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

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH"'S FIRST SHOW OF 2022.

DENNY: TONIGHT, A REVEALING REPORT ON THE FINDINGS OF MINNESOTA'S MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S TASK FORCE.

JULIE: WITH JANUARY DESIGNATED AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH, WE'LL TALK WITH ADVOCATES FROM PAVSA AND MENDING THE SACRED HOOP ABOUT THE WORK THEY ARE DOING TO MITIGATE TRAFFICKING.

DENNY: AND AARON BROWN FROM RURAL ITASCA COUNTY IS OUR GUEST FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION."

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

♪ JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

DENNY, 2022 HAS STARTED ON A VERY COLD NOTE.

I'M HOPING THINGS WARM UP SOON.

DENNY: I AM, TOO.

THIS IS JANUARY, SO WE EXPECT COLD WEATHER, BUT IT IS CHILLY.

JULIE: IT KEEPS US ON OUR TOES.

SPEAKING OF BEING ON OUR TOES, LET'S START WITH THE HEADLINES.

DENNY: THANKS, JULIE.

AN EARLY MORNING BLAZE DESTROYED TWO HISTORIC STRUCTURES IN SUPERIOR THURSDAY.

SUPERIOR FIREFIGHTERS RECEIVED THE CALL JUST BEFORE 6:00 A.M. THAT THE WAREHOUSES ON NORTH FIRST STREET NEAR THE WATERFRONT WERE ON FIRE.

THE BLATNIK BRIDGE WAS CLOSED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR DUE TO FLAMES AND SMOKE, BUT RE-OPENED BEFORE 8:00 A.M.

THE SIVERTSON BUILDING WAS ONCE HOME TO LAKE SUPERIOR FISH COMPANY AND WAS BUILT IN 1890.

COMPANY AND WAS BUILT IN 1890.

THE BAYSIDE WAREHOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1894 AND DESIGNED BY NOTED TWIN PORTS ARCHITECT OLIVER TRAPHAGEN.

TRAPHAGEN.

JULIE: ST. LOUIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER FRANK JEWELL ANNOUNCED HE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION THIS FALL.

JEWELL HAS BEEN ON THE COUNTY BOARD SINCE 2011, SERVING AS THE FIRST DISTRICT COMMISSIONER COVERING THE CENTRAL PORTION OF DULUTH.

JEWELL ALSO SERVED ON THE DULUTH CITY COUNCIL AND WAS A FOUNDER OF MEN AS PEACEMAKERS IN 1995.

DENNY: FORMER DULUTH SEAWAY PORT AUTHORITY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ADOLPH OJARD PASSED AWAY ON DECEMBER 30 AT THE AGE OF 72 IN GEORGIA, WHERE HE HAD BEEN LIVING IN RETIREMENT.

OJARD GREW UP IN A FISHING FAMILY IN KNIFE RIVER AND SPENT MOST OF HIS CAREER IN THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY.

DURING HIS TIME AT THE HELM OF THE PORT AUTHORITY, HE WORKED TO HELP KEEP INVASIVE SPECIES OUT OF THE GREAT LAKES THROUGH BALLAST WATER INITIATIVES.

JULIE: AND THE DULUTH ENTERTAINMENT AND CONVENTION CENTER IS PARTNERING WITH BOPRO PRODUCTIONS TO CREATE A SONG WRITER'S SHOWCASE, FEBRUARY 5.

"NORTH OF NASHVILLE" WILL FEATURE PROFESSIONAL SONG WRITERS SINGING THEIR MOST WELL-KNOWN WORKS AND SHARING THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE LYRICS.

THERE IS ALSO A SONG WRITER'S CONTEST THAT ANYONE CAN ENTER.

CONTACT THE DECC FOR MORE INFORMATION.

DENNY: IN 2019, MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ SIGNED THE MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN TASK FORCE BILL.

THE TASK FORCE DELIVERED A GROUNDBREAKING 163-PAGE REPORT THAT DEMANDS ATTENTION.

"ALMANAC NORTH" PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY TALKED WITH A TASK FORCE MEMBER AND OTHER ADVOCATES TO DISCUSS THE REPORTS FINDINGS, AND THE ROLE HUMAN TRAFFICKING PLAYS IN THE EPIDEMIC.

