LEECH LAKE TRIBAL COUNCIL

Leech Lake Nation seeks public input for Hazard Mitigation Plan update

Pioneer Staff Report — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 16:19:00 GMT

CASS LAKE — The Leech Lake Nation is inviting residents, community leaders, business owners, and local organizations to share how severe weather events impact their lives and properties, as part of an effort to update the tribe’s Hazard Mitigation Plan.

An HMP is a strategy designed to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to human life and property from natural disasters, such as severe weather events, wildfires and floods.

The plan, which is being revised by the Leech Lake Reservation Office of Emergency Management in partnership with U-Spatial at the University of Minnesota Duluth, assesses natural hazards like tornadoes, floods and wildfires. It also outlines strategies to minimize future damage, a release said.

"Hazard mitigation planning is a central part of our emergency management program,” Duane Oothoudt, emergency management director, said in the release. “Understanding the kinds of hazards that can cause serious impact to our residents, natural and cultural resources, and economy, and identifying how to take action to reduce future impacts makes us more resilient.

"Hazard mitigation helps us to break the cycle of damage and repair caused by things like flooding, ice storms, and severe wind events that can damage property, stress economies and threaten life safety within the reservation.”

Examples of mitigation strategies include stormwater management improvements, removing buildings from flood-prone areas and constructing tornado-safe rooms. Public input will be incorporated into the updated plan, which will be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and FEMA.

Feedback can be submitted by phone, email or in person. Additional opportunities for public involvement will be available throughout the process, and a draft of the plan will be made available for public review.

Contact Duane Oothoudt at (218) 335-8277, ext. 6312 or duane.oothoudt@llpolice.org.

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EPA promises action 40 years after St. Regis Superfund Site contamination near Cass Lake

Ashley McKenzie — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 19:00:48 GMT

CASS LAKE — It's been 40 years since the St. Regis Superfund Site near Cass Lake was placed on the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priorities List.

To mark the significant occasion and make a call for change, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe hosted an awareness event on Thursday facilitated by Leech Lake’s Environmental Director Brandy Toft.

Joined by tribal leaders, EPA officials, environmental experts and community members gathered to address environmental, health and treaty rights issues stemming from contamination caused by a former wood treatment facility that opened there in 1957.

The St. Regis Superfund Site was placed on the National Priorities List, the nation’s most polluted places, in 1984 after contamination by chemicals like creosote, pentachlorophenol and dioxins from the St. Regis Paper Company’s operations.

Forty years later, the site just south of the railroad tracks and U.S. Highway 2 is still on the list, with substances continuing to pose health risks to the surrounding areas on the Leech Lake Band's land.

Tribal leaders said the initial cleanup efforts in 1986 were flawed, leading to continued groundwater contamination. Various attempts have since been made, including a pump-and-treat facility and a containment vault.

Around 40 homes were once located in the area, which were all deemed unsafe and demolished one by one, with only three currently remaining. By 2003, the toxicity levels in the soil led the EPA to issue a call for fencing off some areas to prevent exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.

Ongoing contamination has reached Fox Creek and Pike Bay. Despite the EPA taking over the site in 1995, progress has been slow, leaving the community frustrated.

A call for change

Leech Lake Tribal Chairman Faron Jackson Sr. emphasized the need for a proper solution to the around 50 attendees who gathered on Thursday.

“We want it corrected the proper way," he said. "I think we're all in that together ... and that includes the next generations to come.”

Michael Reyes, a lifelong Cass Lake resident and current candidate for Minnesota House 2B, reflected on the long struggle.

“This is a problem that can affect everywhere with our aquifer that goes down the Mississippi, all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico," he added. "And these plumes are spreading, we know that."

Leo Anderson, another resident, shared that one of his earliest memories of living on the site was if a glass of water was left out overnight, in the morning there was oil on top of it.

“When I think about the people that I love that died, the fact that my entire family is decimated and it's not a unique story, it’s hard not to get angry," Anderson asserted.

Former Minnesota Rep. John Persell urged persistence in cleaning up the site.

“We need to get this place cleaned up," he said. "If everybody pulls together on the wagon, I think we can get this thing done in the next decade or two."

