the county — said most families wait up to a year before they land a spot for their child.

“'We're looking at rebuilding families, rebuilding communities. Our people continue to hurt; they continue to struggle in survivor mode. We need to take away the hurt and give them hope.'”

Jerry Waukau, Menominee tribal health administrator

Housing is also at a premium. The waiting list for one of the reservation's 333 subsidized homes is between 80 and 100 families deep; many on the list are tribal elders who moved away but want to spend their last years on the reservation they still call home. Between two and six homes open up each month, but many need extensive renovations to be brought up to code — renovations for which there are no availableits challenges, the first of which is finding enough money to pay doctors, psychiatrists and other specialists to aid in the fight.

"We're looking at rebuilding families, rebuilding communities," Waukau said. "Our people continue to hurt; they continue to struggle in survivor mode. We need to take away the hurt and give them hope."

The needs of the whole

Indian gaming has already transformed lives on the reservation. Before the Keshena facility opened in 1987, portions of the reservation were without electricity and indoor plumbing. Tribal officials used the revenue to improve the infrastructure of the reservation and to improve life for its members.

The Menominee Resort Casino in Keshena, Wis., has been unable to provide enough income to keep up with the needs of the Menominee people.(Photo: Dan Young, Gannett Wisconsin