Giant Red Lake MN black bear

Poached by some idiot near a reservation dump back in September, absolutely disgusting. Don't know how to link websites but Google it and there are plenty of newspaper articles covering it. Makes me wanna puke

Here is one article- http://www.startribune.com/charges-...-bear-on-red-lake-reservation/565905962/

LA can't view it for the stupid pop up

same here.

He deserves to be scalped.

why is killing a bear a horrible crime? especially one hanging around a dumpster.

They are protected on Indian land,and he was also trespassing on Indian land-that's what he was charged with anyway.
Nothing wrong with killing a bear as long as you do it legally.
Plus the moron wasted it.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/...ng-700-pound-black-bear-red-lake-indian. Includes Lacey Act wildlife trafficking, 1 count
Trespass on Indian lands, 1 count

https://www.grandforksherald.com/ne...lack-bear-on-Red-Lake-Indian-Reservation

https://kstp.com/news/brainerd-man-...ck-bear-on-red-lake-reservation/5572601/

That link works. Thanks LA.

Sad to see. it only takes one idiot to - things up for the rest of the community.

That is a crying shame!

The poacher has quite a record according to Minnesota public records

Danny Clifton have you figured out the difference between poaching and killing a bear yet?

no

I can't stand those type of people. He's not a hunter.

I think there is a lot more to this story. For a non native to come that far onto that Rez, take an animal that large, take the time to cut it up and take pictures on site and make it out of there without conflict?
I would not be surprised if a tribe member or two were involved, the compensation having something to do with drugs. That tribe allows zero bear hunting and if there's any poaching to be done on that Rez, they'll be the ones doing it.
Been over there often and it's not a great place for non tribal members.

Osky

Exactly what I was thinking Osky.

Interesting fact is that Red Lake Band signed a Treaty with Canada back in 1826 or so. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Another photograph linked to his GPS location for them to find the DNA evidence of the kill. Watch what you post if you are on the other side of the law when posting with your phone.

Wonder what the skull measurement were for any records that could have been made.
Hope this comes out in court.

Absolutely. There are people in and out of that dump every 5 minutes. Something's fishy with the story for sure. Very disgusting up there as well, they don't even throw their garbage in dumpsters. Most of it they throw right on the ground. Not well maintain at all. That being said, the guy had to be an idiot for getting involved up there anyways.

Can we say douche on Trapperman.com?

Has he been convicted in a court of law, yet?

Not such a great area for tribal members either. Thanks for the insight Osky, that's an angle i hadn't thought about and makes sense

No sadly it's really not Steven. Makes me sad when in town there I drive by the biggest building on the Rez which is the correctional facility.

Osky

I have some first hand knowledge of this story.

When the pics first hit facebook, I tracked down Brett's contact information and told him I would like to write a story on his bear and hunt for Bear Hunting magazine and he was very cooperative. I asked him if he would be interested in doing an interview and we set up a time for later that week (this was early september). I called Clay the owner of Bear Hunting Magazine and he was all over the idea of doing the story on a bear that was reported to be the new Minnesota state record and weighed over 800 pounds live weight.

In the first phone call, Brett told me that he shot the bear on opening day over bait he put out himself. Shot it at 8:00 am and he had passed a 350-pounder just before he shot this one! He also said that he had only put out the bait the previous day. By listening to the story of his hunt unfold, it was clear what he was saying goes against what I know to be good tactics for killing big bears. I thought this was going to be a really cool story because of the crazy way he says he hunted the bear. He told me the bear was shot in the no-quota zone near Bemidji. He also said the bear weighed 729 pounds dressed and a little over 800 pounds live weight. In the second interview, I was going to ask how he got the bear out and where it was weighed. He sent me several photos of the bear including the one you see in the newspaper articles, which I still have.

The following day, I was sent a rap sheet for the guy and told that the DNR was investigating. It was sent to me by an ex sister in law who told me this guy tried to kill her sister and spent jail time for it. Then he did a radio interview in which he told the interviewer some things which conflicted with what he had told me including where the bear was shot. I called Clay back and told him let's hold off and see how this develops. Within one more day, I started to smell a rat and decided not to call him back for the second interview.

