•WE and MSUM represented in Alaska-three attended (2015)

November 2014

•WE and MSUM represented in Alaska-three attended

the National Indian Education Association conference

in Anchorage, Alaska

•WEN signs MOU with

TNWR- the purpose of MOU

is to continue open communication and a good working

relationship, ensuring effective law enforcement, the

safety of tribal and non-tribal members, and the use of

refuge resources

January 2015

•WE receives grant for

job training-WER as been

awarded $72,450 grant for

training in welding and truck

driving jobs

• Pine Point students shine

at 7th annual WE American

Indian Regional Science

Fair-multiple winners from

the school

February 2015

•WEN chosen to lead Federal project that will address

drug use on tribal lands-Department of Health and

Human Services’ office of

Tribal Justice, the FBI, and

the Office of National Drug

Control Policy are working

together to better leverage

Federal resources in Indian

Country to address drug

use and its consequences

on tribal land

March 2015

•R2AC Awards Anishinaabe

Arts Initative grants-R2AC

awarded $3,598 for art activities related to its mission

of supporting, maintaining

and promoting traditional

and contemporary Native

American arts in North Central MN

•WOWE-recognition of

school board members

April 2015

•WE Rez animals get

special treatment from

student vets-SIRVS put on

a wellness clinic for reservation dogs and cats March

14-17th in Rice Lake and

March 18-21 in WE

•WE Chief Judge Robert

Blaeser named to newly

formed Tribal Issues Advisory Group-TIAG will consider

methods to improve the

operation of the federal sentencing guidelines as they

relate to American Indian

defendants, victims, and

tribal communities

•Native Nations Institute

conducts workshop on WER

August 2015

•Ojibwe culture emphasized

in this years WE academy

of math and science

September 2015

•SSC building new casino

near Bagley

•WE Tribal and community

college receives grant from

US department of education- WETCC received two

$500,000 grants

•COLA cultural camp-50

youth attended. Aug 3-6th

© Copyright 2016 White Earth Nation

www.whiteearth.com

www.facebook.com/WhiteEarthNation

White Earth Nation

State of the Nation Report

To preserve, promote and enhance our quality of life.

White Earth Nation is optimistic with the promise of a brighter tomorrow. We continue to pursue our

overall mission of preserving and promoting our quality of life, creating safer neighborhoods and

allowing all tribal members a chance to prosper. This report reflects some of the hard work and

success that White Earth Nation has accomplished in 2015. The focus is on our 2014-2015 fiscal year

and contains some current topics of 2016.

There have been many struggles this past year, but from these struggles came new programs, ideas

and achievements. The White Earth Tribal Council saw a need to face these issues directly and

created a Drug Task Force Committee resulting in many successes.The first and biggest

accomplishment was the creation of the Maternal Outreach Mitigation Services (MOMS) Program.

This program is one of our first lines of defense to stopping the addiction of our future generations by

helping the addicted mother before childbirth. You can read more about this program on page 6.

Our White Earth Public Safety Department has also battled this epidemic by starting a tip line. They

have worked with agencies, locally and federally, resulting in various drug busts and arrests (please

see page 23 for more details). A Community Service Officer was hired to coordinate events and

community meetings providing another outlet for residents.

If you spend any amount of time with our youth, you’ll notice they have an increased excitement for

cultural activities that they are involved in. We have made the youth a driving factor in many of our

decisions and have seen their enthusiasum

increase. The Circle of Life Academy celebrated its

first homecoming and the Pine Point students

participated in the honorary ball drop before the

Minnesota Swarm lacrosse game. Our staff also

sponsored a cultural camp that had 50 youth attend.

The Tribal Council would like to thank you for your

understanding and patience throughout the past

year. We are blessed to have so many hard working

individuals and families who continue to put the tribe

and its members first. We look forward to what the

next year will bring.

Miigwech,

Steven “Punky” Clark

Vice-Chairman

White Earth Nation

1

White Earth Reservation Tribal Council

Vacant

Chairman

Steven “Punky” Clark Vice-Chairman

Tara Mason

Kathy Goodwin

Secretary/Treasurer

District II Representative

Steven “Punky” Clark

Kenneth “Gus” Bevins

District I Representative

Kenneth Fox Jr.

District III Representative

Directors

Executive Director

Mike Fairbanks

Deputy Director

Jeri Jasken

Larry Olson

Mike LaRoque

Ben Bement

Elizabeth Foster-Anderson

Scott Omlid

Eugene Vivier

Gail Marsh

Pam Fairbanks

Joan LaVoy

Monica Hedstrom

Thomas Bement

Michael Neusser

Patricia Butler

Alan Roy

Behavioral Health

Human Services

Public Works

Education

Economic Development

IT

White Earth Enterprises

Human Resources

Natural Resources

Health

Public Safety

Finance

Interim Housing

Marketing & Communications

Strategic Affairs

Joe Plumer

Judicial Services

Vision: The White Earth Tribal Council will be a proactive organization that makes sound decisions promoting

mino-bimahdiziwin (The Good Life). The White Earth Nation will be a safe place where all people have access

to quality employment, housing, education, health and human services. While we protect our inherent right

to self-governance and identity, we are a community of respect where cultural, historical and environmental

assests are treasured and conserved for future generations.

