BIG BIRD–Matt Waters recently shot this 23-pound turkey with 9-inch beard and 3/4 inch spurs.
by John Raffel
Ottawa Sportsman Club president Matt Waters is expecting sportsmen’s activities to be picking up in full force. “Trap and skeet shooting has started and pistol shooting has started too,” Waters said. “It’s more of a for-fun thing. We have skeet on Tuesday, trap on Wednesdays and pistol on Thursday. Anybody can come, members and nonmembers. Our turnouts have been good.” Waters has not had a chance to go fishing but recently went out turkey hunting and had success. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
WALKING WITH KIDS–Families and children walk along the trail behind the Ojibwa Campground next to Lake Superior, or Lake ‘Gichigami’ in its Indigenous name. Fair Spring weather allows for a beautiful morning walk.
by Porter Davis
Walking along the shore and looking out over the bay, the weather was pleasant, and the lake was calm. The clouds were gray, but no rain would fall all day during the Wiikwedong
Collaborative Second Annual Children’s Water Walk which took place starting along the beach trail behind the Baraga Tribal Police Offices. Fisherman and ducks could be seen across the water enjoying the morning Wednesday, May 10, 2023, trying to catch their
lunch. Children laughed and played along the trail while guides and parents chatted about the beautiful scenery. In all, it was estimated that close to 100 people showed up to walk
for the water. The Tribal Council came out to walk with the children and families to teach them the importance of the natural waters. From drinking, fishing, washing, or just swimming, the children were taught how the water needs to be kept clean and cared for,
for future generations. Terri Swartz, member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC), director at the Head Start and organizer of the Childrens Water Walk, has been walking for the water for 13 years, and has walked in the Tribe’s Summer Water Walk every year since 2014. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
ASSOCIATE DEGREES–The Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College 2023 graduation ceremony was held at noon on Saturday, May 6, at the Niiwin Akeaa Center. Associate degree holders line up to get their picture taken as a class by friends and family to remember the moment.
by Porter Davis
Opening with a drum beat that could be felt all throughout the gymnasium, the Woodland Singers processional ushered in the beginning of the 2023 Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College (KBOCC) graduation this past weekend. The 2023 Honors & Commencement Ceremony was held at noon on Saturday at the Niiwin Akeaa Center where graduates, honorees, and staff followed the guest drummers and the KBIC Honor Guard who posted the Colors. Bryan Welsh began the ceremony with an invocation, and Robin Chosa, KBOCC Chairman of the Board of Regents introduced KBOCC President, Lori Ann Sherman. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
INNOVATIVE IDEAS—CEO and Co-founder of Syncurrent Dhruv Patel brought his team along to the KBOCC’s Niiwin Akeaa Center, April 27, 2023, to talk about entrepreneurship with anyone who has an idea or is looking to start a business. The event encouraged learning the ins and outs of business, and attendees were given presentations on everything they might need to get their ideas off the ground.
by Porter Davis
Co-founders Dhruv Patel and Matthew Jaquez of Syncurrent and Joe Thiel of Innovate Marquette visited the Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College (KBOCC) Niiwin
Akeaa Center this week to ignite entrepreneurship in Baraga County. Syncurrent, an economic development company, held the Ignite Your Ideas Event On Thursday, April
27, 2023. Syncurrent’s goal is to guide anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit toward the reality of turning their ideas into a business. Utilizing their AI system, individuals can follow
a step-by-step process that will not only educate them in business but also help them to create their own. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
LIFE SAVERS–Life Saving Awards were presented to (l-r) Tribal Police Officer Mark Smith, Baraga Chief of Police Irvin Smith, Tribal Commercial fisherman James (JD) Denomie, Michael Markham Sr. (rescuee) along with (neither pictured) Tribal Police Officer Durwyn Chaudier and James Hoke (rescuee) at the last Village of Baraga Council Meeting held April 13, 2023.
by Melissa Newland
Life Saving Awards were presented to James D. (JD) Denomie, Chief of Police Irvin Smith, and Tribal Police Officers Durwyn Chaudier and Mark Smith at the last Village of Baraga Council Meeting for saving the lives of Michael Markham, Sr., and James Hoke in February after the two men fell through the ice on Keweenaw Bay. Markham and Hoke were stranded in the water for approximately 35 minutes before rescuers were able to reach the submerged fishermen and the two brought to Baraga County Memorial Hospital for treatment. The rescuers were presented the awards at the last council meeting held
April 13, 2023, along with awards presented to Markham and Hoke, with Mark Smith accepting the award on behalf of Durwyn Chaudier as he was unable to attend the meeting (as was Hoke). To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
The Sturgeon River along Froberg Road. The river is over its banks on both sides creeping closer to the road on the West side of the bridge. Multiple side roads off of Froberg are impacted as well.
