Business is on a roll in Northern Minnesota tribal communities
By Lee Egerstrom Northern Minnesota tribes have expanded their investments and roles in providing food security for their communities and in providing education and training for skilled 21st Century jobs for the future. In a flurry of activity announced in November and late October, tribal business leaders stressed these actions provide security for local, sustainable […]
Advocates hope White Earth wild rice case will boost ‘rights of nature’
By Dan Gunderson/ MPR News Dale Greene grew up in north-central Minnesota, surrounded by wild rice, called manoomin in the Ojibwe language. The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe member says wild rice is an important part of Anishinaabe history and culture. “One of the things that I think is really important in understanding manoomin, and […]
Barry Runs for District 62B House
BY CAMILLE ERICKSON “I am answering a call to serve,” asserted Korina Barry (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe) as she announced that she will seek the District 62B seat in the House of Representatives. “This is a commitment I am undertaking,” Barry continued. “In this role, I have to hear and listen to my community members and bring those […]
NEWS BRIEFS: Jan 2018
LEECH LAKE FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST OPIOID MAKERS CASS LAKE, MN – On December 19, 2017 the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe approved the filing of a lawsuit in federal district court against six of the nation’s largest opioid manufacturers – including Purdue Pharma, Cephalon, Inc., and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and the three largest distributors of prescription […]
WHAT’S NEW IN THE COMMUNITY: Nov 2017
Dream Big Campaign awarded In October, the members of the Dream Big Campaign received an award from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office as part of the office’s 17th Annual Community Leadership Awards Program. The Dream Big Campaign works to improve school attendance by Native American children. Dr. Tim Zuel, program manager for the county attorney’s […]
To ease tribal homelessness Leech Lake band takes back its land
BY JOHN ENGER/MPR NEWS Jim and Gail Hinkemeyer just retired and they had their future all worked out. They’d dodge Minnesota’s cold winters with a cheap apartment in Belize, then spend their summers at their small family cabin on Leech Lake. After 30 years at the local Potlatch lumber mill, Jim saw it as the perfect […]
NEWS BRIEFS: Oct 2017
LEECH LAKE RECEIVES $3.3M FOR TRIBAL VETERANS CEMETERY CASS LAKE, MN – The Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration announced in September that it has awarded the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe a $3.3M grant for construction of the Leech Lake Veterans Cemetery in Cass Lake, Minnesota. The grant will fund the construction of […]
NEWS BRIEFS: Sept 2017
MPCA RELEASES PROPOSAL FOR PROTECTING WILD RICE ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has released its proposed changes to Minnesota rules that are meant to protect wild rice from certain types of pollution. The MPCA is proposing rule changes that take into account the newest evidence about how sulfate and sulfide […]
Line 3 proposal shows willful ignorance of Ojibwe history and rights
By The Native American Caucus and the Minnesota House of Representatives In all the coverage of Enbridge Energy’s proposed Line 3 pipeline project, and in the recent and predictable pro-pipeline commentary by an Enbridge vice president, John Swanson, (Star Tribune: “Line 3 replacement is the safest option for northern Minnesota, July 2017”) we have heard […]
WHAT’S NEW IN THE COMMUNITY (May 2017)
NACF Mentor Artist Fellowship winners The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) has awarded its first Mentor Artist Fellowship to 12 artists in three regions of the United States: the Pacific Northwest, Southwest and Upper Midwest. The awardees reside in Alaska, Arizona, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. Beginning in July, each artist will […]