Oneida, Yokalasha Danforth was named Jr. Miss Oneida, and Wileena Bigjohn was dubbed Lil Miss Oneida.

The 46 Annual Oneida Powwow was held June 29-July 1.

July

The GTC reconvened for a meeting July 1 to both table and accept the CIP 2018-2023 report. The GTC accepted as information only an update to the GTC Meeting Laws. The GTC accepted a report on Tsyunhehkwa and on the Oneida Nation Arts Board’s distribution of grant funds.

The 2018 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic ran from July 3 to July 8. Tournament winner Sei Young Kim of Korea set a record 31 under par 257 score putting her in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

The Semi-Annual GTC meeting was held July 10. The GTC approved previous meeting minutes, tabled the Semi-Annual Report, and accepted the Oneida Land Commission Housing Development Plan.

August

The GTC Legal Resource Center opened to the public August 1.

Oneida Tourism opened a replica longhouse at the Cultural Heritage grounds August 3.

Oneida hosted a celebration of 29 years of Act 31 in Wisconsin requiring public schools to teach the history, culture and sovereignty of Indian nations in Wisconsin on August 9.

A Special GTC meeting held August 28 saw the GTC approve a three-year wage increase plan versus a one-time proposed wage increase, accepted a petition on E-polls as information only, and brought back the Oneida Personnel Commission.

The annual Diabetes Event was held August 29 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center.

September

A ribbon cutting was held September 18 at the Anna John Resident Centered Care Community building to celebrate a solar panel project on buildings throughout Oneida.

Big Apple Fest was held September 22.

A GTC meeting held September 24 made use of a Mentimeter survey to measure what the members of the GTC value. Heath care, education were the top issues with preservation of Oneida language and culture and housing tying for third.

October

Harvest Fest was held October 6 at Tsyunhehkwa.

The Boo Bash was held October 26 at the Oneida Civic Center.

Yukwatsistay^ held a grand opening October 27 for an addict support gathering place.

At a Special GTC meeting held October 28 the GTC accepted a petition for an opioid treatment center as information and to work it into Tribal Action Plan (TAP). The body also accepted the Semi-Annual Report and rejected a petition to Medicare Part B premiums.

November

The Oneida Business Committee (OBC) reinstated the position of General Manager at a November 14 OBC meeting.

Oneida held its second annual tree lighting November 15.

An annual Thanksgiving feast was held at Parish Hall November 22.

The Oneida Nation challenged the Village of Hobart’s attempt to require a special event permit for the Big Apple Fest in federal court on November 27.

December

Children and their families enjoyed Breakfast with Santa at the Oneida Civic Center December 8.

The GTC passed the FY2019 budget at a meeting held December 10.