Warren King Moorehead

In 1909, President Theodore

Roosevelt dispatched Warren King

Moorehead, a newly-appointed

member of the Board of Indian

Commissions to White Earth. He

was tasked with investigating

rampant land fraud and Indian

Agent corruption on the reservation.

In 1910, Moorehead testified before

Congress on the conditions at

White Earth, advocating not only

for the White Earth Nation, but

for massive Indian Policy reform.

Moorehead’s efforts resulted in

more than 1,000 lawsuits being

filed against defrauders and

forever changed the landscape

of Indian to government relations.

These photos were part of

Moorehead’s Congressional

testimony and were given to the

White Earth Nation this past winter

by the Robert S. Peabody Museum

of Archeology at Philips Academy

in Andover, MA. Moorehead

served as the institution’s first

curator and director.

Old Indian Health Service Building Torn Down

In 2004, the Midwest Regional Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs did a historical review of the old Indian Health Service

buildings. The report indicated that the yellow brick building on top of the hill near the Public Works garage was possibly

part of the White Earth Boarding School and used for storage. It was constructed in the late 1800s to early 1900s.

The white building, shown below, was located on Highway 21, below the Congregate Housing facility. It was housing for

medical staff employed at the old hospital. The original building was built in the 1920s or 1930s. The latest use was by the

White Earth Health Department, which moved into new offices a couple of years ago.

Both buildings were owned by the Indian Health Service. The buildings had fallen into disrepair with lack of recent use and

were demolished. The land was seeded in the spring and turned over to the White Earth Nation. The future use of these

lots is unknown at this time.

3

Maamigan Achigaazo (The Gathering Place)

People on a Mission

The White Earth Child Care/Early Childhood Program wrote

a grant on behalf of White Earth Nation and received a

$121,224 grant from the Institute for Museums and Library

Services to initiate the first tribal public library complete with

a collection of over 5,000 books for children, youth

and adults. In addition to the library, the WECC/ECP

matched a grant from the Minnesota Children’s Museum to

develop a children’s interactive learning Smart Play Spot.

Both have strong Ojibwe culture/language incorporated. A

grand opening celebration was held in August. There are also

17 Free Little Libraries that were built and placed throughout

the reservation to promote reading.

A mission group led by Valerie Red-Horse spent a day at Oshki Manidoo. They washed windows, cleaned

rooms, dismantled three playground sets and helped White Earth elders during their week stay. Another

group of youth from Hill-Murray Prep School in Maplewood, MN spent a week painting and landscaping at

the Roundhouse. They also helped plant cedar trees at the White Earth Pow Wow grounds. Ron and Marilyn

Mitsch generously contributed not only their time and energy to the mission trip, but were also the main

benefactors. A special thank you to Sister Linda Soler who served as the mission trip coordinator.

Both groups have a personal connection to White Earth.

• White Earth Urban Summer Family Picnic

• 5k Walks and Runs

• 8th Annual summer Wild Rice Roundup

• Native Alive Suicide prevention sponsored a four

person team at the Fargo Marathon

• Annual Sobriety Parade

• White Earth Urban Office - Urban Council

• Men’s Night Out

• Bootcamp Fitness Training Offered

• All Community Council Meeting

• 13th Annual Victim Service Collaborative

Conference at Shooting Star Casino

• Take an Elder Fishing on Little Elbow Lake

• 5th Annual Wellness Conference

• 31st Annual Minnesota Indian Education

Association Conference

• White Earth Elders Christmas Party

• White Earth Community Farmers Market

Your Health Matters

Substance abuse has been a sensitive topic on the White Earth

Reservation. Medical director and WERAS manager taught and certified over 100 tribal employees in Naloxone rescue

skills. Naloxone is also known as Narcan. Employees have saved over 12 lives because of the new Minnesota Naloxone

Rescue Good Samaritan Law and the rescue teachings that we’ve provided. More lives continue to be saved!

White Earth Nation Public Health Services has added a new and innovative

approach to client services. This broadens the opportunity to expand

collaborative partnerships, which increase the health of our members.

White Earth Nation Public Health Services has also received several grants

to aide in this improvement.

White Earth Coordinated Assessment Resources and Education (WECARE)

is a coordinated and holistic approach. WECARE goals are to increase

services, referrals, resources, communication and coordination between tribal

programs. Completing a needs assessment with any tribal program will

ultimately decrease duplication in services, specifically targeting the needs

identified by you and your family. In June, Kim Turner was introduced as the

WECARE Coordinator for White Earth Public Health Services. Kim is shown

here explaining the WECARE model in Dallas to one of the grant providers.

Home Health administered over 1,000 vaccines and the Dialysis

Center is now fully accredited. This accredidation allows an increase in

capacity and service to more local patients.

The health of our women, children and teens has increased through various

programs including: Oshki Manidoo Youth Treatment Center, Women’s

Wellbriety Center, Circle Back Center, Dually Involved Youth and Juvenile

Healing to Wellness. Each of these programs have seen increased success

by providing mental health and substance abuse treatment with a holistic

and cultural approach. Each of these programs can be contacted directly by

calling the numbers listed on page 29.

