News

Leech Lake Tribal College, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and RREAL Solar Energy Project Wins Environmental Initiative Award

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 15:51:00 GMT

Leech Lake Tribal College No. 1 community college in U.S.

Tue, 22 Aug 2017 05:00:00 GMT

Study: Leech Lake Tribal College No. 1 community college in U.S.

http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/4315486-study-leech-lake-tribal-college-no-1-community-college-us#.WZt5cx_XIH8.facebook

By Barry Amundson on Aug 21, 2017 at 4:02 p.m.

CASS LAKE, Minn. -- Leech Lake Tribal College in northern Minnesota had some good news on their first day of classes Monday, Aug. 21.

The Cass Lake college was named the best community college in the U.S.

The study by personal finance website WalletHub ranked more than 700 college and technical schools across the U.S. based on affordability, student-faculty ratio, graduation rates and job placement.

The Cass Lake college currently with 190 students this fall semester was established by tribal resolution by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in July 1990.

The college had a campus in Red Lake on that tribe’s reservation until this past spring when they split off on their own.

The school offers such classes as forestry ecology, law enforcement, Ojibwe language, carpentry, Anishinaabe studies and tribal administration. Its liberal education programs with an emphasis on sciences are the most popular.

College marketing specialist Ryan White said the school was ranked 54th in the study last year so moved up quite a ways.

College president Pat Broker said categorically she can say they are doing a lot of things right at the campus, but she said it boils down to the students. She said she is amazed by their resiliency and perseverance.

As for the cost factor, Broker said they try to get as many students as possible to be debt free after completing their two-year programs through keeping tuition low, financial aid and help from the tribe.

“This is just fantastic news,” she said.

LLTC Hosts Law Enforcement Training On Safety Issues Involving Meth Labs

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 19:51:00 GMT

BSU Signs Dual Enrollment Agreements With Leech Lake Tribal College and three other Tribal Colleges

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 05:00:00 GMT

Lakeland Currents sits down with Leech Lake Tribal College

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 06:00:00 GMT

In 1990, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe established its Leech Lake Tribal College, first offering courses in extension from the University of Minnesota – Duluth, Bemidji State University, and Itasca and Brainerd community colleges. The tribal college celebrated its first graduate in 1993, and then 17 more in 1994. Today, there are approximately 350 students enrolled at the college, and it has celebrated more than 525 graduates. Join us as Larry Aitken, the founder and first President of Leech Lake Tribal College who still is an Ojibwe instructor, and Melanie Wilson, Director of Assessment and Institutional Research look back at the past 25 years.

Leech Lake Tribal College Conducts Taser Training

Wed, 15 Feb 2017 06:00:00 GMT

LLTC Library named in honor of Larry P. Aitken

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 22:05:00 GMT

Today, we honored Leech Lake Tribal College’s founder and first president Bezhigoogahbow “The one who stands alone” Larry P. Aitken. The event’s attendees represented a who’s who and was comprised of many trail blazers for Indian Education in Minnesota and Nationwide. Key speakers included Dr. Will Antell, Dr. Monnette, Leroy Staples Fairbanks III, LLTC President Dr. Ginny Carney, LLTC Board of Trustee Chair Vickie Howard, and MN District 5A Rep John Persell. The speakers shared wonderful stories about Larry Aitken, the hard work that was done to turn a dream into reality by starting a Tribal College here on the Leech Lake Nation. As Larry Aitken says “This is a dream university! We live in a phenomenal time.. A time when we can learn on our own land, from our own people, and on our own terms!” Our campus community is buzzing this year with the return of Larry Aitken to Leech Lake Tribal College. He will be teaching a few courses this Fall and Spring semesters. On behalf of everyone here at LLTC, our students, our staff and faculty, our alumni, and our nation we’d like to say Miigwech!

New Board of Trustee Pat Broker sworn in today

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 21:59:00 GMT

LLBO Secretary/Treasurer Archie LaRose & LLTC Board of Trustee member Pat Broker

Today, Leech Lake Tribal College welcomes our newest Board of Trustee member Pat Broker. Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Secretary/Treasurer Archie LaRose performed the swearing in ceremony.

LLTC Alumni Leslie Harper & the Every Student Succeed Act (ESSA)

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 06:00:00 GMT

LLTC Alumni Leslie Harper will help draft proposed regulations in parts of the Every Student Succeed Act (ESSA).

LLTC Alumni Leslie Harper and Emmy Winner

The U.S. Department of Education named committee members who will draft proposed regulations in parts of the Every Student Succeed Act (ESSA) that replaced the outdated No Child Left Behind Act.

