District III

October 2025 District 3 Report

Aaniin Anishinaabe. I hope this message finds you and your families in good health and high spirits. As September draws to a close, we take this opportunity to reflect on the successful completion of the wild rice harvest season. The harvest is more than just a gathering of our sacred food, it is a time of gratitude and reaffirmation of our connection to the land, water and each other.
Good luck to all of our school sports teams competing this season. May your efforts be rewarded with success, teamwork and pride. Remember to have fun! We are proud of our youth and look forward to celebrating your achievements both on and off the field.

9-10 Lower Rice Lake Opening. It was a beautiful day at Lower Rice Lake as the season officially opened. The weather was perfect and the lake was bustling with activity, lots of ricers and canoes making their way across the water marking the start of our harvest season.

We are proud to share that the Tribe has purchased approximately 320,699 pounds of green wild rice this year, reflecting the dedication and hard work of our harvesters and the importance of this cultural tradition. We thank everyone who participated in making this season a memorable one.

9-11 The White Earth Community Council, Matt Smith from Public Works, and I met with a vendor to discuss the development of a splashpad for the White Earth Community located near the playground and basketball courts. This exciting addition would provide a fun space for families to gather and stay cool during the warmer months. The Tribe has submitted a grant application to support this project demonstrating our commitment to enhancing community amenities and creating more opportunities for family recreation and connection. We look forward to the possibility of bringing this splashpad to life.

9-17Tribal leaders convened with the State Tribal Partnership Co-Chairs, ICWA Court Judges and other key stakeholders to engage in important collaborative discussions. This meeting served as a platform for ongoing consultation between the White Earth Nation, the State-Tribal Partnership, ICWA Courts and the Supreme Court Council for Child Protection and Maltreatment Prevention. During these discussions, tribal leaders and staff shared their recommendations on how to improve communication and notification processes to better serve our communities.

They addressed both what is currently working well and areas where improvements are needed. The goal of this collaborative effort is to strengthen partnerships, enhance understanding and ensure that tribal voices are effectively included in child protection
and maltreatment prevention initiatives. We remain committed to working together to create a more responsive and respectful system that honors tribal sovereignty and prioritizes the well-being of our children and families.

9-18 I met with another splashpad vendor to discuss options and ideas for White Earth Community. These discussions are an important step toward bringing this exciting project to life and enhancing our community amenities for everyone to enjoy.

9-24 Tribal leaders and staff engaged in consultation with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Commissioner Arnold and her staff to discuss various topics including Consumer Alerts, Insurance: Property and Causality-a listening session for tribal members will be set up, Energy Assistance Funding and an overview of the Department of Commerce’s programs and initiatives. These discussions aim to enhance our understanding of available resources and explore opportunities for collaboration to better
serve our community’s needs.

I attended first Callaway Community Council Grow and Gather event. A shout out to the Callaway Community Council and volunteers for hosting their first event that was a huge success. A variety of vendors from burgers/fries, lemonade, mini pancakes, clothing, baked goods, salves, purses, beadwork, slime station, bouncy houses for the kids, pumpkins for the kids to paint, apple cooks off and fireworks! Something for everyone. Your hard work created an event that brought people together to have fun, laughter and make memories! We are excited to see the positive impact you’ll continue to make in the
community. Miigwech!!

Callaway Boys and Girls Club
We are actively recruiting qualified staff including a Unit Lead and Youth Development Professionals to meet the needs of Callaway Club. If your youth are interested in joining, please encourage them to complete their applications as soon as possible. Applications can be submitted online through My Club Hub at: https://bgcwhiteearth.my.site.com/portal/s/login/.

We will keep the community updated on our progress throughout the hiring process and are excited to announce that once all preparations are complete, we will host a Grand Opening Event. A huge Thank you to City of Callaway for their valuable partnership in helping us bring the Boys and Girls Club back to the community. We truly appreciate
your dedication to strengthening our community and investing in the future of our children.

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting the 2026 White Earth Youth of the Year event in early January at the new Callaway site. We encourage all club teens to begin preparing by speaking with their Unit Leads, starting their applications and
developing their speeches.

For teens who are not yet part of the club, this is a great opportunity to get involved! Please reach out to our New Teen Coordinator to learn more about how to join and become an active participant in the club community. We look forward to seeing our
youth showcase their talents and leadership at this special event!

Construction Progress on Transit Facility
Work continues at the site of the new Transit Facility in Waubun. Currently, crews are completing underground plumbing and electrical installations in preparation for the next major phase, pouring the concrete foundation. Once the concrete is in place, steel framing will begin. Although the project is currently behind schedule, contractors remain optimistic. They anticipate regaining lost time during the framing phase and expect construction to be back on track shortly thereafter. If progress continues as planned, the transit facility is projected to be completed by July 2026.

White Earth Water Treatment Plant
Groundwork is officially underway for the new White Earth Water Treatment Plant in White Earth, marking the start of a two-year construction project aimed at improving the community’s water infrastructure. As part of the initial phase, the remnants of the old Government Garage were removed to clear the site for development. The first construction coordination meeting took place on Sept. 9 and the contractor is preparing to pour concrete. The goal is to have the building structure in place by the end of the
year.

As part of the project, new piping will be installed to connect the treatment facility to the community’s source water wells. This will require excavation along the curb of Marten Drive and residents may notice some temporary disturbances in the area. The construction team asks for the community’s patience and understanding as this important work gets underway. The contractor plans to begin installing the new piping to the existing treatment plant before the end of September.

Pine Point
Discussions continue about pedestrian and bicycle safety sidewalk in Pine Point. White Earth Public Works submitted a grant application, if awarded, will cover the costs associated with completing the Pine Point project design (project plans) and the required environmental work. The proposed sidewalks are identified as priorities in both our Long-Range Transportation Plan and our White Earth Tribal Roads Safety Plan. These documents serve as key planning tools and support our efforts when applying for transportation-related funding. If we are successful in receiving the planning grant, we will be able to complete both the design and environmental phases of the project. This will position us to be “shovel ready” and competitive when additional funding opportunities arise to support the construction phase, based on the estimated costs outlined below.

We want to extend our continued thoughts and prayers to all members of our community who have experienced the loss of a loved one. We recognize that recent times have brought an increase in grief, affecting individuals of all ages within our tribal community. During this difficult period, please know that you are not alone, our community stands together in support.

If anyone would like to reach out, visit or discuss any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to listen and offer support in any way we can. Remember, supporting one another is essential as we navigate these challenging times together.

Miigwech

Contact information:
Laura Lee Erickson
laura.erickson@whiteearth-nsn.gov
Office: 218-935-6238
Cell: 218-401-1153
Facebook: VOTE LAURA LEE

Assistant for District 3
Tiffany Swiers
Office: 218-935-6235
Cell: 218-997-9124
tiffany.swiers@whiteearth-nsn.gov