Summer Youth Programs Offered From LCOOU Extension
Home 2025 LCOOU Extension Summer Youth Programs Lac Courte Oreilles, Wis. – There is still time to register and participate in either the NSTI or FANH Club! These 3 week programs are perfect for any youth who are looking for something to do (& learn!) this summer. National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI) 7/7/25 – 7/24/2025 (Grades 9 & 10) Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, & Health Services (FANH Club) 7/7/2025 – 7/24/2025 (Grades 6-8) Register For The Event Here For more information see the flyer attached or visit the Facebook page. Back To All News
LCO TGB 2025 Inauguration
Home Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board 2025 Inauguration AGENDA WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2025 | 10:00AM SEVENWINDS CASINO CONVENTION CENTER 13767 W County Highway B, Hayward, WI, 54843 WELCOME SONG: Badger Singers INVOCATION: Dennis White TRIBAL GOVERNING BOARD OATHS OF OFFICE: Jordan St. Germaine Don Carley Janet Quaderer Lorraine Gouge HONOR SONG: Badger Singers RECEPTION / LUNCH AGENDA AGENDA WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2025 | 10:00AM SEVENWINDS CASINO CONVENTION CENTER 13767 W County Highway B, Hayward, WI, 54843 WELCOME SONG: Badger Singers INVOCATION: Dennis White TRIBAL GOVERNING BOARD OATHS OF OFFICE: Jordan St. Germaine Don Carley Janet Quaderer Lorraine Gouge HONOR SONG: Badger Singers RECEPTION / LUNCH The Tribal Administration Offices will be closed at 10:00 AM. Back To All News
1st Annual Aginjibagwesi Owadiswan Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Language Camp
Home 1st Annual Aginjibagwesi Owadiswan Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Language Camp Lac Courte Oreilles, Wis. – July 23-25, 2025 – Aginjibagwesi Owadiswan Language Camp – The Nest of the Language Keepers is dedicated to the revitalization and preservation of the Ojibwe language and culture through immersive, hands-on experiences. Please join us for our 1st Annual Ojibwe Language Camp to be held July 23-25, 2025. This three-day immersive experience is all about revitalizing Ojibwemowin through language, culture, and community. Whether you’re just starting out or deepening your journey, you’ll leave knowing more than when you came – and feeling more connected, supported, and inspired. The language camp will also serve as a professional development opportunity for administrators and teachers of Indigenous pupils. Our camp is free and open to the public. If you are planning on attending, even if it’s for just one day, please fill out our registration form to help plan meals, etc. Miigwech!! Contact: Aginjibagwesi Owadiswan Planning CommitteeEmail: aginjibagwesiowadiswan@gmail.com Register here:Aginjibagwesi Owadiswan Language Camp Registration Link to the Facebook Event Back To All News
MIIN Ojibwe Educator Scholarship Fund
Home FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDate: June 20, 2025By: Jessica Wagner-Schultz, Director of Institutional Advancement, Marketing & Communication Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, jwschultz@lco.edu715.634.4790 x186 (O) MIIN Ojibwe Educator Scholarship Fund (Lac Courte Oreilles, WI) – June 20, 2025 – Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University (LCOOU) is excited to announce the creation of the MIIN Ojibwe Educator Scholarship. The Midwest Indigenous Immersion Network (MIIN) has committed to $13,875 to establish the fund supporting up to two $3,600 scholarships to selected students from the fund each semester. MIIN is a Native American-led, Minnesota-based 501c3 dedicated to the revitalization of the Ojibwe and other indigenous languages. Our mission is to assist Ojibwe language programs in communicating and collaborating to collectively address common needs. Eshkam igo giwiidookodaadimin nawaj weweni wii-mashkawendami’idiyang wii-gashkitooyang da-ganawendamang yo’ow gaa-pi-miinigoowiziyang, gidinwewininaan. Mii imaa ge-izhi’angwaa ingiw giijanishinaabeminaanig wii-ni-nitaawewaad gewiinawaa oniigaaniimiwaang. To support their network, MIIN organizes and facilitates professional development opportunities, learning material creation, sharing and distribution, recruitment of staff and students, and the collection of educational data. The scholarship will support students who have demonstrated an intent to attain a teaching license, with a focus on Ojibwe immersion education. LCOOU’s Elementary/Middle School Education Program will focus on preparing teachers, increasing Native American teacher retention rates in Wisconsin, increasing Ojibwe immersion teachers, and increasing the diversity of teachers. “This scholarship opportunity is a significant act of support for future educators in our communities. The Bachelor of Science in Elementary/Middle School Education is a program that has been consistently highlighted in conversations with tribal governments, our elders, and the greater community. We are very proud of the combined effort of the Native American Studies and Education Departments to create an Ojibwemowin track for this degree. It is a fundamental step in taking the work of language revitalization here at LCO and beyond to a higher level. Miigwech to MIIN for your contributions to support immersion education students at LCOOU” shares Karen Breit, Interim President at LCOOU. Teachers graduating from the LCOOU Education Program will know, understand, implement, and assess the cultural experience of all children by integrating Culturally Responsive Schooling and implementing social justice education. Teachers will be prepared to assist children with space-based education and land-based education by being aware of our connection to the earth and the importance of protecting natural resources. A