Three Tribal Chairs Sign Education Consortium

DAY TWO: EDUCATION SUMMIT 

CONCENTRATES ON RED LAKE STUDENTS & EDUCATION

THREE TRIBES FORM EDUCATION CONSORTIUM, 

SIGN FORMAL AGREEMENT

More than 200 students attended Day 2 and it's College Fair

On Thursday January 20th, Day Two of the Education Summit sponsored by the Red Lake Nation College, a college fair was hosted for tribal members, many of whom are high school students.  The Summit was held at the Seven Clans Casino and Event Center at Red Lake,

White Earth Tribal & Community College had several visitors

Around the perimeter of the Seven Clans lobby, representatives from each of the three tribal colleges, local community colleges, the U of M at Duluth, Morris and Crookston, BSU, UND, military services, and other career oriented organizations, staffed booths providing information and answering student questions on post high school career options.  

According to Red Lake Nation College President Dan King, a total of  312 persons registered for Day Two, including 200 Red Lake tribal member high school students, grades 10 to 12.  The day’s activities were geared toward Red Lake students who attend schools in Red Lake and the surrounding area. 

Red Lake Chairman Floyd Jourdain, Jr. was interviewed by Jenny Day of Lakeland News

“Throughout this Education Summit, we want to support and encourage our Red Lake member students to continue their education after high school graduation”, said Red Lake Tribal Chairman Floyd Jourdain, Jr.  “With new leadership at our college, we look forward to dramatic improvements in academics, Ojibwe language preservation, and increased enrollment”, Jourdain noted.  “I’ve challenged the Tribal College to enroll at least 200 Red Lake member students by 2014”, he said.

After a tasty breakfast, at 9:00 am, Day Two began.  Red Lake Nation College submitted a power point presentation entitled “The Value of a College Education” to the 200 students gathered.  Presenters were Red Lake Nation College president Dan King, and Bemidji State University professor, and White Earth member, Dr. Leah Carpenter.  Carpenter has a law degree and a PhD in American Indian Studies.

The three Tribal College Presidents Juanita Bennet, Dr. Ginny Carney, and Dan King

A panel that included Leech Lake Tribal College president, Dr. Ginny Carney, and White Earth Tribal and Community College president Juanita Bennet, (Turtle Mountain) assisted in the presentation by King and Carpenter.  Carney said about 30 Ojibwe language students and instructors from Leech Lake attended the previous day’s activities.  “I’m quite sold on the idea of the three tribal colleges collaborating,” said Carney, “it could lead to us working much more effectively”.

Leech Lake Tribal College's Display Booth

“Fifty years ago someone could go to high school, graduate and do just fine,” said King.  “Today, most jobs require post-secondary training.”  “With Red Lake Nation College as a starting point, it’s going to be easier for members who hadn’t thought of themselves as college material to get used to the idea in a familiar environment with familiar people”.


“Our motto at the college is – ‘A great place to start,’” King said. “We encourage students to start here, build up their confidence and skill levels, and then move on to a four-year college.”

At 10:00 AM, Indian Education expert Dr. Dean Chavers returned to present an invaluable information session on “How to Find and Win College Scholarships!”.  A subject he is quite familiar with having been a former president of the American Indian Scholarship Fund.  He is known to be a passionate warrior for Indian education.

Leech Lake Entertainer/Rapper George Goggleye aka "Wahwahtaybenais"

Entertainment with a message, “Ojibwe Rap” began at 11:00 am.  Local Red Lake and Leech Lake talent, mixed a positive message with rap/hip hop music for a nice blend of culture and musical genres.  Rapper/entertainers included Paul “Tall Paul” Wenell, Jr. (Leech Lake), Shannon StandingCloud (Red Lake), and George Goggleye aka 
“Wahwahtaybenais”.  Wahwahtaybenais coincidently incorporates the importance of Ojibwe language revitalization movement as part of his rap message.

Gary “Rez Dawg” Jourdain (Red Lake) provided DJ music during down times, or fill in times.  Jourdain is also the marketing manager for Seven Clans Casino, Red Lake.

