"This is Your Home & Your Story"

HUNDREDS PARTICIPATE IN RED LAKE YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Teachings of Culture for the Nation’s Youth

The Fifth Annual Red Lake Youth Leadership Conference was held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday April 26 - 28, 2011 at Red Lake High School. The conference theme was “Culture: The Key to our Future”. And in keeping with that theme, the thesis was translated into Ojibwemowin or “Anishinaabe-izhichigewin: Giniigaanayi’iiminaan”. Workshops and presentations were held from 9 to 3 each day. As is customary, several things happened simultaneously. 

Some Teams in The All Indian Basketball Tourney included Boys and Girls

In addition to three days of workshops, the week-plus activities included an all-native basketball tournament at 3:30 PM each day. Entertainment in the evening included a Round Dance Social on Tuesday with a special “one man” hand drum contest in both Cree and Ojibwe styles. Wednesday evening featured Native Hip Hop for entertainment featuring “Smoke” (Jason Nichols), “Wahwahtaybenais” (George Goggleye), and “Supaman” (Christian Takes Gun Parrish). Both night's entertainment took place at the Red Lake Humanities Center. 

Some Pretty Nice Door Prizes included an HDTV

An awards banquet with door prizes followed the Wednesday session. An “Honor the Youth Pow-wow” closed out the activities on the weekend of April 29 - May 1.

Conferees came from miles around to participate in all or part of the three days of proceedings. Students and others from Leech Lake, White Earth, Bemidji, the Bug School, and other schools participated in the youth leadership events.

This is the fifth year for this much anticipated event for the youth of Red Lake Nation and others. A host of Red Lake member professionals, and well known guest speakers from across Indian Country, joined together to share their knowledge in leadership skills to motivate youth, and to promote native values, tradition, and language.

THREE DAYS OF LEARNING AND FUN

An Opening Prayer/Smudge was offered at the beginning of each day's activities in the High School Gymnasium. Eugene Stillday opened Tuesday, Melvin Jones on Wednesday, and Collins Oakgrove on Thursday. The Drum for all three days was Little Bear.

On the first day, as part of the opening ceremony, Chance Rush set the pace for the conference by encouraging youth to pursue their dreams, to value education, and to share what they learn with others. “This is your community, your home and your story”, said Rush to those assembled.

Smiles All Around

First day opening ceremonies continued with welcome remarks by Red Lake Chairman Floyd Jourdain, Jr., and Youth Council President Shauntay Roy. Guest speakers were school superintendent Brent Gish and School Board member and Director of Red Lake Chemical Health Programs, Tom Barrett. Opening activities concluded with a presentation by Youth Council President Shauntay Roy and Youth Council Members. The Youth Council, with about a dozen members, was involved in organizing the Youth Conference.

Chance Rush makes a point

Several local and guest motivational speakers - as well as Red Lake Elders - conducted workshops on culture, language, traditional values, leadership, and self-esteem. During the time of conference, assorted workshops were conducted, repeating themselves six times so that participants could be involved with most, if not all sessions.

SESSIONS BY GUEST MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS

“The key to living a ‘well life’ is balance”, said Chance Rush (Three Affiliated Tribes-Hidatsa) in his session billed as “Elements of Life”. “As community leaders, we can encourage that balance in others by being an example ourselves”, he said. “Wellness is a gift that needs attention and commitment. It doesn’t mean we won’t have our frustrating moments”, said Rush, “but we can accomplish anything we set our minds to by implementing our social, mental, physical and emotional greatness.”

Edward “Eddy” Wadda (Eastern Shoshone), conducted a workshop entitled “Warriors Don’t Quit”. He shared his vision for Native Youth in the areas of history, leadership, culture, family, school, spirituality, and friendship. “Youth leaders serve as positive mentors in communities struggling to find a voice for their young people”, he said. “It is my hope that you will join me and others in our journey to see true tribal empowerment for native people for generations to come.”

A power-packed approach to teen pregnancy, alcohol and drug abuse, self-worth, and decision making skills was provided by Melissa “Mimi” Nichols in a workshop appropriately billed as “Self Respect”. While addressing real life stress and chaos, Nichols spoke of HOPE which she said will “ignite much needed compassion among youth at the same time fueling responsibility and respect”.

Humor permeated a session dubbed “Living a Positive Lifestyle” and conducted by comedian and motivational speaker Mylo Smith (Crow Creek Dakota Sioux).  Smith used comical aspects to talk about serious problems facing youth using himself as a model of his life experiences with alcohol, drugs, violence, and sexual abuse.