>> TO BE PART OF A TASK FORCE THAT IS NOW BEING UTILIZED NATIONALLY AND TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE COLLECTED MORE INFORMATION THAN ANY OTHER ENTITY IN THE STATES, IT FEELS GOOD ON ONE LEVEL, AND IT IS HEARTBREAKING ON ANOTHER LEVEL.

WE SHOULD NOT HAVE EVER HAD TO DO THIS.

SEX TRAFFICKING STARTED HERE WITH COLUMBUS, WHO WAS THE FIRST TRAFFICKER OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, AND IT HAS CONTINUED TO THIS DAY.

THE MURDERING OF OUR PEOPLE HAS CONTINUED TO THIS DAY.

BUT AT LEAST NOW WE HAVE A VOICE IN A WAY WE HAVE NEVER HAD BEFORE.

WE HAVE THE DATA, WE HAVE THE RESEARCH, WE HAVE THE FORENSIC INTERVIEWS, WE HAVE A BATTLE PLAN THAT WE HAVE NEVER HAD BEFORE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE HOPEFUL IS THAT THE TASK FORCE WILL SERVE AS A BLUEPRINT TO THEN DRIVE, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOR OUR CITIES, FOR ALL OF OUR AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT IN A CASE THAT COMES IN AND INVOLVES TRAFFICKING THAT INVESTIGATIONS OF MISSING AND SUSPICIOUS DEATHS TO DATA, TO THE PROSECUTION, TO ALL THOSE THINGS, TO BE ABLE TO WORK BETTER, COLLABORATE MORE EFFECTIVELY ACROSS ALL OF THOSE LINES OF JURISDICTIONS, TO BE ABLE TO BRING RESOLVE, JUSTICE, ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES TO HEAL.

>> THE MMIR OFFICE IS SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT.

ALL OF OUR WORK ON THE TASK FORCE WOULD HAVE BEEN NEGATED IN SO MANY WAYS IF WE DID NOT HAVE THE FOLLOWTHROUGH.

AND WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ASPECT OF, THIS ISSUE ISN'T GONE.

OUR GOAL IS ONE DAY WE DON'T NEED THESE THINGS.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE AT LEAST 5000 NATIVE AMERICANS GOING MISSING ON A CONTINUAL BASIS, WHEN YOU SEE OUR SUICIDE RATES 10 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, WHEN YOU SEE SEXUAL ASSAULT SO MUCH HIGHER.

>> IF WE LOOK AT PEOPLE AS DISPOSABLE, THAT WE CAN HARM THEM, WE HAVE TO TEACH AND UNLEARN THAT.

A LOT OF TIMES, WHAT WE FIND IS IN STUDIES HERE IN DULUTH AND NATIONALLY THAT PERPETRATORS TEND TO BECOME AN THOUGH NOT ALWAYS, THEY TEND TO BE NON-NATIVE AND MALE.

[DRUMMING AND SINGING] >> SEX TRAFFICKING AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF MMIWR.

WHEN I WAS TRAFFICKED, IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS REALLY HEAVY IN GRIEF.

I WAS USING DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, AND I WAS COMPLETELY VULNERABLE TO THE LIES THAT MY TRAFFICKER TOLD ME.

I WAS TRAFFICKED THROUGH CASINOS IN LAS VEGAS.

THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I DID NOT THINK I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT HOME.

I WAS HELD IN A ROOM FOR FOUR OR FIVE DAYS WITH NO AIR OR AIR CONDITIONING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

GROWING UP IN AN ABUSIVE HOUSEHOLD AND SURROUNDED BY ALCOHOLISM AND JUST THAT HISTORICAL MULTIGENERATIONAL TRAUMA, IT IS A CYCLE THAT IS VERY HARD TO BREAK FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.

TRAFFICKERS AND ALL THAT, THEY TARGET NATIVE WOMEN AND GIRLS BECAUSE OF ALL THAT.

[DRUMMING AND SINGING] >> THAT LACK OF COVERAGE IN MEDIA, AND HOW IT IS MISREPRESENTED OR THE LACK OF COVERAGE, REALLY COMPOUNDS THAT WHEN WE GO MISSING OR ARE MURDERED, IT IS NOT PICKED UP AND THEN IT IS NOT FOLLOWED THROUGH.

THEN A LOT OF TIMES COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE THE ONES ACTUALLY OUT THERE LOOKING.