• 10th Annual Ride for the Troops

• Elbow Lake Community Center officially opens

• White Earth Tribal and Community College has 9 graduates

• 4th Annual Hepatitis C Tribal Summit held at Shooting

Star Casino

• White Earth Urban Members - Over 500 attend the

Holiday Party held at Minneapolis American Indian Center

• 3rd Annual Waubun/Ogema/White Earth Holiday feast fed

more than 650 people

• Elders honored at Wisdom Steps Conference

• White Earth Fisheries released 15,000 sturgeon fingerlings

in Round Lake, White Earth Lake and the Wild Rice River

• Biimaadiziiwiin celebrates 10 year anniversary

• Employees and community members donate to blood drive

• Dr. Karen Branden was appointed as Dean of Student

Services at White Earth Technical and Community College

• Annual Caregiver Conference sponsored by White Earth

Health Education and the Land of The Dancing Sky, Area

Agency on Aging

5

DOVE

Celebrating its second year of providing services, DOVE served 65 women and 57 children for a total of 2,214

bed nights in our shelter. In the community we served 115 women, 4 men and 145 children.

White Earth Child Support

Increasing by 5% since 2014, White Earth Child Support had 820 open cases and collected $542,222 toward

current support. 72% of all current collections were collected in 2015 with case loads increasing by 8%.

Indian Child Welfare partners

with MOMS program

Tribal Council approved and provided startup funding for the Maternal Outreach

Mitigation Services Program (MOMS) on April 6, 2015. A Program Manager

and Registered Nurse started April 22nd, with a time line of 60 days to get

a program operational and serving clients. MOMS had their first client

June 15, 2015.

Indian Child Welfare (ICW) partnered with the MOMS program this year

to combat the number of babies being born on our reservation addicted to

heroin. The MOMS program is ground breaking for White Earth because it

is the first to offer medication assisted treatment.

Since the MOMS program opened, White Earth ICW had only

ONE baby born positive for heroin compared to the 48 from

the previous two years. All of these pregnant moms had

healthy babies, born without ongoing heroin exposure and

had no withdrawals. ICW was able to fully support the

parents involved in this program and no foster care

placements were made with any of those children. ICW

was also able to reunite 113 other children with their

parents during the year.

The MOMS Program has had 13 babies born, and every

one of them have come home with their parent and has

not needed medication for withdrawals. There are 32

participants involved in the program.

For more information contact Julie Williams at

218-936-2442 or julie.williams@whiteearth-nsn.gov.

White Earth Mii-gii-way-win Advisory Board

Last fiscal year the Donations Committee comprised of White Earth Nation and Shooting Star Casino

employees approved 103 donation requests for a total of $94,355. Some of the approvals include:

· White Earth Elders Christmas Party

· White Earth Elderly Nutrition Program

· White Earth Job and Career Fair

· Local Community Councils

· Ogema Fire Department

· White Earth Fire Department

· Waubun School

· Mahnomen School

· Circle of Life Academy

· Naytahwaush Charter School

· Sah-kah-Tay Indigenous Preservation Society

(Wild Rice Camp, Maple Syrup Camp,

Winter Camp and Berry Camp)

· Mahnomen/NTW JOM Program

White Earth Urban Picnic

· Mahnomen Women of Today

· Waubun Summer Rec Program

· Mahnomen Area Youth Baseball Program

· Baagosendan Program

· Local Food Shelves

· Waubun Preharvest Festival

· Ogema Community Days

· White Earth DOVE Program

· Sobriety Pow Wow

· Detroit Lakes School, Native American

Awareness Week

· White Earth Indian Child Welfare

· White Earth Early Childhood

· White Earth Tribal and Community College

White Earth Fire Department receives money for radios

Acute Care Men’s Inpatient Treatment

This facility is located on Highway 200 east of Mahnomen. It offers inpatient substance abuse treatment to adult men

by offering a cultural base. Other services include: daily high intensity treatment, access to mental health services, a

public health nurse and a family nurse practitioner on-site. The medication Suboxone is used as a specialty treatment

practice for heroin addictions and cultural practices. Cultural practices include: a sweat lodge on site - offering weekly

sweats, men’s talking circles, various ceremonies, seasonal recreational and traditional activities outside of Acute Care

and access to NA and AA community groups.

7

Circle of Life Academy Celebrates

Achievements and First Homecoming

From 2014-2015 many changes have occurred at the Circle of

Life Academy (COLA). Ricky White was hired as the

Superintendent for the school and helped the school apply for,

receive and implement the School Improvement Grant (SIG).

The Bureau of Indian Education awarded the $2 million grant

over a five-year period. Positive change and accountability in

the delivery of instruction is the main focus of the SIG grant.

COLA has also seen an increase in enrollment. Ending

enrollment for the 2014-2015 school year was 125 students.

Enrollment for the 2015-2016 final enrollment window was

170 students. The excitement of this increase has led to other

new adventures and activities.

A Check and Connect Program was implemented to help

high school students with learning, emotional and/or behavioral disabilities. It pairs students with a mentor to help

coordinate situations and to listen to the student.

COLA celebrated its first Homecoming. There were several

activities held throughout the week, including a school

wide pep fest and homecoming royalty nominations. The

highlight of the week was the first ever Homecoming

football game which was played on Thursday,

September 24, 2015 under the lights of the newly

dedicated George “Porgie” Auginaush field.

The Warriors were victorious over Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig Silver Eagles

with a score of 36 to 8. There were over 500 White Earth community

members in attendance for this historic game. All other sporting

events have seen an increase in games and participation.

