Indian Land Tenure Foundation's documentary film, "American Indian Homelands: Matters of Truth, Honor and Dignity — Immemorial," was broadcast on commercial television in South Dakota on March 4.  Narrated by ABC News correspondent Sam Donaldson and directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Barry ZeVan, the 78-minute film highlights efforts to redress more than a century's worth of legal and political moves undermining Indian land ownership and sovereignty. The people featured in the documentary, representing culturally and geographically distinct American Indian nations, tell emotional stories of loss and frustration, of bureaucracy run amok and an uncaring system that seems designed to dispossess them.

The Medtronic Foundation joined forces with the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild to educate the public about sudden cardiac arrest during a home game during February, American Heart Month. Fans, who were given surviveSCA.org pucks, had an opportunity to learn about automated external defibrillators (AEDs). An intermission hockey game featuring sudden cardiac arrest survivors generated money for the Midwest Survivors Network for continued education programs and survivor support. The Medtronic Foundation, through its HeartRescue program, has partnered with more than 150 communities and organizations around the world and provided more than $5 million in grants to promote the benefits of early defibrillation and train community members on CPR and AEDs.

The Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation will participate in the 2006 Social Capital Community Survey, Harvard University's in-depth survey about the civic engagement of Americans. Social capital, sometimes called "community connectedness," refers to social networks and the trust and reciprocity that arise from those networks. Studies show that communities with high levels of social capital are likely to have higher educational achievement, better performing government, faster economic growth, and less crime and violence. People living in those communities are likely to be happier and healthier and have a longer life expectancy. The survey, which will be completed by mid-April, will measure the degree of connectedness, interaction and trust among people in Duluth/Superior and in 12 other communities nationally. The survey is being conducted in partnership with eight community foundations and two national foundations. The University of Minnesota Duluth will provide data analysis of the local findings, and preliminary data is expected to be available in late spring.

> Survey Will Gauge Area's Community Ties
Duluth News-Tribune

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans honored eight employees with the 2005 Chairman's Award, given to Thrivent corporate and field employees who reflect the organization's values and demonstrate role-model behavior in delivering the right results, building collaborative relationships, and improving the quality of life for others. Minneapolis honorees are Steve Fredlund, investments asset and liability management actuarial director, and Jeannie LeMere, marketing and products executive assistant.