Then the photos were taken down off of facebook and I got further information that he was being investigated by the DNR.

Turns out the story was actually entirely fabricated. The bear was never even field dressed or weighed. As you can see by reading the newspaper reports, the whole works was a lie. He's in a world of hurt legally. And yes Osky, there is more to the story that I believe will come out. I can't say more because I don't know anything I can prove, but here's something to think about: Who took the photos of him with the bear?

on a happier note they killed a couple 800 pounders in pa this year and do every year.

sad but all too common story anymore Bernie

i dont have a problem with game laws. to a point. here in ks the price of a deer tag was raised to 52 dollars. sure makes hunting for food seem less likely. seems like the bear killer was either incredibly stupid or thought he was in compliance with the law. these big penis contests, i mean big antler competitions i mean biggest skull contests are going to cause A LOT more problems as time goes on.

There is absolutely NO CHANCE he thought he was in compliance with the law.

no doubt danny,i shot a dandy buck saturday and my 20 yr old said he was gonna steal it and take it to the big buck contest.he was told his cushy life in my basement would end if he did that.--deer aint moved.

He shot it opening day with a legal weapon. Is it possible that a "buddy" told him it was legal to hunt there and an honest mistake? Something about this just doesn't add up.

I do not believe there was any mistake. This guy knew exactly what he was doing. There are no big game maps or illustrations that sho that Rez as open hunting for bears, nor is there a way when buying your license that you can post that Rez as your hunting zone.
Taking the skull and paws only? No big game hunter in Minnesota thinks that alone is allowed.
People hunting bears for skulls. That is a very very tricky thing to do here successfully trophy wise. Very few can make that call ahead of time and most of those who can are very good with cameras, patience, and proximity.
Bears have a prime point in life for bone structure after which like us it deteriorates. Also genetics are involved. I have seen hunters shoot, and I have shot, some incredibly big bears that would not make book via skull size. It is what it is and very tough to judge on the hoof (paw) as they say.

Osky

Previous convictions of illegal taking, posting take on FB, too lazy to skin it out..........we can at least agree the guy is dumb and lazy!
mt

There is absolutely NO CHANCE he thought he was in compliance with the law. [/quote]

He shot it opening day with a legal weapon. Is it possible that a "buddy" told him it was legal to hunt there and an honest mistake? Something about this just doesn't add up.
[/quote]

No chance whatsoever. Plus he didn't have a tag for that area if he had a tag at all. Totally illegal to hunt there.

Good to know. This is the first I have heard about it and wondered if things were exaggerated. I guess not.

Crystal Ball lol....

There is absolutely NO CHANCE he thought he was in compliance with the law. [/quote]
Crystal Ball lol.... [/quote]

It's impossible to hunt there legally you cannot even buy a tag for it. You don't need a crystal ball to know his intentions. All you need is a basic understanding of how bear hunting works in Minnesota.

Crystal Ball lol.... [/quote]

It's impossible to hunt there legally you cannot even buy a tag for it. You don't need a crystal ball to know his intentions. All you need is a basic understanding of how bear hunting works in Minnesota. [/quote]
Oh, so you were there first hand and know for sure that this fella is a bad man, you know, before he is convicted in a court of law. You take the pic?

Too bad there are enough of those type of outdoors person that each state or region has one or more, like having your own town drunk.

Bryce

That's the truth, Bryce. I just read through a few of the warden reports, and there were chock full of poachers killing deer and not registering them, or illegally filling tags for other people, or shooting/shining from roads.

I take offense to the news source calling this guy a hunter. Gives us all a bad name.

Bernie is correct. You do not go on the populated side of that Rez by mistake nor do you make any mistakes while there. The only exception being coming up from midji to the casino and leave the same way. Deeper into that Rez is pretty much like Beana in the old days on whiskey night. Not good.

Osky

Like heck he is. He just thinks he is. If this fella was found guilty in a court of law, by his peers, then maybe you judgmental people would have a leg to stand on. We have a big enough fight on our hands with the anti's, we don't need our own condemning someone because of a article that was most likely printed by a anti. Y'all need to quit eating your own imo.

