On Wednesday, October 25, a dinner conversation called “Let’s Talk” will be held at the Northern Lights Casino. The talk will be about County Government and Tribal Government. Sponsors hope that both Tribal members and other County citizens will attend the complimentary dinner and participate in the conversation.
The speakers who will lead the conversation include Leslie Harper, Leech Lake Band Government Relations; Josh Stevenson, Cass County Administrator; Earl Robinson, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Director of Human Services; and Michele Piprude, Cass County Director of Human Services. Dr. Anton Treuer, Professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji University, will open the discussion with a talk about Tribal Sovereignty.
The sponsors of this event are the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Union Congregational Church of Hackensack and its Justice Ministry Team, and the Fetzer Institute. The Fetzer Institute is a foundation whose goal is “Helping to Build the Spiritual Foundation for a Loving World.” The Institute has provided funding that enables us to offer a free dinner to the first 100 persons who register to attend the program. The goal of the Justice Ministry Team is to become better neighbors to the Native Americans in our community.
In order to register for the dinner program, Tribal members are asked to call the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe at 218-335-8200 Ext. 8246. All others are asked to call Union Congregational Church, Hackensack, at 218-675-6300. Be sure to leave the names of all members of your party who will be attending and your phone number. High school students who are interested in this discussion are welcome but the program is not suitable for younger children. Seating for the dinner will start at 5:30 p.m. People who are unable to attend the dinner are welcome to come for the program at about 6:45 p.m.
The sponsors of the program sincerely hope that attendees will be willing to sit down at table with people they do not know. The point of the effort is for Native Americans and Non-Native Americans to converse with each other. So Let’s Talk!