O C T O B E R

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the

A.I.R.C.
American Indian Resource Center of Marathon County
Why wear the color purple this month? The color purple represents courage, survival, honor and dedication to ending domestic violence. You can show your support and awareness in this great cause by wearing a purple ribbon during October. Domestic violence is abusive behaviors that can include physical, sexual, and psychological harassment received from a close partner against another to gain, maintain, or regain power and control in the relationship. According to the National Organization for Women, Native American women experience violent crime at a rate three and a half times greater than the national average. For more information please contact the Center @715-845-9754. There is also a National hotline for domestic violence issues. They can be contacted at 1-800-7997233.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Indian Center awarded Grant

On Tuesday September 25, the American Indian Resource Center of Marathon County (A.I.R.C) was awarded $2670 from the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin. This grant will go towards enhancing and expanding A.I.R.C.s cultural programing. The A.I.R.C. would like to congratulate The Wausau area Women's Community for receiving the $25,000 endowment fund. Pictured above are the "25 for 25 Anniversary Grant" recipient organizations that were recognized Tuesday evening at the Community Foundation's George L. Ruder Forum at the Grand Theater in downtown Wausau. The Indian Center looks forward to developing and cultural programing for both the Native population of central Wisconsin and the non-Native community. Thank you to the Community Foundation for all their work and generosity!

Save the Date!

SKATE contest
The Sr. Youth will have a food stand at the Skate Contest@ noon. Watch the contest, support a good cause!

Corn Maze
Sun. Oct. 14
A.I.R.C. Jr. Youth will go to Willow Springs Gardens Corn Maze from 2-4 pm. Youth in grades 1-5 are welcome!

Halloween Party
Sun. Oct. 28 Join us for our monthly family night at the Center. Wear a costume! 5-7pm

Sat. Oct. 13

THE A.I.R.C.

OCTOBER 2012

Youth News
JR. Youth
On September 11 the Youth and Learning Center welcomed new and returning junior youth to our After School Program. For the first couple of weeks, junior youth spent time learning daily routines as well as getting reacquainted with one another. So far "brushing teeth after snack" and "reading in the dark with flashlights while enjoying s'mores" has been the top two favorites among our junior youth. Junior youth are looking forward to this month's activities of swimming at the Y.M.C.A, navigating a Corn Maze, and attending our upcoming Family Night which will be held on October 28 from 5-7 pm in conjunction with our Halloween Party. Donations of healthy snacks are always welcome for our youth.

Sr. Youth

Warriorz 4 Da NXT GEN Conference

Youth from five Wisconsin Tribes the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, and the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians came together to end commercial tobacco harm while learning about sacred traditional tobacco use at the Warriorz 4 Da NXT GEN conference held at the Grand Lodge from September 21 through September 23 in Rothschild, WI. Our senior youth participated in workshops that involved team building, Indian leadership, and traditional tobacco. The American Cancer Society from the Milwaukee area provided an interactive presentation of F.A.C.T (Fighting Against Corporate Tobacco). Additional social and recreational activities included water park fun and watching movies as well as making buttons and t-shirts. A highlight of the conference was our trip to the 400 Block on Saturday afternoon to release 202 yellow, red, black and white balloons the colors of the Medicine Wheel in memory of the American Indian lives in Wisconsin that were lost last year to tobacco related illnesses. The American Indian Resource Center, especially the Board of Directors and senior youth, would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council for inviting us to the conference. Waewaenen GLITC!!! The senior youth would also like to extend a big THANK YOU to our chaperones, Mino and Naomi, for spending the weekend with us and to our van driver, Scott, for picking us up and driving us home. Marathon County Leadership Coalition Focus Group Held at A.I.R.C On September 19, representatives from the Marathon County Leadership Coalition spent two and a half hours hosting a focus group at the American Indian Resource Center of Marathon County for the senior youth. Following a pizza party with refreshments, the senior youth were engaged in conversation regarding their roles within their communities as well as leadership challenges and opportunities theyve encountered. A leadership conference in early 2013 will highlight the information collected from the various focus groups held throughout Marathon County and will be used to develop a county-wide leadership coalition. The A.I.R.C. Board of Directors, and senior youth would like to sincerely thank the UWExtension and the Marathon County Diversity Commission for including our senior youth on this very important leadership journey.

