Nagaajiwanaang, “Where the Water Stops,” is the name of the homelands of the Fond du Lac Band at the time of the 1854 Treaty. We retained this name in Ojibwemowin for the present-day Fond du lac Reservation that was established under the 1854 La Pointe Treaty. Nagaajiwanaang (Fond du Lac Band) is one of the six Bands of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. There are three districts that make up the Fond du Lac Reservation: Bapashkominitigong (Cloquet), Gwaaba’iganing (Sawyer), and Ashkibwaakaaning (Brookston). Today, our Band includes over 4,200 members. We have always been, and continue to be, a proud sovereign Ojibwe nation. We uphold all of our rights retained and agreed to within the 1825, 1826, 1837, 1842, 1847, and 1854 Treaties.
FOND DU LAC SOCIAL MEDIA:
Recent Additions:
Garlic Planting/Soil Testing Demo - October 7
Domestic Violence Vigil - October 26
Ojibwe People's Day - October 9
Cultural Ceremonies - September 26, 27, 28, 29
Elders' Fall Banquet - October 10
Community Notices Archive
Current Community Notices:
| 9/25 | 13 Moons Garlic Planting and Soil Testing: Saturday, October 7th, 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm, join us at the FDL Farm to learn everything about planting garlic and soil testing. Free and open to everyone, food provided! Click here for details. |
| 9/25 | Air Program Project Stove Swap: The leaves are changing, and winter will be here soon! Do you have an old, inefficient wood stove heating your home? Do you qualify for SNAP, WIC, Head Start, or other assistance programs? The Fond du Lac Air Program is partnering with Environmental Initiative’s Project Stove Swap to assist with upgrading old wood stoves for free or at a deep discount. Please click here for more information, and reach out to the Fond du Lac Air Program, Paige Huhta or Anthony Mazzini , to receive an application for this program. Save money, keep warm, and protect the air and the health of our community through these improvements! |
| 9/25 | Pokey Paro Powwow: The Pokey Paro Powwow will be held on Friday, October 6th, 1:00 pm - 9:00 pm, at the FDL Ojibwe School Gym. The Royalty contest will begin at 1:30 pm. Applications for the Royalty contest are due by October 3rd. Click here for details about the Powwow. For Royalty Contest details and application, please click here. |
| 9/25 | Economic Development Committee Meetings: The Economic Development Committee (EDC) meetings are open to the interested public. The next scheduled meeting will be held on September 26, 2023. Please remember to register for each meeting, we need to add this layer of security because these meetings are open to the public. You may join us in person or virtually, whatever your schedule allows for. Click here to register for the meeting. EDC by-laws can be accessed by clicking here. |
| 9/25 | American Indian Business Seminars: 4 seminars designed to empower and support American Indian entrepreneurs and business owners, both new and established. The seminars will be held at the HRDC Office in Bemidji, MN, and be available via Zoom. The remaining date is September 26. Click here for seminar details, contact, and Zoom information. |
| 9/22 | Request for Proposals: The Fond du Lac Development Corporation is seeking sealed bids to renovate a modular home located at 1656 Jarvi Rd., Cloquet, MN. The deadline for submitting bids is October 12, 2023, at 2:00 pm. Click here for details. |
| 9/22 | Domestic Violence Vigil: The 2023 Domestic Violence Vigil will be held at the Brookston Community Center Gym on Thursday, October 26th, from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm. Click here for details. |
| 9/20 | At-Home Rapid Covid-19 Tests: The state of Minnesota has made at-home rapid Covid-19 test kits available for free. Residents are able to order 8 test kits per month, while supplies last. Click here to visit the Minnesota Dept. of Health site to place an order. Click here for further details. |
| 9/20 | Request for Proposals: Fond du Lac Reservation on behalf of Cloquet, Sawyer, and Brookston Community Centers are looking for proposals to remove and replace all existing high-bay fluorescent lighting fixtures within the gymnasiums. We would like an LED fixture with the option of having occupancy sensors as controls. Proposals should be broken up by facility. The deadline for submitting bids is October 6, 2023, at 12:00 pm. Click here for details. |
| 9/20 | RBC Meeting Notice: The next RBC Program/Development meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 27th, 9:00 am, and is open to FDL Band members via Zoom. Click the Zoom Link for access. The meeting ID is 847 689 6955 and the passcode is 38517. Alternatively, you can call into the meeting by calling (312) 626-6799. Either method will put you in a waiting area. Meeting access will be granted upon Band membership verification. Click here to read this meeting's agenda. |
| 9/20 | Language Advisory Board Public Meetings: You are invited to the 2023 Fond du Lac Language Program Community and Advisory Board Quarterly Meetings. The remaining meeting this year will be held on October 18. The meetings will be held from 4:45 pm - 6:00 pm, at the FDL Language and Learning Center. Click here for full details. |