MUSIC SPEAKS/YOUTH LISTENS

“Everyone has a song that they know every word and can make them sing at the top of their lungs”, says Jason Nichols aka “Smoke” (Nakota/Chippewa Cree) in a session entitled “Lyrical Healing”. “This type of song, no matter where you are or what you are doing, can steal your total train of thought, and take you back to a place that puts a smile on your face every time you hear it”. 

This was the prologue for Nichols presentation encouraging youth to express themselves through music, poetry, and art. “Imagine, if you will”, said Nichols, “the pen you hold in your hand is your inner voice. The paper that sits in front of you is a friend - a very good friend who will listen and never pass judgment, never interrupt you, and will never need time to understand your feelings - now, you can speak freely. That is the magic of music, after you release this energy your healing process can begin”, Nichols proclaimed.

A presentation and delivery style nothing short of captivating, and dubbed “Native American Culture & Hip Hop” was conducted by Christian Takes Gun Parrish aka “Supaman” (Apsaalooke Nation, Crow Reservation). Supaman seems a misnomer when one listens to the humble American Indian rapper who has dedicated his life to empowering youth with a message of hope through his music. Parrish’s animated style demands attention as he relates lessons learned through growing up in an alcoholic family and losing his father to suicide, a powerful weapon in reaching his listeners.

George Goggleye who prefers the use of his Indian name “Wahwahtay Benais” which means “Great Thunder Being that lives within the Northern Lights” (Leech Lake) conducted a workshop tagged as “Revitalization of Language & Tradition Through Hip Hop”. Wahwahtay Benais demonstrated through videos and discussion how the power of music can be used to encourage interest of young people in the importance of language revitalization and culture. Wahwahtay Benais is a serious and most impressive young man.

“Healthy Relationships start with healthy individuals”, says Robert Johnson, (Muskogee Creek/Choctaw) in a workshop labeled “Walking Together in a Good Way: A Guide to Healthy Relationships”. The session looked at characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships. “As native people we have a responsibility to ourselves, families and tribes, to try to be the best we can be, continue to learn our culture and traditions and to treat others kindly”, he said. Johnston guided participants in discovering steps to strengthen relationships with friends, parents, siblings, teachers, the opposite sex, the earth, the Creator and “of course...you!”

Spontaneous Basketball Games Happened During Breaks

SESSIONS BY RED LAKE MEMBERS/PROFESSIONALS
Several sessions were conducted in the appropriately named Culture Room at the High School by elders who taught youth and adults of culture and language.

Eugene Stillday, (Red Lake) conducted several sessions on Language. From the community of Ponemah, Eugene is a spiritual and cultural advisor to the Red Lake Tribal Council. Fluent in Ojibwe, Eugene serves as the main Ojibwe language preservation expert with linguist Dr. John D. Nichols, a professor at the University of Minnesota. He also works with Dr. Anton Treuer and Nichols in the development of Ojibwemowin word lists and stories.

Frances Miller, (Red Lake) Cultural Teachings. From the community of Ponemah, Frances is the coordinator for the Path of Life & Healthy Marriage/Relationships, the Well Being of Children.

Carol June Barrett, (Red Lake) Young Women’s Pride. From the community of Ponemah, Carol presented a session on Women’s Values. She talks one on one about depression and suicide.

Two popular session/workshops were not only educational, but just plain fun...and coincidently, just happened to be conducted by Red Lake professionals from the Chemical Health Programs.

Hand Drum Making

Hand-drum making with Darren Defoe and Larry VanWert continued to be a very popular workshop several years running. Defoe and VanWert took a large group of participants through the process of making their own hand drums. This took the entire length of the conference, so participants showed up at the same room during each of the sessions. 

And Rez Jeopardy, all agreed, was great fun. Billed as “just like the game show but about the Rez”, sessions were always filled to capacity that included several adults. Contestants chose from categories that included "Indianish”, (questions about the Red Lake homeland) TV/Movies, Sponge Bob, and Miscellaneous.  Salena Branchaud and Charlene Defoe hosted the fun.

Indianish for 200, This is the English Word for Omakakii

Wednesday’s conference closed with an Awards Banquet in late afternoon. The program was hosted by Chance Rush, who had everyone laughing. Basketball trophies, academic, and other awards were presented, with prize drawings closing out that part of the program. Those who completed evaluation forms for up to five workshops, were given tickets for the drawing of some top notch prizes. Keynote speaker for the banquet was George Goggleye, aka Wahwahtay Benais.