WITH THE COMMUNITY OF DULUTH, WHAT WE ARE DOING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF, DEDICATED INVESTIGATOR WHO IS SPECIFICALLY WORKING ON SEX TRAFFICKING, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND REALLY TO PUT AN END AND TO RESOLVE THESE CASES WERE QUICKLY.

[DRUMMING AND SINGING] >> WE HAVE TO STOP THIS FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN.

BECAUSE YOU HEAR IT OVER AND OVER, WHEN YOU CAN'T GO TO ONE FRIEND AND SAY, HEY, TELL ME THIS HASN'T HAPPENED IN YOUR FAMILY, WHEN YOU CAN'T HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER NATIVE WHERE THIS SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE DOESN'T COME UP, IT IS BRUTAL.

TO LOOK IN A MOTHER'S EYES THAT HAS LOST HER CHILD, OR A FATHER'S, OR A GRANDPARENT, A SIBLING, A CHILD WHO HAS LOST A MOM, IT HAUNTS YOU.

TO LOOK IN THE EYES OF A SURVIVOR THAT HAS BEEN BRUTALLY ATTACKED IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER AND TO SEE IT THERE, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE SMILING AND HAPPY, YOU CAN STILL SEE IT THERE.

IT NEVER LEAVES YOU.

THOSE INTERVIEWS OF THOSE WHO CAME FORWARD, I WILL CARRY THEM TO MY GRAVE.

THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT I DON'T THINK OF THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND GO THROUGH THE LIST IN MY MIND.

PEOPLE LIKE JEREMY JORDANIAN OR SHEILA SINCLAIR, WHO ARE STILL MISSING, AND THEIR FAMILIES DO NOT HAVE ANSWERS.

TO KNOW THAT EVERY TIME MY DAUGHTERS WALK OUT THE DOOR, I MAKE A MENTAL NOTE OF WHAT THEY ARE WEARING.

I STILL HAVE TO WORRY.

THAT IS NEVER GOING TO GO AWAY.

I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT NIECES AND NEPHEWS AND FRIENDS AND SO MANY OTHERS OUT THERE.

IT IS NEVER GOING TO GO AWAY UNLESS WE AS A WHOLE, WE AS A NATION, STOP THE CYCLE.

WE DESERVE TO LIVE AND TO BE SAFE.

IT HAS TO STOP.

[DRUMMING AND SINGING] DENNY: FOR RELATIVES, LOVED ONES, AND FRIENDS OF THOSE LOST TO THE EPIDEMIC, MINNESOTA IS FORMING A MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND RELATIVES' OFFICE, A MINNESOTA MMIW TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION.

JULIE: AS WE MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW, JANUARY IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH, AND OUR NEXT GUESTS CAN SHARE MORE ABOUT THE EVENTS PLANNED AND HOW PEOPLE CAN GET INVOLVED.

MEL ALVAR IS THE SAFE HARBOR NORTHEAST MINNESOTA REGIONAL NAVIGATOR FOR PAVSA.

AND JILL BELLEFEUILLE IS LEARNING AND RESOURCE COORDINATOR FOR MENDING THE SACRED HOOP, A NONPROFIT THAT WORKS TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST NATIVE WOMEN.

THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THAT WAS A POWERFUL VIDEO PIECE.

DENNY: IT SURE WAS.

JULIE: VERY THOUGHT-PROVOKING.

MEL, WHAT DOES HUMAN TRAFFICKING LOOK LIKE IN OUR REGION?

BECAUSE IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE IT IS A HIDDEN PROBLEM THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T SEE AND THEY DON'T ALWAYS THINK ABOUT.

MEL: HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PART OF MY JOB IS DOING TRAINING ON WHAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS.

WHEN I TALK ABOUT IT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THERE MAY BE MANY ELEMENTS, BUT ESSENTIALLY UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF TRAFFICKING WE ARE LOOKING AT LABOR, EXPLOITATION IN LABOR TRAFFICKING, AND SEX TRAFFICKING.

WHEN IT IS TRAFFICKING, THERE HAS TO BE A THIRD PARTY INVOLVEMENT, SOMEONE WHO IS CONTROLLING THE MONEY, WHO HAS TO BE SETTING THINGS UP.

IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE IT DOES IN THE MOVIES IN THE NORTH LAND.

IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, IN SOME CASES.

WHEN I DO TRAINING, WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE ELEMENTS OF, COULD THERE BE ABUSE SOMEWHERE AND IS THERE ELEMENTS OF TRAFFICKING UNDERNEATH THAT?

