DENNIS: I'M DENNIS ANDERSON ALONG WITH JULIE ZENNER.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

JULIE: THE CITY OF DULUTH AND LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION ARE PUMPING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO A HOUSING TRUST FUND DESIGNED TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.

DENNIS: WE'LL CELEBRATE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH WITH TADD JOHNSON, THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBAL NATION RELATIONS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

JULIE: AND THE OPENING OF MINNESOTA'S FIREARMS DEER HUNTING SEASON IS ONE OF THE TOPICS IN OUR "VOICES OF THE REGION" SEGMENT.

DENNIS: THESE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ ♪ DENNIS: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH," THANKS FOR WATCHING.

LOTS OF FOLKS GATHERING AT THEIR DEER HUNTING THIS WEEKEND.

JULIE: THE WEATHER SHOULD BE PRETTY NICE FOR THIS WEEKEND.

DENNIS: LET'S BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.

JULIE: THANK YOU.

THERE WILL BE TWO NEW CITY COUNCILORS FOLLOWING THIS WEEK'S ELECTION IN DULUTH.

AT-LARGE COUNCILOR-ELECT AZRIN AWAL WILL JOIN SECOND-DISTRICT COUNCILOR-ELECT MIKE MAYOU ON THE COUNCIL IN JANUARY.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT RENEE VAN NETT WAS RE-ELECTED IN THE DISTRICT 4 RACE WHILE TERESE TOMANEK WAS RE-ELECTED AS AN AT-LARGE COUNCILOR.

DENNIS: DUUTH NATIVE THOMAS -- DULUTH NATIVE THOMAS NIDES WAS CONFIRMED AS AMBASSADOR TO ISREAL THIS WEEK BY THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

NIDES IS A 1979 GRADUATE OF DULUTH EAST AND IS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR AND VICE CHAIR OF THE INVESTMENT BANKING FIRM MORGAN STANLEY.

NIDES HAD PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS A DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

JULIE: BOTH MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THEY WILL BEGIN VACCINATING 5 TO 11-YEAR-OLDS, FOLLOWING CDC APPROVAL OF THE PFIZER VACCINE FOR THAT AGE GROUP.

IN MINNESOTA, OVER 500,000 YOUTH WILL NOW BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE.

THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS MORE THAN 1600 WISCONSONITES UNDER THE AGE OF 20 HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED SINCE THE COVID PANDEMIC BEGAN.

DENNIS: AND 19 NEW DEPUTIES AND CORRECTIONS OFFICERS WERE SWORN IN THIS WEEK BY ST. LOUIS COUNTY SHERIFF ROSS LITMAN.

THE CEREMONY WAS HELD WEDNESDAY AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING IN DULUTH.

SHERIFF LITMAN ALSO INTRODUCED HIS COMMAND STAFF, WHICH INCLUDES SIX NEW MEMBERS DUE TO RETIREMENTS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

JULIE: A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DULUTH HAS BEEN A LONG-TERM PROBLEM FOR THE CITY.

MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MAY SOON BE ATTAINABLE, THANKS TO A PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORP., OR "LISC."

THE CITY AND LISC ARE INVESTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN A NEW HOUSING TRUST FUND TO LEVERAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS DULUTH MAYOR EMILY LARSON.

AND PAM KRAMER IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DULUTH LISC, WHO RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HER PENDING RETIREMENT AFTER 25 YEARS WITH LISC.

YEARS WITH LISC.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

CONGRATULATIONS, AFTER A LONG AND STORIED CAREER.

MAYOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

MAYOR LARSON: THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

JULIE: LET'S START WITH YOU.

TELL US ABOUT THE DULUTH HOUSING TRUST FUND AND WHY THIS IS EXCITING.

MAYOR LARSON: IN THE CITY ADDRESS THIS YEAR, I ANNOUNCED WE WOULD BE CREATING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND TO HELP FILL THE MATH AND FUNDING GAP WE OFTEN SEE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE REHABILITATION OF EXISTING HOUSING, TO ADDRESS INFILL OPPORTUNITIES.

