Overview:
The Bureau of Indian Affairs took over the Red Lake Nation’s child welfare program after citing alleged neglect and the deaths of at least eight children, while tribal officials say the Nation is cooperating with federal authorities, has appealed the decision and agreed to mediation.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) took over the Red Lake Nation’s child welfare program last month after negligent practices led to the deaths of at least eight children and the endangerment of others, according to records obtained by the Minnesota Star Tribune.
In September, the FBI raided the tribe’s child welfare program, called Ombimindwaa Gidinawemaaganiaadog (Ombi), which means “Uplifting our Relatives” in Ojibwe. A week later, the BIA assumed the program’s operations. The takeover made headlines across Indian Country and sparked debate on social media about tribal sovereignty.
While the tribe and agencies remained tight-lipped, the Star Tribune obtained a copy of the BIA emergency reassumption notice sent to Tribal Chairman Darrell Seki Sr. on Sept. 9 through the Freedom of Information Act. According to the newspaper’s report, the letter asserted “escalating danger to children served through its child welfare program,” and stated that the program continues to put children in ” dangerous situations where they are subject to abuse and malnutrition, placing them in immediate and significant risk of serious harm, including death.”
It’s alleged that eight children have died as a result of Ombi’s practices: malnutrition, abuse, neglect, and drug overdoses. The BIA said the program employed a convicted sex offender and several convicted murderers and felons.
The letter also states that tribal officials, including Seki and Ombi’s Executive Director Cheri Goodwin, have refused to work with federal authorities to protect the welfare of Red Lake Nation’s children.
The BIA letter pointed to deaths of children in recent years. In 2022, two Red Lake Nation children died weeks after school officials reported to Ombi on the poor living conditions of one of the children. Ombi staff refused to enter the home. Two months after the child died, after repeated refusal by Ombi to remove the remaining children from the home, tribal police removed the children at the direction of the FBI.
The BIA pointed to a 2024 case in which two brothers were murdered by their mother, Jennifer Stately. A jury found Stately guilty earlier this year. Ombi received two mandated reports on the brothers in 2019 and 2021, but refused to hand over records as part of the case against Stately.
A child died in January 2023 from a fentanyl overdose in their mother’s home in Bemidji. Ombi had removed the child from the mother’s custody as the child tested positive for fentanyl at birth, but later placed the child back in the mother’s custody. Another child overdosed on their mother’s fentanyl in July 2023.
This year, two children have died in the same home. Tribal police contacted the FBI to report the first child’s malnourishment and poor living conditions. Ombi staff allowed the parents to maintain custody of their other child, who died later on.
Native News Online reached out to a Red Lake Nation spokesperson this morning, and received the following statement”
“The safety and well-being of Red Lake’s children is, and always has been, our highest priority. We take the concerns raised extremely seriously. Red Lake Nation is cooperating fully with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and is committed to ensuring every child and family receives the care and protection they deserve. Red Lake Nation staff are meeting with BIA staff daily, and the Tribal Council is meeting with the BIA leadership weekly. The Nation has also appealed BIA’s reassumption decision, and the Nation and the BIA have agreed to mediation. Because this matter is ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this time.”