Peter Tester, deputy commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, acknowledged the state's failures.

“It has been too long," he commented. "We recognize that the state has not been as diligent in working on this and being as protective of the land as we need to be and we are committed to doing it. The Band has incredible technical expertise and knowledge that we as the government need to utilize.”

Ben Benoit, former environmental director for Leech Lake, reflected on the cultural and community losses caused by the contamination.

"This used to be a community, before Ojibwe Nation (drum group) played that powerful song earlier, when was the last time that the Ojibwe language had been spoken on these grounds? That a song had been played here?" he said. "And that's what loss of community looks like as a result."

Taylor O’Shea, a Leech Lake tribal youth leader, voiced her concerns for future generations.

“This is not just about a piece of land; it’s about the air we breathe, the water we drink and the health of our families and future generations.”

Looking forward

EPA official Cliff Villa noted the challenges ahead but the state's commitment to action.

“It may take a long time for this site to be removed from the National Priorities List, but I trust that we're going to see a lot of cleanup happening now," he said.

EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore recognized the U.S. government’s necessary role and emphasized the importance of protecting the community’s wild rice harvest and other natural resources.

“The St. Regis Superfund site complicates the Band's ability to harvest rice without concern for the community's health and safety," she said. "Our collaboration is needed now more than ever to protect the health of this ecosystem and of the Leech Lake community now and for all the Anishinaabe who will inherit this earth."

Lenny Fineday, Secretary-Treasurer of the Leech Lake Tribal Council, stressed the community’s significance and reinforced the council’s commitment to the clean-up.

“We are going to continue to do everything we can to get the site cleaned up to an acceptable standard. I'm very proud of the resource management team that we have at Leech Lake," he added. "We'll continue to advocate at the EPA and we'll continue to allocate the resources internally that we have necessary to get us to that point."

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Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe opens Sweetest Grass cannabis dispensary

Daltyn Lofstrom — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 21:41:10 GMT

WALKER — Despite an overcast, blustery atmosphere, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe sought celebration as it opened its first cannabis dispensary on Thursday.

Following a soft opening for tribal members on Monday, the new facility — coined Sweetest Grass — was unveiled to the general public and made complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“It’s a little windy this morning, but it’s a good day,” Leech Lake Chairman Faron Jackson Sr. said as he addressed the crowd on Thursday. “On behalf of the Leech Lake Tribal Council, we’re just happy that this happened. This has been in the works for a while. … It takes a lot of collaboration to get things right and before we opened the doors, we wanted to make sure we had everything right.”

Despite the legalization of recreational marijuana on Aug. 1, 2023, much of Minnesota has had to wait for the implementation of a dispensary licensing system by the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management — expected by 2025 — to set up shop.

Sovereign tribal nations, however, retain control over marijuana regulations on tribal lands. As such, Red Lake Nation opened the first dispensary in the state on Aug. 1 with White Earth Nation following suit on Aug. 3.

Before too long, Leech Lake would open its own business following the adoption of an ordinance allowing adult-use recreational cannabis businesses to operate in the area, which was approved on Aug. 31, 2023.

“Through the new ordinance, we’ve established a regulatory framework for cannabis sales and consumption, responding to the needs and preferences of our community members,” Leech Lake Gaming CEO Michael Michaud said.

Michaud noted the intent of the ordinance is to foster entrepreneurship and allow band members to explore business opportunities related to cultivation and dispensaries.

“We’re exercising our tribal sovereignty to chart a unique path in regulating and supporting the cannabis industry, prioritizing the voices of our community members,” he added.

John Herrera, vice chairman for Leech Lake Cannabis Company, expounded on economic opportunities that the company aims to create through the dispensary’s opening.

“One of our goals is not only to operate in a way that’s protecting the public and customers but also look at how we build the economics for the band in terms of profits and the taxes that will be generated,” Herrera said. “How do we advance the community in terms of opportunities?”

Maintaining collaboration with the state and other tribal nations is paramount to the company’s future work, Herrera added.

“Cooperation with the state of Minnesota is of utmost importance,” he said. “It’s because they changed their laws that we’re able to build our laws.”