FOR IT TO BE CONSIDERED TRAFFICKING, THAT THIRD-PARTY HAS TO BE INVOLVED, OTHERWISE IT IS A FORM OF EXPLOITATION.

DENNY: JILL, TELL US ABOUT SAFE HARBOR.

WHAT SERVICES ARE OFFERED?

JILL: MEL CAN SPEAK MORE TO THAT THAN I CAN COME UP AT SAFE HARBOR IS A PLACE WHERE TRAFFICKING VICTIMS, YOUNG AND UP TO THE AGE OF 24, CAN FIND THE SERVICES AND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED IF THEY HAVE BEEN TRAFFICKED OR THEY ARE A SURVIVOR OF EXPLOITATION.

MEL: SAFE HARBOR WAS THE LAW THAT WAS PASSED AND WENT INTO EFFECT IN 2014 THAT PUT MONEY AND PROTOCOL IN PLACE.

THAT IS WHERE MY POSITION AS A REGIONAL NAVIGATOR COMES INTO PLAY.

THERE ARE NINE OF US ACROSS THE STATE THAT OFFER TRAINING AND CONSULTATION, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL SERVICES THAT CAN PROVIDE THE SPECIALIZED SERVICES UP TO THE AGE OF 24.

JULIE: THE ORGANIZATION YOU ARE WITH, MENDING THE SACRED HOOP, IS ONE THAT MAYBE PEOPLE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH.

TALK ABOUT HOW IT GOT STARTED AND WHAT ITS PURPOSES.

JILL: IT GOT STARTED IN 1980 AND THEY WERE WITHIN THE DOMESTIC ABUSE INTERVENTION PROGRAM, LOCATED AT SUPERIOR STREET.

THE GOAL WAS REALLY TO BRING NATIVE VOICES INTO SURVIVORSHIP AND FINDING WAYS TO SUPPORT NATIVE SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE.

THEN IN 2006, WE BROKE OFF -- AND I JUST STARTED A COUPLE YEARS AGO, SO I AM VERY NEW -- BUT IN 2006, THEY BROKE OFF AS THEIR OWN NONPROFIT.

THE GOAL IS TO SERVE NATIVE AMERICAN SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE, SPECIFICALLY WOMEN, AND RAISING THEIR VOICES INTO THE STORY.

JULIE: WHY ARE NATIVE WOMEN SO PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITATION OF THIS NATURE?

JILL: SHEILA SPOKE ABOUT THAT IN THE VIDEO, AND THAT UNFORTUNATELY GOES BACK TO THE ORIGINS OF OUR COUNTRY.

WHEN THE COLONIZERS CAME IN, THERE WAS A LOT OF EXPLOITATION OF YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS AT THE HANDS OF THE COLONIZERS.

AND FROM THERE, THEY BEGAN TO LOSE THEIR TRADITIONAL SACRED ABILITIES, RIGHT?

FROM THERE, IT HAS GROWN TO BE AN EPIDEMIC.

DENNY: MEL, IS THIS ALSO A PROBLEM IN TEEN DATING?

MEL: THAT CAN BE A PARTICULAR VULNERABILITY OR RISK FACTOR.

SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE EXPERIENCE TRAUMA AND ARE NOT MET WITH SUPPORT OR RESOURCES, THEY CAN BE AT RISK OF FUTURE VIOLENCE OR TRAUMA.

IT CAN BE AN ELEMENT OF TEEN DATING VIOLENCE, OR SOMETHING THAT COULD LATER ON LEAD TO VICTIMIZATION.

JULIE: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT PEOPLE CAN LOOK FOR THAT MIGHT IDENTIFY SOMEBODY OR RAISE SOME RED FLAGS THAT A PERSON COULD BE IN A VULNERABLE POSITION OF BEING TRAFFICKED?

MEL: I WISH I COULD SAY THAT THERE WAS ONE BIG RED FLAG THAT SAYS THIS IS WHAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS AND THIS IS HOW IT IS HAPPENING, BUT EVERY STORY IS SO DIFFERENT.

REALLY, IT IS LOOKING AT THOSE UNDERLYING VULNERABILITIES THAT ARE CREATED BY OUR CULTURE AND OUR LACK OF ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS OR OUR LACK OF ACCESS TO RESOURCES, AND LOOKING AT WHAT IS UNIQUE TO COMMUNITIES.