Your theory that some residents of the reservation sold the suspect the hunt seems very likely. I wonder whether the suspect thought he was legal if some tribal members did give him their permission and assist him?

Keith

You guys from out of state and aren't familiar with this particular reservation, I'd suggest listening to what Osky says about it. One can't mistakenly think it's legal to shoot a bear there, it expressly shows in the regulations there is no permissible harvest there. The Red Lake Nation considers bears to be a clansman and are off limits to anyone.

The Red Lake Nation owns quite a bit of land that is outside of the reservation boundary in many broken up parcels, if this guy had shot that bear on one of those sometimes hard to determine pieces I'd have given him the benefit of the doubt about not knowing, where he shot it there is no doubt about his location. There are only a few good roads in or out of the reservation and they are well marked. There are some back gravel roads that will get one in there but if a person knows where those roads are at there is no doubt in my mind the person knows where he is at.

This guy is in trouble and is lucky that tribal enforcement didn't catch him there, he'd have left with maybe his underwear, they'd have confiscated everything else and good luck getting it back.

I don't give a ding dang about location. He hasn't been convicted of a crime by his peers. Have you the complete knowledge of what happened 9'er? So I say, no thank you, I'm not interested in condemning someone on what could be anti propaganda.

Keith I make all my assumptions based on location of the supposed kill. If it was done that deep onto that Rez
There is no way that guy went in alone. Two or three white people together there would only draw even more attention. I can see no way, if the location is as reported he did this without native help.
As I first posted I THINK there is more to the story, and I do. Catch if you consider that condemning then guilty as charged.
Osky

No I don't have complete knowledge, you are correct it's possible the DNR investigation screwed up. It's no secret that I don't think LE walks on water so cool your jets.

I don't live all that far from where this happened, it's a small world. It's not looking all that rosy for this dude. This isn't anti "propaganda"

They are charging this guy in federal court BTW and that is because it's alleged to have happened on the reservation. I hope this dudes sake he has a good attorney

A few years ago maybe 10 I hunted just south of the reservation Reall good area and was no Quota zone seen and harvested bear ,some real nice ones biggest was 500+ in our party mine was about 375 (Estimated}
0 another member took a 400 # Clearbrook area
Guess I got to rambling the natives became restless and were on the brige hollering insults and we didn't go back

You bring up a good point that this reservation in that it is a sovereign nation. Cases there can be either tribal or federal, rarely state. I believe it is the only reservation of its type in the state.

160 - i think the Nett Lake reservation is just like Red Lake, a sovereign nation with no private land inside it's boundaries

That is possible but I thought it was one of the 7 reservations within the MN agency. The REd Lake band never did sign the treaty and is completely sovereign. Local LE has no jurisdiction there and state/federal laws are enforced through the FBI. I thought it was the only one in the state but Bois Fort could be similar.

I seriously doubt that this pickle smoocher has any buddies.

I was under the impression it is one of two in the nation, the other being the large Navajo reservation in Arizona. I don’t know that it’s true but that is what the evidence suggests to me.

Based on his past"indescretions"I don't think we're eating our own.

I thought I had always heard that Red Lake is the only "closed" reservation in the state and is one of two as Clark mentioned but I'm not positive. Osky would probably be able to dispel any myths we may have or not have.

I'd wager if a guy was on the Leech Lake Reservation and broke a law on land that was owned in common by the reservation he'd have a chance of ending up in federal court. Maybe not, maybe it'd be in tribal court.

I do believe though, his Goose is cooked

160 - i think the Nett Lake reservation is just like Red Lake, a sovereign nation with no private land inside it's boundaries

Net Lake is not a sovereign nation like Red Lake. RL is the only closed rez. in MN. A friend of mine owned a lumber camp inside the NL rez. Got along great with the locals. Sold it to the then mayor of Duluth (for hunting) who didn't get along with them and got burned out. I think some of the old buildings might still be there. Unless the band bought the land it should still be private.

