Seki Presents Red Lake State of the Band Message - P2

More than 400 Band members, and friends of Red Lake Nation slowly streamed into the new Oshkiimaajitahdah (New Path or New Journey) Event Center in Redby, (a change of venue from previous years held at Seven Clans Casino, Red Lake) to attend the annual Red Lake Nation State of the Band Address on Friday,

It was scheduled for March 10, 2023, at 10:00 am. As attendees entered, they were able to visit Program Informational Booths and sign up for drawings from 8:30 – 10:30 am with some pretty nice prizes, including laptops and smart TV's.

In this annual report to the people, Red Lake Chairman Darrell G. Seki, Sr., along with Tribal Treasurer Vernelle Lussier and Secretary Samuel R. Strong, would recap the Tribal Council's 2022 agenda, and present future goals, aspirations, and plans for 2023. For the second year, tribal program directors gave reports from their various programs. "Progress, Growth, Unity" was the theme.

A simple yet elegant look decorated the event center. At center stage was a podium with a large Red Lake logo, behind which were flags, eagle staffs, banners, and floral arrangements on a well-lit stage. On the south wall were three large screens projecting what was happening at center stage. (The event was streamed to Red Lake Tribal HQ, and to Red Lake Embassies at Duluth and Minneapolis) In front of the stage were rectangular tables, both left and right, and facing the crowd. Here Red Lake's eleven-member Tribal Council and seven Hereditary Chiefs were seated.

Shortly after 10 a.m. or so IST (Indian Standard Time), Gary Jourdain (aka Rez Dawg) stood at the podium as emcee for the event. The Colors, carried by the 3 Star Warrior Society – Obaashiing, and Red Lake Nation Royalty entered the Event Center to the beat of the celebrated Drum, Little Bear.

After the colors were posted, Jourdain introduced the Honor Guard and Royalty by name. Spiritual Advisor Darrell Kingbird had been offered asemaa (tobacco) and provided the invocation.

Jourdain then introduced Tribal Council members and Hereditary Chiefs. Following four songs, including Veterans and Chiefs Songs again by Little Bear. Jourdain then acknowledged the "Dignitary Guests" in attendance. They included representatives from Tribal, State, County, and Bemidji Governments.

Speakers included Chairman Darrell G. Seki, Sr., Treasurer Vernelle Lussier, Secretary Samuel R. Strong, and James Defoe, Executive Administrator who started things off.

Directors who reported on their programs included: Tom Barrett, Chemical Health Programs; Jeremy Syverson, Obaashiing Treatment Center; Jerry Loud, Oshkiimajitahdah (New Beginnings); Cheri Goodwin, Ombimindwaa Gidinawemaganimaadig (Children & Family Services); Kendall Kingbird, Public Safety Programs; Sherilyn Spears, Agriculture Department; Thomas Barrett, Boys and Girls Club; and Nate Taylor,

Immersion School.

When Seki took the stage, and as is his custom, first spoke in his native Ojibwemowin. "Ozaawi Naabesim indizhinikaaz, Migizi indoodem, Obaashiing indoonjibaa," he said introducing himself, his clan and where he was from. He thanked the Council, Chiefs, Color Guard, the Little Bear Drum, Royalty Dancers, and Darrell Kingbird for the invocation. He also thanked all the members and guests present.

Now speaking in his second language English. "It's an honor and I am humbled to stand before you all to present the State of the Band," he said. "We are a sovereign nation and sovereignty is our power."

"Red Lake Nation is very strong in beliefs of our traditions, culture, customs, teachings and revitalizing our language. We as a nation protect our lands, waters, air, our territories and most of all our tribal membership, from golden age to our newborn and generations to come. The Creator and spirits are with us to move forward to love one another. Sovereignty is our power, and we are strong as a nation. DEBWEWIN – TELL THE TRUTH."

Despite some challenges, the community saw "Progress, Growth and Unity." These were the main themes throughout the Red Lake State of the Band Address.

Seki then began an update on several projects including the new Obaashiing treatment center, Red Lake Agriculture which includes a growing herd of Mashkode Bizhiki (Buffalo/Bison, literally Prairie Cow) and the Mino-Bimaadiziwin Project in Minneapolis. He spoke of the hemp project and medical marijuana dispensary.

Topics pertinent to the nation ranged from housing to enrollment to education, but throughout many of the speeches, the theme of resilience was apparent.

