A year ago Tuesday, shots rang out which echoed throughout the Red Lake Reservation, forever changing a proud people with a rich tradition and heritage. Instead, the Red Lake Band of Chippewa will for eternity be linked to the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, where a Red Lake High School student killed nine people before taking his own life, including five students, a teacher and a school security guard, all in the school.
It's understandable that the extended families of the victims will want to observe the anniversary in their own way, according to their own traditions, rather than be under the spotlight of the national and international media again. The Red Lake Tribal Council has proclaimed Tuesday as a "Day of Remembrance" but will hold no community-wide program in deference to the families. Gov. Tim Pawlenty, however, is asking fellow Minnesotans to also remember that moment, by holding a private silent moment at 2 p.m. on Tuesday in remembrance of those lost and injured.
Tuesday also marks another significant event. According to the culture, the one-year anniversary of a death marks the closure of a formal period of mourning. The victims' families will never be the same, but we hope that from this time forward that they can begin to put the pieces of their lives back together again and strive to make their families whole again.
That also speaks of the Red Lake Nation, that a sharp focus is brought to bear on restoring hope, pride and self-worth among all its peoples, especially as they enter the school system. It's been noted before that a disconnect comes between innocent elementary school years and the tough middle school transition years, that something happens.
For the children's sake, everyone must take ownership in a solution -- from tribal leaders to school officials to elders to parents. Red Lake's greatest asset has always been its children, and there is no greater time than now to give them encouragement, nurturing and, most of all, hope of a better future.
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That future must include family values, adherence to traditional values, education, jobs, housing and a safe environment. It must not include drugs, gangs, violent crimes, poverty and hopelessness.
On Tuesday, we stand with our Red Lake friends and neighbors in sorrow, remembering the events of a year ago and how they affected so many families. But after Tuesday, we also want to stand at the ready to help our Red Lake friends and neighbors to seek a better path, one full of hope and leading to prosperity for a strong and proud people.
