On Thursday, October 12th, 2023, several MMCDC and White Earth Investment Initiative staff members participated in a productive tour of each of the White Earth villages to better understand the needs of the reservation and discuss potential collaborations with other area groups.
The tour brought together White Earth Tribal Council Members Mike LaRoque and Eugene Sommers, White Earth Executive Director Laurie York, and representatives from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Indigenous Visioning, and West Central Initiative. Representatives from MMCDC and WEII included Julia Nelmark, Scott Omlid, Audra Tonihka, Tim Swenson, Heather Hamlin, and Laura McKnight.
A joint conversation among these groups in June and the desire to see first-hand some of the ideas for collaboration sparked the idea for this tour. The ensuing outing was a day spent building partnerships with the intent to combine resources and expertise to cooperatively address community needs.
The White Earth Tribal representatives discussed several possible projects and said the Council will determine which one they would prioritize for the groups to work on together. Projects MMCDC and WEII have previously worked on in the area include White Earth Tribal and Community College, the Naytahwaush Clinic, Oshki Manidoo (New Spirit Center) near Bemidji, and the Naytahwaush Charter School.
MMCDC and WEII look forward to collaborating on future endeavors with all groups involved with the tour. The mission of MMCDC is to assist communities and individuals in achieving a better quality life.