by John Raffel
MDOT officials had to deal with flooding issues in recent weeks with the snow melting rapidly from a rapid warm-up. Area MDOT spokesperson Dan Weingarten said US 41 in Delta County and US 2 near Rapid River were experiencing water on the roads, along with M28 near Ewen. On Monday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency
Operations Center (SEOC) due to flooding caused by snowmelt in several counties in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She declared Houghton and Gogebic counties under a state of emergency because of the flooding situation. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
TEACHING TECHNIQUES–Steve Waara gives a lesson to Arvon Township School students about how the sap evaporator works. To prepare students for the event, students were tapped maple trees along the ATS property and were educated on how to drill, tap spiles in the trees, hang bags, and collect the sap before the planned trip took place.
by Melissa Newland
Arvon Township School (ATS) received a sweet field trip at the end of March just before Easter break began, traveling to ATS Head Teacher Kristina Waara’s camp for a full day of experiencing the maple syrup process. To prepare students for the event, students were busy tapping maple trees along the ATS property and were educated on how to drill,
tap spiles in the trees, hang bags, and collect the sap before the planned trip took place.
According to Waara, over the years Arvon has incorporated more place-based education into the school year with the hopes to connect students to the community around them and create a sense of responsibility for taking care of it. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
READING MADNESS–Arvon students stand in front of the March Reading Madness bracket, including (back l-r) Carter Wiseman, Xyana DeRocher, Isis DeRocher, Ivy Huttema, (front, lr) Avery Kahlonen, Leila Jorgensen, Makenna Jorgensen, Arrow Widby, Blaisen Wabanimkee, and Brooke Waara.
by Melissa Newland
Arvon Township School (ATS) students enjoyed participating in many activities the past few
weeks during March is Reading Month. Students participated in Battle of the Books where
they read books in a MarchMadness bracket. ATS Head Teacher Kristina Waara noted students started the Madness with 16 books and eliminated those down to the championship. “Students went to stations throughout the school with a buddy and voted on one book of the pair,” noted Waara. “The buddies consisted of one older student and one
younger student.” To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
CTE OPPORTUNITIES–Both L’Anse and Baraga Area School sophomores attended Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College (KBOCC) and the Copper CoIuntry Intermediate School District (CCSID)’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center recruitment event to help get a glimpse of CTE offerings available for sign up during their upcoming junior year.
by Melissa Newland
The Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College (KBOCC) and the Copper Country Intermediate School District (CCSID)’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center
recently held a recruitment event for Baraga (BAS) and L’Anse Area School (LAS) sophomore students to help give them a glimpse of CTE offerings available for sign up during their upcoming junior year. The event was held Tuesday, March 14, 2023, and 59 students attended between both BAS and LAS sophomore students to learn about CTE offerings provided by KBOCC. The recruitment event was held at the Baraga and L’Anse KBOCC campuses as well as the local high schools. Students were introduced to KBOCC
classes, including Business Entrepreneurship, Certified Nursing Assistant, and Culinary Arts and Education. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
STATE RUNNER-UP–For the first time in Baraga history, the girls basketball program made an appearance in the state finals. Coach Tyler Larson and his team fought hard defeating the two time defending state champions (Fowler) in the semifinals. This moved them on to compete against Maple City Glen Lake in the final game. The Vikings came home with a state runner-up trophy and were escorted all the way from the Mighty Mac by various fire, EMS, and police departments. Photo credit MHSAA.
by John Raffel
Wow, what a week.
There may have been more Baraga people in East Lansing from last Thursday to Saturday than in their hometown. It’s what happens when your girls basketball team plays in its first ever state championship game at Michigan State’s Breslin Center. It started with a trip to Munising on Tuesday, March 14, for the quarterfinals with Baraga edging a strong Mackinaw
City team 40-36. This put the Vikings back in the semifinals for the second straight year against two-time defending state champ Fowler, located northwest of Lansing. Baraga squeezed out a 46-44 win to make its first state title appearance. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
