11/04/2025
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Menominee Tribe Announces Omaeqnomenewak Food Share (SNAP) Emergency Wild Game Response
Tribal Leaders and Community Step Up to Feed Our People — The Menominee Way
In response to the ongoing federal government shutdown impacting the monthly Food Share (SNAP) program that many Menominee families rely on, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin announces a community-driven initiative — the Omaeqnomenewak Food Share (SNAP) Emergency Wild Game Response.
This effort, led by community members in partnership with Tribal leaders, embodies the Menominee Way — coming together to care for one another and ensure no one goes hungry. The initiative calls on tribal hunters and volunteers to help provide venison meat to those in need.
Under the program, hunters may donate venison to the Menominee Tribal Department of Agriculture, which will process the meat into one-pound ground venison packages. These packages will be distributed first to Food Share recipients, followed by Tribal Elders (55+) and households with disabilities or without hunters. Distribution will be on a first-come, first-served basis and open to Tribal Members both on and off the reservation.
“When challenges arise, we return to our teachings — to share, to provide, and to take care of one another,” said Menominee Tribal Chairman, Joey Awonohopay. “This is who we are as Omaeqnomenewak, as Menominee people.”
How to Donate
Tribal hunters are encouraged to participate by following established Tribal Hunting Regulations:
Group Hunting: The purpose of Group Hunting is to allow Tribal Members, Descendants, Spouses to group hunt within their valid season:
· Tribal Members may participate from August 1st through December 31st.
· Descendants may participate from November 1st through November 30th.
· Spouses may participate from the Saturday before Thanksgiving to the following Sunday, totaling (9)-days.
Group hunting allows more opportunities to hunt deer and it helps other hunters fulfill their tags. A hunter can participate in Group Hunting as long as it is within their valid season stated above regardless if they have fulfilled all their tags. As long as a hunter has a valid tag either their own or from another hunter, a.k.a. Group Hunting, then they are allowed to hunt.
Hunters may not kill deer for persons who are not out actively hunting with the party.
Permittees participating in Group Hunting must possess a hunting license.
Hunters must have received their initial tag allotment for deer from the Menominee Conservation Department.
Elder Tags: Enrolled Tribal Members 62 or Older and Disabled Enrolled Tribal Members may designate a tribal member to fill their allotted deer tags. The elder or disabled person (designator) must contact the Conservation Department to indicate the designated tribal member. A Tribal Member can only be designated to only one (1) designator at any given point of time during the deer season.
All deer must be registered within 24 hours by calling (715) 799-5116 or online at www.menominee-nsn.gov and deer heads must be submitted to the Menominee Tribal Conservation Department for Chronic Wasting Disease (CDW) testing.
Donated meat should be clean and quartered before being brought to the Department of Agriculture, located at W2776 Chief Little Wave Road, Keshena. Donations will be accepted Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and Saturdays in November from 12:00–3:00 p.m. Meat will be stored until a negative CWD test result is confirmed.
Hunters and community members may also donate beef or pork fat to blend with the venison.
Volunteer Opportunities
Those who wish to lend a hand can volunteer to debone, clean, or process meat. To sign up, please contact the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainability (DAFS) at (715) 994-1374
Receiving Assistance
Tribal members interested in receiving meat packages may sign up through the Department of Agriculture.
Initially, donated ground venison meat will be based on household size,
• One (1) in household: five (5) one-pound packages.
• Three (3) or less in household: ten (10) one pound packages.
• Four (4) or more in household: Fifteen (15) one pound packages.
These amounts are allocated on a monthly basis. The distribution plan will be reassessed in late November as the community’s needs are re-evaluated.
Tribal members can also receive an unprocessed deer upon request but will be responsible for processing and agree to release the tribe from any liability with the unprocessed deer.
In the coming weeks, Medicine Fish will also contribute to this effort by processing and donating two bison for the community during their upcoming buffalo release ceremony in mid to late November.
Food share update:
As of November 3, 2025, the Federal Government announced that Food Share recipients will receive a partial payment of 50% of their November benefits, though this payment is expected to be delayed. Members may continue using any remaining funds available on their EBT cards while awaiting the November benefits. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services will work as quickly as possible to distribute benefits once the funding is made available.
New Food Share applications will continue to be processed as usual.
WIC, BadgerCare, and Medicaid programs remain funded at this time.
Additional Assistance
Additional assistance may be available through the Diversionary Care Program at the Community Resource Center. The program is designed to provide short term assistance to families who would not need to apply for TANF assistance if their short term needs are met. Program eligibility is available to families who do not currently receive TANF. This program is designed to assist individuals who are underemployed, or who have either experienced an unexpected occurrence which makes it difficult to retain employment or when the applicant has a temporary loss of income which places the family at risk of needing to apply for TANF. If the family has emergency shelter or utility needs, the emergency assistance programs within the Tribe and/or Menominee County should be used as a first resource.
A household is eligible for Diversionary Assistance only once in a twelve (12) month period and for a maximum of 5 times.
Please contact CRC at (715) 799-5137 for more information.
Additional Food Sources:
• MITW Food Distribution: N737 Head Start Rd., Keshena – (715) 799-5131
o Open Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m.–4:20 p.m. (closed 12–1 p.m.)
o Available once per month for all Menominee County residents.
o Updates available on Facebook: Food Distribution – Commot Shop
• St. Michael’s Church Pantry: N816 Hwy 47/55, Keshena – 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 12–3 p.m.
• St. Anthony’s Church Pantry: W6797 Church St., Neopit – 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 1–3 p.m.
• SAFPARC (Shawano): 218 E. Richmond St., Shawano – Mon–Thurs, 9–11 a.m.
• Ruby’s Pantry (Gillett): Bethel Lutheran Church, 208 W. Main St. – 2nd Saturday of each month
o Registration 7:30 a.m., pickup 7:30–9:30 a.m. ($20 per food share)
Income eligibility may apply to some programs. Availability of items may vary.