COLA Booster Club was formed to help

raise money for student letterman jackets. The

Club’s next goal is to contribute to a press

box and sign for Porgie’s Field.

* This jacket is not the actual

pattern or color but will be similar.

9

Pine Point Students Shine

Two years ago, the Pine Point School had no winner in the annual White Earth

Science Fair. In 2015 the school brought home seven winning projects. Students

were encouraged by new teachers and administration to participate. Pictured to

the right is Teresita Diaz with her award winning project “Backyard Medicine.” She

was also selected to attend a one-week trip to Space Camp at the U.S. Space and

Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Pine Point hosted an Ojibwe Lacrosse Camp in July for youth in grades 3rd

through 9th. Dan Ninham was the instructor and the event was co-sponsored by

DEBWE Youth Center and Honor the Earth.

Students who helped put together the recent edition of the Pine Point Press

were able to travel to Detroit Lakes to see their paper being printed at Forum

Communications. You can view a full color version online at www.whiteearth.com

under the Annishinabeg Today tab.

• Circle of Life Academy wins Snowsnake competition

• Head Start students take field trip to Fur Shack

• Local students attend progressive Farm Safety Day

• Circle of Life Academy shines at Annual Quiz

Bowl competition

• 620 attended Annual Festival for Fathers and Families

• Circle of Life Academy has 5 graduates

• Council donated $80,000 to support toy drive

• Cops and Bobbers on Little Elbow Lake

• 220 attended Week of the Young Child held at

Shooting Star Casino

• Circle of Life Academy hosts Triathlon

• Mahnomen boys golfers won 6A North Section

Championship

• 19th Annual White Earth Career and Job Fair

• Golfers help raise money for Boys and Girls Club

• 15th Annual Brain Development Conference

“Closing the Gap”

Ornaments on Capitol

Christmas Tree

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the White Earth Reservation

were honored to be asked to provide ornaments for the

Capitol Christmas Tree to be

displayed in Washington, D.C.

The tree was from the

Chippewa National Forest and

had 10,000 ornaments covering

its nearly 80-foot height.

Each of the club sites designed

and made their own ornaments

and sent 120 ornaments to

the Chippewa National Forest

where they began their journey with the tree to the Capitol.

• Pine Point students hold Fun Run to raise money for

stray animals

• White Earth Reservation youth attend MN Swarm game

• Naytahwaush Community Charter School students

complete service learning project for local Head Start

• Circle of Life Academy quiz bowl teams square off for

Midwest State Championship

• Joshua Zorns named White Earth Reservation Boys and

Girls Clubs Youth of the Year

• Circle of Life Academy students perform at Holiday Feast

• 3rd Annual Youth Seasonal Berry Camp at Little

Elbow Lake Park

• White Earth Child Care/Early Childhood sponsored a teen

connection project at Circle of Life Academy

• White Earth Boys and Girls Clubs youth attend Cobber

hockey game and meet players

• Mahnomen-Waubun Boys golf team places 2nd at State

Class A Tournament

11

Highlights

• Former District I Representative Irene

Auginaush received a plaque and Honor

Song during the 147th annual White Earth

Celebration Pow Wow for making history as

longest running tribal council woman in White

Earth history, serving 18 consecutive years

• Senator Al Franken fights to invest in

infrastructure and increase public safety in

Indian Country

• White Earth Nation hosts DFL rally at

Shooting Star Casino Event Center

• White Earth Tribal Council and staff members

discuss wildlife with USFWS officials at

Tamarac headquarters

• State voting precinct opens at White Earth

Administration building

• Wilder Research visits to explain

population studies

• Joan LaVoy educates lawmakers on the need

for more state money for Native education

• White Earth is presented with a hand drum

from the Board of Trustees for Casey

Family Programs

Strategic Plan

White Earth’s strategic plan guides departmental activities for the next 10 years. The plan includes housing, public

safety, natural resources, economic development, education, technology, health care and governance among other policy

areas. As a living document, the strategic plan provides strategies and goals for the Tribal Council and its departments to

better serve the public. By integrating Anishinaabe izichigewin miinawaa mino-bimaadiziiwin, the strategic plan strives for

transparent decisions, rigorous public policy development and pronounced public engagement. The strategic plan will be

publicly available this summer.

As part of the strategic plan’s public engagement directive, White Earth’s Director of Strategic Affairs, Alan Roy, has

consistently engaged Minnesota’s Legislature to increase funding for several tribal programs this year that include:

• Health Care (HF3248, SF2668) for $1.4 million

• Indian Child Welfare (HF3248, SF2669) for $1.6 million

• Land Reacquisition (HF2611, SF2527) for 2,000 acres of Potlach Corporation property

• Economic Development (HF3825, SF3459) for $3.25 million

Because of White Earth’s emphasis on stakeholder engagement, our tribal leaders have met with other public officials to

foster positive relationships. Since February 20, 2016, Strategic Affairs initiatives have navigated White Earth’s interests

into the national spotlight and will continue this effort for the foreseeable future.

