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‘Calling Our Warriors’

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‘Calling Our Warriors’ documentary released

By Kristi Niemeyer for the Valley Journal

FLATHEAD RESERVATION — Michelle Mitchell, head of the CSKT Tribal Education Department, says her own battle with COVID-19 inspired her to make the powerful new documentary, “Calling Our Warriors.”

“The idea came at a time when, after doing everything I could to keep myself and my close family safe, we tested positive with breakthrough cases,” says Mitchell. “I ended up with the worst of it.”

She was very ill for six weeks and continues to monitor her oxygen levels daily while periodically “tethered to an oxygen machine.”

As yet another wave of the pandemic washes across the United States, fueled by the new Omicron variant, the virus first identified two years ago in China continues to claim lives and compromise people’s health and future.

On Jan. 3, the Montana Department of Health and Human Services COVID tracker posted 815 new cases, compared to 264 on Dec. 30. In Lake County, where new cases had dropped off significantly since early November, numbers are on the rise again, from just a handful early last week to 22 new cases New Year’s Eve.

So far, COVID has claimed 90 lives in Lake County, and as the documentary points out, more than a third of those (35 people) are tribal members.

The 14-minute film, co-produced by Shadow Devereaux with direction, videography and editing support from Colter Olmstead, features several members of the Salish and Kootenai community discussing their firsthand encounters with the virus.

The documentary aims to combat an increasingly lax attitude about COVID by sharing stories of those whose lives have been altered by it, and encouraging viewers to act as modern-day warriors by getting vaccinated, masking and practicing social distancing.

“Our people have always been warriors,” begins the film. “They shielded and protected us when danger was present. Today we face an invisible threat … we need to be warriors again.”

For the message to have an

Members of CSKT stand together to fight COVID-19.

TAYLOR BARRETT / CSKT

see page 8

Ice safety urged

from page 6

ice on rivers and streams, or where a river or stream enters a lake, pond, or reservoir.

The least safe ice usually occurs early and late in the season, when the weather is warmer and less predictable.

Remember, no ice is 100 percent safe.

Some other common ice-safety reminders to keep in mind include:

Search for videos on ice safety and “what to do” if you should fall through the ice.

Consider changes in the weather (and ice conditions) during the prior 24 hours.

It’s a good idea to wear a life jacket (PFD) or carry a throwable floatation device while out on the ice — safe ice anglers and recreationists do it all the time.

Dress warm but practical. Many styles of ice fishing jackets and bibs provide extra buoyancy to help keep you afloat if you do fall through.

Before you leave the house, tell someone where you plan to go and when you plan to return.

Carry a pair of ice picks (long spikes on a heavy string around your neck). If you break through the ice, you can use the spikes to grip the ice and pull yourself out of the water.

FWP wishes all anglers and recreationists a safe, adventurous, and successful season.

vj

NOTICE

Notice to Public of Proposed Rate Increase for Public Comment

Mission Valley Power (MVP) has maintained low and stable rates for many years. Our residential rate is the lowest in the state. Each year MVP managers and the Utility Board prepare the operating budget. Measures are taken to ensure cost allocations remain fair to all customers and operational money savings techniques are utilized. The cost of doing business has made it necessary to incorporate a rate increase. The proposed rate change will move our customers to a tiered rate schedule. Each tier will be charged a different KWH charge. Some customers will receive an increase and others may see a decrease, depending on the monthly KWH usage. Public input is welcome on the proposed increase. Mission Valley Power believes many of its customers have confidence that we are fair and diligent in our work practices. MVP will continue to provide reliable electrical power service to its customers with sound business principles. Public meetings will be held at the Pablo Office conference room: Monday, January 10, from 6pm to 8pm Tuesday, January 11, from 6pm to 8pm Wednesday, January 12, from 1pm to 3pm Complete copies of the proposed rate structure are available upon request, or you can pick up a copy at the MVP office. Oral comments may be made at the above location and should be limited to three (3) minutes. Written comments may be sent to Consumer Council Chair, Mark Warner, PO Box 97, Pablo, MT 59855. Comments must be received no later than January 21, 2022.

TAYLOR BARRETT/CSKT Screen shot of Vernon Finley: Former Tribal Council Chairman Vernon Finley views COVID vaccinations as “an important tool I don’t believe my ancestors would turn away from.”