THOSE FOLKS WHO MAY BE OUR HAVING TO TRADE SEX FOR BASIC NEEDS, THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE UN-HOUSED, THOSE WHO HAVE A LACK OF SUPPORT TO MEET THOSE BASIC NEEDS CAN BE EASY TARGETS FOR SOMEONE LOOKING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT.

DENNY: THERE WILL BE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND AWARENESS EVENTS THROUGH THE MONTH OF JANUARY.

WHAT DO THESE EVENTS INCLUDE?

MEL: WE JUST HAD A COUPLE OF WEBINARS THIS WEEK, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME MORE.

A LOT OF THE EVENTS -- ACTUALLY COME ALL OF THE EVENTS WILL BE VIRTUAL, WITH FREE REGISTRATION.

WE WILL HAVE ONE ON THE INTERSECTIONS OF MMIW.

WE WILL HAVE PANELS WITH INCREDIBLE SPEAKERS AND ELDERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I WILL BE DOING A FREE TRAINING FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

AND THE ONE THAT I THINK FOLKS SHOULD CHECK OUT IS CALLED THE AFTERMATH.

IT IS SITTING DOWN WITH THREE SURVIVOR EXPERTS, GOING BEYOND THE 101 TO ANSWER THOSE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT DOES LIFE LOOK LIKE AFTER THE LIFE?

JULIE: JILL, WHAT ARE THE TRIBAL AND NATIVE COMMUNITIES IN OUR REGION DOING TO GET TO SOME OF THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE TRAFFICKING ISSUES AND TO PROTECT THEIR MEMBERS?

JILL: THAT IS A BIG PART OF THE WORK THAT MENDING THE SACRED HOOP, SPECIFICALLY THE SACRED HOOP COALITION, DOES.

WE HOST EVENTS MONTHLY AND WE DO A SYMPOSIUM ONCE A YEAR TO BRING TOGETHER THE DIFFERENT TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE DIFFERENT TRIBAL PROGRAMS, TO TRY TO FIND COMMON LINKS AND COMMON CAUSES THAT WE CAN ADDRESS AND BRING THE PROPER SOURCES.

RIGHT NOW, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IS RESOURCES, BRINGING WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE TRIBAL NATIONS.

LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE, THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED SEVERE DIFFICULTIES IN THAT REGARD BECAUSE THE HOMELESSNESS POPULATION AND OFTEN TIMES TOO IF YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO IS A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT, THE PANDEMIC HAS FORCED YOU INDOORS EVEN MORE.

THE RESOURCES WITH THE TRIBAL NATIONS HAS BEEN COMING UP WITH DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS THAT ARE CREATIVE, THAT WE CAN BRING TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM THE MOST.

DENNY: WE LIKE TO THINK THAT THE NORTH PLANT IS A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.

WHAT IS THE ISSUES HERE LOCALLY?

JILL: HOMELESSNESS, POVERTY.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT BRING UP THE VULNERABILITIES, RIGHT?

AND MENTAL ILLNESS AND ALCOHOL USE AND DRUG USE.

THOSE ARE OUR BIGGEST ISSUES THAT AGAIN BRING THESE VULNERABILITIES TO THE FOREFRONT AND THEN OPEN UP THE POTENTIAL FOR TRAFFICKING AND DIFFERENT ISSUES OF MISSING AND MURDERED.

SO, THAT HAPPENS HERE.

SHEILA ST. CLAIR WENT MISSING.

JUST FROM MY BRIEF TENURE SO FAR WITH MENDING THE SACRED HOOP IS THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS START TO BEGIN AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TO CHECK OUR BIASES AND CHECK OUR ASSUMPTIONS AND BE COMPASSIONATE TO PEOPLE THAT WE SEE AND START EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN AND EDUCATING OUR SYSTEMS AND HELPING REMEMBER, IF YOU WORK AT A HOSPITAL OR A POLICE DEPARTMENT CHECK YOUR BIASES WHEN YOU ARE HELPING OUT SOMEONE AND BE AWARE OF WHAT YOU SEE.

THERE MIGHT BE A LOT MORE GOING ON UNDERNEATH, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE HISTORICAL TRAUMA, AS SHEILA MENTIONED.

JULIE: WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS, BUT ANYWAYS TO REALLY APPROACH PEOPLE IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SOMEBODY BEING IN A TRAFFICKING SITUATION, OR SHOULD YOU JUST KIND OF STAY BACK?

