What can we do for the people of Red Lake?

My heart is breaking for these children/people, ever touched by such tragedy. On top of this horrendous act, they live with mass poverty and unemployment.

Part of the reason for the issue of poverty, is the steadfast desire to "preserve" what is left of the Ojibwe culture. Because of this desire, the leaders at Reservation are understandably reluctant to make money off of their surroundings. They do have a Casino, but they could exploit the fishing on Red Lake and do much more to strengthen the economy. I believe there are religious reasons they don't allow fishing on Red lake.

However, the kids up their need HOPE. And, I think there is a way to balance the need to preserve culture and expand the economy.

For example, why not get some investors and create a museum much like The Grand Portage, where culture is preserved and respected, in a manner that attracts people who spend. Tourism could be kept to certain areas and could be promoted in a respectful manner? They DO have a casino, but due to the surrounding depressed areas, and the ugly long drive from the TC area, people don't travel there to gamble very often.

So ... I was thinking if some investors would build a really nice hotel and run free shuttles, and open a museum that preserves and respects the culture, perhaps it could create a balance of prosperity/culture???? :shrug:

I dunno, perhaps I'm being unrealistic, but I do think that opportunity could be expanded dramatically in that area.

Here is an interesting ed from the "strib."

We're not saying any of this explains the actions of Jeff Weise. We are saying that Red Lake and its sister reservations have about them an aura of hopelessness and pathos and need that cried out for attention before the world ever heard of Weise. When 10 people get gunned down by a crazed teenager, it's a news story. But Red Lake should have been a running news story for a very long time. Yes, it's a sovereign nation, which complicates matters, but it is embedded in a much more powerful and wealthy sovereign nation. When you sleep with an elephant, you are likely to get rolled on. Red Lake has been frequently rolled on.

http://www.rlnn.com/ArtMar05/ButSeeBeyondShooting.html

I totally agree with this article. Now what to do?

Thanks for reading my rant. Thoughts, ideas, fellow rants and condolences welcome.

So many of us in Minnesota know very little about the native american history that surrounds us. I think I know more about the Dine and Hopi of the Southwest than I do the Ojibwe and other Minnesota nations. Any project that improves our awareness and respect of Minnesota native culture. We have no memorials or historical displays, in fact driving around the state you would never know there was thousands of years of cultural history all around us.

Sad that we know more about the SouthWest Native people, than we do about our own neighbors.

I thought a museum (in the same spirit as Grand Portage/Fort Snelling) would be a really respectful and interesting way to preserve the culture and educate. It may also culture a greater sense of pride to the surrounding community.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Red Lake is the Chippewa nation. It's not Ojibwe. And this is just a question but what do you mean by they don't allow fishing on Red lake?
If you care to donate here is the address:

Red Lake National Memorial Fund
Red Lake Band of Chippewa
P.O. Box 574
Red lake Minnesota, 56671

Chippewa is the name given by the US government
Ojibwe is the name given by historial enemies
Anishinabeg is the name they gave themselves

Where I grew up in NE Minnesota they went most often by Ojibwe.

http://www.indians.org/welker/chippewa.htm

the tribes do go by both names. But the Red Lake Band of
Chippewa Indians is what they go by in Red Lake. I was born in northern Minnesota and they all went by the name Chippwea in that area. In the United States more people use 'Chippewa,' and in Canada more people use 'Ojibway,'

and thus resent it.

Many Ojibwe feel that the name "Ojibwe" best represents who they are as a people. That is why I choose to refer to them as "Ojibwe" and not Chippewa.

I do realize that both Ojibwe and Chippewa are of the same origin.

http://www.tolatsga.org/ojib.html

More about this here:

To end any confusion, the Ojibwe and Chippewa are not only the same tribe, but the same word pronounced a little differently due to accent. If an "O" is placed in front of Chippewa (O'chippewa), the relationship becomes apparent. Ojibwe is used in Canada, although Ojibwe west of Lake Winnipeg are sometime referred to as the Saulteaux. In United States, Chippewa was used in all treaties and is the official name. The Ojibwe call themselves Anishinabe (Anishinaubag, Neshnabek) meaning "original men" (sometimes shortened to Shinob and used as a nickname among themselves). Ottawa and Potawatomi also call themselves Anishinabe, and at some time in the past, the three tribes were a single tribe. Ojibwe, or Chippewa, comes from the Algonquin word "otchipwa" (to pucker) and refers to the distinctive puckered seam of Ojibwe moccasins. Various spellings: Achipoes, Chepeway, Chippeway, Ochipoy, Odjibwa, Ojibweg, Ojibwey, Ojibwa, and Otchipwe.

on parts of Red Lake.