Representing Prairie Island Indian Community near the Twin Cities, Tribal Council President Grant Johnson detailed upcoming plans to open “Island Pezi,” an adult-use recreational cannabis company, later this summer.

He acknowledged the work that other tribal nations have exerted to launch their own dispensaries and expressed excitement for Prairie Island’s future business venture.

“With the collective work amongst the tribes, it is our hope that we can become a cornerstone of this new cannabis market in the state of Minnesota,” Johnson said, “so we just want to applaud them.”

Just prior to cutting the ribbon, Jackson detailed his elder’s experience with hemp oil and the benefits he claimed to receive for his post-traumatic stress disorder.

“He said, ‘Faron, it was real beneficial to me. A lot of veterans that are dealing with PTSD, anxiety and issues they deal with on a daily basis, it really helps them out,’” Jackson said. “I’m just excited about what this is going to bring medically to our community.”

Jackson also commended the central nature of Sweetest Grass’ location at 6838 Y Frontage Road NW.

“We’re located right in the heart of Cass County, and this location was key,” he said. “This store is here for everyone in our community.”

As eager attendees crowded the storefront, Jackson sliced through the crimson ribbon as Michaud welcomed everybody inside: “Welcome to the Sweetest Grass dispensary!”

More information can be found on the “Sweetest Grass” Facebook page.

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Leech Lake reflects on progress, ushers in hope at 2024 State of the Band Address

Daltyn Lofstrom — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 20:21:06 GMT

WALKER — Despite cooler temperatures outside, the otherwise sunny weather provided a bright outlook for Leech Lake Nation on Friday as it held its 2024 State of the Band Address at Northern Lights Casino in Walker.

Following a year of sweeping successes and struggles alike, the address was an opportunity for the nation to reflect on 2023 as it moves into the next nine months of 2024.

Complete with song, dance and impassioned speeches, an opening song kicked off festivities followed by an invocation by Mike Smith.

A flag song from the Ojibwe Nation drum group ushered in the Leech Lake Honor Guard, royalty and youth dancers, after which Gary Charwood provided his official welcome.

After a number of video greetings from elected officials and an in-person guest speech by Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills, Leech Lake Chairman Faron Jackson Sr. provided his State of the Band address.

Chairman Jackson’s Address

Throughout all of his remarks, Jackson emphasized the collaboration of the Leech Lake Tribal Council and its influence on the band’s actions from the past year.

“As we keep moving forward on the past accomplishments of the band, we all remember that one person can’t do everything,” Jackson said. “We have a very strong council today as we continue to work to provide services to our band members. It’s very important that we stay united in a lot of these things that we work on every day.”

Among several updates, Jackson noted his proposal of an economic stimulus package as a way to support band members in the face of inflationary pressures.

The band’s tribal reserve fund was started in January 2024, which created a $40 million reserve account. Jackson said these funds derived from fiscal recovery funds made available throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Through this fund, all adult tribal members will receive $1,500 and children under 18 years old will receive $500 via their trust accounts.

“The people need relief,” Jackson said. “The people need it now and together, we can get this done.”

Jackson considers the band’s financial picture as a positive one. In addition to its $40 million reserve, its general fund currently sits at $18 million.

In terms of developments, Jackson highlighted the opening of the Zoongi-ide Ikwewaag — or “strong-hearted women” — inpatient treatment wing, in February. Housed in the Ahnji-Be-Mah-Diz Recovery Center in Cass Lake, this wing focuses on women seeking treatment for substance use and addiction.

The center previously offered services to men only. However, $850,000 in federal funding opened the way for renovations and construction of the wing with hopes that fewer individuals will need to be sent away from their homes for recovery.

“The greatest resource we have to battle these addictions is right here in this room. It’s us, the people,” Jackson said. “This is just the beginning. We can all make a difference in our communities and we can all save lives.”

Continuing his focus on recovery, Jackson provided an update on Leech Lake’s lawsuits against six opioid manufacturers, which included Purdue Pharma, Cephalon, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation.

“In 2017, we were the first tribe in Minnesota that had sued a group of opiate manufacturers and distributors alleging the companies are responsible for high levels of addiction and overdose deaths on Leech Lake,” Jackson said. “I had stated, ‘We hope this lawsuit brings further attention to this major issue.’”

