Minnesota Department Of Corrections issued the following announcement on Nov. 23.
On November 17, a Native American celebration and feast was held at MCF-Moose Lake in recognition of Native American Heritage Month. All 11 Tribal Nations in Minnesota were invited to attend, and some of the guest attendees included the Chairman of the Red Lake Nation, Darrel Seki, along with four district representatives of the Red Lake Nation, and Chairman Dupuis of Fond du Lac of Lake Superior Chippewa. Native American men incarcerated at MCF-Moose Lake participated, along with members of the DOC executive team and leadership staff.
A drum group of incarcerated Native American men provided an opening song and then the Pipe Carrier offered an invocation in Ojibwe. Prior to the meal several speakers shared remarks, including MCF-Moose Lake Warden Brian Collins, DOC Commissioner Paul Schnell, DOC’s Tribal Liaison Wendy Spry, and Patina Park, Executive Director of Tribal Relations for the Governor's Office who shared a message from Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan.
Following the meal, keynote speaker John Poupart, Lac du Flambeau (WI) Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians, spoke of his own incarceration and finding a positive new path. When he got out of prison he focused on employment, sobriety, and education, and earned master’s degree from Harvard University. He initiated and ran a halfway house, and worked for the Department of Corrections for eight years as a program director. He noted that he will be 57 years sober on Christmas Day 2022.
Overall, it was a very positive event with an energy of hope and gratitude.
Original source can be found here.
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