Northwest Minnesota Foundation Supports White Earth Land Recovery Project

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Bemidji, has supported the White Earth reservation’s economy through a recent grant.

The $25,000 grant was awarded to the White Earth Land Recovery Project to support efforts to enhance and diversify the reservation’s economy through the development of its natural resources.

One aspect of the project will be to assess the tourism economy on the reservation to determine the potential for new native-owned businesses, such as the purchase of resorts by Tribal members, and conducting culturally appropriate events.

Another facet will be to explore the possibility of harvesting natural materials for use in cosmetics. A German company currently working with individuals on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge reservation has been contacted to consider the potential for creating beauty products from wild rice hulls and for other products, such as using essential oils from rose hips.

Finally, White Earth’s Native Harvest is seeking to add value to its maple syrup and wild rice products through improvement, adding longevity and completing an organic certification process.

According to Northwest Minnesota Foundation president John Ostrem, the proposed activities address the foundation’s interest in supporting value-added research for agricultural and forest products. "The foundation is interested in supporting a broad range of economic development activities in the region and on the White Earth Reservation," he said. "We think these ideas have a very good potential of generating jobs and additional incomes for reservation residents."