In August 2023, the band received news that an agreement had been reached with four of the companies, with Leech Lake being awarded a $3.6 million settlement as of March. Jackson noted these funds will go toward Ahnji-Be-Mah-Diz and its recovery efforts.

Detailing a wide range of other developments, Jackson left off with a message of hope for the future.

“We’ve had many more successes and countless hard-fought battles that didn’t bear any fruit,” Jackson said, “but past and present leaders have an idea on how to make our tribal nations the best that they can be moving forward and maintaining a positive outlook in the challenges that we face.”

Other speakers

Prior to Jackson’s address, Pine Ridge Nation member Billy Mills delivered a keynote speech where he detailed his experiences as a gold medalist in the 10,000-meter run at the 1964 Toyko Olympics.

Throughout this and other experiences, Mills emphasized the most important takeaways from his sport, none of which included the glory of his wins.

“It’s the journey, not our destination, that empowers us,” Mills said. “It’s the decisions that we make individually or collectively as a nation that choreographs our future.”

Appearing via video, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan spoke to a push for Native American voices across all levels of government.

“The best solutions for tribal nations come from tribal nations,” Flanagan said. “Let’s continue to do this work in a good way because there’s so much work left to be done together.”

Other speakers appearing via video included Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Sen. Tina Smith.

The recorded stream can be viewed on Vimeo with a link provided on the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Facebook page.

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Leech Lake State of the Band address highlights triumphs, challenges of 2022

Daltyn Lofstrom — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 20:04:44 GMT

WALKER — Despite winter weather sweeping through the area the night before, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe weathered the storm at its annual State of the Band address at Northern Lights Casino on Friday in Walker.

Serving as a reflection on the successes and challenges of 2022 and an optimistic look at the remainder of 2023, attendees took in messages of community and resilience.

“It’s been a while since we gathered (due to the pandemic). It’s been a long haul to get to where we are today with everything that occurred and everything that happened not only here at Leech Lake but all over Turtle Island,” master of ceremonies Gary Charwood said in opening. “It’s an honor to be here.”

Following an opening song, invocation and guest speakers, Leech Lake Tribal Chairman Faron Jackson delivered his State of the Band address.

Chairman Jackson’s Address

In speaking about the past year, Jackson detailed the role that the Leech Lake Tribal Council and divisional leaders have played throughout several developments of the past year.

“We’ve been making good progress here and I’m just thankful that the council has been supportive of my leadership. It has to be a cohesive working relationship,” Jackson said. “Sometimes, as council members and as the chairman, you have your mind in problem-solving mode all the time. We’re always thinking about how we can do something better.”

Among several topics, Jackson highlighted Leech Lake’s recent victory in starting to retain over 11,000 acres of land currently managed by the Chippewa National Forest.

Later this year, Jackson added that U.S. Senator Tina Smith will be introducing a correction to the Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Act of 2020, which identifies another 4,000 acres transferred by the U.S. Department of the Interior to the Chippewa National Forest in the 1940s and 50s without the band’s consent or individual land allottees.

“The tribal council will be searching for support, testifying and aggressively supporting this technical correction,” Jackson said. “Today, we are standing on Leech Lake Ojibwe land and this land is going to be inherited by our children to take care of.”

Jackson shared that Leech Lake has nearly 10,000 enrolled band members with the band straddling Itasca, Hubbard, Beltrami and Cass Counties. He noted past and present efforts alongside the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe to defend tribal sovereignty by advocating for each tribe’s self-autonomy and how it sets enrollment guidelines.

“Leech Lake had always thought that each tribe should be able to decide its own enrollment criteria because we are a sovereign, independent government and self-determination should rule here,” Jackson said.

Jackson noted the evergreen housing issue and efforts that have been made with the Leech Lake Housing Authority to expand affordable tribal housing. Between 500 and 600 tribal members are currently on housing waiting lists with Jackson anticipating many more who simply haven’t signed up.

“As we get to acquire more land, we want to be able to put some more homes on that land for our members so we don’t have two or three families living in one home,” he said. “We love our children and grandchildren and we’ll never see them be homeless as long as we’re alive.”