"We have a proud history at Red Lake, a history of resistance," Red Lake Tribal Secretary Sam Strong said. "We've never ceded control of our land. The United States has never occupied our land. We have controlled our own destiny from the beginning of time and we continue on with this deep history. Our traditions are strong. We've never stopped and will never stop practicing who we are."

Enrollment/Blood Quantum

Strong addressed Red Lake Nation's enrollment, referring to a recent study conducted alongside Nicole MartinRogers, White Earth descendant and research scientist at Wilder Research of St. Paul.

Three years after the Red Lake Tribal Council voted to change the recorded blood quantum of tribal members on the 1958 base roll to a 4/4 blood degree, or full blood, the Nation is discussing possible action to further strengthen its membership.

MartinRogers initially presented six scenarios to tribal members in December that detailed potential tribal membership growth or decline over the next 100 years if blood quantum requirements were to change.

The scenarios included:

• No changes are made which is currently set at a threshold of ¼ Red Lake Nation blood to be eligible for enrollment.

• Changes are made to enrollment criteria to allow all Ojibwe blood from a federally recognized tribes or Canadian First Nations to help reach the ¼ threshold for enrollment.

• Changes are made to allow blood from any recognized American tribe or Canadian First Nations to count toward the ¼ threshold.

• Enrollment criteria is changed to ⅛ Red Lake Nation blood to be enrolled.

• Enrollment criteria is changed to allow any lineal descendant from the 1958 Red Lake base roll for membership.

• Same as above but using a phased approach to switch to lineal descent over 10 to 15 years.

Strong said that making no change to blood quantum will result in decreased enrollment over the next century.

"Our people make us strong. Our people allow us to protect our lake, our land and our way of life," Strong said. "We need to protect future generations and have the conversation about who is a Red Laker in the future, is a healthy path for us."

Strong asked those gathered to take note of all the changes happening on the reservation and closed with a energetic call for all to be part of the change, to be part of the education and to "protect our language, culture and identity."

COVID-19/American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

Tribal Treasurer Vernelle Lussier gave a comprehensive report after being introduced by Jourdain. Included were all the tribe's financial statements, loans, income, and liabilities...also noting the challenges presented by the federal government.

With many communities feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Red Lake reflected on how their community continually dealt with its side effects while looking at progress. With the ARPA dollars granted from the Feds, Red Lake, well known for its "shovel ready" projects, was able to provide not only financial security for many members but promising programs for the future.

Lussier said with the awarded $101 million in ARPA funds, 70% has been used. The remaining is to be granted to members under age 18.

Along with pandemic relief checks for members, Red Lake also worked on new and existing buildings. These included renovations to Seven Clans Warroad and Red Lake Nation College. New buildings in the community include the tribe's radio station WRLN, the immersion charter school, and the community center in which we were in.

"In the wake of the pandemic our tribal government and staff had to deal with many new challenges," Seki said. "Not just to manage the pandemic but to manage the federal response."

Seki and staff highlighted the work of tribal departments and programs. Among these were the Obaashiing Treatment Center, Oshkiimajitahdah, public safety, agriculture, the Boys and Girls Club, Omnimindwaa Gidinawemaaganinaadog - "Uplifting our Relatives" (Family & Children Services) - and the Endazhi-Nitaawiging Charter School.

Infrastructure and assistance

Among several updates, Treasurer Lussier reported that Red Lake has wrapped up its program with emergency rental assistance, designed to help members with rent and utilities during the pandemic.

She and her staff are working a homeowner's assistance fund to help homeowners with mortgage payments and house repairs. Red Lake received over $3 million for the program.

Lussier said around $51 million of the ARPA payments went out to band members to assist with their general needs. $8 million of the $51 million was allotted to band members under age 18 last December.

Lussier highlighted two infrastructure projects funded by ARP funds. The Endazhi-Nitawiging Charter School, which opened for the '22-'23 school year, and the beautiful wellness center where all were gathered for the State of the Band.

"There are a lot of very good things happening within our nation thanks to those ARPA funds," Lussier concluded.

The Return of Upper Red Lake

Chairman Seki said during his remarks that one of the band's goals is to reestablish the original boundary of the reservation.

"We have made it a priority to restore the eastern third of Upper Red Lake to tribal ownership that was unlawfully taken by the United States in the 1889 land agreement. To restore the location of the east boundary of the reservation according to the location that the chiefs established in 1889," Seki said.

Seki said the U.S. government took the area in question more than a century ago through fraud and deception after the band successfully resisted allotment of their lands. He added Red Lake will "exhaust administrative remedies" before filing a federal lawsuit to get the land back.