reciprocal obligation not only to our earth but to each other will be emphasized by utilizing Indigenous Knowledge Systems. Graduates with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary/Middle School Education could pursue a career as a licensed elementary school teacher, daycare administrator, preschool teacher, Ojibwe immersion teacher, or substitute teacher. “We are incredibly grateful be partnered with LCOOU and the Henry Luce Foundation to offer a teacher licensing track with an emphasis on Ojibwe language immersion! We are happy to offer this and future scholarships to support our future Ojibwe educators.” – Gimiwan Dustin Burnette, MIIN President Increased scholarship offerings reduce the barriers of tuition and textbook costs for Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University students. This reduction in barriers supports the University’s mission to provide Anishinaabe communities with post-secondary and continuing education while advancing the language, culture, and history of the Ojibwe. To learn more about the Elementary/Middle School Education degree program or to enroll, contact the LCOOU Admissions team at 715-634-4790 or visit the website at https://www.lco.edu/admissions. The scholarship application will be available on the college website, www.lco.edu/scholarships and open to Native American undergraduate students to apply. For further questions, call 715-634-4790 ext. 186 or email advancement@lco.edu. About Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University The Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University’s mission is to provide Anishinaabe communities with post-secondary and continuing education while advancing the language, culture, and history of the Ojibwe. Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University (LCOOU) is a non-profit Ojibwe tribal college. We are an open-door institution that is proud to serve American Indian students. LCOOU welcomes non-native students and celebrates a diverse student population at all of our locations. Learn more at http://lco.edu About MIIN MIIN is a Native American-led, Minnesota-based 501c3 dedicated to the revitalization of the Ojibwe and other indigenous languages. Our mission is to assist Ojibwe language programs in communicating and collaborating to collectively address common needs. Learn more at https://www.miinojibwe.org/ Back To All News
Signor Community Celebrates New Playground with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Home FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDate: June 16, 2025By Jennifer Cadotte, Public Relations Specialist715-699-3384, publicrelations@lco-nsn.gov Signor Community Celebrates New Playground with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Lac Courte Oreilles, Wis. – June 11, 2025 — Joyful laughter and excited cheers filled the air as the Lac Courte Oreilles Housing Authority (LCO HA) hosted a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to unveil a brand-new playground in the Signor community on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation. Funded through WHEDA’s (Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority) Tax Credit program, the new playground is a part of the LCO HA’s Tax Credit project. Also included in this project is one more playground that will be in the New Post community. LCO HA staff had the fun of choosing the playground equipment. Woodstone Construction brought the playground design to lie. LCO Development added the finishing touches with beautifully landscaped grounds and a scenic walking path that now surrounds the play area. The event brought out community members of all ages – elders, parents, and children. As the ribbon was officially cut, dozens of children, including youth brought by the Boys and Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles, raced to try out the new swings, slides, monkey bars, and climbing structures. One delighted child was overheard asking, “Can I have my birthday here?” LCO HA Interim Director Marcy Gouge shared reflections on the day’s success, “Seeing the excitement and smiles on the faces of the children is what this is all about. It makes this work worthwhile. Honestly, we had just as much fun as the kids today.” Mino bimaadiziwin – “The good life.” Back To All News
Governor Evers Attends 32nd Annual GLIFWC Partners Event at Lac Courte Oreilles
Home FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDate: June 16, 2025By Jennifer Cadotte, Public Relations Specialist715-699-3384, publicrelations@lco-nsn.gov Governor Evers Attends 32nd Annual GLIFWC Partners Event at Lac Courte Oreilles Retired Green Bay Packer Players, Tribal, Federal, and State Officials along with community members attending the Partners in Fishing Event hosted by GLIFWC at The Landing Resort on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation, WI | Photo by Jennifer Cadotte, Public Relations Specialist Lac Courte Oreilles, Wis. – June 5, 2025 – The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) hosted its 32nd Annual Wisconsin Joint Assessment Steering Committee Partners Event at The Landing Resort on the scenic Chippewa Flowage, within the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Reservation. The annual gathering drew a diverse mix of Tribal, Federal, and State natural resource officials, including a special visit from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers.Governor Evers met with event participants, acknowledging the importance of the longstanding partnership between sovereign Tribal Nations and the State of Wisconsin in managing shared natural resources. Tribal, Federal, and State Officials attending a lunch buffet at The Landing Resort, Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation, WI during the Partners in Fishing