Abinoojiiyag Noojimoo Wigamig Holds Community Meetings - P2

Abinoojiiyag Noojimoo Wigamig (The Children's Healing Center) held community informational meetings in all four districts of Red Lake Nation the last week of July 2015. The meetings were set up to introduce the new program to the Reservation, and gain new ideas and insight from community members. Meals were served at all meetings and everyone was invited to attend and give their input.

A team led by Muriel Dudley, the new program's Juvenile Facility Recidivism Director, convened community meetings for youth, family and community at Red Lake on Monday, July 27, Redby on Tuesday the 28, Little Rock on the 29th, and Ponemah on Thursday, July 30. The meeting went from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. each night using the same agenda.

Little Rock

Members trickled into Little Rock Center beginning about 5:15 on a breezy and warm Wednesday evening. Forty to fifty residents participated in the informational meeting, something Dudley described as a "kick-off community engagement process."

The evening began with a welcome by Dudley followed by a song from Little Bear Drum. The Drum is made up mostly of 9th and 10th graders who will be working with the Healing Center's programs. This was followed by a meal of beef and/or chicken tacos with soft drinks.

Everyone having their fill, Dudley introduced Healing Center staff Alyss Seki and Tanya White, who are youth intervention specialists

Next up was a presentation by Dave Conner, Self-Governance Coordinator, entitled "Alternatives to Incarceration" developed by the planning team. Conner presented a short history on what has been accomplished by the team over the past two years. He noted that the building behind the Criminal Justice Complex has been vacant for ten years due to a lack of promised funding by the BIA. "Three years ago when United States Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, Larry Echo Hawk visited the reservation, he vowed he'd make it right, and he did," explained Conner.

Conner also talked about the development of the strategic plan and how it will work with the "Tiwahe Initiative."

The Tiwahe Initiative

Tiwahe, which means "family" in Lakota, symbolizes the interconnectedness of all living things and one's personal responsibility to honor family, community and the environment. Only four tribes in the country were chosen for the Initiative, and Red Lake was one. Tiwahe tribes working with the BIA will get extra flexible funding to reduce poverty, substance abuse, suicide, and more.

Funds will include financial and administrative resources to develop a coordinated service delivery model that is centered on the needs of the community. The funding can be used to sustain existing resources and/or enhance services. The goal then is the building of tribal programs that invest in children, youth and families, create a coordinated service delivery approach, and preserve tribal cultural values and tradition.

Dudley then reviewed the infrastructure work accomplished, something referred to as the "Paradigm (model) to Success" that included describing direct treatment services for youth, as well as internal and external development objectives.

The Rez Café: Conversations

At the end of the presentations, Dudley introduced Stephanie Autumn, a consultant who has been working wit the team for nearly a year. She fielded questions and asked for input and ideas on how the team can be most effective. She asked for suggestions in three areas, how to better help the youth, the family, and the community.

Participants learned that the kids' stay would be open-ended with a minimum of four months. The facility can house 24 residents in three bays, eight youth to a bay.

Conner said of Autumn; "She brings people together and helps motivate all of us be it from social services, chemical heath, courts and public safety. She's been a godsend," said Conner, "she keeps us motivated. She's a fabulous resource."

"I'm very excited to be working with you as we strive for healthier communities and a stronger nation for future generations," concluded Dudley. "Your presence and participation is needed and appreciated as we continue to work together to address the needs of our children and communities on the Red Lake Nation."

Background Summary

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, and just as important, to promote mental, emotional, and cultural health and wellness of all Red Lake youth on the Red Lake Reservation.

For more information please contact:

Muriel Dudley, Director

Abinoojiiyag Noojimoo Wigamig

P.O. Box 583

Red Lake, MN 56671

(218) 679-1506