Denman-Wilke Named DIW Director
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Kathy
Denman-Wilke, joined the Saint Paul Area Council of Churches, as the
Department of Indian Work Director, on Thursday, Sept. 5.
Council Executive Director, Patricia
Lull said she is delighted, noting “In recent years Kathy has
worked with us as part of a collaborative effort to address diabetes.
It is exciting to welcome her now to our staff.”
From the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe in Mt.
Pleasant, Mich., Denman-Wilke has led the Indian Education Programs
at Saint Paul Public Schools for 13 years. She is a graduate of
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where she earned a master’s
degree in Educational Leadership and Administration, and Iowa State
University where she received a bachelor’s degree in Family and
Consumer Sciences and American Indian Studies.
Prior to her position with the Saint
Paul Public Schools Denman-Wilke worked in the field of Early
Childhood Family Education for 14 years in Minneapolis Public
Schools. “She has a long-standing commitment to early childhood
education and is eager to help us expand the Council’s work with
families and young children,” added Lull.
“I am a person that likes to help
the community,” said Denman-Wilke. “I am passionate about working
for our American Indian families and thrilled to continue to do so at
the Saint Paul Area Council of Churches.”
Saint Paul Area Council of Churches
was established in 1906 when local congregations came together across
differences to serve their community, particularly youth. Major
programs include the Department of Indian Work, Project SPIRIT
after-school program and Freedom School summer program for African
American children, and Project Home, the emergency shelter for
families in Ramsey County. Through the Department of Indian Work the
Council sponsors a food shelf, programs in diabetes prevention and
wellness, and enrichment activities for American Indian children and
youth during the school year and summer.
Red Lake Establishes Treaty Holiday
RED LAKE, Minn. – The Red Lake
Ojibwe tribal council of northern Minnesota voted on Sept. 12
unanimously to establish a Red Lake Nation tribal holiday “Old
Crossing Treaty Day” to commemorate the only treaty between the
United States and Red Lake Nation.
One hundred fifty years ago on Oct. 2,
1863, the Pembina and Red Lake Bands of Ojibwe signed a treaty with
the United States contributing 11 million acres of agriculture land
to the United States. The holiday will not only recognize the
contributions of the Red Lake Nation to the United States but will
also promote awareness to the history of the Red Lake Nation.
A ceremony along with a feast will be
held at the Red Lake Humanities Center beginning at 11 a.m. on Oct.
2. Prof. Brenda Child, University of Minnesota, will present a
history of the treaty and the Red Lake Nation. At 4 p.m., tribal
officials will travel to Huot at Old Crossing Treaty Memorial Park
near Red Lake Falls, where the commemoration will continue at the
treaty signing site. Chairman Jourdain will give an address and a
ceremonial drum will be present for the event.
MIGIZI Awards Its First IDA Match
Minneapolis – Last year, MIGIZI
Communications began a new program – Seventh Generation Wealth
Creation – funded by the Northwest Area Foundation of St. Paul. The
goal of the program is to empower 40 American Indian high school
students to build wealth for themselves.
Students accomplish this by doing
social entrepreneurship ventures such as a media production company,
through which they earn an hourly wage. Part of that wage is steered
toward an Individual Development Account, where the savings
accumulates and is ultimately matched three-to-one, through
contributions by MIGIZI and community partner, BiiGIiWiin Community
Development Loan Fund.
The first student to benefit from this
new program is Alena Henry, White Earth Ojibwe. She graduated from
South High School in June and was accepted into the Aveda Institute
to begin study in the Cosmetology Program. She was able to reduce her
student loan needs through the addition of the $2,000 contributed
from her IDA account. She graduates from the program in May 2014 and
is hoping to start working in the Twin Cities area after graduation.
Twelve other students saved money in
their IDA accounts so far and MIGIZI will enroll another round of 20
students this year. MIGIZI thanks to its partners in this new
endeavor, Woodlands National Bank, BiiGiiWiin Community Development
Loan Fund and the Northwest Area Foundation.
