This proposal and funding aim to address a crucial need for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. The objective is to coordinate efforts of services and programs within the Leech Lake Reservation to specifically address suicide, substance abuse, and the traumatic impact it has had on our youth. The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe currently has programs that provide services in alignment, which Native Connections funding aims to address. However, due to the operational structure of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, these services are scattered among divisions. These services are under the Health Division, Behavioral Health Division, Addictions and Dependency Division, and the Educational Division. The divisions each operate in a siloed capacity but face similar programming challenges. The challenges include reachability, accessibility, adherence, utility, and, most of all, being ill-informed about the services due to a lack of opportunity to consult or advise on which services or practices are best to participate in or promote. Native Connections funding will allow a consortium of community members, services, youth advisory council, and the scattered divisions address the burdens are impacting the youth of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.
