New Red Lake Nation College/Government Center on Drawing Board

Over the past several months, meetings and retreats have been conducted by a committee to discuss plans to build a new Tribal College Campus/Government Center near the existing pow wow grounds at Red Lake. The committee is made up of representatives from the Tribal Government, Red Lake Nation College, DSGW architects of Duluth, and others.

According to Red Lake Nation College President Dan King, the complex may include a new pow wow grounds, library, cafeteria, Tribal Council offices, and college campus. “The new Red Lake Pow Wow grounds will act like and eagle’s nest with the Tribal College and Government Center Facilities symbolizing two eagles soaring on the shores of Red Lake,” said King.

During January and February, prior to proceeding with the next step of the recently completed initial Master Plan for the new Tribal Government Center and Tribal College Campus, the Tribal Council is planning community meetings to provide information on the plans and to seek Tribal Member community input and suggestions.

King recently released the following timelines for community input. “The Tribal Council invites and encourages all Red Lake Tribal Members to attend these community meetings and feasts.”

January/February: Six Community Meetings and Input.

Tribal Council Members, Tribal College staff and Architects will present the Master Plans and the next steps in the process in community meetings to be held in Red Lake, Redby, Ponemah, Little Rock, Minneapolis, and Duluth:

• Wednesday January 18, Red Lake Humanities with feast, 6 to 7:30 PM

• Wednesday January 25, Redby Center with feast, 6 to 7:30 PM

• Wednesday February 1, Ponemah Center with feast, 6 to 7:30 PM

• Wednesday February 8, Little Rock Center with feast, 6 to 7:30 PM

• Wednesday February 15, Minneapolis, All Nations Church, 1515 E. 23rd Street, with feast, 6 to 7:30 PM

• Wednesday February 22, Duluth Urban Office, 211 East 2nd Street, with feast, 6 to 7:30 PM

New Red Lake Tribal Government Center and Tribal College Campus. Timeline.

• Jan to Dec 2012: Search for grants and financing, Selection of Firm and architectural drawings completed

• June 2012 to April 2013: Complete financing package

• April 2013 to April 2014: Break ground and construction of new facilities

• Early May 2014: Grand openings of new Tribal Government Center and New Red Lake Nation College campus

Background

A mixed group of committee members toured six existing facilities to gather information from other tribal leaders and apply this information to the Red Lake Facility Program. The facilities toured are as follows: Bois Forte Government Center, Fond du Lac Government Center, Fond du Lac Community and Tribal College, Mille Lacs Government Center, and White Earth Government Center.

“The committee seemed to feel that the Boise Forte Government Center appeared to match their expectations of a new

government center,” said King.

A planning retreat was held that identified the cultural design, financial, sustainable, and functional principles to be employed in the design of the complex. These principles will be reviewed and revisited throughout the design process.

“Consultant John Powers has provided the Tribal College with a report of enrollment projections to help with planning,” said College President King. “With enrollment projections of 230-250 students, the College needs facilities and resources promised by the complex to get accredited.”

At a meeting late last summer at Red Lake Nation College, college representatives, and personnel from DSGW architects who designed the Seven Clans Casino Complex, went through an extensive plan about who needs what for offices, classrooms, library, common rooms, etc. A similar type of meeting was held with Tribal Government. A planning retreat was held at the Seven Clans casino Thief River Falls in which four schemes were developed refined and narrowed down into one option.

Facility Assessments

Facility Assessments were performed of the Humanities Center (Home of Red Lake Nation College), Tribal Government Center and Red Lake Agency for existing conditions of all buildings, both inside and out including safety systems, plumbing, heating, ventilation, electrical and emergency systems and all failed by accepted standards.

According to Erik Wedge of DSGW Architects, “on an industry standard of 1-5 (with 1 being poor), the Humanities Center scored a 1.0, Tribal Government Center scored a .25, and Red Lake Agency scored a .85. All scored low enough with significant deficiencies that replacement is strongly recommended,” he said.

Guiding Principles

“The master plan campus site plan concept follows the guiding principles of Financial, Sustainable, Functional, and Cultural, features,” says Wedge.

“A mixed group of committee members generated four project guiding principles in establishing an identity for the projects.” (College & Government Center) Examples include:

• Financial; to stay within a certain budget, grant availability, should have revenue gathering spaces e.g. Post office, efficiency, and longevity.

• Sustainable; to have an energy efficient design and use renewable resources, ability to teach students, and to protect the lake.

• Functional; availability for public meetings, space for tribal districts and Hereditary Chiefs, a veterans memorial, room for many tribal administration programs, room to expand both college and government, and room for more classes and programs for a growing Tribal College. A library, daycare and be open to the public is also important.

• Cultural; grounded in language and culture, library, tribal history, culture room, interpretive displays, sweat lodge, a circle path, and emphasis on...and respect for...the Lake.