On the financial front, Jackson shared that Leech Lake set a $ 15 per hour minimum wage in March 2022 to address inflationary pressures placed on families, a decision that came easy for the tribal council.

“After all the discussions, the answer was simple: it was about our members and families,” Jackson added.

He credited Leech Lake as the largest employer in Cass County with over 1,000 people employed by Leech Lake Gaming, the workforce for which is around 50% Native American and 50% non-Native.

“We’re a good partner here in Cass County and we really appreciate the hard work of our gaming employees,” he added. “Our gaming revenue is our main locomotive right now. It helps fund a lot of our programs that are currently underfunded.”

The Minnesota Legislature will also review a bill regarding sports betting, which would provide Minnesota tribes an exclusive right to have lawful sports betting supported by professional team owners in the state. The tribal council has been consulting with lobbyists and other groups including the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association regarding this proposal.

Jackson highlighted other infrastructure and funding-related matters including plans to construct a Leech Lake Area Health and Wellness Center, which he described as being “shovel-ready” once the band secures funding. The tribal council is requesting a $25 million appropriation from the legislature for this project.

The tribal council is also supporting a bill that would provide grant funding to the state’s tribal colleges, amounting to $3 million for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.

“Just a few years back, our Leech Lake Tribal College was recognized as one of the best tribal colleges in the United States,” Jackson said to a round of applause. “This bill would provide needed funding.”

Other speakers

Appearing via video, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan spoke about past efforts and the coming years of collaboration between the state and Leech Lake Nation in advancing Native issues and bolstering Indigenous voices.

“For far too long, decisions have been made without us at the table … Now we’re seeing the impact of representation at all levels of government,” Flanagan said. “I’m excited about the work together on advancing our shared priorities. Building one Minnesota means working toward a better future for all of us in Mni Sota Makoce.”

Secretary of State Steve Simon spoke via video about the 2023-2024 Minnesota Blue Book, the theme of which will honor the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act, which granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the United States.

“We will continue to work with you and other tribal governments across our state over the next year to honor and memorialize that great event,” Simon said, “a step forward in progress despite the struggles that still exist.”

Other speakers included U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, both via video, along with former U.S. Representative Rick Nolan, state auditor Julie Blaha and Miss Indian World Candidate Rozalinda Hunt all speaking in person.

Following lunch and door prize drawings, another State of the Band event along with the previous year concluded in tandem.

The recorded stream can be viewed on the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Facebook page or on Vimeo. The video feed begins at the 38-minute mark.

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Bemidji City Council holds historic joint meeting with Leech Lake

Nicole Ronchetti — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 14:48:34 GMT

BEMIDJI — Representatives of the Leech Lake Tribal Government and the Bemidji City Council held a joint meeting on Monday, which marked the formal beginning of relationships between the two government bodies.

The meeting, held at the Sanford Center, began with an exchange of gifts and an invocation. This was followed by brief presentations that introduced each body to the other through summaries of their history, structure and their future goals.

“There’s so much that our governments don’t know about each other,” said Irene Folstrom, the Governmental Relations Manager for Leech Lake.

Folstrom gave a presentation on the band’s history, highlighting its past relationships with outside bodies such as the state and federal governments. This history includes the breaking of treaties with Leech Lake and other Indigenous groups, along with the illegal seizing of tribal lands.

“We have a really complicated history,” Folstrom said. “But we are all more than willing to sit down and have conversations with you to explain our history and why we are who we are today.”

Another note that Folstrom made was recognizing the significance of having two Indigenous members sit on the Bemidji City Council. Ward 1 Councilmember Audrey Thayer is a White Earth Band member and Daniel Jourdain, council member at large, is a member of Red Lake Nation.

Following these introductory topics, representatives from both groups expressed their gratitude for the meeting and recognized the shared goals of their respective governing bodies.

Among these shared goals and the next topic of discussion was the issue of improving public safety. City Manager Nate Mathews brought up the Police Advisory Committee that has been created and is set to have its first meeting in February.

The goal of this committee will be to improve trust and communication between law enforcement and the community. The committee has nine seats, and its members were selected from 25 applicants with a goal in part to be a diverse representation of Bemidji.