The committee consists of many constituencies ranging from state administrators to teachers from throughout the United States.

Leslie Harper was nominated by the National Coalition of Native Language Schools to serve as a participating alternate committee member. The Negotiated Rulemaking Committee is convened to represent the parties that would be affected by rulemaking to develop proposed regulations that address issues related to the implementation of programs under Part A of Title I, Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies, of the elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act.

U.S. Department of Education states the committee will draft proposed regulations in two areas: (1) requirement that federal funds supplement, not supplant, non-federal funds in high-need schools, (2) assessments, which will have great impact in all learning communities.

Under this law, states are given more responsibilities to develop educational program standards, processes and assessments. Rules pertaining to assessments are methodologies as to how they are administered; technology, timeliness, transparency of data reporting, fairness, adherence to civil rights for underrepresented populations is topic of consideration. The ESSA also requires districts to demonstrate how they will ensure schools receives all of the state and local funds awarded and provide flexibility in distributing some of the Title I funds.

“I’m excited to use my training and education in public policy to address the issues in education. I enjoy researching and developing public policies and I am a passionate advocate for participatory decision making at all levels. I’m glad that I have an opportunity to bring in my skill-set and experiences developed here at home in Ojibwewakiing to represent many of our peoples who will be impacted by the implementation of this law. I am honored to bring in a voice to help ensure that our native nations have clarity and authority to effectively implement the ESSA,” Harper said.

Harper is a class of 2005 alumna of the Leech Lake Tribal College and received a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from NAES College. She is the founder of the Nigaane Ojibwe Language Immersion Program at the Bug-O-Nay-Geshig Schools. Furthermore, she also participated in an Emmy Award-winning documentary “First Speakers.” She is currently the executive assistant within Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe’s tribal government offices.

“The College is proud of Ms. Harper’s accomplishments and her advocacy for the well-being of our community. In education, it is important to recognize the inclusion of tribal leadership as a constituency of the ESSA committee. This demonstrates the acknowledgment that the U.S. Department of Education view tribal voices should have a seat in the formation of education policies that will affect all students alike,” says Amarin Chanthorn, director of Institutional Advancement.

For more information on the Every Student Succeed Act, please visit http://www.ed.gov/ESSA for more information.

LeRoy Staples Fairbanks donates $13,000 to LLTC

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 06:00:00 GMT

March 18, 2016 – The Leech Lake Tribal College received a $13,000 donation from LeRoy Staples Fairbanks towards a $50,000 endowment scholarship fund. This marks the beginning of the final phase of giving, with the remainder of the pledge to be completed later this year. Friends, family and staff members were present for the check presentation event hosted on campus.

“What Mr. Fairbanks and his family have done is investing in the future of our community. In any successful community, there exist three characteristics: economics, leadership, and education. You need those three things to create community viability and I’m glad Mr. Fairbanks has the foresight to invest in education, which I believe direct correlation to the other two components,” said Amarin Chanthorn.

Mr. Fairbanks made a brief statement prior presenting the check. He stated how growing up in a poverty has made him more keen to invest in education while he has the means to provide others the opportunity to alleviate some of the burdens associated with attending college.

“I want to start a movement where our people strive for a better life and education is a way to achieve that. I hope to inspire other to invest in education, not just K-12, but in higher education as well. The fund is not a quick fix; it’s a long-term investment in people, in trust they themselves will be able to pay-it-forward one day in their own manner,” said Representative LeRoy Staples Fairbanks.

The LeRoy Staples Fairbanks Sr. and LeRoy B. Fairbanks Scholarship is intended to award returning sophomores to LLTC to help with tuition, books, supplies, fees and other associated costs of education. The recipient of the first award was Andrea Brown and this year’s award winner to be selected later this spring. The scholarship was established in 2013 in honor of Mr. Fairbanks uncles, with a $50,000 pledge to be completed in four years. The pledge and donations thereafter is the largest scholarship fund at the College. It is projected to distribute multiple awards annually in the upcoming years.

“I may not have another opportunity where I am financially able to do something like this. So I made the pledge because I know this will have long lasting impact far after I’m done with my political career. By creating an endowment fund, I know it will continue to sustain itself and provide the assistance our students need. It’s a worthwhile investment in our community,” said LeRoy Staples Fairbanks.

The Leech Lake Tribal College provides accredited higher education grounded in Anishinaabe values. The College has articulation agreements with area colleges and universities. The College has recently established the “2+2 Program” with the University of Minnesota Duluth to help ensure positive transition to a four year university.

