Preserving Our Anishinaabek Culture through the

Generations:Continuing the Tradition of

Mentoring in the Great Lakes

Partners and Collaborators• Minnesota-

• Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

• University of Minnesota Extension

Wisconsin-• Sokaogon Chippewa Community,

Mole Lake • University of Wisconsin Cooperative

Extension-Brian Gauthier, Community Resources Development Educator

Partners and Collaborators

• Michigan:• Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians• Michigan State University Extension:

• Debra Gierke, 4-H National Tribal Mentorship Project Coordinator, School Craft County

• Emily Proctor, Tribal Extension Educator, Emmet County

• Lisa Bottomley, Mentoring Specialist

Tri-State Efforts

• Family• Similar issues• Met in Washington DC• Quarterly calls• Information sharing• Grants

Our Youth• Suicide• Substance Abuse• Obesity• Diabetes• Decline of

culture/language • High drop-out rates• High delinquency rates• Teen Pregnancy

Challenges

• Inconsistent funding for programs

• Organizing the program

• Change in University structure• i.e. MSUE and

Schoolcraft

• Distrust• Socio-economic

status• Skepticism• Adult male mentors• 14-17year old male

mentees

• We don’t call it

mentorship• Passing on of traditions• Intergenerational

relationship have always been encouraged

• Historical perspective• Mentoring is not ‘New”• A new method to include

more people

Tradition and Mentorship

Recruitment• Targeted audience

• Multi-disciplinary team

• Benefits for the Mentor

• Cultural events and functions

• Building on resources

• “Just ask us”!

• Utilize staff from Tribal Governments

• Former mentors

• Tribal community centers

• Support from the

local community• Support from Tribal

Nations• Support from

additional agencies• Tribal colleges• Volunteers• Tribal Government

• 4-H Programs• Lack of funding

and/or • Lack of consistent

funding

Resources

Our Hopes

• Healthier youth• Passing on of

traditions• Make healthier

choices• Realize their

potential• Graduate high

school

• Have a positive adult to turn to

• Positive connection to self, peers and their Anishinaabek communities

• Identify their talents• Refrain from

substance use

SELF WORTH

Best Practices• Know the history of

the Tribal community• Community input• Community by-in• Government to

government • Relationship building• Consistency in funding

• Develop and sustain collaborations and partnerships

• One-on-one conversations

• Reliability• Non-judgmental• Preferably Native

mentors

MiigwetchWe appreciate your time. Please contact us with any questions you

may have!!

-Deb Gierke, 4-H Tribal Mentorship Site Coordinator, gierke@anr.msu.edu

-Emily Proctor, Tribal Extension Educatorproctor8@anr.msu.edu

-Susan Beaulieu, Extension Educator, Volunteer and Partnership Development beau0181@umn.edu

-Dawn Newman, American Indian and Tribal Partnerships Liaison danewman@umn.edu

-Brian Gauthier Community Resource Development Educator Brian.gauthier@ces.uwex.edu

• MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs,

sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status.