Event hosted by GLIFWC. | Photo by Jennifer Cadotte, Public Relations Specialist. “This event offers a unique opportunity for Tribal, Federal, and State Leaders to have genuine conversations in an unconventional way. Meetings do not always need to take place in boardrooms,” said Jason Schlender, Executive Administrator of GLIFWC. Established in 1993, the Partners Event promotes cooperation, trust, and coordination among various agencies involved in the stewardship of fishery resources across the ceded territories. Led by the Wisconsin Joint Assessment Steering Committee, the event features both formal sessions and informal activities that foster relationship-building—such as guided fishing excursions, cultural exchanges, and inspirational talks by community leaders and former Green Bay Packers players. Governor Tony Evers enjoying lunch at The Landing Resort. | Photo by Jennifer Cadotte, Public Relations Specialist The event highlights the critical role of tribal sovereignty in natural resource management and the successes of decades-long collaboration to protect the Great Lakes and ensure sustainability for future generations.For more information on the event and GLIFWC’s initiatives, visit glifwc.org. Back To All News
News Release from Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office
Home FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDate: June 16, 2025 News Release from Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office Though there is no reported danger to the public, the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office is requesting that the public avoid the area of Sun N Sno Road until this matter is resolved. Though there is no reported danger to the public, the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office is requesting that the public avoid the area of Sun N Sno Road until this matter is resolved. Back To All News
Invitation: NABS Oral History Project-Milwaukee, WI
Home Invitation: NABS Oral History Project, Milwaukee, WI June 23-27, 2025 Dear Relative, We are reaching out to extend a warm invitation to Indian Boarding School Survivors to join the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from June 23-27, 2025 at the Indian Community School 10405 W St Martins Rd, Franklin, WI 53132 . As part of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, NABS will be in Wisconsin to honor boarding school survivors and to invite them to share their experiences toward the creation of a permanent national oral history collection. This historic project (boardingschoolhealing.org/oral-history-project) aims to shed light on stories that have long gone untold and is a lifeline to preserving the voices and memories of Indian boarding school survivors. We will begin the week with an opening ceremony and feast on Monday, 6/23, and hold a closing ceremony and feast on Friday, 6/27. We humbly welcome your presence in the ceremonies as well as the encouragement of those that attended boarding school. NABS endeavors to host this week of events in a manner that can bring about healing for our relatives, communities, and Tribal Nations. Boarding school survivors will receive an honorarium, a travel stipend, a care package with items made by Native artisans, a copy of their interview, and will have the opportunity to receive ongoing support from our team. Mon. June 23 1-3pm CST Potawatomi Hotel & Casino 1721 W. Canal St.. Milwaukee, WI 53233 Opening Ceremony & Community Luncheon Tue. Jun 24 – Thurs. June 26 9am- 6pm CST Indian Community School 10405 W. St. Martins Rd. Franklin, WI 53132 Interviews: To schedule an interview, email OralHistoryProject@nabshc.org or call (651) 650-4445 or sign up at https://www.tfaforms.com/5092936 Fri. June 27 2-4pm CST Potawatomi Hotel & Casino 1721 W. Canal St.. Milwaukee, WI 53233 Closing Ceremony & Community Luncheon We invite you to join us in encouraging boarding school survivors to share their story, and to contribute to the movement of truth-seeking and truth-telling as we work together to create a first-of-its-kind Oral History Collection. Please see the additional resources on the right that may assist in spreading the word. If you have any questions, we can be reached at (612) 354-7700. Sincerely, Charlee Brissette Dear Relative, We are reaching out to extend a warm invitation to Indian Boarding School Survivors to join the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from June 23-27, 2025 at the Indian Community School 10405 W St Martins Rd, Franklin, WI 53132 . As part of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, NABS will be in Wisconsin to honor boarding school survivors and to invite them to share their experiences toward the creation of a permanent national oral history collection. This historic project (boardingschoolhealing.org/oral-history-project) aims to shed light on stories that have long gone untold and is a lifeline to preserving the voices and memories of Indian boarding school survivors. We will begin the week with an opening ceremony and feast on Monday, 6/23, and hold a closing ceremony and feast on Friday, 6/27. We humbly welcome your presence in the ceremonies as well as the encouragement of those that attended boarding school. NABS endeavors to host this week of events in a manner that can bring about healing for our relatives, communities, and Tribal Nations. Boarding school survivors will receive an honorarium, a travel stipend, a care package with items made by Native artisans, a copy of their interview, and will have the opportunity to receive ongoing support from our team. Schedule of Events Monday, June 23 | 1-3pm CST Opening Ceremony & Community Luncheon Potawatomi Hotel & Casino1721 W. Canal St.Milwaukee, WI 53233 Tuesday, June 24 – Thursday, June 26 | 9am – 6pm Interviews: To schedule an interview, email OralHistoryProject@nabshc.org or call (651) 650-4445 or sign up at http://www.tfaforms.com/5092936 Indian Community School10405 W. St. Martins Rd. Franklin, WI 53132 Friday, June 27 | 2-4pm Closing Ceremony & Community Luncheon Potawatomi Hotel & Casino1721 W. Canal St.. Milwaukee, WI 53233 We invite you to join us in encouraging boarding school survivors to share their story, and to contribute to the movement of truth-seeking and truth-telling as we work together to create a first-of-its-kind Oral History Collection. Please see the additional resources on the right that may assist in spreading the word. If you have any questions, we can be reached at (612) 354-7700. Sincerely, Charlee Brissette Back To All News