White Earth Tribal Members Voice Pipeline Concerns

The White Earth Tribal Council held a public hearing on June 4th at the Rice Lake Community Center to discuss

Enbridge’s plan to place the Sandpiper Pipeline through land and water areas impacting tribal lands. Approximately 40

people attended, which featured presentations as well as band members and others voicing their concerns. Lucille Silk

and Michael Dahl are two members who spoke. The meeting was recorded and officials said they would be sending the

recording to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to be reviewed. The 616 mile Sandpiper pipeline proposed

by Enbridge subsidiary North Dakota Pipeline Co. has 300 miles that would cross north-central Minnesota’s lake country.

Teens Represent White Earth in Washington, D.C.

Alexis Belland and Victoria Azure attended the historic White House Tribal Youth Gathering in Washington, D.C. in July.

The gathering is a platform to provide American Indian and Alaska Native youth from across the country the opportunity

to interact directly with President Barack Obama, senior administration

officials and the White House Council on Native American affairs.

Generation Indigenous (Gen-I) Native Youth challenges teenagers to

help improve their community or school. The girls knew that just because

they are young Ojibwe teenagers in a struggling community it doesn’t

mean they can’t make a difference. They signed the agreement to take

the challenge in Waubun.

They teamed up to create a Waubun Running Group and an Annual

Holiday Feast as their community projects as well as other individual

ones. They worked with community and tribal donations by planning, organizing, shopping and working the events. Alexis

and Victoria were chosen to attend this opportunity of a lifetime event because of their committments to the community.

13

Baa-gaa-do-we

Lacrosse

More than 100 kids and 22 adults participated

in the White Earth Nation Youth Lacrosse

Camp held July 6-9 at the Mahnomen Public

School. They practiced skills, competed and

finished camp with an awards ceremony. In

addition to the fundamentals, the youth learned

the history and the cultural significance of

lacrosse. The camp was held in collaboration

with the Minnesota Swarm.

Language and

Culture Camp

The Circle of Life Academy Language and

Culture Camp was held August 3-6 at the

school. About 50 youth attended the four day

event. The youth participated in several

events including talking circles, making hand

drums, learning to bead and quill, lacrosse,

dancing and much more.

Top Left: Students learn lacrosse fundamentals from

Minnesota Swarm players. Top Right: Students put

lacrosse skills to the test. Middle: Pine Point 7th and 8th

grade students drop the honorary ball before Minnesota Swarm

lacrosse game. Bottom: Language and Culture Camp.

Left: The White Earth Honor

Guard was featured in the

May issue of the Minnesota

Monthly magazine.

Top: Circle of Life Academy

Homecoming Game

Middle: Naytahwaush Parade

Bottom: Shooting Star

Casino Contest Pow Wow

White Earth Honor Guard Remembers:

Charles

Wadena

Tony

Ovaldson

Joe

Potter

Porgie

Auginaush

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Korean War

The White Earth Honor Guard also honors and remembers other White Earth Veterans who have

passed, therefore not involved with the White Earth Veteran’s Association. Your service is appreciated.

15

White Earth Nation celebrates many

pow wows through out the year in our communities.

• Honoring Our Mothers Pow Wow - Mahnomen

• Harvest Fest Pow Wow - Naytahwaush

• Rice Lake Memorial Day Pow Wow - Rice Lake

• Pine Point Pow Wow - Pine Point

• Pine Point School Pow Wow - Pine Point

• Head Start Pow Wow - Naytahwaush

• Circle of Life Pow Wow - White Earth

• Annual White Earth Celebration and Pow Wow - White Earth

White Earth Nation celebrates its

147th Annual Pow Wow

June 12 - 14, 2015

Please join us for the

Annual Mother’s Day Pow Wow

May 7 & 8

Shooting Star Casino Event Center

148th Annual White Earth Celebration and Pow Wow

June 10 - 12, 2016

17

White Earth Development Organization (WEDO)

For tribal governmental economic development efforts to be successful there needs to be effective use of

existing resources and extensive communication and collaboration between various tribal departments,

entities and communities. Successful tribal development has occurred and prospered with the separation of

their business entities from day to day tribal processes; WEDO is an organizational method for channeling

and developing a sensible, careful and effective approach to development. Comprised of White Earth’s

planning, economic development, transportation, natural resources, finance, tribal enterprises, history and

culture and communications divisions the main objectives of WEDO are:

• Review proposals

• Community outreach

• Prioritize projects

• Discuss and plan the development of

current and future projects

• Direct and guide projects to their completion

Economic Development Division

Planning • Business Development • Grants

Economic Development

• Creation of the Planning Department to engage and complete projects from White Earth Development

Organization and approved by Executive Director and Tribal Council.

• Foreign Trade Zone – Phase II of this project has secured a firm to submit final paperwork to the Department

of Commerce. This will enhance a future Business and light industrial park located on Highway 59.

• Promise Zone – White Earth Nation, in partnership with Red Lake Nation, submitted an application for

this federal program.

• Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce – Member and supporting Native American Businesses.

Working with Minnesota tribes on consolidation of purchasing power.

• White Earth Market – Final transfer of the White Earth Wild Rice program over to White Earth Enterprises

as a successful stand-alone business.

• White Earth Renewable Energy Solutions brought back to Economic Development Division to assist with

infusing program with additional federal funding dollars.

• Agricultural Think Tank – Created to begin to formulate White Earth Nation’s food sovereignty plan with

emphasis toward: aquaponics, community supported agriculture, mobile food unit, tall tunnels, food shelf,

food distribution enhancement and seed bank.

