The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa was selected by the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, in collaboration with the Bush Foundation as a winner of a Local Government Innovation Award (LGIA).
Grand Portage is an award recipient in the “Local Government and Native Nations Collaboration” category and receives recognition through media, the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, an engraved award, and recognition at the event, said Jennifer Gilhoi, who works with the project. (Leading Innovators – five total this year – receive the video and $5,000 grant money.)
Travis Novitsky, park manager, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources State Parks and Trails, submitted the application, nominating the Grand Portage Wellness Fair.
Novitsky’s application stated, “The Grand Portage annual wellness fair brings together multiple agencies to provide wellness resources and creative networking and learning opportunities for the community. It’s a space where participants are able to browse a number of informational booths, learn about the area’s cultural history, enjoy a free lunch and even win a prize giveaway. In the fair’s welcoming setting, people can make connections and be introduced to resources which all contribute to a more proactive approach to wellness.”
LGIA brings attention to the innovative ways that local governments in Minnesota have responded to rising costs, reduced revenues, and increasing demand for public services, said Jay Kiedrowski, Humphrey School senior fellow, and LGIA program lead.
The Humphrey School of Public Affairs is recognizing the efforts of 17 local government entities with Local Government Innovation Awards (LGIA).
The awards program is organized in partnership with the Bush Foundation and its Native Nation Building Initiative; and co-sponsored by the League of Minnesota Cities, the Association of Minnesota Counties, the Minnesota Association of Townships, and the Minnesota School Boards Association. The awards recognize projects in up to five different categories and name up to one Leading Innovator in each: cities, counties, schools, townships, and Native nations, which recognize collaborations between tribes and a local government entity. This year, no awards were presented in the township category.
“LGIA really demonstrates the benefits of communities working together over a lengthy and shared history,” said Eileen Briggs, who leads the Bush Foundation’s Native Nation Building Initiative. “2019 marks our third year of Native nation and local government collaboration. The progress we’ve been able to highlight around collaborations related to education, social justice, and community building is inspiring others to do the same.”
One project in each category was chosen as a Leading Innovator and received a professional video highlighting their work, in addition to a $5,000 grant from the Bush Foundation. The Native nation category requires a collaborative submission between a Native nation and a city, county, township, or school.
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