House of Jingle Dresses Youth Internship Opportunity
Home House of Jingle Dresses Internship Opportunity Empowering Indigenous Youth This internship offers a fun and educational experience, allowing youth to learn about sewing and design while fostering a positive reciprocal relationship. We are committed to supporting your endeavors as a student! Apply by sending your resume to ganawenjigaade@gmail.com. For more information see the flyer attached. Back To All News
Tribal Higher Education Funding Inpact
Home FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDate: June 10, 2025By: Jessica Wagner-Schultz, Director of Institutional Advancement, Marketing & Communication Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, jwschultz@lco.edu715.634.4790 x186 (O) Tribal Higher Education Funding Impact Lac Courte Oreilles, WI – June 10, 2025 – Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University (LCOOU) strongly opposes the proposed changes to the federal Pell Grant program in the current reconciliation bill, in addition to the funding cuts recommended in the recently released Department of the Interior’s FY 2025-2026 budget. The recommendations, including raising the full-time enrollment threshold and eliminating Pell Grants for students enrolled less than half-time, would cause increased and irrecoverable challenges to students. These challenges would also disproportionately affect the rural communities that are entwined with Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). As expressed in the Tribal College Journal 1, “Pell grants are the foundation of college affordability for TCUs, which serve predominantly low-income, first-generation, and American Indian and Alaska Native students. In the 2022-2023 academic year, nearly 69% of first-time, full-time TCU students nationwide received Pell support, far above the national average for two-year public institutions.” “Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, along with other tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), has been experiencing real and potential threats to federal funding since the onset of the current administration, first with the DEI order and funding freeze. In the proposed budget, we are facing cuts that will decrease access to Pell grants for our students, 72% of whom would be negatively impacted by these changes. Our student demographic is, on average, a 36-year-old woman attending part-time. Requiring students to take more courses to qualify for full-time funding, or ending access for less than half-time enrollment, would severely restrict access to higher education for those we serve,” said LCOOU Interim President Karen Breit. “Last week, we saw proposed deep cuts to tribal higher education funding in the federal FY2026 budget recommendations. If these recommendations pass, they would be devastating to TCUs that depend significantly on federal funds for operations. This not only impacts LCOOU itself, but also the $20.9 million local economic impact that was reported in our Economic Impact Study released in February 2024,” shares Breit. Federal funding critical to TCU higher education is slated to be reduced by 83%, from $127.4 million in FY2024-2025 to $22.1million in FY2026, while an “annual program dedicated to construction and capital improvements at 1994 Tribal Land Grant institutions is proposed for a 100% reduction – from $8 million to $0.” 2 The proposed funding reduction would be catastrophic, forcing many TCUs to close their doors entirely. Already operating on bare minimum budgets, TCUs cannot absorb further cuts without eliminating programs, student services, and staff. Such losses would reverse decades of progress in education, economic development, and self-determination for Tribal nations and their communities. Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University joins its voice to the urging of AIHEC in asking Congress to recognize the essential commitments of these previously established funding sources. In a recent impact study, LCOOU’s effect on its local and regional community was found to be pronounced and influential. 3 It is only through the continued support and collaboration of local, regional, and federal governments that the University can continue having these stated impacts, furthering its mission of promotion, perpetuation, and nurturance of American Indian language and scholarship. ### 1: “Pell Grant Changes Threaten Native Student Access and Local Economies,” Tribal College Journal. Jun 02, 2025. https://tribalcollegejournal.org/pell-grant-changes-threaten-native-student-access-and-local-economies/2: “AIHEC Urges Immediate Action to Prevent Devastating Cuts to Tribal College and Native Education Funding,” Red Lake Nation News. Jun 04, 2025. https://www.redlakenationnews.com/story/2025/06/04/news/aihec-urges-immediate-action-to-prevent-devastating-cuts-to-tribal-college-and-native-education-funding/131913.html 3: “2024 Economic Impact Study,” Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University. https://www.lco.edu/leadership Back To All News