Calling Our Warriors

from page 7

impact, its creators sought tribal members who were willing to share their stories.

“Stories are how we relate to each other,” says Mitchell. “We need to make it so it’s no longer a them, it’s an us.”

The resulting interviews offer a riveting portrayal of how COVID has ruined lives, ravaged families, and isolated elders within the close-knit tribal community.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve had to deal with,” says young Victoria White of losing her beloved “ya-ya” (grandmother) last November. “I didn’t want to be on those machines, and I didn’t want someone I love to be on those machines.”

Former Tribal Chairman Vernon Finley, whose lungs are permanently scarred from COVID-induced pneumonia, says his first symptoms were flulike, and he appeared to be recovering until the virus “came back with a vengeance.”

Lucinda Michel, who helped organize banquets for a living, says her first encounter with COVID was rough, but she recovered. The second round, which hit before vaccines were available, almost killed her.

“I couldn’t walk. My legs were so swollen my son, who was 8 at the time, pushed me to the hospital in a wheelchair,” she recalls. Michel was transferred to Missoula with end-stage renal failure and now, over a year later, is on dialysis four hours a day, three times a week, and can barely walk.

“I used to take care of my mom and now my mom takes care of me,” she says. “I have three kids who take care of me and I’m unable to provide for them like I used to. It’s a big difference from where I was a year ago.”

Bud Collicott, an assistant manager at Western Building Center, is young, healthy and has no underlying health conditions. He was unvaccinated when he caught COVID and wound up in the hospital.

“It really messed me up,” he says. “When you’re in the hospital, you can’t see your family, these guys are coming in in suits, you’re so isolated. It just changes your whole perspective.”

After two years of battling the virus, Dr. Michael “Cubby” Pierre, a tribal member and ER doctor at Community Medical Center in

see page 21 The Chamber Board would like to thank all the local organizations and individuals who supported this year’s Parade of Lights, including:

• Anderson Broadcasting • Alpine Designs • Glacier Bank • The Gauthier Agency • BJ & Jami Schall and family • Lake County Search and Rescue • Ronan Police Department • Ronan Volunteer Fire Department • Ronan Public Works Department • Eagle Bank • Valley Bank of Ronan • Kate Olson • Miracle of America Museum • Gerry & Marlena Burden • Bob Bell • Charlo Junior Stockgrowers 4-H • Round Butte Future Stockmen 4-H Club • Cheff Guest Ranch • Wadsworth Family • Mission Valley Lights Under the Big Sky • St Luke Community Healthcare • Ronan Auto Body Sales & Service, Inc. • Treasure State Concrete, Inc.

Sorry if we missed anyone, we can’t tell you how much we appreciated the turnout for this event!

Thank you!

Federal judge: At least two PSC districts are ‘presumptively unconstitutional’

News from Montana Free Press

HELENA — A federal judge issued an order on Dec. 22 blocking the state’s top election official from certifying candidates running for the Public Service Commission until the constitutionality of the commission’s district map has been evaluated.

The Public Service Commission regulates companies that provide energy, garbage, and water service to a captive customer base. At issue is whether the map that describes the boundaries of the PSC’s five elected district seats should be updated to reflect population growth in the state. In a Dec. 6 filing with the U.S. District Court of the District of Montana, the plaintiffs — Gallatin County resident Hailey Sinoff, former Republican Gallatin County Commissioner Don Seifert, and Bob Brown, a Republican who served as secretary of state from 2001 to 2004 — argue that some Montana voters are disproportionately represented based on the district in which they live.

The ruling favors the plaintiffs, who sued Republican Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen earlier this month, arguing that the current district map violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. “Temporarily restraining the candidate certification process sends a message to prospective candidates and the public that the current process is under review to ensure an orderly election in the future,” Judge Donald Molloy wrote in the order.

Molloy said the public has a “strong interest in ‘equal voting strength for each voter’” and that prospective candidates will also be served by the restraining order because they will have as much time as possible to evaluate their campaigns.

Molloy noted that at least two of the commission’s five districts are “presumptively unconstitutional” because “they appear to dilute or concentrate certain

MONTANA FREE PRESS GRAPHIC

see page 20

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