The evening’s events concluded with entertainment comedian Mylo Smith, who draws his humor on those things unique to Indian Country and geared to youth.  The popular and humorous Robert Johnston, a professional hypnotist closed out the evenings events. Johnston had the audience rolling in the aisles as he had a dozen people meeting their favorite celebrities, and other outrageous and comical stunts.

Salena Branchaud, an enrolled member of Red Lake Nation, who has worked with Chemical Health for several years, said at the events conclusion; “I have always had a passion for working in this field”, she said. Branchaud who is also a Youth Council Advisor said, “the Leadership Conference is not only to teach, but to help students head into the Summer feeling good about themselves”.

The impetus for the Youth Leadership Conference occurred after the formation of the Red Lake Nation Youth Council more than six years ago. The group began looking for ways to teach leadership skills, and to celebrate the accomplishments of the Nation’s youth academically and in other ways. (Over 65% of our Native population is under the age of twenty-five).

The Youth Leadership Conference was sponsored by the following organizations; Red Lake Tribal Council, Red Lake School District, Chemical Health Programs, Indian & Free Prevention/Treatment Program, Pepsi Company, and Youth Recreation Department.

Aki Giizhigad (Earth Day)

AKI GIIZHIGAD (EARTH DAY) CELEBRATED AT RED LAKE

"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children." ~Ancient Indian Proverb

The Red Lake Nation Earth Day Fair was held on April 21, 2011. Earth Day was officially April 22nd, but due to Good Friday falling on that date, this year it was decided to celebrate on April 21st. The theme for this year's event was: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Renew”. The earth day fair, much bigger and broader than last year, was held again at the Red Lake Nation Boys and Girls Club. 

Promotion of Indigenous Foods

“We are enthusiastic about the event and were pleased to have a good turnout from the community and programs”, said Red Lake DNR Water Resources Director and organizer Jenilynn Bohm. The event was well attended with 342 people registered. “Our events  (the community clean-up and Earth Day) were scheduled to not conflict with Good Friday as tribal employees were scheduled to be released at noon that day. The 'clean-up', then, was scheduled before our fair, so that people could attend both the clean-up and the fair”.   

Oshki-Aangitoon or Renew

“We wanted this years Earth Day Fair to be an interactive event,” said Environmental Program Director Cody Charwood. “Our plan was that this would allow the community to learn of natural resources related projects and/or services, in hopes to inspire an awareness of the environment”, he said. “Open to all - activities and booth presenters incorporated the theme (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Renew) into their presentations and was geared to both children and adults”.

Parking Lot:  Upon arriving at the Boys and Girls Club, the first thing one saw were activities outside the building. The first was a “tire pressure check” near the entrance to the old casino door at the Humanities Center.  

A mechanic supervised volunteers who looked like NASCAR workers surrounding each car as it drove up, one person to a tire. Proper tire inflation can improve gas mileage. The first 50 drivers got a free tire pressure gauge.

Walking toward the Club building, one came upon a booth about “Bike Safety”. Sponsored by the RLPD, volunteers explained bicycle safety, and that proper bike safety practices prevent accidents. Volunteers checked brakes, chains, air pressure, etc. Utilizing bikes for transportation saves gas, provides good exercise, and helps the environment. 

Next came a truck and trailer collecting hazardous household waste. The household waste collection drop off (sponsored by the Red Lake DNR) gathered household waste items for proper disposal. These types of waste need to be properly disposed of, not dropped off in a dump for example.

Lawn:  On the lawn, just before one entered the Boys and Girls Club, was a plastic bag recycling exchange booth. Used plastic bags were gathered to be recycled so as to eliminate their disposal in trash. In return persons received a reusable grocery bag to use in recycling efforts. Several business places donated canvas bags to give in return for the plastic bags.  One Redby business offers 5% off if you bring in your recycle bags, and use them for purchases.

Spiritual Elder Eugene Stillday with Al Pemberton and Floyd Jourdain

Opening Ceremony and Blessing: Spiritual Elder Eugene Stillday provided a prayer at the beginning of a program held in the Boys and Girls Club gymnasium. Speakers on the subjects of Earth Day and the environment included; Stillday, Red Lake Chairman Floyd Jourdain, Jr., and Red Lake DNR Director and Redby Representative Al Pemberton.  

What to throw, and where to throw it.