MEL: I THINK THAT GOES BACK TO DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO A BYSTANDER INTERVENTION.

BASED ON WHAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH, IF YOU ARE IN A BUSINESS TALKING TO A MANAGER AND RAISING CONCERN.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE AN ANONYMOUS REPORT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT LIKE, I SAW THIS SUSPICIOUS SITUATION.

I FREQUENTLY GET CALLS OR MESSAGES ABOUT, I SAW THIS, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

IF YOU THINK SOMEONE'S SAFETY IS IN DANGER, OF COURSE NOTIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BUT I WOULD BE HESITANT ABOUT APPROACHING PEOPLE IN PERSON BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW IF THEIR TRAFFICKER IS CLOSE BY.

THERE MAY BE HARM THAT COMES TO THEM BY SOMEBODY APPROACHING THEM IN THAT WAY.

SO IT MIGHT DEPEND ON THE SITUATION.

JUST KEEPING AWARE IS THE FIRST STEP THAT IT IS HAPPENING HERE IS GOOD.

JULIE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND VISITING WITH US.

WE WILL HAVE A WEBSITE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET MORE INFORMATION.

DENNY: THANK YOU BOTH.

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

EACH WEEK, WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST COVERING STORIES OF INTEREST IN THE NORTHLAND.

THIS WEEK, OUR REPORTER IS AARON BROWN, AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST FROM NORTHERN ITASCA COUNTY.

♪ AARON: ONE OF THE THINGS GOING ON THESE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HAS BEEN THIS PERPETUAL LINE AT THE WALGREENS DRIVE THROUGH PHARMACY.

AND I MENTION IT NOT TO PICK ON WALGREENS.

IT IS REFLECTIVE OF A CHANGE AND MAY BE A PROBLEM IN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WHEN IT COMES TO DRUGS, PHARMACY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SHORTSTAFFED, AS MANY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT OUR ECONOMY HAVE BEEN.

AND THEY HAVE GONE TO DRIVE-THRU ONLY.

THEY HAVE A RELATIVELY BARE-BONES STAFF TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH INCREASED DEMAND FOR MEDICATIONS BECAUSE MORE AND MORE INSURANCE PLANS ARE PUSHING PEOPLE TOWARDS I GUESS THE CORPORATE PHARMACIES, IF YOU WANT TO SAY THAT.

SO THE DEMAND IS UP, THE NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS ARE DOWN, AND YOU HAVE THESE SITUATIONS WHERE THERE ARE THESE LONG LINES STICKING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AT THESE MIDSIZED, SMALL-TOWN PHARMACIES.

I HAVE EVEN HEARD OF SOMEBODY RUNNING OUT OF GAS WHILE WAITING IN LINE AT ONE OF THESE PHARMACIES BECAUSE THEY DID NOT ESTIMATE HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE.

♪ AARON: THIS IS NOT ROUGE.

I WAS OUT SHOVELING AND SNOW BLOWING, SO THIS IS FRESH ON MY MIND.

IT IS NOT THAT WE ARE BREAKING RECORDS WITH THE WINTER.

THERE IS SNOW AND IT IS COLD, AND THAT IS TYPICAL OF MINNESOTA.

BUT WE HAVE HAD YEARS WITH LOWER SNOW TOTALS, AT LEAST UP HERE ON THE RANGE, AND THEY ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME IN TOWNS KEEPING UP WITH THE SNOW.

AGAIN, THERE IS A STAFFING ISSUE.

WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP STAFF ON THE ROAD.

IT IS NOT JUST PEOPLE NOT BEING IN THE WORKFORCE.

IT IS THAT COVID IS DRIVING PEOPLE OUT OF THE WORKFORCE PERIODICALLY, INTERMITTENTLY, AS WELL.

THEY PILE ALL OF THE SNOW ON THE MAIN THOROUGH FIRES AND PICK -- THOROUGH FAIRS AND PICK IT UP AT A LATER DATE.

THAT LATER DATE HAS NOT COME THROUGH, AND THE SNOW IS STILL PILED UP IN THE SOME PLACES.

IT IS VERY TALL AND YOU CANNOT SEE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.

LEFT TURNS BECOME VERY CHALLENGING.

WINTER IS NOT BIG NEWS, IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR, BUT TOWNS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP UP WITH THEIR NORMAL RESPONSIBILITIES WITH LESS PEOPLE.

