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Red Lake Tribe and School Board participate in Red Lake Day at the Minnesota State Capitol - P7

ST. PAUL, MN - On Tuesday, April 23, 2019, several Red Lake Tribal Council members, Red Lake Tribal Program Directors and Red Lake School Board members met with Governor Walz, State Senators and Representatives in the areas of Health, Human Services, Veterans Affairs, Housing, Chemical Health, Homeless Shelter, Education and other concerns of the Red Lake Tribe.

It all began around 8:30 AM with a drum and pipe ceremony by Eyabay and spiritual advisor Ron Cobenais at the Capitol south steps (Aurora Promenade), before meetings from 9 AM to 3:30 PM. at the State Office Building across the street.

Scheduled visitors included Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL) District 41B (Vice-Chair of Education Policy & Finance, and a member of Health & Human Services), Mary Cathryn Ricker, Commission of Education, Rep. John Persell, (DFL) District 5A (Committee Chair of Environment and Natural Resources Policy (and Finance) and serves on Jobs & Economic Development Finance), Senator Paul Utke (R-District 2 (Serves on Human Services Finance/Policy, and Jobs & Economic Growth Finance/Policy), Rep. Matt Grossell (R-District 2A (Serves on Veterans Affairs Committee), Sen. John Marty, DFL-District 66 (Ranking Minority Member: Health and Human Services Finance and Policy, Energy & Utilities Finance & Policy Committee), Rep. Alice Housman (DFL-66A) (Chairs Housing Finance and Policy Division and serves on HHS Finance), Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL-63A) (Chairs Education Finance Committee, serves on Jobs/Eco Dev Comm), Tom Lourey, Commissioner of MN Department of Human Services, and Claire Wilson, Deputy Commissioner for Policy, MN Department of Human Services.

At 1 PM in the State Capitol a one hour meeting with Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan took place, along with a photo opportunity, followed by Rick Smith, Tribal Liaison for the MN Department of Housing & Finance (Homeless), Housing Finance Commissioner Jennifer Ho, Deputy Commissioner Rachel Robinson and Legislative Policy Assistant Commissioner Ryan Baumtrog, Jan Malcolm, Commissioner for the MN Department of Health, Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, Senator Karin Housley, Rep. Cheryl Youaklm, Senator Jim Abeler, Rep. Rena Moran, Rep. Tina Liebling, Vern LaPlante, Dr. Jane Harstad, Jill Esch, Ed Fairbanks, and Red Lake's State Lobbyist Donna Bergstrom.

Attending from Red Lake included Red Lake Tribal Chairman Darrell Seki Sr., Secretary Sam Strong, Representatives Adrian Beaulieu, Allen Pemberton, Robert Smith, Donald Good Sr., Glenda Martin, Hereditary Chiefs Greeting Spears, James Loud, Arlan Jourdain, Henry Sutton, Dan King and Darwin Sumner. Some of the Program Directors included Cheri Goodwin, Gerry Loud, Oran Beaulieu, Donna Perkins, Jordan May, Ron Lussier, Hunter Boldt, and School Board members Roy Nelson, Chris Jourdain, Robert McClain, Jack Desjarlait, Michael Barrett and Melinda Crowley.

At around 4 PM, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Red Lake Nation members, representatives of Avivo - a human services organization - and other community advocates came together in Avivo's Chicago Avenue headquarters to celebrate finding housing for people from the encampment and the shelter, called the Navigation Center.

In the evening the Band hosted a Banquet/Reception at Best Western Plus Capital Ridge, between 5:00-7:00.

See also: Red Lake Day at the Minnesota State Capitol: Tribal Council, Chiefs, School Board Participate - https://www.redlakenationnews.com/story/2019/04/24/news/red-lake-day-at-the-minnesota-state-capitol-tribal-council-chiefs-school-board-participate/80015.html and As Navigation Center prepares to close in Minneapolis, 114 homeless people find housing - https://www.redlakenationnews.com/story/2019/04/24/news/as-navigation-center-prepares-to-close-in-minneapolis-114-homeless-people-find-housing/80026.html

 

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