RESOLUTION NO. 54-2020
SHELTER AT HOME RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians is a federally recognized Indian tribe ("Tribe") organized pursuant to the provisions of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, 25 U.S.C. § 461, et seq.; and
WHEREAS, the Tribal Governing Board serves as the governing body of Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians pursuant to Article III, Section I of the Amended Constitution and Bylaws of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article V, Section I (h) and (s) of the Amended Constitution and Bylaws of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, the Tribal Governing Board possesses certain powers, including: "to engage in any business that will further the social or economic well-being of members of the Band" and "to promulgate and enforce ordinances governing the conduct of members of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin and providing for the maintenance of law and order";and
WHEREAS, the recent outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in the United States and worldwide poses a threat to the health, safety and well-being of the Tribe and the community at large; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness and death and possesses a higher risk to our elders and community members who have underlying medical conditions such as compromised immune systems or respiratory issues; and
WHEREAS, in a short period of time COVID-19 has spread throughout the State of Wisconsin, necessitating updated and more stringent guidance from the Tribal Governing Board to the Lac Courte Oreilles community; and
WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant economic impact, including loss of income and wages, that threaten to undermine economic stability of the community of the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation; and
WHEREAS, As part of the Tribe's management and protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the Tribe, its tribal members, and its tribal community, the Tribal Governing Board, has determined it is in the best interest of Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe to adopt this SHELTER AT HOME RESOLUTION for the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation due to COVID-19; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe, through its Tribal Governing Board, hereby declares and adopts the following, effective immediately, for the next sixty (60) days; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, with the exceptions as outlined below, all individuals currently living within the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe Reservation are directed to shelter at home or at their place of residence except as outlined in this Resolution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, to the extent individuals are using shared or outdoor spaces when outside their residence, it is highly recommended they maintain social distancing of at least six (6) feet from any other individual as much as reasonably possible; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, it is highly recommended that persons leave their homes or places of residence only for Essential Activities, Essential Government Functions (includes voting and other civic duties), or to operate Essential Businesses and Operations, all as defined below; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, pursuant to current guidance from the Center for Disease Control, any gathering of more than ten people is highly discouraged unless exempted by this Resolution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, individuals may leave their residence to perform any of the following Essential Activities:
(1) to engage in activities or perform tasks essential to their health and safety, or to the health and safety of their family or household members, such as, by way of example seeking emergency services, obtaining medical supplies, medication, or visiting a health care profession;
(2) to obtain necessary services or supplies for themselves and their family or households members, or to deliver those services or supplies to others, such as, by way of example only and without limitation, groceries and food, take-out food, gasoline, household consumer products, supplies they need to work from home, and products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences;
(1) to engage in outdoor activity, provided that individuals comply with the six (6) feet distance social distancing requirements; and
(2) to care for family members, friends, or pets in another household, and to transport family members, friends, or pets as allowed by this Resolution, and
(3) to work, however, all employees of tribal entities, including tribal government offices and business entities are mandated to wear masks at all times and non-essential travel by tribal employees is currently restricted, unless absolutely necessary and approved by the Tribal Governing Board.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Essential Government Functions or Essential Businesses and Operations includes, but is not limited to: hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, health care organizations, reproductive health care providers, mental health and substance abuse providers, other healthcare facilities and suppliers and providers of any related or ancillary healthcare services, field offices that provide and help to determine eligibility for basic needs including food, cash assistance, medical coverage, rehabilitation services, and businesses that provide food, shelter, and social services, or other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged individuals, food production, distribution and sale, stores that sell groceries and medicines, gas stations and auto-supply stores, solid waste and recycling collection and removal, all first responders, emergency management personnel, emergency dispatchers, correction officers, law enforcement, court personnel, child protection and child welfare personnel, and other governmental employees working to support Essential Businesses and Operations, or any other essential function, business, or operation identified by the Tribal Governing Board, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, for the purposes of this Resolution, Social Distancing Requirements includes maintaining at least six (6) feet social distancing from other individuals, washing hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds as frequently as possible or using hand sanitizer, covering coughs or sneezes into sleeves or elbows, regularly cleaning high touched surfaces, and not shaking hands, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, all non-essential travel outside of Sawyer County is discouraged by the Tribal Governing Board, and any necessary essential travel should comply with all social distancing requirements as defined in this Resolution, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Lac Courte Tribal Governing Board enacts this Resolution to ensure the maximum number of people self-isolate in their places of residence to the maximum extent possible, while enabling essential services to continue, to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the greatest extent possible. Our elders, who are invaluable traditional and historical knowledge keepers are beloved members of our community, are particularly susceptible to this virus, and it is up to the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe as a whole to ensure their safety and well-being, and the well-being of our community and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Resolution may be enforced by an injunction and/or civil penalty in accordance with the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Court Code.