Boozhoo! (Hello!)

Boozhoo! (Hello!)

Indigenous and Tribal Communities

At MAHUBE-OTWA, we are honored to walk alongside Indigenous and Tribal communities in relationships built on respect, reciprocity, and shared purpose. We strive to ensure that every action reflects the voices and priorities of the people we serve.

We continue to strengthen our capacity to serve Indigenous families by uplifting community strengths, engaging in open and honest dialogue, and weaving cultural understanding and whole-family approaches into everything we do.

 We increase capacity to better serve Native Americans by focusing on the strengths of clients and communities. 

  • We develop communication tools to speak truth about disparities and find new ways to connect authentically across differences. 
  • We strive for diversity, inclusivity, and equity in designing, delivering, and evaluating services, communications, policies and procedures, including cultural training for staff. 
  • We create equitable outcomes for Native Americans who are underserved by community action and local government in our service area, using a 'Whole Family Approach'.
Community Projects

Mikinaak Gitigaan is the Native American name for "Turtle Garden". A gazebo at the center of the garden, with plants all around its perimeter imitates the shape or image of a turtle.

A garden is created!

Community members met in May 2023 to make plans for converting open space on the west side of the Detroit Lakes MAHUBE-OTWA office building into a community garden. The following month, volunteers and staff added raised planter boxes and planted fruit trees, bushes, and flowers, including sacred American Indian medicine plants - cedar, sweetgrass, sage, and willow/dogwood. Over the summer a gazebo was built; children's sandbox, picnic tables, benches, and a pet-friendly dog station were added as well as crushed rock walking pathways. The public can use free wifi and electrical plug-ins to re-charge devices near the garden.

How can I participate?

Everyone is welcome to plant, weed, water, dig in the dirt, or rest, play, walk, picnic, and observe the garden. This is community space with medicines and vegetables available for people to plant, nurture, and harvest food. The space is youth-friendly for children and youth to play and learn about gardening and our natural environment. 

Questions about the garden? Contact the MAHUBE-OTWA Indigenous Outreach/Tribal Liaison at jsyverson@mahube.org.

 

Community-Minded Work

We believe strong communities grow through understanding, respect, and shared responsibility.

 
  • MAHUBE-OTWA employs a full-time Outreach/Tribal Liaison; an Indigenous person who leads the Agency's Ojibwe language table study group and oversees our community Turtle Garden.
  • We prominently display Ojibwe language signs at our offices.
  • We utilize cultural consultants, stakeholder focus groups, and tap into the wisdom and experience of community Native elders. We continually explore ways to connect authentically across differences.
Collaborations
  • MAHUBE-OTWA's Child Care Aware Program builds childcare capacity across West Central and NW Minnesota, including the Red Lake Nation, Leech Lake Reservation, and White Earth Nation.
  • Our Coaches work with providers and tribal licensors to identify informal friends/family/neighbor childcare providers.
  • For over a decade, tribal and non-tribal licensors and providers meet together.
  • The Head Start programs of MAHUBE-OTWA and the White Earth Nation have held an agreement since 1989 to reduce gaps in services to Head Start children living in Mahnomen County, which is located entirely within the reservation boundaries. In addition, both partner Early Childhood Powwows.
  • We deliver home energy improvement Weatherization services on the White Earth Reservation and work together to build tribal capacity to operate the program on their own.
Resources

Please click into the numerous Native American resources below, including podcasts, videos, and websites.