Jourdain gave praise to tribal programs and others who were just finishing two days of clean-up on the Reservation. “Red Lake members and tribal program employees hit the streets, ditches, and other areas of Red Lake Nation with big green bags and yellow vests and proceeded to pick up trash and clean up the community”, he said.  

Eugene Stillday and Red Lake Chairman Floyd Jourdain Jr.

“Hundreds of Red Lakers were participating in Earth Day activities” said Pemberton, and marveled at how the event has grown over just one year. Jourdain said that new “controlled” dumping recycle areas will soon be open, and the old ones closed. “We are having too many foraging bears and fires being started”, said Jourdain. “This does not bode well for us as a proud people. We have a responsibility as Indians and as cultural stewards of the land to do better”.  


Stillday was then asked by Jourdain to explain more fully about Ojibwe tradition, in regard to and respect for, Mother Earth and the environment. After a lesson on respect for all living things and the environment that supports them, Stillday concluded with a positive thought. “The world may yet realize the ancient American Indian environmental ethic”, said Stillday, “this is important, it begins with us, and we must share this ethic”. 

Main Lobby: Upon entering the Boys and Girls Club, attendees signed in and then received an Aki Giizhigad (Earth Day) t-shirt, and a pen made from recycled materials. The T-shirts made of recycled plastic, were quite creative, the design highly symbolic.  The logo was not unlike a medicine wheel with “reduce, reuse, recycle, renew”, representing the four directions as feet of a mikinaak (turtle), and even included the sky and earth if one included mikinaak’s head and tail. The design also included Red Lake logo contained within.

Charity Pemberton (right) took Green Mug Shots

Turning to the right upon entrance, one could get a “Green Mug Shot”. Participants wrote on a whiteboard their statement of environmental stewardship commitment, then a photographer would take a photo. Being photographed with a promise hopefully will encourage compliance. Charity Pemberton from Red Lake Nation Newspaper took many of the photos. She will be putting together the pictures of the Earth Day commitments for that publication.

To the left were tables of give-a-ways related to Earth Day. Drawings were held to provide an incentive to complete a survey on the day’s events and what was learned. Snacks of a sustainable nature were provided.  

Gym: In the gym, where the program was held earlier, were several hands-on demonstration booths.  Booths were staffed by the Red Lake DNR,  tribal programs, federal and local organizations, community service members and High School students. There was a power point presentation on solar energy. 

Fishing game: A fun activity for children was a “fishing game”, a teaching tool for kids sponsored by the Red Lake DNR and Fire Prevention. The game was modeled after the old “fish pond game” idea one saw at church carnivals “back in the day”. Kids would put in their fishing rod lines in a hole, then a magnet on the end would pick up and old tire or other such garbage rather than fish or prize, to demonstrate to children the importance of keeping Red Lake clean, and to create awareness of outdoor activities.

Tech Center: “Red Lake Walleye Recovery”, a recent video was played in continuous loop in the tech center. The Native Nations Institute Film, Ogaag bii azhe giiwewag (Return of the Red Lake Walleye) was filled with many familiar faces. Sponsored proudly by Red Lake DNR/fisheries.

Arts Room:  Face painting was going on in the arts room, with designs of an environmental nature. The theme was geared toward children to teach about sustainability practices. This was sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club members and staff.

Bangiiwagitoon, Reduce

Aki Giizhigad was yet another gathering including Ojibwemowin as an integral part of it's event over the past year. Pertinent, as more and more Indian Nations seek to revitalize language and culture. This is consistent and very important in re-establishing the importance of the environmental ethic and care for the land that is so much a part of American Indian culture. Written words used in addition to Aki Giizhigad (Earth Day) included the events theme: Reduce (Bangiiwagitoon), Reuse (Ayaabajitoon), Recycle (Aanike-aabajitoon), and Renew (Oshki-Aangitoon).

Workshop on Domestic Violence

EQUAY WIIGAMIG* SPONSORS WORKSHOP ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Event Geared to Public Safety and Advocates

“Domestic Violence 101” was the title for a workshop sponsored by Equay Wiigamig (Women’s Shelter) of Red Lake, and was funded by the Minnesota Office of Justice Programs.  The event, geared to advocates and law enforcement personnel, was held on Thursday April 7, 2011 in the Migizi (Eagle) Room at Seven Clans Event Center.

Public Safety Personnel 

The day began with with registration and continental breakfast.  After a welcome and invocation by Frances Miller, tribal in-house attorney Michelle Paquin Johnson gave a report entitled “New Laws Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Enforcement Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010”.  

