Return to Tradition on White Earth

Return to tradition on White Earth Reservation in fight against poverty, hunger

MN Public Radio: Photos by Caroline Yang             

Poverty in Minnesota is on the rise. But census numbers released in September show poverty hits some groups harder than others -- including American Indians. On the White Earth reservation in northern Minnesota, tribal officials estimate up to 50 percent of American Indians live below the poverty line. See more photos and story here: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/04/poverty-hunger-white-earth/#10

Pine Point, Minn. — Waasamoan Neeland, 5, of Round Lake, Minn., showed off her corn husk doll in Pine Point, Minn., on Sept 23, 2011. Neeland was attending Family Fun Day at Pine Point School, where her mother Ashley Martin, 23, was teaching a class on corn braiding to students and parents. The class is part of an effort to teach young people traditional ways of growing, harvesting, and preserving food. Corn braiding involves braiding together the husks of several ears of corn in order to dry and preserve them through the winter. The class was sponsored by the White Earth Land Recovery Project. (MPR Photo/Caroline Yang)     

NOTE: White Earth Elders were the first tribe to "call home" their adoptees in 2007... Trace