To learn more about opportunities to support the Leech Lake Tribal College and its mission to provide accredited education grounded in Anishinaabe values, please contact Amarin Chanthorn at (218) 335-4262 or amarin.chanthorn@lltc.edu or by visiting our website at www.lltc.edu.

Leech Lake Tax Commission donates $5,000 to the Clem Nason Memorial Scholarship Fund

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 06:00:00 GMT

Everyone at LLTC would like to say Miigwech to the Leech Lake Tax Commission for the donation of $5,000 to the “Clem Nason Memorial Scholarship Fund” carpentry program. The Leech Lake Tribal College offers certificates, diplomas, and degrees programs. This fund will have great impact on the students to afford costs associated with the program.

The Leech Lake Tax Commission is always looking to find ways to positively impact the community and it was only logical to contribute to the future of Leech Lake through LLTC’s carpentry program.

If you wish to donate to the College scholarship funds, please contact Amarin Chanthorn at (218) 335-4262 or amarin.chanthorn@lltc.edu

For more information about the Industrial Residential Builders Program, please visit our website at www.lltc.edu for more information

Solar-Panel Installation Internship for LLTC Students

Wed, 08 Feb 2017 06:00:00 GMT

Press Release: September 1, 2016
Hands-on solar installation paid internship opportunity for current Leech Lake Tribal College’s Integrated Residential Builder students! Work with RREAL to install 200kW of solar on the Leech Lake Reservation, and obtain your needed registration to facilitate future work in the industry. Prepare your resume, be ready for an interview, and connect with Rochell Carpenter for more information by September 23rd!

And for more details:

On an individual level, low-income households spend on average 15% – 20% of their income on energy-related expenses. This puts a strain on already tight budgets and makes families significantly more susceptible to rising energy costs. Helping households save money on energy directly translates into a family’s ability to cover their other basic needs, including food, housing costs, education, transportation, child care and medical expenses. On a macro level, renewable energy provides broad community benefits, including local jobs, economic growth, private investment, utilization of local renewable resources for energy production, and lower rates of pollution. In short, solar provides significant benefits to low-income people who need it most.

Solar energy promises the opportunity to permanently address energy poverty with a renewable, locally produced, sustainable source of energy. Yet, solar energy systems are out of the reach of the low income families that could benefit most from the corresponding reduction in energy costs. While residential solar installations are booming in Minnesota and throughout the country, most are being installed to benefit relatively higher income households, depriving less affluent individuals and families the benefits of solar energy, resulting in a renewable divide. Mainstreaming solar energy beyond early adopters will require the adoption of more inclusive policies, programs, and financing options, as well as targeted education and marketing. Incorporating solar investments into existing programs for low-income Americans could provide long-lasting reductions in low-income household energy spending and reduce overall demand for energy assistance.

Solar has long been seen as a technology reserved for the wealthy and those passionate about environmental preservation and change. And, historically, the high cost of solar and the emphasis on incentives in the form of tax credits has put solar out of reach for the majority of individuals and families. Recently precipitously falling prices over the last decade, coupled with creative financing approaches, makes solar accessible for an increasing portion of the population. Because of these changing external conditions, combined with a positive political climate for solar development, this issue is now ripe for action. There is a critical need now to begin deploying solar to low-income communities and to develop effective models and policies to scale this development rapidly and broadly.

Having deployed over 425 single-family residential solar energy systems, RREAL envisions making significantly greater impact through the Community Shared Solar model. Centrally-located solar electric arrays, commonly called Community Shared Solar, promise to remove many of the obstacles to ownership in renewable generation, such as lack of a suitable site due to shading or other issues, or being a renter. Community Shared Solar offers the potential for more people to participate in the renewable economy.

With support from the Initiative Foundation, RREAL’s pilot Community Solar Assistance project on the Leech Lake Reservation, the first 100% low-income community solar installation in the State of Minnesota, will provide a unique capacity-building occasion to support training and renewable employment opportunities for band members. Select trainees will obtain their Registered Unlicensed Electrician license as required by the MN Department of Labor and Industry, and be prepared to also assist in the Solar for Schools installation occurring later this year at the Leech Lake Tribal College. Minnesota has some of the strictest laws in the nation regarding who is qualified to install solar energy, and this entry level designation will position trainees for a growing number of clean energy job opportunities across the state and beyond.

This internship opportunity is funded by the Initiative Foundation – their statement is: “This project was funded in part by the Initiative Foundation, a regional foundation.”

BJ Allen

Special Projects Manager

3963 8^th St. SW

Backus, MN 56435

218-947-3779

Direct: 218-209-5584