Gifts were given to Red Lake elders and college advisors Eugene Stillday and Larry Stillday by Dan King

About 11:30 am, Lunch was served followed by a signing ceremony of the Education Nation Consortium Agreement.  Eugene Stillday provided an invocation.

“We can always do better, that's the way I always look at things”, said organizer King.  “But overall, I think we did good”, he said.  “There was a lot of positive energy, we had a great turnout of over 200 high school students today, I was very happy with their participation and interest in higher education.  And the Ojibwe rappers were impressive too”, observed King.  “I was very proud of all our Red Lake education staff, faculty, etc.  It was a historic event”, he said.   

“We hope to make this an annual Tribal Summit for our three tribes”, Jourdain said.  “In this first effort we are very encouraged with the strong participation of students and administrators from Red Lake’s school district and local high schools” Jourdain observed.  Jourdain also expressed how pleased he was that the tribal colleges, regional community colleges, and larger Universities and Vo-Tec schools participated in the summit.

The Education Nation Consortium Agreement.
The climax of the two-day Education Summit on Thursday was a very special agreement signed by the Chairs of three Indian Nations.

Leech Lake Tribal Chairman Arthur "Archie LaRose and Red Lake Chairman Floyd Jourdain, Jr. sign the Education Agreement.  White Earth Chairwoman Erma Vizenor was not able to attend and signed the agreement later.

The signing ceremony began about noon and celebrated a new Educational Agreement between Red Lake, Leech Lake, and White Earth Tribes.  The agreement is a compact, a pledge for the three nations to cooperate and work together on educational improvements in such crucial areas as Ojibwe language preservation, Indian education improvements, grant partnering and advocacy efforts.  The three Tribal Chairs, Floyd Jourdain, Jr. of Red Lake, Arthur “Archie” LaRose of Leech Lake spoke and signed the compact.  Erma Vizenor of White Earth was unable to attend and will sign the compact at a later time.  

The signatories, College Presidents, Tribal Chairs, and Education Superintendents

The signing ceremony included the signatures of the three tribal college presidents (King, Carney and Bennet) on the Educational Agreement, and the three Education Directors/Superintendents of schools.  Red Lake’s Brent Gish was the only superintendent of schools able to attend.

SUMMARY OF THE EDUCATION NATION CONSORTIUM RESOLUTION 

BETWEEN RED LAKE, LEECH LAKE WHITE EARTH TRIBAL NATIONS.  

Signed on Thursday, January 20, 2011 

WHEREAS, the three Tribes of Red Lake, Leech Lake and White Earth have historically close ties; and since we are all members of the Great Ojibwe Nation; and all share the same Ojibwe language and culture; and have recently worked together on economic development and social issues; and have similar educational challenges; and each have Tribal Colleges to serve their respective Tribal Communities; 

An honor song was presented by Ogidaaki, the Don Kingbird Drum

BE IT RESOLVED, during the educational summit, the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and the White Earth Band of Ojibwe agree to cooperate, share ideas and work together on making educational improvements to the following major issues affecting Indian education:


The crucial and urgent issue of Ojibwe language preservation; and any and all issues affecting Indian education specific program improvements; and mutually agreed upon educational grant partnering and grant endorsements from this new three-Tribe educational consortium; and mutually beneficial advocacy efforts that will help the Tribes of this new consortium; 


and since all of the Tribes of this new consortium also have tribal colleges to serve their respective tribal communities, the Tribal College Presidents will also work together on all of these areas that can be of mutual benefit to all members of this consortium, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the three Tribal leaders and the three Tribal College Presidents will all sign this historic Education Nation consortium agreement, and


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the three Tribal Education Directors/Superintendents, if any, of the three respective K-12 Tribal school systems for Tribal Members, will also work together on all of these areas that can be of mutual benefit to all Members of this consortium, and also sign this historic Education Nation consortium agreement, and


BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, the three Tribes will together create a new charter of operations to establish a process for adding new members, voting, and also sign this new document.

Giga-waabamin miinawaa (I'll see you again)