This week on Minnesota Native News, we hear from a native medical expert and leader, Dr. Mary Owen, who discusses the importance of the COVID-19 vaccination for the native community.

Coming up…
COVID 19 Vaccine rollout in MN is underway.
And Indian Country responds to the attack on the U.S. Capitol building in Washington DC on January 6th.
Reporter Leah Lemm has these stories.

In early December – after years of resistance from many tribes and Native communities – Enbridge Energy company began construction on the new Line 3 oil pipeline in northwestern Minnesota. But work on one section recently stopped because of an Ojibwe ceremonial lodge that stands in the path of the pipeline. Reporter Melissa Townsend tells us what might happen next.

Today, a conversation with Ramona Kitto Stately (Santee Sioux Dakota Nation,) a beadwork artist, teacher, and leader in K-12 Indian Education in Minnesota, who is now Project Director for the We Are Still Here – Minnesota (WASH-MN), a network of people and organizations committed to the Reclaiming Native Truth research and its findings. Ramona tells us how her teaching career began, and how some bad experiences prompted her to go back to school to get her master’s degree in Education, so she could more effectively disrupt the status quo. Ramona Kitto Stately makes the case that Indian Education should be mandatory for all students: when Native history and culture are missing from K-12 curriculum, students are deprived of accurate narratives, and stereotypes continue to thrive. This leads to ill-informed citizens, including leaders, judges, and policymakers. Miigwech to Ramona Kitto Stately for this rich and informative discussion!

This week on Minnesota Native News, we hear the story behind the nearly 12,000 acres of land slated to be repatriated to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and a preview of the new Wonder Woman movie coming out over the holidays.

A new catalog from the Minnesota Indigenous Business Alliance highlights Native artist products and shops in time for the busy shopping season.

Twin Cities based, New Native Theatre presents Good Medicine – the Fourth Annual New Native Theatre Play Festival.

This week on Minnesota Native News, a profile of a remarkable leader. Laurie Stern has the story of Terri Yellowhammer, who was just sworn in as a new Minnesota state judge. She will serve in Minnesota’s 4th judicial district, or Hennepin. County.

A state report released this summer found one third of all Minnesota counties are not complying with the federal and state laws aimed at keeping Native children with their families when there’s a serious problem in the home. Starting in fiscal year 2021 those counties will see a deep cut in their budgets because of the problem. St Louis county – which includes parts of the Fond du Lac and Bois Forte reservations, and the city of Duluth – is one of the counties out of compliance. Today on Minnesota Native News – We ask why St Louis County isn’t complying with federal and state laws to protect Native families in the child welfare system and whether the county will improve after a serious cut in resources? Reporter Melissa Townsend has the story.

Come January, there will be new leadership in the White House with a plan for Tribal Nation relationship…

and Minnesota tribes band together to assist in fighting wildfires out West.

Reporter Leah Lemm has these stories….