“We know that there are a number of things happening in our community that are very difficult and very challenging,” said Mayor Jorge Prince, who advocated for the committee’s creation. “As mayor I definitely want every one of our citizens to go to bed at night and be and feel safe.”

Within the topic of public safety, certain issues raised lay more specifically with the Native American community, such as the ongoing tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women, commonly referred to as MMIW, and the fact that Beltrami County has the highest rate of Native American juveniles in detention nationwide.

“We all have to feel safe and be safe and feel comfortable wherever we go and whatever we do as a citizen,” said Arthur LaRose, Secretary-Treasurer of Leech Lake.

Recognition and visibility

Another topic during the joint meeting was the possibility of hanging flags to represent Leech Lake, Red Lake and White Earth Reservations in the Bemidji City Hall meeting chambers. This has been brought up for discussion before, but no formal decision was made.

The representatives of Leech Lake were in favor of the idea, expressing the importance a visible sign of recognition can have for Indigenous community members.

“It’s a sense of pride in their nation being represented in the city of Bemidji,” said Robert Budreau, Jr., executive director for Leech Lake. “I think it’s a good step going forward for relationship building.”

Also raised was the issue of some businesses in Bemidji not recognizing tribal IDs as a valid form of identification. This problem is in part a result of a lack of education about tribal IDs, which are comparable to state IDs but can also be used to travel between the U.S. and Canada.

“It’s about recognizing that we exist and that we are a sovereign nation,” Budreau explained. “Our people fought long and hard to be recognized and to say we’re still here.”

The city council agreed to look into steps that would improve education about different forms of IDs in an effort to address this problem.

Both Leech Lake and the council noted topics that would need to be revisited in a later joint meeting, including future partnerships on issues of affordable housing and the possibility of creating a day labor program in Bemidji modeled off of the one in Leech Lake.

“I hope that we can continue to bring our leadership together, just like we're doing,” Jourdain said. "And I hope that we can serve these people and serve everybody in the best way we can.”

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Leech Lake Tribal College students construct new building to house trades classes

Hannah Olson — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 11:30:00 GMT

CASS LAKE -- Windows are being framed, nails are being driven, and concrete is being poured on what will soon become a new trades building at Leech Lake Tribal College.

The building is being constructed almost entirely by carpentry and residential building students and was made possible by a $150,000 grant from the American Indian College Fund to help with student retention and persistence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The project is titled “Giwaakaaigemin” -- “we build” in English -- and once completed, it will be a 40-foot by 100-foot learning space.

After receiving the grant in 2020, LLTC students worked on planning, designing, and going through the budgeting and permitting processes for the new building in the winter and spring semester.

The project broke ground in late May or early June, carpentry instructor Rocky Carpenter said, and should wrap up by the end of summer.

Mother-daughter duo

On July 21, there were three pairs of students working together in different parts of the job site. Two pairs worked on the frame: one installed boards, the other cut windows, and the third made a door frame.

In Carpenter's class, students are paired up to work on various tasks every day, rotating every few days so that every student learns about different topics. In one pair, mother Annie Humphrey and daughter Geezis Humphrey worked together.

Annie was controlling a lift while Geezis was up in the air pounding nails into a board. The two smiled at each other and joked around throughout the morning, switching roles every once and a while.

Carpenter said the students are building “traditionally” meaning they aren’t using nail guns and were using string to frame window openings.

“We're hand framing everything. So it's kind of a traditional build,” Carpenter said. “We don't have a lot of nail guns and things, we're all hand nailing. That takes a little bit longer. But we want the students to do it that way because they're not always going to have access to the nailing guns. In order for them to do it themselves, we wanted to show them how to do it without,” she said.

The Humphreys both found themselves at LLTC after the pandemic left them unsure of the path forward.

Annie is a well-known singer-songwriter but found herself without gigs and performances with venues shuttered.

“I'm old and I already have a bachelor's degree and I am also a performing artist. During COVID, I lost income and gigs," she said. "A lot of people went through that. So I just thought I’d do something else. Geezis already had done a semester of framing and carpentry.”