AT THE TIME OF THE STATE OF THE CITY, WE COMMITTED $2 MILLION, BUT WE DOUBLE DOWN AND COMMITTED $4 MILLION, AND CITY COUNCIL HAS SUPPORTED THAT.

THE TRUST HAS BENEFITED FROM TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WE ARE PARTNERING WITH DULUTH LISC, WHICH IS EXCITING.

WE HAVE $6 MILLION TO WORK WITH THAT IS AIMED AT ADDRESSING AND LEVERAGING AND BUILDING A CAPITAL STACK TO GET MORE UNITS INTO THE CITY ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY.

DENNIS: JUST HOW SERIOUS IS THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DULUTH AND WHAT IS CONSIDERED AFFORDABLE?

MAYOR LARSON: GREAT QUESTION.

WE GAUGE AROUND AREA MEAN INCOME AND MEDIUM INCOME.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO GAUGE THAT.

REALLY WHAT WE ARE FINDING, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUE TRULY IS A CRISIS.

IT IS A CRISIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO MUCH SO WE HAVE CHOSEN TO PRIORITIZE IT.

SINCE BEING MAYOR, I'VE INVESTED $19 MILLION, WE CREATED A HOUSING DEVELOPER ON STAFF AND WE HAVE A CITY COUNSELOR ASSIGNED TO THE HRA AND WE'VE LOOKED AT, RINSE OF MANNING AND ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND TRYING TO USE ALL OF THE POLICIES THAT WE HAVE AT HAND.

WHAT IS EXCITING ABOUT THE TRUST FUND IS IT WAS WORN OUT OF THE TASK FORCE, THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE I PUT TOGETHER PRE-PANDEMIC -- I HAD TO REMEMBER THE TIMING.

THE NUMBER ONE RECOMMENDATION THEY HAD WAS HOUSING TRUST FUND.

SO TO PARTNER WITH LISC AND PAM, IT IS REALLY EXCITING.

JULIE: PAM, WANT YOU TALK ABOUT HOW DULUTH LISC FITS INTO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND AND LENS WITH THE OTHER WORK YOU DO?

PAM: HOUSING HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR LISC FROM THE BEGINNING, WHICH IS 24.5 YEARS AGO.

HOUSING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND ENSURING WE HAVE A MIX OF HOUSING TYPES AND DEVELOPERS AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS ENGAGED IN THIS IS CRITICAL.

WHAT LISC IS DOING IS WE ARE BRINGING $2 MILLION IN DEDICATED LOAN DOLLARS BUT ALSO COMMITTING TO WORK TO RAISE ANOTHER $4 MILLION.

IT IS A PERFECT ARNER SHIP OF LOOKING AT -- PERFECT PARTNERSHIP OF LOOKING AT, WE ARE BEING VERY CREATIVE ABOUT THE SMALLER UNITS, MORE INFILL, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, AND HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT WE ARE REACHING SOME OF OUR DISTRESSED PROPERTIES BUT ALSO FILLING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

DENNIS: AS YOU LEAVE LISC, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

PAM: I THINK THAT WE WORKED COMPREHENSIVELY, WE WORKED WITH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND PUBLIC SECTOR.

AND WE BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER SO THAT THEY COULD VOICE WHAT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WERE -- NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS WERE.

WE ARE LOOKING AT HOUSING DEVELOP MEANT BUT ALSO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, HOW DO WE ENSURE WE HAVE SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT HAS BEEN A HOLISTIC APPROACH.

ONE ASPECT OF IMPROVING YOUR COMMUNITY IS NOT ENOUGH.

YOU REALLY NEED TO ENGAGE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

I AM VERY PROUD OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.

AS A PARTNER, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH MINNESOTA HOUSING, AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE EXCITING THINGS TO ME TOO IS WE ARE ONE OF THE SMALLER LISC SITES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND WE HAVE BEEN HERE THIS MANY YEARS.