Red lake did not sign a land treaty with the US so they did not "give" their land to the US and then have it given back to them in perpetuity by a treaty. There are no non member private lands I know of within Rez boundaries.
Red lake has a civil and criminal legal system run by and for its own people. However they are still under the Federal Major Crimes act which covers murder, incest, criminal assault and more. The FMC does not cover wildlife offenses.
This all being said the DNR of Minnesota has powers over fisherman on upper red where non members are allowed. MN DNR manages that part of the lake and sets seasons and limits. I do not know if that's representing federal fisheries?
I had to look some of this up so I hope the info is correct. What I could not find and do not know is who has legal authority over a non tribal member poaching within tribal boundaries. I believe the red lake tribal court system is tribal only and non members are handed over to state or federal authorities ( after being thumped on a bit ).

Osky

Another very defiant group. Activities done near that Rez are also best done very inconspicuously.

Osky

That is going to be a packed court room when it comes up.....and a few members of the Bear Clan present.
This is going to be interesting.....



By the way you don't hear a cross-bow go off ...........vs a rifle........when poaching (weapon of choice)

There are hundreds of 1/4 and 1/2 sections across Minn that this band controls just look at their deads, the US gov could not declaire it as surplus because they did not surrender
Little white piliars

I've been told that if you get a traffic ticket in the RL reservation you do not have to pay it because they have no authority over nonband members. I've driven through it many times and I do not stop, and I just mind my manners on the road.

They do not allow nonband people to fish the reservation part of Red Lake, but there are native guides who will take you fishing on other lakes in the res. You better not be on any of those lakes without your guide within arm's reach. They have their own fishing license you have to buy for the res.

I'm sure Brett's defense is going to be that he didn't know he wasn't allowed to hunt there but anyone who has a basic understanding of Minnesota's bear licensing system and the Red Lake res knows that is bogus. No chance he didn't know what he was doing is illegal. How he got someone else to help him (which is the only reasonable explanation at this point) is really the only open question at this point.

He told me that he shot the bear near Bemidji, then he told a radio station that he shot it near a town that's 60 miles from there. That's when I started to smell a rat. I had no idea he had shot it on the res until I saw the newspaper article.

He is posing with the bear and a compound bow, I do not think there was a crossbow involved.

Sure is a lot of fuss over a bear. How many humans got murdered that day? Why isn't anybody talking about them?

I wonder if who ever took him there will be chastised?

What authority will the feds have? Charge him with some kind of trespass? Will taking bear parts out of the reservation into the state be federal?

In the end it was just a bear. No matter what happened. World is full of them.

If/when he is found guilty, I don't think he is in as much trouble as one would think. Probably going to be a misdemeanor and hunting without permission deal. Not even sure if he can be extradited, if thats the term, to the Res. I think extradition has to be reciprocal and doubt it is. JMO

So how come these Indians are being so rough on people coming into the Res?

I can understand if they had the roads barricaded or had a gate that you went around and signs that said “No Trespassing” or “Keep Out” or “Res Indians Only” and you went in then they’d be upset.

But if I was minding my own business driving down some roads for a couple hours and ended up on their Main Street without any warning of not being allowed and 3 Indians came up in my face, I’d be throwing straight rights and left hooks till they all dropped.

Can't block the road to the casino!

Jurassic,they would cut off the soles of your feet and send you packing.On Foot.

Okaaay.

Osky

Careful Jurassic that is the same clan that is in the North-West Angle and some of them trap near you. you should be a little more cultural sensitive.

If you have ever driven through Red Lake you would get that this almost certainly could not be an accident. Red Lake is a rural Ghetto, everything is shot up and and a total mess, the dump is near the center of the Rez if that is where he did shoot it. If this guy did this without Indian help he is either the dumbest or bravest person I have ever heard of, if he did this without help near the dump it would be like going hunting outside Baghdad Iraq by yourself.

Yes that is their reservation land up on top of the Inlet.

Osky

Good luck with that! It’s not 1750 anymore.

Yeah we meet at our spot and trade tobacco and whiskey.

i see the makins of a movie--"The Squirminator"

I have been driving through the rez since the mid 1960's on highway 89 and have seen some things that would make me reluctant to pull anything that might upset anyone there. One time on our way up to our hunting camp we saw a car that had a breakdown on the shoulder of the highway. On our return trip the car was rolled into the ditch and burned. Another time 4 of us were traveling at night to go to a funeral up north and as we tried to enter the reservation they had highway 89 blockaded and were standing there guarding the blockade with AR's. We took an alternate route. There was some kind of a political uprising going on and it was so long ago I forgot what it was about. There was a fire tower there along the highway that had so many bullet holes in it that it looked like a screen and most of the signs looked the same.
I have since had some good dealings with them and got some much appreciated help when a wheel bearing went out on a trailer of mine and I was allowed to park in a guys yard and even use the phone and some of his tools to pull the axle and haul the whole works to Grygla to get the bearing pulled and replaced.

