Gookomis Endaad

10/31/2025

Yesterday Gookomis Endaad relatives and staff had their Halloween party and we need your help judging their pumpkin carvings. Please vote for your favorite. Voting goes until 4pm today! Miigwech!

07/24/2025

GE's soft opening was last week Monday for just a few relatives and they would like the community to know that they are doing great and they love and miss you all and they love it here. We are looking forward to opening at full capacity in the future!

07/21/2025

A visitor came to GE this morning.

06/05/2025

Gookomis Endaad just wants to take a second to show off the amazing work of our Residential Aide, Kuno Isham!

05/05/2025

Gookomis Endaad would like to welcome another member of the team....Nate Reyes.

Here is what Nate has to say:

My name is Nate Reyes. I’m from Lac du Flambeau. I am a man and a father. I’m a residential aide at Gookomis Endaad. I am very passionate about my work.
I choses to work at GE because I feel the world and my community can use my energy and guidance. I feel I can make a difference.
I’m hoping to help people find a sense of purpose and duty and to share my story with people who share the difficulties and trials I’ve endured in life.
I am looking forward to GE being able to offer treatment, spiritual, mental, and physical healing. GE will be able to provide a space where people can heal and regroup.
Outside of work I enjoy physical activity, I weightlift, play basketball, I run and teach my children how to be men and to be a great example for my baby daughter.

Welcome to the team, Nate!

04/16/2025

Just a reminder that Gookomis Endaad is still hiring for Part-Time Residential Aides. Up to 29 hours/week. Apply at ldftribe.com

04/15/2025

Gookomis Endaad would like to welcome another new Employee Jean Thoms. She is a Residential Aide and we are happy to have her on the team!

Here is what Jean had to say....

Boozhoo! My name is Jean Thoms, I am a member of the Lac du Flambeau Tribe and reside here on the beautiful Waswagoning. I am 60 years old; I am a mother and a grandmother to Declan and Della and soon to be one more grandson. I served in our U.S. Military and am a proud veteran of the USMC. Ooh-Rah!!

I chose Gookomis Endaad because I care. I chose Gookomis Endaad for the reasons it is about, to promote healthy lifestyles, to provide support and achievement in recovery to be a part of the healing journey.

Every day I hope to share “Mino Bimaadiziwin” with our relatives and to help them achieve just that and realize that recovery will allow you “Mino Bimaadiziwin”. (Good Life).

It is my hope that Gookomis Endaad can provide every possible aspect of care for our relatives with the guidance of our Seven Teachings, our guide to the way of life, embracing Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility, and Truth.

In my down time, I 100% enjoy being in the company of my grandchildren and my daughter. We are all crafters and so we do our crafts, we have great conversations, good food and lots of good laughs.

I love to attend pow wows and I love to bead as these are where I find my peace, comfort and relaxation.

Miigwech!

04/02/2025

Gookomis Endaad has a new, amazing cook that is now part of our team!

Gookomis Endaad, A Place Of Healing, would like to welcome our new cook, Lydia Wolfe. Lydia was born and raised in Lac du Flambeau and has strong family values. Let me tell you, her creamy chicken and wild rice soup is amazing!!
Lydia chose to work for Gookomis Endaad to be able to help others in recovery. She is looking forward to learning more about the different approaches used in residential treatment and how its helpful to the relatives we serve.
Lydia will also play an integral part in helping our relatives heal by helping them learn about how having a healthy diet can be an important piece in recovery. She is hopeful to help teach the relatives some basic cooking skills, how to cook some healthy meals, and how eating the right foods can assist in healing the body and the mind.
Lydia is hoping to learn some new hobbies and skills while working at Gookomis Endaad. In fact, G.E. has quite a few raised garden beds and Lydia has helped start some seedlings to help fill them up with good, healthy, fresh vegetables. In this process Lydia and other staff at G.E. are learning what it takes to keep the plants healthy and strong as well.
Outside of work Lydia loves to spend time with her family and friends as much as she can. She enjoys a lot of inside and outside activities from going to the movies or bowling to hiking, going to the beach, swimming, and fishing. She can now add gardening to the list of hobbies she enjoys on her free time. Gookomis Endaad is very happy to have her on board with us and we look forward to al of the healthy home cooked meals she will serve up.

