Feds assume control of some Red Lake Nation child welfare services following search

The Bureau of Indian Affairs says it has taken over operation of Red Lake Nation's family and children services.

The action took effect mid-morning on Sept. 10, the same day FBI agents executed a search warrant at Ombimindwaa Gidinawemaaganinaadog, the building where the program operates. Neither the agency nor tribe has said whether the two are connected.

In a statement to MPR News, Red Lake Nation confirmed it received the letter that morning, stating the federal agency would reassume services. "Reassumption" is a term in federal law. It means the government takes back a program a tribe is running, without the tribe's consent.

Joshua Barnett of the Office of Public Affairs for Indian Affairs told MPR News in an email the action was an emergency reassumption. An emergency action requires the government to find an immediate threat of harm to a person’s safety, or serious harm to trust funds or trust land.

Red Lake Nation says the action is limited to federal funding, and that it will continue to operate its human programs “to the extent not affected by the reassumption.”

"The BIA's unfortunate action last week has had a wide impact and we continue to work with BIA on next steps to ensure a continuity of services," Red Lake Nation said in a statement provided to MPR News on Tuesday by Holly Cook Macarro, the tribe's media point of contact.

The change could affect services for Red Lake Nation band members, including child welfare cases. There is no additional information about what prompted the action. The BIA has not released the letter it sent to Red Lake Nation, or any findings that might be attached to it.

In a statement posted to its website at the end of last week, the Bureau of Indian Affairs said it reassumed operations "to ensure the safety and well-being of children and families." The statement went to say that BIA staff "are in place to immediately support the transition and ensure continuity of services."

Red Lake Nation took over child welfare services for its own children in 2021, moving cases from Beltrami County to the tribe under a state program. In its most recent annual report to the Minnesota Legislature, for 2024, Red Lake Nation describes "asserting sovereignty and full jurisdiction over its tribal child welfare cases."

Ombimindwaa Gidinawemaaganinaadog investigates reports of child maltreatment on the reservation and decides which ones the tribe takes on. It handles a few hundred reports a year and screens out the majority of them.

In its report to the Legislature, Red Lake Nation describes the program as one built around keeping families together rather than removing children. The report says more children receive in-home services than in out-of-home care. The tribe has described it as "a paradigm shift towards a relative approach, one that is grounded in Anishinaabeg values and teachings."

The program draws on more than one source of funding. Some of the money comes through the state’s American Indian Child Welfare Initiative. Separately, the tribe has a self-governance compact with the federal government. Barnett, the BIA spokesperson, told MPR News the bureau’s action last week falls under that compact.

The BIA and Red Lake Nation have not said how the change might affect Red Lake families whose cases are in state court.

In a statement posted Sunday to the Red Lake Tribal Council's social media page, Red Lake Nation said it would not release or discuss specific details while the matter is ongoing.

Tribal Chairman Darrell G. Seki Sr. re-stated Tuesday that the tribe is cooperating with federal authorities while the bureau’s moves to staff services.

"The safety and well-being of Red Lake Nation's children and families has always been, and will always remain, our highest priority.”

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