I realize this has nothing to do with the case but might give you some insight into the atmosphere there.

I'll,ask the guys about it when I go over Saturday for our weekly poker game.

Osky

It maybe isn't but if you go on that rez with your attitude you'll disappear and no one will ever find you.

It maybe isn't but if you go on that rez with your attitude you'll disappear and no one will ever find you.

Ya got that right!!!! If Jurassic goes up there I would like to watch!!! I made the mistake of going into the little general store/ bar whatever it was back in the early 80's....learned my lesson...and won't do that again!!!

This is why you guys couldn’t invade Canada. You’re scared of a bunch of Indians. Lol

Not to cause an uproar but I have hunted on the south border close enough to toss a rock into the Res ,It was a sweetcorn patch and the bears were crossing the river from the Res to get it . Had permission and that should be sufficient don't you think? One of you bear guides moved in on me before season was up and I know you know what Im saying is true.You were hanging little drip bags of bear lure , Remember?

Thats true Jurassic,I remember history class,learning about one of the battles in the war of 1812,about 10 Upper Canada militia,got about 30 Indians to cross a field,between some heavy bush,told them to circle back thru the bush and keep doing it for about an hour.
The Americans thought there were about 600 Indians and they turned tail and ran back across the border,lol.

In all seriousness guys that's a rough place and there's a serious issue with people going missing, especially young girls. It's an epidemic. I could tell you stories that get passed around that will make your skin crawl. I know some of them to be true. Many others are I'm sure. It's really sad that people live like so many of them do in this day and age. They take things into their own hands a lot and I don't mean law enforcement.

Another dig at America .Lets be honest if it wasn't for America you guys would belong to China or Russia.The size of your military is just sad.

Canada doesn't even spend the 2% of their minuscule, compared to the US, GDP, for their own and their NATO allies defense like they swore to do.

Keith

We don't need a bunch of money to whip you,we'd do it for free.

Boco, don't be silly. We would never go to war with the USA.


There is no way we could feed or house that many prisoners.

How on earth did we get going in this direction?

Osky

History.LOL.

That's tight keep your head buried in the sand and live in the past.

We don’t have the enemies that you guys have. That’s why. And every time USA goes to war they make sure we are right beside them. Why?

Anyways, I think instead of taking the family to Grand Forks for a weekend getaway we’ll head to this Res and do some sight seeing. Any hotels on the Res you guys recommend?

To have enemies you have to stand for something. Not behind someone.

Guys don't make Canada mad I go there fishing and hunting 10-12 times a year!

LOL,I think Jurassic has relatives on that American rez.
I been to lots of so called "dangerous" Rez-never had any problems,sold a bunch of fur though.They call me the fur trader when I show up and the word spreads fast.I know all the medicine men on the rez's.
I also bring beavermeat to the elders and trade tanned fur for beadwork and smoke tanned hides sometimes.
Real nice when attending feasts,everyone is so down to earth and happy.
When the people don't know you they are always suspicious of your intentions.Once you get to know the people its a different story.

There isn't any.

No hotels but you can stay in the compound.
That is a large area surrounded by fence with razor wire on top. Any non tribal contractors or workers staying on the Rez must camp inside.
I think you'd like it there, enjoy.

Osky

It's a lot of fun attending sporting events there. Only place I ever played at where kids flipped off the bus and threw stuff at it.

I've always said I wish I was an enrolled member of the RL tribe. I'd build a house on the far southwest side. I'd send my kids to school in Clearbrook, TRF or RLCC. Put up a food plot and hunt deer for 3 months. When trapping season rolls around it'd be epic.

And this is the band that was responsable for that attack, That is one reason they have not settled their sovereignty with any government.