By the way the Ojibwe don't like the given name Chippewa.

I am aware of the address, thanks for posting.

I did field work at the Heart of the Earth Survival School and worked at an agency in the Phillips Neighborhood back in the mid 70s and met many people from Red Lake. My heart has been breaking for the members of the band.

I think the best thing we can do for the Red Lake Band is listen to what they may or may not want from us.

After the Navaho Reservation, I believe Red Lake is the largest closed reservation in the country. Closed means that the Red Lake Band chose not to sell off land to nonindians. The other reservations in the state are "checkerboarded" meaning you may have land owned by the band next to land owned by a nonindian. The Red Lake Band made the decision not to allow checkerboarding in the 19th century in the hopes it would preserve their culture. The few people I have known from Red Lake are still proud of this decision. Those of us who are not Indian need to tread very carefully, all Native Americans have had enough of non-Indians trying to "help" them, no matter how good the intentions might be. It's that help that's caused many of the prolems on the reservations today and it's why the Red Lake Band really doesn't like to see strangers on the rez.

Personally, I'm a little annoyed by the editorial above. I agree that we should all have been aware of the problems on the reservations long before this, but Red Lake is not the only place this kind of tragedy has happened. I suppose it gives some people a false sense of security to think the problems at Red Lake caused this, but it's happened in suburbs as well. The shooters at Columbine came from affluent families. As with those two, there were plenty of warning signs that something was going horribly wrong for Jeff Weise.

Certainly the situation at Red Lake and the tragic events in his own life contributed to this child's problems but, in the end, this incident is a result of a larger society that is failing its children.

I am very familiar with the Tribe as I have visited the reservation and have a childhood friend who is a member and ancestors who were as well.

I do agree we have to tread carefully when it comes to suggesting solutions. I know that it's difficult for members of the tribe to agree on said solutions, let alone outsiders. I was simply thinking outloud in my OP.

"Certainly the situation at Red Lake and the tragic events in his own life contributed to this child's problems but, in the end, this incident is a result of a larger society that is failing its children."

I agree here as well. But, while there are similarities with Columbine, you can't compare Red Lake to Littleton for a number of reasons.

Sure in both cases we have kids who were failed, but in Red Lake you have 60% of the population living below the poverty line 40% unemployed etc. This one boys tragic life, is not so uncommon in Red Lake.

I am surprised there is not far more violence in that area under these conditions.

Efforts to help people on the Red Lake Reservation include:

• Red Lake National Memorial Fund: Any Wells Fargo Bank office or by mail to P.O. Box 574, Red Lake, MN 56671.

• Red Lake School Tragedy Assistance Fund: St. Philip's Catholic Church, 702 Beltrami Av. NW., Bemidji, MN 56601.

• Food and fuel: Gasoline cards ($25 recommended) and grocery gift certificates are needed to help families get back to the reservation. Send them to the Red Lake urban office at the Franklin Business Center, 1433 E. Franklin Av., Suite 13A, Minneapolis, MN 55404.

• Funeral expenses: Victims' Families of Red Lake Memorial Fund at First National Bank Bemidji, P.O. Box 670, Bemidji, MN 56619.

http://www.rlnn.com/ArtMar05/STribHowYouCanHelp.html

Though this information is very good to have and I know this effort is appreciated.

I would like to know how we can help in the long term however.
Help with unemployment/poverty/hopelessness KWIM?'

The article I posted a link to above, notes my feelings on the matter.

So please, satisfy your curiosity about the shootings at Red Lake. But consider the lives of all those who live there. Understand that they need help to ease the poverty and related plagues visited upon their community -- for just one example of such help, the income that could be provided by Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposed metro-area casino in which Red Lake, White Earth and Leech Lake would be partners.