Prairie Island, Minn., Indian Community

The following is from the Red Wing, Minn., Republican Eagle:

Prairie Island Indian Community sends its condolences

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

By Amber Mensen, staff writer
amensen@republican-eagle.com

Members of the Prairie Island Indian Community joined hundreds of other Minnesotans on the steps of the state Capitol Tuesday to take part in a traditional Indian prayer service.

Members of the Red Lake Reservation are mourning the deaths of 10 people following Monday’s shooting in Red Lake.

“In a tragedy like this, it affects everyone, maybe more so because it’s another Indian community,” said Prairie Island Tribal Council member Ron Johnson.

“I know that some community members are married to some of the band members, but as far as information if any of them are relatives of victims of this tragedy, I don’t know,” Johnson said.

“We’re all impacted by this tragedy,” he added.

Council members called Red Lake chairman Floyd “Buck” Jourdain on Monday to send their condolences.

Prairie Island Indian Community spokesperson Jake Reint said the island’s church will likely hold a prayer service Sunday in remembrance of the Red Lake Reservation tragedy.

“We offer our sympathy and our heart goes out to the people at Red Lake,” Reint said.

“For the time being we’re going to mourn this tragedy and look if there’s any kind of funding set up with any organization,” Johnson said.

“Obviously it’s pretty chaotic up there still, so they’re probably at a point where they don’t even know what type of help they need,” Reint said.

Fund information

At least three funds have been set up to remember the victims of the Red Lake tragedy and to aid their families.

• Red Lake School Tragedy Assistance Fund
St. Philip’s Church
702 Beltrami Ave. N.W.
Bemidji, MN 56619

• Victims’ Families of Red Lake Memorial Fund
First National Bank
P.O. Box 670
Bemidji, MN 56619

• Red Lake Nation Memorial Fund
P.O. Box 574
Red Lake, MN 56671

 © 2005 Red Wing Republican Eagle