Jurassic they own the Casino in Thief River and there is a waterslide for your tribe to use it , their rates are 29$ a night.
Just don't borrow any of their special Reservation licence plates and their vechicles

A 7-800 pound black bear is super rare in northern Minnesota. I’m sure the trophy aspect will come into play. Being from Minnesota I can attest to the kids flipping you off when driving through the rez,a learned behavior I’m sure. Drugs and alcohol are rampant and they are currently facing a opioid and heroin epidemic. A few years ago I read where a 12 or 13 year old boy shot and killed another boy over a ps4 game in red lake.

Hey guys I was just thinking, do you think Santa Claus drops presents off at the Res or just flies over?

t shirt gun from the suburbs

Santa steers clear ever since the Indians jacklighted and shot his reindeer. They even took his boots and made him walk the gravel roads, barefoot, in the snow, until he was off Res.

Keith

So Santa just keeps flying over your house as well as the Res then Jurrasic with that may kids in the household must be a sorry Xmas around there
Keith they were too drunk when they were shooting at Santa's reindeer so no major damage occurred.

They would probably do to santa what they did to that guy who was ice fishing and landed his plane across the line into the res on upper red a few years ago.

no one messes around Seneca ground here.

Oh yes that little incident. I'd forgotten.
As for the alleged perpetrator in this progressing saga, will there be much of a penalty from state or fed if found guilty. A nephew of mine worked with the fellow from the Zimmerman area who just a few years ago was found guilty of poaching quite a number of trophy whitetail in that area. Nephew said the fellow was on Facebook this fall posting hunting pictures again. Hear that type of thing often enough from people a long ways over the limit on fish as well. Back on the water in no time it seems.

Osky

I was glad to see that the MN guys were all pretty respectful. Honest and blunt, but still respectful. Sadly, the same cannot be said for others.

At a previous job, I had the opportunity to work with countless reservation youth in a treatment setting. The conditions in which these kids grow up is nothing short of one big, non-stop, traumatic event. Often times nothing, no one, and no place is safe for them every single day they are on earth. This leads to a form of generational trauma in which it is nearly impossible to break cycles. The conditions on Indian reservations in this country are undeniable proof that these human beings endured one of history's most overlooked genocides. This is a compound issue with no easy solution, assuming any could ever be found to counteract hundreds of years of murder and broken promises.

Jurassic, based on your comments I am going to assume that you don't read many books that are not primarily composed of pictures. Should this ever change, I could recommend a few that give some incredible insight on colonization from an Indian perspective.

I agree that there must be a lot more to the bear story.

Hey guys I was just thinking, do you think Santa Claus drops presents off at the Res or just flies over?


Santa stopped briefly in '09 :
Minnesota's Indian tribes expect huge benefits from economic stimulus
Tom RobertsonBemidji, Minn.May 7, 2009 1:00 p.m.
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Red Lake Reservation border
The Red Lake Band of Ojibwe in northern Minnesota expect to see millions of dollars flowing to their reservation through the federal economic stimulus package. Leaders at Red Lake and other Minnesota reservations say the stimulus will create much needed jobs and help fix crumbling infrastructure.MPR Photo/Tom Robertson
It's been years since the Red Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota has seen such a flurry of economic activity.

The tribe sometimes waits years to get federal funding for things like housing or road repairs. But in just the past few months, Red Lake learned it will receive well over $5 million, and there's probably much more to come.

"It's just been such a breakneck pace," Tribal Chairman Floyd "Buck" Jourdain said. "This is going to happen very, very quickly, and so it's been really fascinating to watch it unfold."

Jourdain says he's amazed at how quickly the stimulus money is flowing.

Chairman Buck Jourdain
Red Lake Tribal Chairman Floyd "Buck" Jourdain says stimulus money will fund construction of more than a dozen homes on the reservation. The tribe has been awarded more than $5 million so far. Jourdain says he's amazed at how quickly the stimulus money is flowing.MPR Photo/Tom Robertson
Red Lake has been aggressive at going after stimulus money.

The tribe hired additional grant writers and planners to prepare. They dusted off plans that have been sitting on the shelf. They're gearing up for lots of new construction activity beginning this spring.