Red Lake In-house Attorney, Michelle Paquin Johnson

Paquin Johnson explained how the Act will affect laws and enforcement at Red Lake and Indian Country.  The law will now allow up to three years imprisonment for sex crimes, up from only a year.  She distributed several papers regarding tribal laws addressing said sex crimes and domestic violence.  “As we look to the revival of our culture and language”, said Paquin Johnson, “we must remember that domestic abuse is not a tradition, and harms the whole family”.


Special guess speaker (who conducted three sessions) was Ron Teel (Delaware), who is a Captain with the County Sheriff’s Office at Osage/Quapaw, Oklahoma.  Teel’s morning session was on “Defeating Myths and Stereotypes”. 

Ron Teel

“Perpetrators tend to minimize their actions”, said Teel, “they want to blame the booze, or another person, anyone but themselves,” he said.  As an example Teel said, “if the chef burns your steak you don’t kick the heck out of him, but somehow perpetrators figure they can kick slap their wives if a meal isn’t on time.”  Women need to know that isn’t normal, and so do their men.  There is a way out for both, and help is available at Equay Wiigamig. 


Before the lunch break, Stephanie Cobenais and Geoff Pierre explained the Law enforcement DV initiative.

After lunch, everyone was treated to a film written, directed, and produced by youth from Project Preserve.  The film entitled “My Three Friends”, won awards at Sundance and New York Film festivals.  The film, with actors and actresses from Project Preserve, took on the serious matter of date rape among other trials of youth. 

Teel’s afternoon session was called “Understanding the Y’s”.  Teel said it was important to understand the reasons why a victim might not file charges against their abuser, and there are many.  A victim might feel that harm could come to their job or reputation.  And there are many fears, fear of of stalking, the perpetrator might threaten to commit suicide.  There can be fear of retribution, or financial problems if they were to leave the abuser.  Equay Wiigamig has some wonderful information about such things, and victims should feel free to approach this service in complete confidentiality.

Rose Barrett (foreground) helps Shari Mountain Smith prepare her presentation

After a break, the last two sessions were held.  The first was an “Introduction to Batterer’s Re-Education presented by Shari Mountain Smith and Todd Smith.  This important program is relatively new, and seems to be working, and could save families if perpetrators want to correct their lives.  “Abusers must be reeducated to realize that abuse just is not an acceptable way to deal with anger”, said Smith.


Teel closed out the day with “Standing up for All; The Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why.”

Equay Wiigamig Director Darlene Lussier interviews with Lakeland News

Darlene Lussier, Director of Equay Wiigamig said in an interview, that the shelter is for all women, not just Red Lake members.  “We provide a variety of services, sexual assault victim advocacy, crisis intervention, individual, legal, and court advocacy”, said Lussier.  “We also provide information and referrals, orders for protection, restraining orders, talking circles, and community education”, she said.  “We will offer safety planning - in a safe environment, and our staff will provide acceptance and empathy with respect”


One of many brochures on Equay Wiigamig pointed out support groups for women, for teen girls, a shelter for women/children, confidentiality, community advocacy, bi-lingual advocacy, and domestic abuse awareness.  

Domestic violence warning signs, and signs that you are in an abusive relationship were two of the many papers and brochures that were available for conference attendees.  This writer was quite impressed with Lussier and her staff, and the services provided.  But perhaps the greatest awakening was to how striking and serious a problem this is, and how we all must realize it, be informed about it, and help to heal.

Some stark statistics regarding sexual assault in Indian Country were provided. 

Statistics of Sexual Assault in Indian Country

• Over 70% of sexual assaults are not reported. 
• The rate of violent crimes in Indian country is 2.5 times higher
• A National Violence Against Women survey indicated a 15.9% victimization rate of American Indians/Alaskan Natives by an intimate partner.
• 90% of American Indian Women in chemical dependency treatment programs have experienced some type of sexual abuse/assault.
• One in three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime
• One in four girls will be sexually abused before the age of 18
• One in six boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18
• 85% of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows

Police Sgt. Dana Lyons interviews while Director Darlene Lussier listens

Lussier said that “if you have any inkling that you or anyone you love may be in an abusive relationship of any kind, don’t wonder, find out by visit Equay Wiigamig and learn about the signs of sexual and other types of abuse, for women, for men for children, for victims and perpetrators.  This won’t hurt”, she said.  “Learn these things, help yourself and your loved ones”.

* The newly accepted double vowel system of Ojibwemowin spelling would be Ikwe Wigamig