Bois Forte hosting summit on Indian children crisis in Minnesota

TOWER, Minn. – Minnesota’s Indian children are four times more likely to live in poverty than the state’s white children. Twice as many Indian babies die before their first birthday, and fewer than half of pregnant Indian women receive adequate prenatal care compared to their white counterparts.

Appalling statistics like this are the reason why tribal leaders have called for a Summit on the Crisis of Indian Children in Minnesota. The summit will take place Thursday, September 25, 2014 at Fortune Bay Resort Casino from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Tribal, county and state officials will collaborate on ways they can work collectively to improve the lives of Indian children.

“Indians are vastly over-represented in the number of Minnesota children who are removed from their homes, or born addicted to drugs, just to name two examples,” said Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Chairman Kevin Leecy. “Taken as a whole, the situation of Indian children has reached crisis proportions, and that means the future of all Indian Country is in peril.”

The Summit on the Crisis of Indian Children in Minnesota is open to anyone who works with Indian children and families. A block of rooms has been reserved at Fortune Bay, with a special rate for summit participants. Call 218-753-2611 to make a reservation.