Roads, water, sewer and housing needs are the tribe's top priorities. But there may also be grants, loans or bonding dollars available for other things on the tribe's wish list -- a kidney dialysis center, a new tribal government center, hospital expansion and maybe a convenience store.

""One of the things with Red Lake is that we had shovel ready projects that... we had planned for, but we just never had the resources to be able to do," said Jourdain. "With the stimulus money, we should be able to get some of those done. That money is going to flow into the economy, and I think that's going to be a good shot in the arm, not only for our community, but for the area and the country."

Jourdain says the projects will create much needed jobs.

The stimulus money is coming from a hodgepodge of federal sources. In addition to the $2.5 billion set aside specifically for tribes, there's an additional $2.5 billion that tribes can access through competitive grants.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is dispensing $500 million in stimulus money by boosting its annual appropriation to existing tribal programs.

Red Lake reservation road construction
Annual funding for Red Lake's roads department doubled this year because of the federal stimulus package. The stimulus includes more than $2.5 billion for tribes across the country.Courtesy Red Lake Band of Ojibwe
Ultimately the Red Lake band could get well over $15 million in stimulus over the next couple of years according to Sam Strong, director of economic development and planning at Red Lake.

"We almost doubled our annual funding through our roads department," Strong said. "We're going to be building 15 more homes through the increase in funding through the stimulus. We're going to be receiving five times our annual appropriation for weatherization. Across the board, we're going to see projects that would have taken years to complete, completed within the next two years."

The stimulus money available to tribes across the country targets a broad range of priorities.

There's money to expand broadband, telemedicine and distance learning. There are funds to modernize medical records. There's money available for small business loans, and there are bonding dollars for renewable energy projects.

On the nearby White Earth Reservation, tribal leaders say they expect the stimulus will bring more federal dollars to the reservation than they've seen in years.

The tribe will build 30 new homes with the extra funds. They've applied for other grants, too, including money for more police officers, technology upgrades for their court system and a youth mentoring initiative.

Sam Strong
Sam Strong, Red Lake's director of economic development and planning, says the stimulus will allow the tribe to complete shovel-ready projects that have been unfunded for years.MPR Photo/Tom Robertson
Economic planners at White Earth say parts of the stimulus process have been frustrating.

They point out that White Earth and other less wealthy tribes won't be able to access some of the stimulus money because it requires matching grants, which they can't afford.

On the Leech Lake Reservation, Tribal Executive Director Rob Aitken says leaders there have identified 40 roads that need repair. Stimulus money will allow some of that work to begin this spring.

Leech Lake is also applying for stimulus grants that could help pay for a correctional facility, a new high school, a government center or possibly construction of a hotel.

"We have people working full time on the stimulus package," Aitken said. "We're looking at areas in the stimulus that can help Leech Lake, but we don't want to go after and accept money just for the sake of going after and accepting it and running a program that doesn't fit our needs. But there have been grants that we've been applying for, so we'll start seeing whether we're going to be successful or not in the next month or so."

Indian tribes in northern Minnesota have some of the highest unemployment and poverty rates in the country. So far it's unclear how many new jobs the federal economic stimulus plan will create on reservations.

The stimulus package for tribes includes millions of dollars for workforce development and on-the-job training programs.

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Red Lake Reservation border
MPR Photo/Tom RobertsonThe Red Lake Band of Ojibwe in northern Minnesota expect to see millions of dollars flowing to their reservation through the federal economic stimulus package. Leaders at Red Lake and other Minnesota reservations say the stimulus will create much needed jobs and help fix crumbling infrastructure.

Interesting. I’m just a guy who goes thru there and I generally stop for gas or whatnot. Always children hanging around to buy candy for.
I do not mean to be negative but what native jobs? I saw roadwork being done by outside contractors with natives doing the flagging. No new businesses in town, nothing I’ve seen for housing const. I’m not sure any natives are set up to do their own construction.
Sad

Osky

This brings to mind a story I have often heard about a game warden with the initials of D.F. (who I had the displeasure of meeting once) from Thief River Falls a long time ago. It seems he managed to annoy some of the natives in some manner over a fishing issue where he probably had no jurisdiction anyway. They took it upon themselves to hold him down and insert a small walleye deeply into his butt. I understand he had to have surgery to have it removed. I'm not 100% sure this is a true story but it has been around a long time and if I were you I would be hesitant about throwing straight rights and left hooks since there's no telling how they might retaliate.

