Bethany Klemetsrud

1. Bethany Klemetsrud Underage Drinking Task Force White Earth Reservation, MN

2. Past and Current Prevention Efforts; Our Culture is Prevention • White Earth Tribal Court • 2001 started Peacemaking Circles in 2001 in an effort to reduce juvenile crime on the reservation. • 2002, we began to focus our efforts on reducing youth drinking (about 90% of youth crimes were committed while they were under the influence of alcohol.) • 2004, we began providing prevention programs in 5 of our communities using White Bison’s “Sons of Tradition and Daughters of Tradition” curriculum in the schools and community centers. Over 200 youth have graduated from these programs. Underage drinking has reduced as a result of these efforts and more of our children are involved in cultural activities such as the drum, pow wow, and traditional ceremony than we have seen in decades. • In 2005, the Mahnomen County Peacemaking Circle Coordinator started a first time minor consuming program that educated youth on the harmful effects of alcohol. Today, youth crime has decreased by over 50%.

3. Sons and Daughters

4. White Earth Wellbriety Coalition and the Wellbriety Movement of the Ojibwe • In the fall of 2004, the White Earth Wellbriety Coalition and the Wellbriety Movement of the Ojibwe were born. • The White Earth Wellbriety Coalition quickly grew to over 50 members. The coalition has been very active in the area’s of fund raising, sober event planning, and our Wellbriety Family Sober Camp. • In 2005, the coalition was successful in negotiating with two new convenience stores that were going to sell alcohol on the reservation.

5. The White Earth Underage Drinking Taskforce • Presentations, personal testimonies, state and local statistics. • The youth also ask community members to sign an oath not to buy alcohol for underage drinkers and for youth to vow not to drink. These oaths will be displayed in the public schools and posted in the local newspapers.

6. Mock Party DispersalLaw enforcement from two of the three counties and our Tribal Police department collaborated and were trained on Controlled Party Dispersal. Approximately 15 law enforcement officers attended the training. We also had a mock dispersal exercise that included our youth volunteers. We conducted the exercise in one of our Tribal Housing units.

7. Bagosendaan (Hope) is a prevention program utilizing equine therapy, talking circles, and life skills to enhance our children’s self esteem and problem solving skills. Youth participate in riding at powwow’s competitions, and trail riding. This program has been very successful at deterring our youth from underage drinking.

8. The White Earth Wellbriety Drum was honored to be selected as the National Wellbriety Drum group by White Bison for the years 2005-2010. This is the first of 100 Wellbriety Drums in the United States, all of the drums will come together at a gathering in 2010. White Earth has committed to healing and wellness in all of our communities which also indicates that we are committed to reduce underage drinking.

9. The Future • The Community Council will be working in developing youth councils in each of the tribal villages to collaborate in creating and promoting healthy and alcohol free event and activities. • The White Earth Wellbriety Coalition is working towards requiring parents to attend a one (1) hour forum on drug and alcohol prevention before students are allowed to attend prom. • The Coalition is also working on stopping underage drinking at our Casino. We will be developing policies and procedures with the Security and Surveillance departments. • WE Fest is the largest outdoor country music festival in the United States in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota which is a border community of the White Earth Reservation which draws over 50,000 in attendance annually. Many of those who attend are underage drinkers. It is the Coalitions intent to reduce underage drinking by negotiating with event promoter to have separate underage camp grounds with increased security.

10. Thank You!