04/01/2025

Gookomis Endaad would like to welcome a new member to our team. Having Jack on board gets us one step closer to our opening! We are lucky to have him here!

Here is what Jack has to say:

Hello! My name is John “Jack” Thoms and I am a tribal member of Lac du Flambeau. I have my own lived experience with past addiction struggles but can gladly share I have come full circle and now I live a life in recovery. I would like to share my gratitude for the friends and family that have helped me along this path.

I chose to work at Gookomis Endaad so I can continue to help our people who struggle with addictions and help in their healing process not only for them but for our community. I am looking forward to helping teach the tools needed to fight back their addictions and help support their recovery efforts.

I am hoping that with my past personal knowledge of knowing the struggles involved with substance use I can be a mentor and role model for the relatives we serve. I hope they can see how far I have come in my own recovery and this will let others know we can and do recover, that we can have a better life being sober. Great things come to those who realize it and can overcome the demons they battle; with a little hope and faith anything can happen.

My life outside of work never stops with helping others. I enjoy attending and participating in community events such as pow wows, big drum, and helping talk to and support local youth. I also participate in other support groups in the area and spend time volunteering to help with local events. So, with this being said I am ready to lend my hand, eyes, and ears to them to become a better member of society.

03/18/2025

Gookomis Endaad would like to welcome one of our newest employees, Kuno Isham, Residential Aide!!

Here is what Kuno had to say, and we are glad you are part of the team!

Hi!!!

I am very grateful for a chance to be helping heal our community! I was hired as a Residential Aid and soon to be Recovery Coach. I have been here since Feb 2025.

I am a survivor of active addiction and I want to share with my people some of my story in hopes to spark some faith in Recovery.

My life revolved around the getting and using drugs. I hurt so many people along the way. I was in a perpetuating state of suffering and I had no idea on how to stop. I always wanted to but very ignorant on reality. My life changed when I was rescued from that life. My rescuer came with a pair of handcuffs and another fat charge to add on CCAP. I forced myself to be grateful for this until it became a real feeling and today I am so glad I did that. I knew that I had to leave the negativity behind if I wanted a better life and thanks to my HP that has happened. Cultivating a positive life was not easy, especially in prison! But the effort was well worth it.

I only want to help now. I know the pain and suffering that comes with that life and I know how to get out. My life is about recovery. I made Recovery my priority and everything that mattered to me came with it.

My fb page is open to anyone, please reach out.

03/05/2025

Gookomis Endaad would like to Welcome Deborah Swiader to our team! Here is what Deb had to say.....

Hello,
Let me introduce myself, my name is Deborah Swiader, I am the Nurse Care Coordinator for Gookomis Endaad. I have been an RN for over 11 years but have been in the medical field as an LPN and CMA for over 25 years. I am also working towards my Bachelor’s Degree as a Substance Abuse Counselor. I have recently enjoyed my time working with Peter Christensen Health Center for the past year, where I have met some wonderful people. I have transferred to Gookomis Endaad, as this is where my passion is serving people with addictions. My brother had a drug and alcohol addiction that ultimately led to his death in 2023. My father was also an alcohol abuser who spent most of his life inebriated until the last year of his life. My father passed away when I was thirteen years old of a massive heart attack that was linked to his alcohol abuse. When my father decided to quit drinking, his behavior changed so much it was like having a new father. I cherished my time with both of them and I am thankful I had them in my life. I’ve seen what addiction can do to a person and family, and that is why I want to help those in need. In my spare time, I like to go fishing, camping, snowmobiling and just enjoy the outdoors. I can’t wait to meet all of the wonderful people wanting to change their lives. We are here to support you at GE.

02/03/2025