| 9/19 | Wild Rice Harvest Update: September 19th was the final day the Band will purchase manoomin (wild rice) from both on and off Reservation waters. We want to thank all the harvesters who went out in a good way and assisted us with our reaching our restoration reseeding goals and in gathering manoomin for the coming seasons. Manoominikewin (wild rice harvesting) on Fond du Lac Reservation Lakes will now be allowed EVERY day vs. every other day as originally announced. This change is effective immediately. All other hours and regulations remain unchanged. Click here for the updated information. Click here to see images of on and off-reservation ricing lakes. |
| 9/18 | Indian Landowners Workshop: You are invited to attend a FREE Workshop designed for owners of Indian trust land. The workshop will be held at the Sawyer Community Center. There will be 2 sessions held on Monday, October 2, 2023, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm OR 3:00 pm -7:00 pm. Click here for full details. |
| 9/18 | Ojibwe Peoples Day: Come celebrate Ojibwe People's Day, October 9th, at the Shinaabe Gagwe-Aazaabandaagewinan (Ultimate Ojibwe Challenge)! Bring a team of 1-3 to participate in a variety of team challenges, use Ojibwemowin, have lunch, & win prizes. The event will be held at Kiwenz Campground from 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Gigidoonaaganeg ge gigimikwaaneyok giishpin wii-wiisiniyeg (Bring a dish and spoon if you all want to eat)! Click here for full details. |
| 9/15 | Cultural Ceremonies: Come join the Cultural Ceremonies at the FDL Language and Cultural Center throughout the month of September. The remaining dates for the month are September 26, 27, 28, 29. Click here for details. |
| 9/14 | Request for Proposals: The Fond du Lac Development Corporation is soliciting proposals from qualified Design Consultants for an outdoor classroom/pavilion at Gitigaaning “the place of the gardens” at 960 Cary Road, Cloquet, MN. Amenities of the outdoor classroom/pavilion include seating for 100 people with enclosure for 3-season use, electric, fiber and a wood burning fireplace for heating source. The deadline for submitting bids is October 16, 2023, at 4:30 pm. Click here for details. |
| 9/14 | Request for Proposals: The Fond du Lac Supportive Housing Division is seeking sealed bids to install vinyl flooring in three (3) living quarters in the Veterans Housing Building. The deadline for submitting bids is September 28, 2023, at 2:00 pm. Click here for details. |
| 9/11 | Request for Proposals: Black Bear Casino Resort is seeking bids for Gaming Floor Carpet Installation at Black Bear Casino Resort, including demolition and discarding of existing carpet. The deadline for submitting bids is September 25, 2023, at 4:30 pm. Click here for details. |
| 9/11 | Ojibwe Immersion Academy: Ojibwemotaadidaa Omaa Gidakiiminaang with Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College are pleased to announce the thirteenth annual Ojibwe Immersion Academy Weekend Cohort to be held one weekend each month, November 2023 through April 2024 at the University of Minnesota Cloquet Forestry Center in Cloquet, MN. The Ojibwe Immersion Academy is a rare opportunity for language-learners who are interested in a complete immersion experience to study one-on-one and in small groups with Ojibwe elder first speakers and faculty speakers. Please fill out an application and send all materials to us at ojibwemotaadidaa@gmail.com. All applications are due by 5pm on September 29th, 2023. Weekend Cohort: Flyer (Ojibwe) | Flyer (English) | Eligibility/Details | Application |
| 9/7 | FDL Cannery Hours Update: As of September 9th, there are new hours at Na'enimonigamig, Fond du Lac's Kitchen & Cannery! END-OF-SUMMER & FALL HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8 am - 6 pm, Weekends: by appointment only. Additional appointments possible if staff is available. If interested in using the space, email naenimonigamig@fdlrez.com or call 218-590-6263 to set-up an appointment. For last minute appointments, you can call Marcia at 218-576-6877. |
| 9/1 | FDL Elders' Fall Banquet: The 2023 Elders' Fall Banquet will be held on Tuesday, October 10th, 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm, at the Black Bear Otter Creek Event Center. Dinner will be served at 5:00 pm. Elders will receive Dinner, Hotel Stay and $10 in Free Play! Click here for full details. |
| 9/1 | Energy Assistance Program Notice: You can now apply for Energy Assistance online. It can be more convenient and quicker! Click here to apply and see income guidelines. |
| 9/1 | 2023/24 Hunting & Trapping Seasons: The FDL RBC has approved the fall hunting seasons for the FDL Reservation and the 1854 and 1837 Ceded Territories of Minnesota. Important dates and information are listed in the flyer below. Complete copies of the seasons and limits will be available soon at the Resource Management Division’s office and posted online on the Division’s webpage. Click here for an informational flyer. |