• Strategic Planning – Community consultation meetings and beginning of process of goals for White Earth

Nation strategic plan.

• Grant Management System (GMS) – Researching new software systems to enable grant tracking

management, accountability and increase efficiency through centralization.

Business Development Department

In 2014, the White Earth Economic Development Division recognized the need to

increase assistance for local entrepreneurs. Gizhiigin, Ojibwe for “grow quickly”,

grew out of that need and established itself as the business development arm of

our Economic Development Division. Understanding that a large portion of our

population are artists, and many artists don’t view themselves as entrepreneurs,

Gizhiigin re-modeled itself in Mahnomen on January 30, 2015.

Over the past year Gizhiigin, has built relationships with the artists in our

communities, listening to needs, interests

and ideas. Together with the artists and

local organizations, we have designed a

service model to address multiple facets

of the arts industry in White Earth and

catalyze the growth of an economy in

which artists can thrive as artists.

Gizhiigin Services

• Increase access to arts and media for

our youth

• Develop the careers of those already

involved in the arts

• Create market access for these artists

and future artists

• Advance our cultural interest

Top Left: “Our Roots Run Deep” Mixed

media piece by Judy Fairbanks.

Top Right: “Quilled Birch Bark Medallion”

by Betsy May

Left: Community members enjoying

the 2016 Needle and Thread Art Exhibit

in February.

Grants Department

Over $31,000,000 in grant, governmental and foundation funding

White Earth Nation Funding Contributors

• American Heart Association

• Becker County Human Services

• Boys and Girls Club of America & Twin Cities

• Child Care Award of Minnesota Northwest

• Citizens Energy Corporation

• Clearway Minnesota

• Department of Health and Human Services

• First Nations Development Institute

• Headwaters Regional Development Commission

• Mahube Community Council

• McKnight Foundation

• Minnesota Chippewa Tribe

• Minnesota Housing Finance Agency

• Minnesota Justice Foundation

• Bush Foundation

• Minnesota Tribal Resource for Early Childhood Care

• Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

• North West Minnesota Foundation

• Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

• State Department of Commerce

• State Department of Education

• State Department of Health

• State Department of Employment and

Economic Development

• State Department of Human Services

• State Department of Public Safety

• State Department of Transportation

19

New Star Service Program Created

Shooting Star Casino created and implemented a new Star Service program

for team members in 2015. The goal was to create a culture of service and

quality by; developing, valuing, motivating and empowering team members.

Team members were given new incentives, discounts and benefits to increase

personal and company success. Shooting Star Casino team members

continue to build strong cultural and community relationships through public

relations and goodwill.

A new vision and mission statement were designed to support the program.

S - Smile & Greet

T - Take Care of Needs

A - Anticipate, Ask & Act

R - Remember to

Thank & Close

Vision:

Creating the most exciting entertainment and gaming experience in the North.

Mission:

Shooting Star Casino will support self-sufficiency of the White Earth Nation by

providing positive financial returns.

StarMart Liquors Opens Tim Hortons Opens

The StarMart Liquors held its grand opening on

September 25, 2015. The first 100 customers

received $5 off gas coupons. Prize drawings and

concert ticket giveaways were held all day.

Hours for StarMart Liquors are 8 am – 11 pm on

Sundays through Thursdays, and 8 am – midnight

on Fridays and Saturdays. For the convenience of

our guests StarMart Liquors is open on holidays.

The official grand opening for the new Tim Hortons

Cafe & Bake Shop was held February 12, 2016 at

the Shooting Star Casino (SSC).

From left to right are Nick Valentine - SSC Chief

Financial Officer, Bill Marsh - SSC General Manager,

Tara Mason - White Earth Secretary/Treasurer,

Benjamin Brant - SSC Food and Beverage Director

and Gary Litzau - SSC Marketing Director

Shooting Star Casino Plans for Two New Casinos

Shooting Star Casino Bagley

Shooting Star Casino Star Lake

Shooting Star Casino looks toward the future for White Earth Nation and announced in September 2015 its plan to open

a second casino near Bagley, Minnesota. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on November 12, 2015. The new casino

will be located off Highway 27, between Ebro and Bagley. Construction is currently underway and is slated to be

completed in the summer.

The new Shooting Star Casino in Bagley, MN, will feature a bar and grill with outdoor seating and dining and a casino floor

with 150+ slot machines as well as table games. The new 21,400-square-foot casino is expected to bring more visitors

and at least 40 new jobs to the city, spurring economic growth for the Bagley region.

Plans for a third casino located on Star Lake near Dent, Minnesota was also announced in September 2015. Construction

is scheduled to begin in 2016 and the projected opening is slated for 2017.

The new Shooting Star Casino project on Star Lake will offer slots, tables, a bar and grill, ballroom and a buffet. The

casino property will also house a gift shop, deli, hotel and an RV Park. This endeavor will present new financial benefits

for the community of Dent, Minnesota, nearby residents and for White Earth Nation. White Earth members will have new

employment opportunities and White Earth Tribal government will have the means to improve it services to enrolled members.

• Jim Foster retires as the Public Relations Coordinator

after serving White Earth for over 25 years.

