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Articles
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| LCO hosts recognition luncheon for Mike MacDonald |
By Joe Morey
OJIBWE TIMES
A special recognition luncheon was held at the LCO Casino Convention Center on June 21 for Mike MacDonald, a long time advocate for Native children with special needs throughout the state of Wisconsin. MacDonald was recognized for his 20 plus years of service to all eleven tribes of Wisconsin.
MacDonald was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The lunch was organized by Deanna Baker, who has worked with MacDonald for over fifteen years.
Jerry Smith opened the luncheon with a prayer. He said that MacDonald was a real special man to all eleven tribes.
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“Some say these children that Mike advocated for might be handicapped but there are no handicapped children, they are special kids touched by the hand of the Great Spirit,” Smith said. “Today we all come together to honor Mike for what he has done for all these special kids.”
Smith said that in the Indian way, when someone did a great accomplishment for the people, they were presented with an Eagle Feather.
Smith and Mic Isham, representing the LCO Tribal Governing Board, then presented MacDonald with an Eagle Feather.
“In the prayer we have asked the spirits to help him with his sickness and to keep him here with us because we love him and we care for him,” Smith said. He also presented MacDonald with a Pendleton blanket and then gave him an emotional embrace.
Mic Isham then explained that the LCO Tribe was preparing a letter for MacDonald to carry with his Eagle Feather explaining that the tribe had given it to him as part of a special honoring ceremony. “Because of the eagle protection act it is illegal for any one other than Indians to possess an eagle feather,” Isham said.
Isham then went on to say that LCO has a great team in Hayward working on behalf of the children, “But every now and then, just like in baseball, you have to call in the heavy hitter, and that was Mike. They didn’t like that because he was going to hit a home run.”
Isham said he felt the worst thing to do to children was to kick them out of school. “Then you would have an angry child out there,” he said. Isham said that Mike would go to bat for these kids and get them back in school.
“Mike has done so much to get these kids back in school, and I know of a couple who have gone on to graduate,” Isham said.
“I’m really glad to be a part of this event, and as appreciation from our tribe, I present this Proclamation of Recognition to Mike on behalf of the tribal governing board.”
Isham read the proclamation which stated that Mike has served LCO for over 20 years advocating for Native American youth and that since 2001, has worked with over 1,000 youth Indians from all over Wisconsin.
David Jones, Director of the Wisconsin Seizure Control Network Project, also recognized Mike. He told the story of how Mike got involved in his work. He said that in the beginning as part of the project, the state of Wisconsin was divided up into regions with three leaders in each, a nurse, a public relations person and a parent of a child with special needs. He said that he remembers hearing of a father in Manitowoc, “Who really knew his stuff.”
“It was all women from the state, public health nurses, and then there was this father and he was really down to earth, honest and straight forward,” Jones said. He said that Mike had a way of making his presentations and that he was passionate about his daughters care.
Mike first got into working on behalf of children with special needs when he sued the school district in Manitowoc. His daughter Ashley had special needs and Mike later said that after he successfully sued she was able to go to regular kindergarten class rather than be segregated. This is what guided his life into the work he was well known and respected for.
Jones said that his group wanted to access the tribes at this time because they were so underserved. “We wanted to identify children with special needs in the tribes and see how they can get help from the state.” They thought of Mike right away. He said they called him and asked if he would be willing to approach the tribes in his region, Oneida, Menominee, and Stockbridge Munsee. Mike said ‘where do I start’.
Jones said that after he successfully began working with those three tribes they asked him if he would work with the rest of the tribes of Wisconsin and Jones said Mike responded, “oh yeah, I’m ready.”
Jeff Spitzner Resnick of Disability Rights of Wisconsin recognized Mike for advocating on behalf of over 1,000 Native children in Wisconsin with special needs whose rights were being violated.
“Over the years his building relationships has led to Disability Rights of Wisconsin to be the only group in the entire country to have contracts with tribes,” Resnick said.
“He has improved the quality of education for Native children,” Resnick said. He presented a plaque to Mike with a proclamation on it recognizing his legacy for his work for the children with tremendous gratitude.
“Our job is to carry your legacy forward,” Resnick said. “He has started the path for us.”
Jeff Musse of Great Lakes Inter Tribal said it is, “Because of Mike and the people like him that have brought our tables together as you look around this room.” He was referring to the Native and non-Native people in attendance.
“Great Lakes Inter Tribal is greater than the sum of its parts because of Mike,” Musse said. “On behalf of the eleven tribes of Wisconsin I thank you deeply for what you have done.”
Val Barber, the LCO School Ojibwe Language Teacher, said that, “Our kids go into meetings at the schools and see a face smiling but there’s nothing behind that smile, but Mike has proved over and over again that he’s been there for our kids and his smile was real.” She said that his task was so difficult and that she really appreciates that.
Mike MacDonald said that he enjoyed his work because parents didn’t know what their rights were.
“Kids were getting a bad rap and especially Native American children, there was a double standard,” Mike said. “I saw how they would react to Native children whether they were special needs or not and they are affected for the rest of their lives by these actions and that’s sad because they are trying just like everyone else.”
Mike said that in Wisconsin Native children are expelled at a much higher rate than non-Native. “I would point out what’s not fair and the school districts didn’t like an outside source looking in.”
Mike said he had a 96% success rate for kids that he worked with to graduate after he got them back in school.
“The bottom line is that a student gets a fair shake,” Mike said.
David Jones closed by saying that Mike had such an impact that prior to the luncheon he took Mike over to the LCO Clinic and as he was walking in a parent came up and hugged him.
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Posted on Jul 26, 2010 07:30am by admin
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Copyright 2010, LCoTimes.com
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