Abinoojiiyag Noojimoo Wigamig to Hold Community Meetings

Abinoojiiyag Noojimoo Wigamig (The Children's Healing Center) will be holding community informational meetings in all four districts of Red Lake Nation the last week of July 2015.

"It is with great excitement that I am pleased to announce and extend a formal invitation to attend one or all of our upcoming community meetings as we strive for healthier communities and a stronger nation for future generations," said the new programs director Muriel Dudley. "Your presence and participation is needed as we continue to work together to address the needs of our children and communities on the Red Lake Nation."

Dudley said that two years ago the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians convened an "Alternatives to Juvenile Incarceration" planning team. The team was tasked with the development of a strategic plan that would lead to decreasing the high frequency of Red Lake tribal youth involved in the justice system; create new services and programs to better address the needs of Red Lake youth involved in the justice system; and reduce the recidivism rates of Red Lake youth involved in the justice system by up to 20% in the next three years.

The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians "Alternatives to Juvenile Incarceration" Strategic Plan was finalized and approved by the planning team in March 2015. The Tribal Council at that time also approved the hiring of a Muriel Dudley as the Director for the new "Alternatives to Juvenile Incarceration" facility and two Youth Intervention Specialists Alyss Seki and Tanya White.

The "Alternatives to Juvenile Incarceration" facility has been named "Abinoojiiyag Noojimoo Wigamig" (The Children's Healing Center) and will be open for service in late fall, 2015.

"The primary goals of Abinoojiiyag Noojimoo Wigamig is to promote mental, emotional, and cultural health and wellness for Red Lake youth involved in the juvenile justice system," said Dudley, "and just as important, to promote mental, emotional, and cultural health and wellness of all Red Lake youth on the Red Lake Reservation."

The staff of Abinoojiiyag Noojimoo Wigamig will be convening community informational meetings for youth, families, and community members on the following dates:

• Monday, July 27, 2015, 5:30 - 7:30 pm: Red Lake Humanities Building

• Tuesday, July 28, 5:30 - 7:30 pm: Redby Community Center

• Wednesday, July 29, 5:30 - 7:30 pm: Little Rock Community Center

• Thursday, July 30, 5:30 - 7:30 pm: Ponemah Community

"It is our desire to implement services that will help our youth succeed in life. We would appreciate, and we need, input from the community," concluded Dudley. Food will be served at the above meetings.

Brochure, Strategic Plan, Paradigm to Success, and other information is available upon request by responding to this email or...

For more information please contact:

Muriel Dudley, Director

Abinoojiiyag Noojimoo Wigamig

P.O. Box 583

Red Lake, MN 56671

(218) 679-1506