| 8/30 | NOTICE: The FDL TERO Office is asking ALL TERO applicants to fill out a new TERO registration form to ensure that your information is updated. Please be thorough with experience, certifications, and trainings. This application will be kept in the TERO office for a period of one (1) year. Call the TERO office weekly to let us know that you’re searching for work. Contact the TERO office with any questions or updates: 218-878-7527 and/or tero@fdlrez.com. |
| 8/21 | Teamsters Apprenticeship Program: No cost training to be a Construction Truck Driver will be available in the Spring of 2024. Applications are being accepted now! Click here for full details. |
| 8/21 | Special Grant Opportunity: The Northland Foundation will offer a special grant opportunity, through its Maada’ookiing Grant Program, supporting grassroots activities to raise awareness, urge change, and promote healing around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relations. Applications are due by September 15, 2023. Click here for details. |
| 8/15 | Employee Drug & Alcohol Policy Update: The Reservation Business Committee has removed marijuana, cannabis, or THC testing from the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Employee Drug and Alcohol Policy. The updated policy is available here. This change only applies to the Employee Drug and Alcohol Policy. Employees subject to the Band’s FTA Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy or the Band’s Commercial Motor Vehicles testing policy will continue to be subject to marijuana testing. The policy change does not affect any medical testing provided or required at the Band’s Human Services Division. Click here to view the updated policy. |
| 8/3 | NOTICE: Nagaajiwanaang Genawendangig Anishinaabemowin (The Ones who Take Care of Anishinaabemowin at Fond du Lac) are seeking advisory board members. The purpose of the Nagaajiwanaang Genawendangig Anishinaabemowin is to acquaint themselves with all of the language activities and services available in the region and periodically review language plans. In addition, advisory board members will advise the Language Coordinator in matters related to management and development issues affecting Anishinaabemowin preservation and revitalization, and review grant opportunities for funding language programs and projects. Per Fond du Lac Ordinance #05/14, as amended. If you are interested, please email jeffsavage@fdlrez.com or call 218-878-758 |
| 8/1 | NOTICE: Due to the overwhelming response for the Fast Track FHPAP (Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program), FDL Supportive Services will be doing intakes for emergency eviction situations only until further notice. All other applicants will be referred to Carlton County Human Services, St Louis County Human Services and Lakes and Pines. Miigwech for your patience and understanding. |
| 6/30 | Lake Superior Fishing Notice: Fond du Lac Resource Management is excited to spread the word about our emerging Lake Superior Subsistence Harvest. There has been a lot of questions regarding this new program. Please read the document linked here carefully and contact Eric Torvinen erictorvinen@fdlrez.com if you have any further questions. Remember there is a mandatory educational component to this program. You can sign up here. If you don’t sign up you can still attend the class, no one will be turned away. Thanks so much we look forward to a successful harvest! |
| 6/22 | Water Consumer Confidence Reports: The Fond du Lac Water/Wastewater Department is issuing the results of monitoring done on its three community water systems for the period from January 1 to December 31, 2022. The purpose of this report is to advance consumers’ understanding of drinking water and heighten awareness of the need to protect precious water resources. Contact Adam Thompson, Water/Wastewater Manager at 218-878-2627 or adamthompson@fdlrez.com if you have questions about Fond du Lac’s three community water systems. Mahnomen Community Water Report Ridge Road Community Water Report Danielson Community Water Report |
| 6/8 | FDL Statement to Revoking Polymet Mining Permit: On June 8, 2023, the Fond du Lac Reservation Business Committee issued a statement about the Army Corp of Engineers revoking the Polymet MIning, Inc.'s NorthMet mining projet permit. Click here to read the full statement. |
| 6/7 | For Immediate Release: Yesterday, the Army Corps revoked PolyMet Mining’s permit for the NorthMet mine based on the Band’s water quality standards for its downstream waters. To read the Band’s full press release, click here. |
| Homeowner Assistance Fund Program: The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has received funding from the United States Department of the Treasury to administer a Homeowner Assistance Fund program, designed to provide mortgage, utility, and internet payment assistance relief to Tribal homeowners. Click here for details and a program overview with application instructions. |