WE HAVE CREATED OVER $110 MILLION IN RESOURCES, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE HERE FOR THE LONG TERM AND ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND THOSE WHO LIVE HERE.

JULIE: ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED WAS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

MAYOR LARSON, I THINK THE FIRST TIME I MET YOU, YOU WERE WORKING FOR A DULUTH LISC PROGRAM, DULUTH AT WORK.

YOUR HISTORY GOES BACK A LONG TIME.

MAYOR LARSON: IT DOES, PAM AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER A LONG TIME, BUT IT IS DULUTH.

[LAUGHTER] FROM ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT PLACES.

I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL AFTER HAVING KIDS, GOT MY MASTERS DEGREE, AND I DID MY INTERNSHIP EVEN WITH LISC BEFORE COORDINATING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MODEL, DULUTH AT WORK.

THAT IS WHEN MY BABIES WERE TINY, AND AS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, THEY ARE GROWN AND OUT OF THE HOUSE.

IT IS FUN TO HAVE THAT RICH HISTORY TOGETHER.

BUT A QUARTER-CENTURY OF TREMENDOUS INVESTMENT AND LEADERSHIP ACROSS THESE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.

THE CITY OF DULUTH IS TREMENDOUSLY LUCKY WE HAVE HAD A LISC OFFICE.

DENNIS: TELL US ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THE HOUSING TRUST FUND WILL INCLUDE.

MAYOR LARSON: THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

THE THING THAT IS NICE ABOUT THE TRUST FUND, IT CAN BE QUICK MONEY THAT CAN BE INVESTED RIGHT AWAY.

MANY PROJECTS WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST TAKE MULTIPLE YEARS TO FUND.

THEY ARE COMPLICATED, YOU HAVE TO HAVE -- YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS.

THIS IS CASH ON HAND.

WE CAN INCENTIVIZE AFFORDABILITY BY SAYING IF YOUR PROJECT HAS THIS MUCH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE CAN GIVE YOU THIS MUCH CASH TO WORK WITH.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY PAY BACK MONEY ALTHOUGH PART OF IT IT IS -- PART OF IT IS.

THERE ARE SOME VARIABLES.

THE OTHER THING I AM EXCITED ABOUT IS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MONEY IS TIED TO QUALIFIED SINCE HIS ZONES, VERY TIED TO GEOGRAPHY.

THIS TRUST FUND CAN BE USED THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF DULUTH.

IT CAN BE USED ON INFILL PROPERTY WHILE YOU WILL CREATE AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT THAT WILL BE AFFORDABLE.

IT CAN BE USED IN A 20 UNIT BUILDING.

IT CAN BE USED AT A MOM-AND-POP DUPLEX.

THIS IS VERY FLEXIBLE MONEY.

WHAT WE ARE HEARING AS PEOPLE NEED FUNDING AND RESOURCES NOW.

ANY PEOPLE HOUSE NOW.

WE ARE SEEING MORE PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH HOMELESSNESS, WE ARE SEEING MORE PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH AN UNSHELTERED AND LIVING LIFE OUTSIDE.

THESE ARE PEOPLE IN DULUTH WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, IT IS NOT AN INFLUX FROM OTHER PLACES.

THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY AND THIS IS A BIG THING WE CAN DO NOW TO TURN MONEY AROUND AND GET IT INVESTED.

JULIE: PAM, WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

HOUSING HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF YOUR LIFE AND WORKING TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW THAT YOU'VE GOT THIS ONE CHECKED OFF YOUR LIST AND WILL BE RETIRING?

PAM: WELL, I'M GOING TO STAY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

I'M GOING TO DO SOME TRAVEL, SPEND SOME TIME WITH FAMILY, AND I HOPE TO BE ENGAGED IN HELPING MOVE FORWARD OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS A REALLY IMPORTANT EFFORT WE HAVE UNDERWAY.

