{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.smith.senate.gov/u-s-senator-tina-smith-tribal-leaders-announce-tribal-public-safety-projects/", "U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Tribal Leaders Announce Tribal Public Safety Projects", "2024-10-08", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MN", "Tina Smith", "S001203", "www.smith.senate.gov", "tinasmith", "https://www.smith.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "MINNEAPOLIS, MN \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, announced funding for seven public safety initiatives for four Minnesota Tribes. The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Red Lake Band of Chippewa, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and White Earth Nation received federal funding ranging between $450,000 and $900,000 for various Tribal programs aimed at increasing Tribal capacity to respond to violent crime, opioid abuse, and assist victims. Projects will be tailored to each Tribe\u2019s unique needs, from expanding Tribal Courts\u2019 capacities for home visits and supervision, to hiring staff to investigate child abuse and neglect cases, to onboarding personnel who coordinate resources to help those dealing with opioid addiction. Tribal leadership in Minnesota have long advocated for greater federal assistance for Tribal public safety efforts to respond to the opioid epidemic and violent crime.\n\n\u201cTribal 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 assist Tribal governments to keep their people safe,\u201d said Senator Tina Smith. \u201cTribes know best how to reduce crime and substance abuse on their lands. These grants are directly supporting Tribally-driven solutions to these challenges.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis grant is crucial in enhancing our ability to respond to the opioid epidemic. By bringing on additional staff, we will improve our efforts to connect those affected by addiction with the resources they need for recovery. Our goal is to reduce the cycle of addiction and offer real support to individuals and families impacted by this crisis,\u201d said Leech Lake Tribal Police Chief Kenneth Washington.\n\n\u201cWe are deeply thankful for the support provided through this funding. The opioid crisis has had a profound impact on our community, and this grant will empower us to better serve our people by expanding essential services and support systems. It is through initiatives like this that we can foster healing and work toward a healthier future for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe,\u201d said Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Chairman Faron Jackson Sr.\n\n\u201cWith funding from these two awards, Red Lake will be able expand services for children who may have been victims of crime, in a culturally-based and trauma-informed manner. And Red Lake will also be able to provide medication-assisted treatment at the Red Lake Detention facility as part of our efforts to address the opioid crisis and heal those in need. The result will be a safer community for everyone,\u201d said Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Chairman Darrell G. Seki Sr.\n\n\u201cWe extend our heartfelt appreciation to Senator Tina Smith for her unwavering support of Minnesota\u2019s Tribal Nations. These grants not only reflect her commitment to our community but also provide us with the resources needed to enhance the well-being of our members and uphold our cultural values. Together, we can continue to build a brighter future for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe,\u201d said Virgil Wind, Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.\n\n\u201cWhite Earth Tribal Court is thrilled to be awarded grant funding from the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation for their Wellness Court program. The funding will help the program to continue improving the quality of life of the participants in leading clean, sober, independent and productive lives; with the option of participating in the best-practices principles of an Anishinaabe Mino-Bimaadiziwin (The Good Life) traditional/cultural model of living life,\u201d said Lori Thompson, Court Administrator for White Earth Tribal Court. \u201cThe program helps protect the public through increasing public safety, reducing crime/recidivism, and making participants and the community whole by giving clients the option of both modern and traditional support options.\u201d\n\nA full list of projects and funding amounts can be found below.\n\nMille Lacs Band of Ojibwe\n\nChildren\u2019s Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities Program ($450,000)\n\nThis funding will be used to staff the Child Advocacy Center (CAC), which investigates child abuse and neglect cases, in addition to serving children and families impacted by child abuse and neglect.\n\nHealing to Wellness Court Capacity Building ($516,703)\n\nThis funding will expand MLBO\u2019s Court of Central Jurisdiction, a culturally based Tribal Healing to Wellness Court. Project goals include increased capacity, increased accountability, greater Tribal community support, and reduced recidivism.\n\nYouth and Academic Cultural Intervention ($500,000)\n\nMLBO will hire or transition two staff into a Youth Facilitator and Cultural Apprentice position, who will meet work with youth in the area to develop tailored Youth Service Agreements. Goals include reducing absenteeism, reduction of disciplinary referrals, and academic improvement.\n\nRed Lake Band of Chippewa\n\nChildren\u2019s Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities Program ($450,000)\n\nThe Red Lake Band of Chippewa will enhance the existing Red Lake Victim Services program and establish a multidisciplinary team that focuses on services for child abuse. Red Lake will hire a full time Child Crime Victim Specialist and will contract with a trainer to provide traditional healing ceremonies.\n\nRed Lake Detention Medication Assisted Treatment Program ($900,000)\n\nRed Lake will use this funding to develop, implement, and operate a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program in the Red Lake Detention Center to combat the opioid crisis.\n\nWhite Earth Nation\n\nWhite Earth Wellness Court ($895,556)\n\nWith this funding the White Earth Tribal Court will promote community safety and well-being through intensive court supervision, frequent home contacts, and increase participants\u2019 ability to live independently to create positive changes that lead to a reduction in drug abuse and associated criminal activity and reduce re-arrest rates.\n\nLeech Lake Band of Ojibwe\n\nLeech Lake Community Opioid Response Project ($897,429)\n\nWith this funding, LLBO will hire a case manager for the police department to help coordinate resources and connect citizens to support after contact with law enforcement related to opioid addiction or overdose. LLBO will also hire a court administrator who will be responsible for helping to connect individuals on probation with the case manager and for tracking the impact of this coordination on the outcomes of those served by this grant.\n\nSenator Smith has long been an advocate for providing Tribes with the help they need to keep their members safe. She routinely advocates for robust funding of these programs through the Congressional appropriations process. Her Justice for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence Act, which allowed Tribes to prosecute non-Native perpetrators in cases of sexual violence, domestic and dating violence, sex trafficking, stalking, and obstruction of justice committed on Tribal lands, was signed into law as part of the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization in 2022.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:55:29Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.smith.senate.gov/u-s-senator-tina-smith-tribal-leaders-announce-tribal-public-safety-projects/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7174189668148756, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}