Geezis added that she decided to enroll in LLTC after her cousin and brother had done the same. Neither knew much about construction at first, but soon found the hang of it.

“My first day, I was hooked. I love this program a lot. It gives me a purpose,” Geezis said. “I never thought of doing this in my entire life. And then I just signed up and I ended up really, really enjoying it. Now, I don't think I'll ever not do this.”

In the future, the two hope to work together with some additional family members to improve housing in Leech Lake.

“I'm going to get a general contractor's license,” Annie said. “We don't have any details yet, but we want to start weatherizing houses in the Leech Lake Nation. It would be a family thing actually, a women family thing.”

A large portion of the class working on the new building is made up of women, the pair pointed out. Of the six students working on Wednesday, four were women, and several of them were mothers.

Why the building is needed

The brand spanking new building will help house the students who created it. The idea came to be during the height of the pandemic when the trades programs at the tribal college were struggling because of the inability to hold in-person classes.

The students and instructors needed space to spread out. Now, they’ll have ample opportunity to do so.

“The premise of the grant and how we got the funding to do this was that we needed a large outdoor kind of space so that we could build small houses, and have workstations where everybody's socially distanced,” Carpenter said. "Because before we were all in the (existing) building and we could only fit so many people in there. With this one, with the social distance spaces, this whole side will be workstations and they're all like eight to 10 feet apart.”

This will be the first new building at LLTC since the opening of the $2.7 million community Bezhigoogahbow Library in 2015, named after the LLTC founder and first President, Larry P. Aitken. The Leech Lake Tribal Council first established LLTC in July 1990.

Another benefit of the space is it will allow classes to work on large-scale projects no matter the weather.

Recently, Carpenter’s students built a small house. She said in the future, the new building will allow classes to build three small homes of the same size at a time within the building.

Carpenter said these students will likely have their pick of jobs when they graduate.

“They're recording what they've been doing. They'll have a little portfolio at the end,” she said. “However, they don't need it, because we are getting visits by companies -- there's just so much work right now, they won't have a problem getting hired.”

Fall classes at Leech Lake Tribal College begin Monday, August 30.

Leech Lake Tribal College students construct new building to house trades classes

Two students frame a door on the job site on July 21, 2021, at Leech Lake Tribal College. (Hannah Olson / Bemidji Pioneer)

Instructor Rocky Carpenter and student Annie Humphrey speak about the project on the job site on July 21, 2021, at Leech Lake Tribal College. (Hannah Olson / Bemidji Pioneer)

Two students frame a door on the job site on July 21, 2021, at Leech Lake Tribal College. (Hannah Olson / Bemidji Pioneer)

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Leech Lake recommends distance learning, some area schools still deciding

Hannah Olson — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 18:26:33 GMT

CASS LAKE -- The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Council recently announced its recommendation for school reopening -- distance learning for all students.

While some area schools are already planning to follow this guidance, others are still deciding. Cass Lake-Bena ��s are expected to announce their plans on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

“At this time, we strongly urge the school districts to open the school year in a distance learning model. We understand the complexities of learning in distance models and providing access to equitable education settings at any point in time,” the release from Leech Lake said. “Please consider the impacts of reopening on families who have multi-generational households, and families who have underlying health conditions within the household. We ask school districts, at a minimum, to utilize hybrid models that limit close interaction and allow students to learn from a distance as much as possible.”

The recommendation asked schools to consider the health and well-being of elders in Leech Lake, many of which have underlying health conditions.

“We know those underlying conditions are rampant in our community, including diabetes, heart disease, respiratory illness and others. In addition, we also understand COVID-19 has a higher likelihood of causing severe illness in our elderly population,” the release said. “As Anishinaabe people, protecting our elders and vulnerable population is at the core of who we are and why we take the actions we take.

“It is far easier to remain closed than to reopen and be forced to close again. We ask the school district to use this same logic. Reopening slowly will very likely save lives within our community and continue to curb the spread of this virus in our communities,” the release concluded.

Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig school announced in July that it will begin the school year with a distance learning model. The school will offer every family an internet subscription and provide a computer for every student, according to an announcement on the school website.