WE JUST RECEIVED SOME, LISC RECEIVED SOME FUNDING FOR DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

I WILL STILL DO THAT BUT I MAY JUST BE A LITTLE MORE RELAXED AND TAKE SOME TIME TO EXPLORE THE WORLD.

JULIE: YOU WILL STILL BE AROUND, AND LISC WILL STILL BE AROUND, AND ALL IS RIGHT IN THE WORLD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

MAYOR LARSON: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪ DENNIS: IT'S TIME NOW FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION."

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

NORTHERN COMMUNITY RADIO NEWS DIRECTOR HEIDI HOLTAN FROM GRAND RAPIDS IS OUR GUEST THIS WEEK.

♪ HEIDI: A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THE SUMMER IS THE BIG TIME FOR A IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN HERE FOR DEER HUNTING SEASON.

OUR COMMUNITIES SWEEL WITH PEOPLE -- SWELL WITH PEOPLE.

THE DNR SAYS THAT HUNTING GENERATES NEARLY $5 MILLION ANNUALLY.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON STORIES FOR DEER HUNTERS ABOUT THE SEASON.

REMINDING HUNTERS TO CHECK WITH THE MINNESOTA DNR AND WEBSITE TO FIND OUT WHAT REGULATIONS THEY NEED TO FOLLOW.

SOME HUNTING DISTRICTS IN THE REGION REQUIRE CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE TESTING.

YOU WILL HAVE TO BRING YOUR DEER TO A TESTING SITE, WHERE THE NR WILL TEST THE HEAD.

ALSO, THIS YEAR DNR IS ASKING HUNTERS FOR ASSISTANCE TO LOOK FOR OTHER EXPOSURE IN DEER AND THEY WANT US TO SEND IN OUR SPLEENS WE HAVE HARVESTED.

THESE ARE FOR INSECTICIDES USED WORLDWIDE.

>> WE WANT TO SOLICIT DEER HUNTERS TO SEND IN THE SPLEEN SO WE CAN GAUGE WHAT THE CONCENTRATION LEVELS WERE IN HARVESTED BEER.

THE RESULTS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT IN MARCH SHOWED THAT ABOUT 51% OF NEARLY 800 SPLEENS SENT IN HAD SOME LEVEL FOUND IN THEM.

THAT WAS PRETTY SURPRISING.

THE INTERESTING THING IS WE ARE FINDING EVIDENCE OF THIS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE THOUGHT MAYBE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE WE MIGHT NOT HAVE AS MUCH EVIDENCE, BUT WE FOUND IT ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.

WE ARE TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING THIS FALL.

♪ HEIDI: WE ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN DEER HUNTING TRADITIONS AND WE ASK LISTENERS TO TELL US STORIES.

WE WENT BACK IN THE ARCHIVES TO LISTEN TO HEATHER HANSEN FROM 2019, SHE IS A HUNTER IN GRAND RAPIDS.

HEATHER: I'VE BEEN HUNTING A WHILE AND THE REASON I DECIDED TO IS WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I WANTED TO BE A VET AND HUNTING WAS NEVER GOING TO BE IN MY CARDS.

WHEN I REALIZED I HAD TO PUT MY -- PUT ANIMALS TO SLEEP, I COULD NOT DO THAT.

WE WOULD GO TO THE GRANDPARENTS HOUSE AND SEE THE DEER HANGING IN THE GARAGE AND WE WOULD TELL THE DEER THANK YOU AND RECONCILE IN OUR MINDS WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I KNEW I WANTED NO PART OF THAT.

BUT I LIKE TO EAT THE MEAT.

MAYBE EIGHT YEARS AGO OR SO I SAW THE MOVIE "FOOD INC." ABOUT THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE BUSINESS IN THE U.S. AND IT IS HORRIFYING TO WATCH THE WAY MEAT IS AN INDUSTRY.

FARMING TO, BUT THE MEAT HIT CLOSE TO HOME.

I DECIDED IN THAT MOMENT IF I WAS GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEATH OF AN ANIMAL, I WANTED THE LIFE OF THAT ANIMAL TO BE A HAPPIER LIFE.