• Hosted 31st Annual Minnesota Indian Education

Association Conference

• Hosted the 13th annual Victim Service

Collaborative Conference

• New sign installed at the Waubun Head Start location

• John Clark is promoted to Human Resources Director and

Gary Litzau to Marketing Director

• Installs new ScentAir Technology to enhance fresh and

luxurious atmosphere

• EF-1 tornado damages cars and Golden Eagle Bingo Hall

• Hotel team donates Denim Day funds to Boys and Girls club

• Annual scholarship Golf Tournament raises over $27,000

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Workforce Center Construction Begins,

Nearing Completion

The White Earth RTC Employment and Training Department broke ground on September 23, 2015 for

their new Workforce Center in Naytahwaush. The Giwanikimin Supportive Housing Facility and the MOMS

program also held corresponding open houses for their facilities and programs.

The new Workforce Development Center will be a state of the art facility that will help with employment and

training programs. The goal is to assist our participants in gaining and retaining employment while partnering

with area businesses and educational institutions.

The building is scheduled to be completed this spring and will be named “Maadaadizi” Workforce

Development Center at the time of its grand opening. The name is a reference to “a journey” in Ojibwe.

Drug Enforcement and Community Action

The name Operation Bricks of Steel was given to the investigation of 41 Federal Arrest Warrants. On Wednesday, May 27,

2015, those warrants were executed as a result of a lengthy multi-state heroin trafficking conspiracy targeting the White

Earth and Red Lake Nations. Six arrest teams were assigned to apprehend nine of the 41 people named in the indictment

on the White Earth Nation. All nine were apprehended without incident, harm or injury to anyone.

Omar Beasley was the most significant source of heroin in Indian Country. He and the 40 other members of his organization

believed that federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies throughout the region were not speaking with one

another and connecting the dots. The fear with these arrests was that someone else will take their place.

We have remained diligent in the task of apprehending any and all drug related crimes. We created a toll free tip line so

people can annoymously leave tips on drugs and crime in their community. The tip line number is 877-410-8550. Curtis

Rogers was hired as a Community Service Officer to work with reservation communities in planning events and being a

personal connection to the police department.

2015 Calls for Service Information

• Within White Earth Reservation boundaries there were 15,358 calls for service. The White Earth Public Safety Division

responded to 8,987 or 58.52%. *

• Motor Vehicle Department issued more than 3,627 new vehicle registration and registration renewals,

724 picture and descendant ID cards and approximately 3,485 hunting,

fishing and gathering licenses.

• Total Meth off the streets

Total Heroin off the streets

Total Prescription pills off the streets

Total Cocaine off the streets

$370,622

$107,165

$43,550

$860

Total Street Value of all Drugs Seized $522,197

Cash Seized

$19,924

Vehicles Seized 12

Firearms off the streets

16

*non tribal authorities responded to the remainder.

5K Walk/Run

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White Earth Nation Wild Rice would like to thank you for being a valued customer. We

would like to announce that we have been busy with some big changes. Most changes

have gone unnoticed. However, the changes that you will need to take note of are as

follows: White Earth Wild Rice is now being marketed as White Earth Market and is under

White Earth Enterprises. Kaelyn Stalberger was hired to handle all internal and external

wild rice and other product sales. Kaelyn can be reached at our new phone number

218-936-3112 or toll free 844-244-3303. Her email address is rice@whiteearth.com.

We have also added new vendors during these changes. Wild Rice is now sold in over

42 restaurants, grocery stores and gift shops across the United States. This includes

large chains such as Whole Foods and Mississippi Market. If you have any new product

you would like us to consider, sales/vendor information or additional business questions,

please contact Liz Foster Anderson at liza@whiteearth.com or Jessica Johnson at

jessicaj@arvig.net. They can be reached at 218-473-2146.

We look forward to continuing our business with you.

Eating Well

White Earth tribal members

were featured in the

November/December 2015

Eating Well magazine.

The 9 page spread gave

a brief description of

traditional harvesting and

finishing wild rice, as well

as including a few

delicious recipes.

Real Wild Rice

2015 Total revenue - $209,340

2014 Total Revenue - $157,825

2013 Total Revenue - $173,736

2012 Total Revenue - $126,666

Internet sales

$18,427 in 2015

$24,260 in 2014

$16,163 in 2013

$13,269 in 2012

Current Product Line for White Earth Market

White Earth Market supports the economic success of tribal members and maintains our cultural

heritage with a sustainable approach to bringing our wild rice product into new markets.

White Earth Market was recertified - organic from USDA in 2015.

realwildrice.com

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Total Tribal Expenditures

39,694

7,617

380,243

103,694

2,185,982

1,947,511

388,684

14,949,723

6,730,182

14,374,474

2,697,384

White Earth Nation expenditures increased from $63 million in 2014 to just

over $64.7 million in 2015. As our program and service offerings continue to

expand, we will continue to increase our economic and social diversification

with the region.

In 2014 White Earth Nation provided over $38.1 million in

payroll and benefits. This number grows to over

$68.3 million annually when coupled with our

associates at Shooting Star Casino!