Seki said this move by the band was and is a priority and would restore the east boundary of the reservation. (The Eastern third of Upper Red Lake) The band plans to approach US Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) to review the necessary paperwork and correct what Red Lake sees as a historical wrong and restore the reservation boundaries to fully include Upper Red Lake.

Seki said that if the United States declines the band's request to restore the portion of Upper Red Lake, the band will likely seek litigation.

Red Lake has only one treaty with the US, the 1863 Treaty at Old Crossing where Red Lake gave up (in the sites of Gatling guns high on the bank across the Red Lake River) more than 3 million acres of land including what is arguably the most fertile land on Mother Earth, the Red River Valley. Later more land was ceded, and in 1889, the Red Lake Reservation was reduced to 300,000 acres. While all of Lower Red Lake was included in reservation boundaries, only the western 2/3rds of Upper Red Lake was maintained.

Miskwaagamiiwi-zaaga'igan (Name for both Lake and Reservation) covers 1,260.3 sq miles, 806,600 acres in parts of nine counties in northwestern MN. The tribe claims the land by right of conquest and aboriginal title; they were not reassigned to it by the United States government. It is "untouched Indian land." The US quit making treaties with America's Indigenous Peoples in 1871, further land surrenders were known as Land Agreements, such as the agreement of 1889.

Opioids

In February to help combat the opioid epidemic affecting Red Lake, tribal officials announced a partnership with the federal government to prosecute non-members for crimes committed on the reservation with a focus on fentanyl. Seki said that while he's concerned about opioids, he's more concerned about the health of Red Lake members.

"We have expanded our response to overdoses to include strategies to get drug users into treatment," Seki said. "The primary goal is to fix the problems that lead members into drug use."

Seki added Red Lake has developed an inpatient treatment center where cultural teachings are being used to change lifestyles. It is located at Obaashiing (Ponemah) where culture and tradition survive.

Tom Barrett, Chemical Health Programs Director, spoke of the ripple effect of sobriety, and the new treatment center in Obaashiing which will concentrate on the healing properties of culturally related programs.

Solar Initiative

Seki spoke of Red Lake's Solar Energy Initiative which began in 2016 with a three-phase goal involving installing solar panels on tribal buildings and eventually producing a solar farm. Several tribal buildings have been fitted with solar panels with more in the works.

"Since 2016, Red Lake has been involved in the planning process of a solar farm, with the ultimate goal of the Red Lake becoming energy independent," Seki said. "An engineering study estimates that the solar power generated by our farm would be sufficient to power 2500 homes."

"The development of these projects are designed to address our basic needs and understandings," said Seki. "They include the preservation and conservation of our environment, providing an energy source which is compatible with our beliefs of living in harmony with nature, the diversification of our economy and investments, improving the quality of life, training, and jobs for our people.

The third phase of the project will be to develop a solar energy plant on the reservation and job training to build solar panels and install solar arrays.

Tribal Chairman Darrell G. Seki Sr. said this initiative will bring business to Red Lake through the upcoming Red Lake Tribal utility while also protecting the tribal members from the harms of climate change.

Cannabis Program

The tribe's new cannabis program for medicinal marijuana includes a dispensary which opened in early March. It has a state-of-the-art grow facility, located at the Old Trading Post in Red Lake. Though Red Lake's special sovereignty makes it exempt from state law, the tribe's dispensary mirrors ALL guidelines of Minnesota State Law. It is an hour closer than the closest dispensary at Hibbing. 81% of the band voted for the medical cannabis program in Red Lake. It is open to both members and non-members.

"Our goal of the Red Lake Medical Cannabis Program is to maximize consumer protection, safety, security, accountability and convenience for patients," Seki said. "Our procedures for manufacturing medical cannabis product prioritizes the conservation of natural resources including water as well as protection against adverse environmental impacts."

"This approach is not only medical but holistic," said Tribal Secretary Strong. It is another path toward recovery and healing."

Family & Children Services

Cheri Goodwin, Director of Ombimindwaa Gidinanwemaaganinaadog. (Uplifting Our Relatives) formerly known as Family & Children Services, noted big changes are in process.

"Ombimindwaa has transformed our approaches and service delivery system to be rooted in Anishinaabe language, culture, traditions, beliefs, and values," said Goodwin. "Ombimindwaa's main focus is to focus on Intergenerational Family wellness."