Aw don’t worry JP and don’t get wound. Ive got a few feathers i can let you have, blend right in.
Get to be my age and you don’t use em much anyway, they get a bit floppy.

Floppy Feather er I mean

Osky

they'd "pike him"

I have also worked with some of these people in a treatment situation and agree it's hard to combat the generational trauma. I know of several people who have dedicated their lives to trying to help change the course. Life for people on the res so often is going from one crisis to the next. Alcohol, drugs, physical abuse, suicide, incest is all a part of just about everyone's family tree. The hopelessness is palpable.

But blaming what you call genocide is part of the problem, not part of the solution. Nobody alive today was there when North America was settled by the whites. I am not to blame for what the whites did to the natives, and the natives today are not to blame for the horrific things they did to the whites from the mountain men, to the westward migrants, to the settlers. The blame doesn't all lie on the backs of the Europeans. There's plenty of blame to go around for everyone involved. It's time we just got over it because there's nobody alive to blame. I've heard them tell stories about what they teach in their schools that are not historically accurate, and I know a guy who started a campaign to help natives get a college education and went around to schools, etc. explaining that they could have a better life by getting educated and being a part of the solution instead of the problem and he was met with a lot of resistance.

As long as there is a victim mentality rather than an over-comer mentality, things will never change. That's what everyone needs to work towards.

BernieB I agree with what you are saying.

I do believe that when Europeans took over this continent it was indeed a form of genocide, but I do not believe that to be the sole culpable source of the trouble today.

I mentioned it to remind some that it happened, not necessarily to place all of the blame of the current plight on that. As mentioned, it is a layered issue. I hear so many negative and outright disgusting comments toward these communities that it at times can become very frustrating. It is reassuring to read your words as you understand that palpable hopelessness you mentioned first hand. Many do not and I believe that is the root of tremendous ignorance and misunderstanding.

I will always approach topics like this from a recovery and trauma-informed standpoint. As you mentioned, we can only hope that others will slowly transition to this as well.

I slapped a guy around one time with a 12 lb pike.

That sounds fishy.

Say Boco is this one of those “you shoulda seen the other guy” stories?

Osky

Nah,it wasnt really a scrap Osky it was more of an initiation.

I think a lot of their problems on the reservation could be solved if they would assimilate.

Help yourself.

was he tryin to insert it??and the initial image made me laugh out loud and the wife thinks i'm up to somethin.--let her wonder,builds character.

No not assimilate, accept and look forward. Be proud of your past but understand there are new and good ways to move yourself and your family forwards.

Osky

Thats like asking Canada to Assimilate with the USA-Never happen.

What do they have to be proud of in their past?

Keith

More than you I bet.

Agreed Bernie, well said.
Not to mention, they were killing each other and taking over each others lands long before the Europeans got here. No telling how many tribes were killed off or assimilated before the Europeans got here. Actually, might not be a stretch to say we wouldn't know what a live Indian looked like if Genghis Khan, China or Russia would have gotten here before us.

Russia and Japan did get to the west coast well before The Cook expedition.
Look at some of the paleo people and you see clovis points inbeaded into their pelvises so hunted or be hunted as long been in place.

Jurrasic has gone quite...did he go for a side trip and a little rumble.

I should have said "settled" first.

"What do they have to be proud of in their past?"

Obviously nothing. Thank you for the reminder.

Osky

Poacher plead guilty in September and was sentenced on June 9th 2021 to 15 months in prison

If the incident would have happened off reservation he'd have got a fine and walked away. 15 months in prison is nuts, I imagine it was mostly because he trespassed and killed the bear on Indian land.

Any way to find WI black Bear records from years ago?
I have looked but not been successful.

Reason I ask is there was Guy in the town I grew up in who supposedly had the state record black bear.
The story around town was he bought it from the Indians off one of the reservations.

Just curious to see if his name is on the list and how big the bear was.
This would of been in the '60's. Maybe the '50's.