Administration • Adult Basic Education

• Anishinaabeg Today • Ambulance

• Archives and Acquisitions • Backgrounds

• Boys and Girls Club • Chemical Dependency •

Child Care • Community Health Representatives • Congregate Housing • Conservation • Diabetes Project • Direct

Employment • Donations • DOVE • Economic Development

• Elbow Lake Community Center • Elderly Nutrition • Elections

• Employment and Training Programs • Energy Assistance • Enrollments • Environmental • Food Distribution • Forestry • Garden

Tilling • Head Start • Home Health • Home Improvement Program

• Indian Child Welfare • JOM • Land Office • Lawn Mowing • Leech

Lake Constituent Office • Legal • Marketing • Mental Health • Minneapolis Constituent Office • Motor Vehicle • MOMS • Naytahwaush

Community Center • Pine Point Community Center • Pow Wows

• Public Relations • Public Works • Rediscovery Center • Rice

Lake Community Center • Road Construction • Road Maintenance • Scholarships • Snow Plowing • Suicide Prevention •

Summer Youth Programs • Tribal and Community College

• Tribal Courts • Tribal Transit • Veterans Services •

Water and Sewer • Water Resources • WELSA •

White Earth Community Center • White

Earth Police Department • Wildlife •

Zoning

27

Tribal General Fund

667,666

1,194,024

11,580

695,457

750,435

2,106,732

1,925,688

20,994

2,548,541

5,158,633

As a segment of total expenditures, the general fund makes up a significant portion of overall

expenses. This fund consists of income from gaming revenue, grants, cigarette tax and sales

tax, some of which are restricted to specific designated purposes. 2015 general fund outlays

totaled $15 million and were allocated by the Tribal Council as outlined above.

Shooting Star Casino Financials

Fiscal Year 2015

Fiscal Year 2014

Fiscal Year 2013

SSC Revenue

$106,190,824

$103,821,100

$105,724,292

Payroll & Fringe

$32,342,989

$30,193,378

$29,598,146

Net Income

$6,609,989

$10,074,149

$12,596,626

EBITDA

$12,987,039

$16,425,884

$18,481,521

Fiscal Year 2015

Fiscal Year 2014

Revenue

$106,190,824

$103,821,100

Expenses

$99,711,369

$93,761,696

Programs and Services Directory

Backgrounds

Behavioral Health

Acute Care

Circle Back Center

Mental Health

Oshki Manido

Substance Abuse

Women’s Wellbriety Center

Business Enterprises

White Earth Builders

White Earth Building Supply

White Earth Business Products

White Earth Sanitation

White Earth Market

218-935-2148

218-983-3286

218-936-5830

218-983-3285 ext 6402

218-983-3286 ext 1284

218-751-6553

218-983-3286 ext 1297

218-936-5653 ext 6202

218-473-2145

218-473-2145

218-473-2146

218-473-3222

218-936-3112

Economic Development

218-983-4640

Gizhiigin 218-936-3100

Education 218-983-4642

Circle of Life Academy

218-983-4180

Early Intervention Program

218-983-3285 ext 5306

Headstart

218-983-3285 ext 1353

MSUM/White Earth

University Program

218-983-3285 ext 5301

Scholarships 218-983-4642

White Earth Child Care

218-983-3285 ext 1380

Boys & Girls Clubs

Callaway 218-375-2220

Elbow Lake

218-734-2419

Mahnomen 218-936-6010

Naytahwaush 218-935-5554

Pine Point

218-573-3328

Rice Lake

218-694-3539

White Earth

218-983-3174

Energy Assistance Program

218-473-2711

Enrollment & Vital Statistics

218-983-4643

Finance 218-983-4645

Health

218-983-3286

Community Health

218-983-3286

Elderly Nutrition

218-983-3286 ext 1266

Diabetes Project

218-983-3286 ext 1356

Health Education

218-983-3286 ext 1356

White Earth Ambulance

218-983-3286 ext 1263

Human Resources

218-983-4646

Human Services 218-935-5554

DOVE 218-983-4656

Employment and Training

218-935-5554

Food Distribution

218-935-2233

Homeless Program

218-983-5554 ext 3263

Resource & Support

218-935-5554

Vocational Rehab

218-935-5554

Housing

218-473-4663

Judicial Services

Child Support Enforcement

218-983-4641

Court 218-983-4648

Indian Child Welfare

218-983-4647

Legal 218-983-4649

Marketing and Communications

Public Relations/Newspaper

218-983-3285 ext 5903

Natural Resources

218-935-2488

Conservation 218-935-2578

Emergency Management

218-935-2488

Environmental Affairs

218-935-2488

Fisheries 218-573-3007

Forestry 218-935-5967

Invasive Species

218-935-2488

Land Office

218-983-4650

Pesticides 218-935-2488

Underground Storage Tanks

218-935-2488

Water Quality

218-935-2488

Wetlands/Prairie Restoration

218-935-2488 ext 2102

Wildlife

218-935-2488 ext 2102

Zoning/Land

218-983-3285 ext 5800

Public Works 218-983-3202

Fleet 218-983-3292

Transit 218-983-3283

Water & Sewer

218-983-3202

Strategic Affairs

218-983-3285 ext 5916

Veterans Service Office

218-983-3285 ext 5904

White Earth Land Settlement

218-751-6619

Weatherization Program

218-473-4663

White Earth Public Safety

218-983-4651

Crime and Elder Abuse Tip Line 877-410-8550

Dispatch 218-983-3263

White Earth Nation

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 418

White Earth, MN 56591

www.whiteearth.com • www.facebook.com/WhiteEarthNation

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