Tribal government's larger role in child protective services, legislation was introduced in both the State House and Senate, to fund the construction of an $8.7 million children and family services inter-generational complex. The tribal initiative is off to a solid start.

Other topics covered in the address included education, energy, culture and sports betting.

Programs include the Tiwahe program, which focuses on the health and wellbeing of families in the community. Red Lake was one of six tribes in the pilot program. This program also saw success in preventing youth suicides.

Kendall Kingbird, Public Safety Programs reported that public safety is working closely with other programs, including Equay Wiigamig and Chemical Health. He also provided a list of drugs confiscated, etc. and a short report on the opiate epidemic.

Thomas Barrett, Director of Boys & Girls Club, spoke of the Club's innovative programs. Barrett gave a shout-out to staff and volunteers. The Club is doing outreach, and continues to grow in both programs and participants, again concentrating on culture and world view, including the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers, Love, Courage, Wisdom, Respect, Humility, Honesty and Truth.

Agriculture and Buffalo

Sherilyn Spears, Agriculture Department, showed a film highlighting Red Lake Farms and it's growing buffalo herd. She invites all to visit.

Closing

Seki cited progress on several projects taking place on the reservation, but he closed on a more philosophical note. "We need to be good to each other, take care of one another, we need to put people first," he said. Let's be kind to one another, love one another, because the negative things are not the way of life as Anishinaabe people."

As Directors were giving their reports, Event Center staff began serving a meal of steak or walleye, potato, wild rice, vegetable, dinner roll, beverage and cheesecake for desert.

Having finished the comprehensive report, and those in attendance having finished a most excellent meal, the time seemed right for this fulfilling conclusion to the 2023 State of the Band Address. Emcee Jourdain then called on Little Bear Drum again for Healing and Traveling Songs.

List of Attending Dignitaries

State Delegation

Reed Olson, Candidate for State Rep, Founder of the Nameless Coalition

C.T. Marhula, representing former State Rep Roger Erickson

Beltrami County Delegation

Tim Sumner, Red Lake member & Beltrami County Commissioner

Richard Anderson, Beltrami County Commissioner & Board Chair

Jason Riggs, Beltrami County Sherriff

Jarrett Walton, Chief Deputy Beltrami Sherriff

David Hanson, Beltrami County Attorney

Tom Barry, Beltrami County Administrator

Anne Lindseth, Director, Beltrami County Health & Human Services

Jeff Lind, Beltrami County HHS Social Services Division Director

Curtis Anderson, Beltrami County HHS Economic Assistance Division Director

City of Bemijigamaag Delegation

Daniel Jourdain, Red Lake member, former & future Bemidji City Councilor

Emilie Rivera, Bemidji City Councilor

Lynn Eaton, Bemidji City Councilor

Nate Mathews, Bemidji City Manager

Mike Mastin, Bemidji Chief of Police

Audrey Thayer, Bemidji City Council

Political Delegation

Curtiss Hunt, Beltrami County DFL Chairman

Mary Forney, Beltrami County DFL Vice-Chair

Community Friends & Allies of Red Lake Nation

Andy Wells, Red Lake member and head of Wells Academy

Dr. John Eggers, Director of 100% Graduation & Former RLHS Principal

Dr. Patrick Welle, Long-time ally of Red Lake Nation

David Harrington, State and Tribal Judge

Dr. Ted Will, former physician at Red Lake

Lenee Oschner, representing Headwaters Science Center

...and finally, The Press

Matthew Holding Eagle, Reporter for Minnesota Public Radio (MPR)

Mary Balstead, Reporter for Lakeland News

Reporter Daltyn Lofstrom, & Photographer Maggi Fellerman for Bemidji Pioneer

Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Royalty 2023

Ponemah Head Start; Princess Mia Hardy and Brave Miles Sumner

Red Lake Head Start; Princess Luciana Lussier and Brave (Vacant)

Ponemah Elementary; Princess Arianna Cloud and Brave Dallas Melikan

Red Lake Elementary; Princess Grace Needham and Brave Ethan Jourdain

St. Mary's School; Princess Willow Holthusen and Brave Mason Smith

Ponemah Labor Day; Princess Jasinda Kingbird and Brave Kordae Kingbird

Red Lake High School; Princess Nookwakwii White and Brave (Vacant)

BSU Princess; Sophia Barrett

Red Lake Nation; Jr. Princess Marzia Kingbird and Jr. Biidwe Aakwad White

Red Lake Nation; Sr. Princess Shia Donnell and Sr. Mar'Trez Kirkie