I THOUGHT, I'M GOING TO HUNT.

I HAVE ONLY SHOT ONE DEAR, -- DEER, THREE YEARS AGO.

IT WAS A HARD ONE, IT WASN'T A PERFECT SHOT SO IT TOOK A WHILE FOR THE ANIMAL TO GO DOWN AND I HAD TO LISTEN TO HIM COUGH AND IT WAS NOT EASY.

THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT IT THAT IS EASY TO TAKE THE LIFE OF ANOTHER SOUL.

WHEN I DID FINALLY GET TO HIM AND GET TO LAY MY HANDS ON HIM AND SAY THANK YOU.

♪ HEIDI: IN GRAND RAPIDS, THERE WAS A CONTENTIOUS SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION.

WE HOSTED A FORUM WITH CANDIDATES, AND UNOFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE ELECTION HAD MARK SCHROEDER WINNING THE ELECTION.

THE CONVERSATION WE HAD WAS NOT A SURPRISE, ABOUT VACCINES, MANDATORY MASKING, HOW THE DISTRICT HANDLED COVID AND MENTAL HEALTH.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATE, WHO TALK ABOUT CONCERN OVER SAFETY AND EFFECT -- EFFECTIVENESS ABOUT VACCINES AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN SCHOOLS.

>> I KNOW PARENTS ARE CONCERNED THAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY WILL BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS AND WE SHOULD FEEL BAD FOR BEING WHITE.

PARENTS ARE NOT WANTING THAT HERE.

I'VE HEARD THAT IS JUST COLLEGE-LEVEL.

AS WE KNOW, SOCIAL ISSUES TEND TO TRICKLE INTO CLASSROOMS.

WE ALREADY FIGHT THE FIGHT OF TEACHERS SOMETIMES GIVING THEIR OPINIONS AND POLITICAL STANCES IN CLASSROOMS WHERE THEY SHOULDN'T.

AS PARENTS, WE WANT TEACHERS TO COME IN AND TEACH MATH, SCIENCE, HISTORY, READING, ENGLISH, OR FRENCH OR WHATEVER.

WE DON'T WANT THESE SOCIAL ISSUES BROUGHT IN.

I EVEN POSTED SOMETHING ABOUT GENDER FLUIDITY, WE DON'T WANT OUR KIDS TAUGHT THAT.

IT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE AGAINST TRANS KIDS OR LGBTQ.

WE ARE NOT AGAINST ANYBODY.

JUST AS PARENTS, WE HOLD THAT RESPONSIBILITY, THAT GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO TEACH OUR KIDS THOSE MORALS VERY HIGHLY.

♪ ♪ JULIE: NOVEMBER IS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, A TIME TO CELEBRATE NATIVE TRADITIONS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR TRIBAL NATIONS NEIGHBORS.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IN DULUTH AND ON THE MAIN CAMPUS IN THE TWIN CITIES HAVE TAKEN A LEADING ROLE IN THIS RECOGNITION.

HERE WITH MORE IS TADD JOHNSON, A PROFESSOR AT UMD AND THE FIRST-EVER UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SENIOR DIRECTOR OF AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBAL NATIONS RELATIONS.

WELCOME, TADD.

THAT IS A MOUTHFUL.

[LAUGHTER] TADD: THANK YOU, IT IS NICE TO BE HERE.

JULIE: MAYBE WE CAN START WITH WHY IS IT IMPORTANT IN YOUR MIND FOR US TO TAKE A MONTH TO REALLY THINK ABOUT NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE?

TADD: I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF US THAT APPRECIATE THE HISTORY OF THE REGION, THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY, AND I THINK THERE IS A RENAISSANCE OF THINKING WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NATIVE AMERICANS, WHETHER IT IS THE WRITING OF THE CONSTITUTION, AND FRANKLIN APPARENTLY OBSERVED THE IROQUOIS CONFEDERACY AS THE CONSTITUTION WAS BEING WRITTEN AND REALIZED THERE WAS ONE BIG LODGE AND SEVERAL SMALLER TRIBES , THE MOHAWKS, THE CAR YOU BECAUSE -- THE MOHAWKS AND OTHERS.

