Historic Meeting Searches for Common Ground

It was out of the ordinary, maybe even historic. On August 5, 2014, at 3:00 pm, leaders from Red Lake Nation and Beltrami County sat in council - joint session - and committed to work together for the betterment of all Beltrami County residents. The meeting was held at the Beltrami County Administration Building in Bemidji.

The Beltrami County Board has a work session that precedes all board meetings. On this day an unusual agenda item was placed at #2 (after Call to Order) at 3:10 pm, "Discussion with Red Lake Tribal Council." The county also had in its agenda packet something called a Work Agenda Bill. On a single sheet of paper the subject read:

"Red Lake Nation Chair: Recommendations: Darrel Seki, Chair of the Red Lake Tribal Council along with other Tribal Council Representatives, will meet with the board about issues of common concern for the board/council. Summary statement: Commissioner Tim Sumner has met with Tribal Chairman Darrell Seki who has requested an opportunity to meet with the county board. Mr. Seki has notified other members of the Tribal Council to also attend the meeting. It is anticipated that they will discuss issues of common concern."

Red Lake Chairman Darrell G. Seki, Sr., and Beltrami County Commissioner (and Red Lake member) Tim Sumner began looking at ways to form government to government (Tribal/County) working relationships for the betterment of all, which resulted in the day's meeting. Sumner's district includes most of northern Beltrami County including the entire reservation.

The meeting was billed as an introduction or a "get acquainted session" and scheduled for 30 minutes. New Beginnings (Oshkii-maajitahdah) Director Jerry Loud joined by conference call.

A project centered on Oshkiimaajitahdah was the primary focus of the meeting. New Beginnings and Beltrami County's Health and Human Services Department are spearheading a program that will bring a health and human services presence back to the reservation.

After introductions, Seki called on Loud who was on conference call from a symposium in Washington, DC. He had some exciting news.

Loud quickly electrified the room describing a project called the Shared Service and Access Pilot. This first effort in the state will support access to Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) services for Red Lake direct from Bemidji. The pilot program establishes a video teleconference ability to connect Red Lake members with a county eligibility intake staffer in an electronic face-to-face interview. Information gathered can be sent directly then to the electronic files of Beltrami County Health and Human Services.

Beltrami County social services pulled their intake person from the Redby office some years ago. Because of transportation difficulties and the long commute, Red Lake has sought the return of the county staff person to the reservation, so the development was good news indeed.

Programs anticipated to improve under the project include employment services referral, diversionary work program eligibility, childcare assistance program eligibility, and expedited food support.

Loud said he submitted Red Lake's TANF plan at the symposium he was attending. (TANF money in Minnesota supports the Family Investment Program [MFIP.) Loud said the time was right and puts Red Lake on track for re-opening that door to the Redby office by the first of the year.

"That's being pretty aggressive, as far as submitting today," said an enthusiastic Loud. "We're on track for that timeline. Everybody's excited to get this online."

But the effort means more than serving Red Lake members better and more efficiently. The Shared Service and Access Pilot project will be a transition of Red Lake Nation to a direct relationship with the federal government and the Minnesota State Department of Human Services. With the move to self-governance, this is welcome news for Red Lake Nation who would prefer to work directly with the Feds rather than have the state of Minnesota and Beltrami County act as "middlemen."

A win-win situation, the Beltrami County Health and Human Services department is assisting New Beginnings with training. Lucachick commented, "We've got to remember we are public servants and are taking care of all the folks that live in our boundaries."

"This is a pilot, we are the first and only one doing this in the state," said Kay Mack, Beltrami County Administrator said with pride. "We're excited to see it moving forward. We are pleased to be the first to partner with you to do this. We'll do all we can to be a big help for the training efforts."

"That's the purpose of this meeting, to start a government-to-government dialog," said Seki. "Our members depend on services provided by Beltrami County."

Seki added that Red Lake Nation is also planning on taking over TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families).

The two councils also talked about working together on other things. Sumner suggested tribe and county work together on out of home placement costs, another [costly item]. We need to recruit more families both on and off rez, the county can help.

Hodapp added his office would continue collaborative relationships with Red Lake Public Safety Director Bill Brunnelle and his team, adding that they just broke a burglary ring together.

"We're here to work together invest to create jobs, move forward with collaboration, I think we all agree we feel good about the meeting," added Commissioner Joe Vene.

Red Lake attendees included Chairman Darrell G. Seki, Sr., Secretary Don Cook, Red Lake Representative Roman Stately, Redby Representative Julius Thunder, Little Rock Representative William Greene, and (at that time) Robert Reynolds Representative-Elect from Little Rock, and Hereditary Chief/Interim Red Lake Representative George King.

Red Lake Social Services staff also attended along with, Executive Administrator Charles Dolson, Tribal Attorney Michelle Paquin, and Jay Rosebear.

All of Beltrami County's elected officials attended the meeting, the five Commissioners Tim Sumner, Richard Anderson, Joe Vene, Jack Frost and Jim Lucachick who chaired the meeting. Also in attendance were Sheriff Phil Hodapp, County Attorney Tim Faver, and Auditor/Treasurer Jodee Treat. County staff included County Administrator Kay Mack, Matt and social services staff.

In addition to the heavy press coverage from newspaper, TV, and radio, two candidates competing for the seat of retiring commissioner Jack Frost also attended. They were former Sheriff Keith Winger and Red Lake IT person, Matt Bliss.

Loud said a trial test for a videoconference is scheduled for Aug. 14. "The Red Lake Internet Technology (IT) department has already been testing the video system with the county."

"Its ready," confirmed Red Lake IT director and commissioner candidate Bliss having run a positive test the previous day.

The two elected bodies have not met as a group in at least 15 years when the Red Lake Tribal Council and Beltrami County Board met at Red Lake in the late 90's. At that time Red Lake member Sandra King, the first American Indian in history to be elected to serve on a Minnesota County board, organized a government to government meeting in conjunction with former Chairman Bobby Whitefeather. Sumner sits in the seat initially won by King.

Chairman Seki invited the county board to Red Lake for further discussion on concerns shared by the reservation and county, which could be a start regular meetings. He spoke of future meetings, and invited the County Board to be the guests of the Red Lake Tribal Council soon.

Seki seeks government-to-government relationships, coalitions, and partnerships to invest and create jobs. Seki has met with Mayor Rita Hutchinson Albrecht (a future tribal/city meeting is in the works), the Headwaters Regional Development Commission (HRDC), Greater Bemidji, and others, while seeking even more partnerships, with governments, organizations and business.

"Its better to build bridges than to build fences," concluded Chairman Lucachick. "And that's what we did here today."

"Miigwech to all here at this meeting," said Chairman Seki. "At the next meeting, I'd like to bring up another issue, economic development."