♪ AARON: SUPPLY HAS BEEN REDUCED GREATLY BY COVID.

AS YOU POINT OUT, EVER SINCE COVID HIT, AT FIRST, THERE WERE NO BLOOD DONATIONS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS SHUT DOWN.

EVEN SINCE THINGS REOPENED, I THINK THERE IS A REAL AVERSION TO GOING INTO MEDICAL FACILITIES RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF COVID, AND CONCERN FROM A DONOR STANDPOINT OF BEING NEAR POTENTIAL OF COVID RISK.

BUT I ALSO THINK PEOPLE ARE OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE SITUATION STEERING CLEAR OF THE CAPACITY.

I THINK ALSO THINGS LIKE BLOOD DRIVES AND EMPLOYERS AND ORGANIZATIONS PROBABLY ARE NOT FULLY CAUGHT UP.

I WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND WE HAVE GREATLY REDUCED PUBLIC EVENTS UNDER THE RECENT COVID SPIKES.

AND THINGS LIKE BLOOD DRIVES FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY SOMETIMES.

A LOT OF THE OUTREACH THAT IS DONE BY PLACES LIKE MEMORIAL BLOOD CENTER ARE INHIBITED BY THE COVID CONDITIONS.

AND PROBABLY AFFECTED BY VOLUNTEER RATES AS WELL, JUST BECAUSE OF THE GENERAL DEMAND FOR PEOPLE THAT WE ARE SEEING ACROSS OUR WHOLE ECONOMY AND OUR SYSTEM.

♪ AARON: ALL OF THE IRON RANGE MINES HAD A VERY CONSISTENT HIGH-CAPACITY OPERATION THIS YEAR, WHICH HAS NOT HAPPENED IN A WHILE.

DESPITE COVID AND DESPITE STAFFING SHORTAGES IN THE MINING INDUSTRY AS WELL, THEY HAVE MADE A ROBUST AMOUNT OF PRODUCTION .

THEY HAVE HAD CUSTOMERS, WHICH IS A BIG DEAL.

38.7 MILLION TONS OF IRON ORE SHIPPED OUT OF MINNESOTA THIS YEAR, MOST OF IT THROUGH DULUTH.

THAT IS JUST SHY, VERY NEAR THE PRODUCTION TOTALS, OF THE YEAR 2008, WHICH UNLESS I AM MISTAKEN I THINK WAS THE HIGHEST OF THIS CENTURY.

2008 WAS AT THE PEAK, RIGHT BEFORE THE GREAT RECESSION HIT.

OF COURSE, THAT IS ALWAYS THE CAUTION ON THE IRON RANGE.

EVERY TIME YOU HEAR ABOUT GOOD NEWS, YOU HAVE TO BRACE YOURSELF FOR BAD NEWS.

BUT THIS YEAR, FATAL WORDS HAVE BEEN SAID BEFORE, BUT THIS YEAR IS ALSO LOOKING PRETTY GOOD FOR THE IRON INDUSTRY.

SO THESE MINES SHOULD EXPECT FULL CAPACITY FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

OF COURSE, THE FUTURE CANNOT BE FORESEEN FOREVER, BUT DEMAND HAS BEEN UP.

DESPITE IT ALL, THERE IS A STRONG ECONOMY AND PEOPLE ARE BUYING THINGS, THE CAR INDUSTRY IS TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH PRODUCTION ON AUTOMOBILES, WITH THE HUGE DEMAND WE SAW LAST YEAR, AND THEY ARE STILL CATCHING UP, WHICH MEANS THEY ARE RUNNING HOT.

♪ JULIE: THAT'S OUR TIME THIS WEEK, BUT WHY NOT START THE NEW YEAR BY FOLLOWING "ALMANAC NORTH" ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER?

YOU CAN ALSO CHECK OUT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION, AND UPCOMING EVENTS.

AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ANY TIME YOU'D LIKE.

DENNY, DID YOU MAKE ANY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS TO BEGIN 2022?

DENNY: I RESOLVE NOT TO MAKE RESOLUTIONS.

[LAUGHTER] JULIE: THAT IS ONE YOU CAN KEEP.

DENNY: I AM KEEPING THAT ONE.

JULIE: THAT IS ONE MORE THAN I MADE.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO.

WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, I'M JULIE ZENNER.

STAY WARM, EVERYONE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