THERE WAS THIS IDEA OF STATES WITHIN NATIONS WITHIN A SINGLE NATION.

THAT IS ONE OF THE PLACES THE CONSTITUTION CAME FROM.

THAT AMONG MULTIPLE TYPES OF MEDICINE AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO THE UNITED STATES.

DENNIS: HAVING SAID THAT, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS MAYBE SURROUNDING NATIVE PEOPLES IN THIS COUNTRY?

TADD: ONE BIG ONE I GET THESE DAYS IS ARE YOU GUYS GETTING A CHECK EVERY MONTH?

I WISH WE WERE.

THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF TRIBES THAT GET PER CAPITA DISTRIBUTIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

MOST OF THE TRIBES ARE STRUGGLING, A LOT OF THE TRIBES DON'T HAVE GAMING.

THERE IS ABOUT 580 TRIBES IN THE UNITED STATES.

THERE IS NO INDIAN GAMING EXCEPT FOR ONE GROUP IN ALASKA, SO YOU HAVE 200-PLUS NATIVE VILLAGES UP THERE.

THOSE THAT HAVE THEM IN THE REGION, SOMEWHERE CLOSER TO THE METRO AREA, DO QUITE WELL.

BUT THE REST ARE STRUGGLING, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE IMPORTANT ECONOMIC CENTERS FOR MINNESOTA AND OTHER STATES.

JULIE: YOU WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH, AND IT IS A LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY.

TALK ABOUT HOW THAT TIES INTO THE NATIVE HISTORY FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF THAT.

TADD: SURE.

IN 1862, PRESIDENT LINCOLN SIGNED AN ACT, THE LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY ACT.

ABE LINCOLN WANTED TO EDUCATE THE COMMON PERSON.

ORIGINALLY THE IDEA WAS AGRICULTURE AND TRAINING FOLKS IN METHODOLOGIES FOR THE WORK THEY WERE DOING IN THE DAY.

WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING IN MINNESOTA IS JUST STARTING TO BE WRITTEN ABOUT MORE.

AFTER THE 1862 WAR, A GOOD DEAL OF THE DAKOTA LAND AND A GOOD CHUNK OF LAND UNDER THE TREATY OF 1837 WENT INTO THE LAND GRANT SYSTEM.

THE INDIANS GOT PAID ABOUT 2.4 CENTS PER DOLLAR, THE LAND WAS SOLD FOR ABOUT $250 AN ACRE.

THERE WAS SO MUCH OF IT THAT IT ENDED UP BEING THE ENDOWMENT FOR 35 UNIVERSITIES.

SO MUCH LAND WAS TAKEN FROM MINNESOTA INDIANS, AND THEY WERE NOT LITTLE UNIVERSITIES.

THEY WERE THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, CORNELL, AND SEVERAL STATE UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE EASTERN SEABOARD AND PARTIALLY THROUGH THE MIDWEST.

PART OF THE LEGACY OF THE INDIANS OF MINNESOTA WAS TO BE -- GOVERNOR RAMSEY CALLED THE TAKING OF INDIAN LAND AND SELLING IT FOR A HUGE PROFIT THE MINNESOTA WINDFALL.

THAT GOT NOTICED BY OUR NEW PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, AND I THINK THE UNIVERSITY IS RETHINKING ITS INDIAN POLICIES NOW.

DENNIS: YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED SOME COLLEGE DEGREES THAT DID NOT EXIST BEFORE.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

TADD: THE FIRST ONE, WE NOTICED UMD, WE WERE ATTRACTING SOME PEOPLE FROM THE AGES OF 18-22 BUT WE THOUGHT THERE WAS ANOTHER AUDIENCE OF PEOPLE WORKING ON RESERVATIONS WHO WANTED TO KNOW BEST PRACTICES FOR WORKING ON THE RESERVATION.