Womens Wellness Info

Along with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Cancer among Native Americans is becoming a growing concern. Within the last few generations, cancer has become the leading cause of death for Alaska Native women and is the second leading cause of death among American Indian women. What special challenges do Native American women face? A lack of access to health care often causes breast cancer detection to come late for Native American women, leading to their relatively poor survival rate. Native Americans are second only to Hispanics in lacking health insurance, and have shortages of healthcare professionals in many communities. It is very important for women to get regular mammograms and breast exams. The good news is that Native American women have among the lowest incidence rates of breast cancer of the major ethnic groups. However, their survival rates from breast cancer are among the lowest of all ethnic groups. For all cancers, Native American women are much less likely to survive than white women. For more information on breast cancer visit http://www.cancer.org or talk to your local health provider. Zumba will start Monday October 8th @ 5 and will also be on Wednesday starting October 10th @430. call the center if you have any questions. Walking club and YMCA workouts will be held on Tuesday's and Thursday's from 830-11 this is open to both men and women. Book club will meet at the center on October 16th at noon Due to shifts in schedules the UNWS will be meeting in the afternoon, contact Joey for days and time. 715.845.9754
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THE A.I.R.C.

October 2012
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Monday 1 Tuesday 2
Walking Club 8:30-11am Learning Center 3:30-5:30 pm Drumming 4:30 Zumba 4:305:30pm Sr. Youth Homework/meet 6-8pm

OCTOBER 2012

Call the Center @ 715.845.9754 for more information about calendar items.

Sunday

Wednesday 3

Thursday 4
Walking Club 8:30-11am Learning Center 3:30-5:30 pm

Friday 5

Saturday 6

Lunch @ Center Noon Zumba 5-6pm

8
Lunch @ Center Noon Zumba 5-6pm Walking Club 8:30-11am Learning Center 3:30-5:30 pm Drumming 4:30

10
Zumba 4:305:30pm Sr. Youth Homework/meet 6-8pm

11
Walking Club 8:30-11am Learning Center 3:30-5:30 pm

12

13
SKATEboard Contest @ Oak Island NOON Youth Council Food stand

14

15
Lunch @ Center Noon Adult flute-making Class starts 12-1pm Zumba 5-6pm Walking Club 8:30-11am

16
Zumba 4:305:30pm

17

18
Walking Club 8:30-11am
Hayride/Bonfire w/Wittenberg HoChunk Family Night 4:30pm

19

20

Jr. Youth Corn Maze 2-4 pm 21 Jr. Youth Swimming @ YMCA 2-4pm

Learning Center 3:30-5:30 pm Drumming 4:30

Sr. Youth Homework/meet 6-8pm

Learning Center 3:30-5:30 pm

22
Lunch @ Center Noon Adult flute-making Class 12-1pm Zumba 5-6pm

23
Walking Club 8:30-11am Learning Center 3:30-5:30 pm Drumming 4:30
Sr. Youth Career Clusters @ Wittenberg Ho-Chunk 5:00pm

24
Zumba 4:305:30pm Sr. Youth Homework/meet 6-8pm

25
Walking Club 8:30-11am Learning Center 3:30-5:30 pm

26

27

28 Family Night Halloween Party 5-7pm

29
Lunch @ Center Noon Adult flute-making Class 12-1pm Zumba 5-6pm

30
Walking Club 8:30-11am Learning Center 3:30-5:30 pm Drumming 4:30 Zumba 4:305:30pm

31

Sr. Youth Homework/meet 6-8pm

I was warmed by the sun, rocked by the winds and sheltered by the trees as other Indian babes. I can go everywhere with a good feeling. Geronimo

If you would like to have an event or other item in the A.I.R.C. newsletter, please send an email to kelly@indiancenterwausau.org before the 3rd Friday of the month. 3

THE A.I.R.C.

Skate Contest
Saturday October 13 @ Noon

OCTOBER 2012

Central Board Shop of Wausau will be hosting a Skate Boarding Contest and fundraiser at Oak Island Park, Wausau, in order to help purchase a mini-ramp to donate to the skate park. The city of Wausau has $2500 toward the purchase and for another $2500, Central Board Shop can purchase the mini-ramp for a reduced price while helping to enhance a safe, fun place for youth to utilize. The Central Wisconsin Native American Youth Council will be at the contest selling food and some of the profits earned will be donated to the cost of the mini-ramp. Stop down at the contest to see some awesome skateboarding talent while supporting an excellent cause. For more information, call Central Board Shop @ 715.848.0400. They are located in downtown Wausau at 426 3rd St. The Youth Council is looking forward to supporting a local business endeavor while supporting local youth.

Let us put our minds t ogether and see what life we can make for our children. Sitting Bull

The American Indian Resource Center of Marathon County P.O. Box 1787 Wausau, WI 54402-1787