June 9, 2008

White Earth Nation to Purchase Youth Treatment Center with Help of $2 Million in
SMSC Grants, $2 Million in State Grant

Prior Lake, Minnesota - Grants from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community totaling $2 million over two years will help the White Earth Nation provide early intervention and chemical dependency treatment services for their members and other Native American youth. The State of Minnesota has also committed $2 million for the project.

The new White Earth Youth Treatment Facility, formerly the Archdeacon Gilfillan Youth Center in Bemidji, Minnesota, is in the process of being purchased by the White Earth Nation with a $1 million grant in fiscal year 2008 and a second $1 million grant in fiscal year 2009, which begins October 1, 2008. An important component of the facility will be its culturally appropriate programming for tribal youth.

“Many Native American youth are in need of services which this facility will be able to offer. We are glad to have the opportunity to help this important project,” said SMSC Chairman Stanley R. Crooks.

White Earth Nation Chairwoman Erma Vizenor commented on the grant, “The White Earth Tribe is very grateful to the Shakopee Mdewakanton for the generous gift which will benefit tribal youth throughout the state of Minnesota. We will own and operate the youth treatment facility that will be second to none, and we are grateful to Chairman Stanley Crooks and the Shakopee Mdewakanton for helping make this possible.”

The project has an estimated cost of $8.4 million which includes renovations to the facility as well as start up and operations costs. A staff of up to 80 employees will serve as many as 68 inpatient clients.

The 40-acre campus has ten buildings, a pool, volleyball court, two full size basketball courts, eight half basketball courts, a pond, sweat lodge, and a lighted ski trail nestled within tall pines. An onsite school has a gymnasium and a shop area.

“Our goal is to be operational this summer,” said Economic Development Director Dean Johnson, explaining that the first clients are anticipated to enter during late summer 2008.

Up to 47% of youth in the state correction system are Native American despite the fact that American Indians as a whole make up just 1% of Minnesota’s population. The White Earth Youth Treatment Facility will offer rehabilitative services with the goal of preventing youth incarcerations in the future.

Culturally appropriate diagnostic, assessment, rehabilitation, intervention, and treatment services all will be provided at this one location in Bemidji. Services will include a strong family and community connection that includes elders. A concentration will be placed on aftercare and coordination of services when a youth returns home.

Bemidji is located in Beltrami County, which has the second highest Native American population within the state, and is central to the three largest Indian reservations in the state (White Earth, Red Lake, and Leech Lake). According to the request letter from Chairwoman Vizenor, “Each of the reservations have similar stories of long-standing poverty contributing to high rates of alcohol and chemical abuse plagued with mental health issues among youth.”

In May 2007 the Gilfillan Center closed after offering services for more than 40 years with residential and day treatment services for youth with emotional, behavioral, and addictive disorders.

The White Earth Reservation is located in northwestern Minnesota and is one of six member reservations which comprise the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. The boundaries of White Earth encompass Mahnomen County, portions of Becker and Clearwater Counties, and 35 townships over 1,300 square miles.

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation of Bemidji is helping administer the private gift support for the White Earth Youth Treatment Facility. Tax deductible contributions can be made to: NMF – White Earth Treatment Center Fund and sent to: Northwest Minnesota Foundation, 4225 Technology Dr. NW, Bemidji, Minnesota 56601.

For more information about the White Earth Youth Treatment Facility, contact White Earth Economic Development Director Dean Johnson at 218-983-3285.