The Leech Lake Tribal College is also following a primarily distance learning program model.

Cass Lake-Bena is still holding out on deciding, although Superintendent Rochelle Johnson released a video statement Monday night explaining how the three learning models could look in Cass Lake.

“We expect that decision to be made on August 19 at the regularly scheduled school board meeting,” she said. “No matter which model the school board decides, families always have the option to do distance learning.”

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Leech Lake Tribal Council brings supplies to affected Native American communities in Minneapolis

Hannah Olson — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 19:26:10 GMT

LEECH LAKE --Members of the Leech Lake Tribal Council traveled to Minneapolis earlier this week to bring food, water and supplies to Native American communities living in south Minneapolis neighborhoods that have faced destruction.

“As we have been watching along with the rest of the world, resources in their community have been destroyed and caused many difficulties for the people there,” Tribal Chairman Faron Jackson Sr. explained in a video update posted Wednesday. “Stores where many would go get groceries and other supplies are no longer an option. Metro Transit service was suspended, making it extremely difficult for people to reach other areas and get those needed items.”

The council intentionally waited until after June 1 to make the supply run, which was when the Leech Lake COVID-19 stay-at-home order expired.

They shared about their trip there in a recent post on their Facebook page.

There’s a large Native American community in south Minneapolis, Leech Lake Public Relations Director Mike Chosa explained, describing the Little Earth Native American specific housing community, which is mere blocks away from the site of George Floyd’s death.

Chosa said the community is a relatively low-income area where citizens rely on public transportation and local stores, like the Target and Cup Foods, which are now closed.

"When you combine the closing of those stores with the suspension of Metro Transit, it just made a real difficult situation for people to get the supplies they need,” he said.

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe has a Twin Cities office near the affected area.

“It was definitely affected by the riots. We rent out part of our building to another client,” Chosa said. “They did have a couple of their windows smashed and broken.”

Council and staff also visited a central hub of operations at Pow Wow Grounds coffee shop, where a temporary food pantry has been created to serve the community.

“I got a chance to talk to quite a few people while I was down there,” Chosa said. “There’s a lot of fear about their buildings being burned and a lot of sleepless nights is what I’ve been hearing. Just a general anxiety.”

The group also met with Lisa Bellanger the new national co-chair of the American Indian Movement and a Leech Lake member, who briefed them on the events of the past week from a frontline perspective.

Tribal council members expressed sympathy and outrage toward George Floyd’s death and advocated for the arrest of the other officers involved.

“We are proud to be part of the effort to provide for our community in this time of need. We also sent a letter to Hennepin County (Attorney) Mike Freeman last week asking for charges to be filed against all four officers involved,” Chairman Jackson said. “What happened to Mr. George Floyd was an absolute tragedy. The council was very relieved to hear that charges were filed against the remaining officers this morning."

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Leech Lake to hold primary elections on June 9

Hannah Olson — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 04:16:54 GMT

LEECH LAKE -- The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe will hold primary elections to fill the positions of tribal chairperson and a tribal council member representing District 3 on June 9.

The primary election was originally scheduled to be held on March 31, but due to COVID-19 concerns, the election was moved to June 9 and the general election will now be held August 18.

If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, they will be declared the winner and general elections will not be held for that race.

Polls will open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Leech Lake Public Relations Director Mike Chosa said many precautions have been taken to keep voters safe.

According to Chosa, voters are asked to use hand sanitizer prior to entering polling places, wear masks and wait in their cars prior to voting so only two voters are in the building at a time.

“(We are) just trying to encourage as many people as possible to come in and vote early, rather than crowding in there on election day,” he said.

White Earth and other tribes that are members of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, will also hold primary elections Tuesday.

Members with questions are encouraged to call Gary Frazer at (218) 766- 0713.

On the ballot:

Candidates for tribal chairperson: Incumbent Chairman Faron Jackson Sr., Janice Gale-Dahmen, Peter Jackson, Stephen "Steven” Howard and Leonard “Lenny” Fineday.

Candidates for District 3 committee position: Incumbent Leroy Staples-Fairbanks, Ronald “Ron” Hare and Rodney “Rod” Northbird.

Those elected will serve a four-year term.

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