U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), ranking member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, announced significant federal funding for public safety initiatives in four Minnesota tribes, as part of a broader effort to reduce crime and combat the opioid epidemic.
The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Red Lake Band of Chippewa, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and White Earth Nation will receive funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, with grants ranging from $450,000 to $900,000. These funds will support various tribal programs, empowering tribes to address violent crime and opioid abuse and provide services to victims.
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“Tribal leaders have been consistently clear that they need more support from the federal government to combat the opioid epidemic and prosecute crimes on their lands, and we have a trust responsibility to help tribal governments protect their people,” said Senator Tina Smith . “Tribes know best how to reduce crime and substance abuse on their lands. These grants directly support tribal solutions to these challenges.”
Each of the four Minnesota tribes receiving funding will implement projects tailored to their unique needs. The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe will focus on expanding their response to the opioid crisis, while the Red Lake Band of Chippewa will improve services for child sex crime victims and implement a medication-assisted treatment program.
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe will work to increase accountability and reduce recidivism through a culturally based Healing to Wellness Court. White Earth Nation will expand their Wellness Court, aimed at promoting long-term recovery and safety within the community.
“This grant is critical to increasing our ability to respond to the opioid epidemic. By hiring additional staff, we will enhance our efforts to connect people affected by addiction with the resources they need for recovery,” said Leech Lake Tribal Police Chief Kenneth Washington. “Our goal is to break the cycle of addiction and provide real support to individuals and families affected by this crisis.”
Senator Smith has long advocated for Tribes and consistently pushed for federal assistance through Congress’s appropriations process. Her Justice for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence Act, which was signed into law in 2022, allows Tribes to prosecute non-Native perpetrators of crimes such as sexual assault, domestic violence and sex trafficking on tribal lands.
This legislation was part of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, further emphasizing her commitment to public safety within Indigenous communities.
The recently announced funding will not only strengthen public safety measures, but also allow Minnesota Tribes to lead efforts in addressing pressing issues, such as opioid addiction and child abuse, through tribal solutions. These initiatives represent an important step forward in the fight to protect and heal Native communities across Minnesota.
List of funded projects:
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
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Children’s Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities Program ($450,000): Funding to staff a Child Advocacy Center to investigate child abuse cases.
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Healing to Capacity Building of Wellness Court ($516,703): Expanding capacity for Mille Lacs’ culturally based justice system.
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Youth and Academic Cultural Intervention ($500,000): Supporting youth care aimed at reducing absenteeism and disciplinary problems.
Red Lake Band of Chippewa
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Children’s Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities Program ($450,000): Improving services for victims of child sex crimes, including trauma-informed approaches and traditional healing ceremonies.
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Red Lake Detention Medication Assisted Treatment Program ($900,000): Implementation of medication-assisted treatment to address opioid addiction in the detention center.
White Earth Nation
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Leech Lake Community Opioid Response Project ($897,429): Hiring case managers and administrators to coordinate resources for opioid addiction recovery.
About the author: “Kaili Berg (Aleut) is a member of the Alutiiq\/Sugpiaq Nation and a shareholder in Koniag, Inc. She is a staff reporter for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. Based in Wisconsin, Berg previously reported for the Ho newspaper -Chunk Nation, Hocak Worak She originally attended nursing school, but changed her major after finding her passion in communications at Western Technical College in Lacrosse, Wisconsin.
Contact: kberg@indiancountrymedia.com