THERE WAS NO PLACE TO LEARN THAT.

I WORKED ON THE RESERVATION FOR YEARS BUT YOU LEARNED BY THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS AND GO DOWN THE HALLWAY AND TALKED TO THE ACCOUNTANT THAT HAS BEEN THERE 20 YEARS.

THAT'S HOW I LEARNED ACCOUNTING, THEY EXPECT THE LAWYER TO KNOW EVERYTHING.

WE WANTED TO CREATE A PROGRAM WHERE CON OF THE OUTLINE I GOT IN LAW SCHOOL, YOU ARE GOING TO RUN INTO THIS OVER THE NEXT 40 YEARS OF YOUR CAREER, CONSTITUTIONAL LAW CONTRACTS EVIDENCE.

WE CREATED A PROGRAM WHERE WE HAVE PRINCIPLES OF TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY, FEDERAL INDIAN LAW, FINANCE, ACCOUNTING AND BUDGETS.

HOW TO HANDLE PROBLEMS.

BECAUSE INDIAN RESERVATIONS ARE UNLIKE ANY OTHER TYPE OF PLACE.

TRIBAL LEADERS ARE FREQUENTLY DEALING ONE MOMENT WITH AN INDIAN CHILD WELFARE MATTER INTO THE NEXT WITH U.S.

SENATOR OR THE MAYOR OF DULUTH.

YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.

WE WANTED TO TRAIN PEOPLE.

WE HAVE GRADUATED ABOUT 140 FOLKS.

THIS IS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY.

WE DID A SECOND ONE BECAUSE TRIBES WANTED ONE ON NATURAL RESOURCES.

THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON NATURAL RESOURCES.

WE CREATED A MASTER OF TRIBAL RESOURCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.

THEY SAID: STEWARDSHIP, BECAUSE MANAGEMENT, YOU LOOK AT A FORCE AND THINK HOW MANY TREES CAN WE CUT AND STILL HAVE ANOTHER YIELD NEXT YEAR?

INDIANS LOOK AT THE FOREST AND SAY HOW CAN WE MAINTAIN THIS FOREST FOR THE NEXT SEVEN GENERATIONS?

THUS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND STEWARDSHIP.

JULIE: BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME, THERE ARE NEW FINANCIAL TOOLS AVAILABLE TO NATIVE AMERICANS.

TADD: THANK YOU, YES.

THE FIRST DAY OF NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, PRESIDENT GABLE ANNOUNCED THAT FRESHMAN STARTING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA NEXT YEAR WOULD GET A SCHOLARSHIP, AND THOSE TRANSFERRING AND WOULD ALSO GET A SCHOLARSHIP.

PEOPLE THAT ARE ENROLLED IN MINNESOTA TRIBES.

EVEN IF THEY ARE LIVING IN DENVER OR NEW YORK, THEY CAN COME BACK TO MINNESOTA AND ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA WITH A SCHOLARSHIP.

THAT WAS LARGELY -- MY ONLY CONTRIBUTION TO THAT WAS MAKING SURE THEY HIRED KAREN DIVER.

KAREN WORKED FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA AND WAS THE CHAIR OF FOND DU LAC.

IF YOU KNOW KAREN, SHE GETS THINGS DONE.

I PUSHED TO GET HER IN AND SHE GOT IT DONE.

JULIE: SOUNDS LIKE YOU GET SOME THINGS DONE TOO.

DENNIS: THANK YOU.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME THIS WEEK, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR LATEST POSTS BY FOLLOWING "ALMANAC NORTH" ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, UPCOMING EVENTS, AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATION.

AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP FOR ON-DEMAND VIEWING OF YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS.

JULIE, BEST OF LUCK TO THE HUNTERS THIS WEEKEND.

JULIE: I AM KIND OF ROOTING FOR THE DEER.

[LAUGHTER] DENNIS: THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO.

WITH JULIE ZENNER, I'M DENNIS ANDERSON -- HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY, AND BE KIND.

♪