The Red Lake Tribal Council unanimously passed a resolution this week declaring March 21 a "Day of Remembrance" to mark the one-year anniversary of the Red Lake school shootings that left nine people dead.
The council decided that out of respect for the privacy of the victims' families, no community-wide observance will be held. However, all tribal programs will be closed on that day so that personnel may observe the day as they see fit, and resources that would have been used to put on a community-wide feast will be donated to victims' families.
The full resolution is as follows:
"Whereas, the Red Lake Tribal Council, governing body of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, is mindful of the impact of the events of March 21, 2005, on the people of Red Lake, and
"Whereas, the one-year anniversary of the Red Lake school shootings is approaching, with its unavoidable wakening of memories and sadness; and
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"Whereas, the families of the nine victims will be involved in their own observance of this day in accordance with their own family traditions; and
"Whereas, the Tribal Council wishes to honor the privacy of each family and their tradition of mourning, while still recognizing the immense loss to the entire Red Lake Nation which the events of this day presented; now
"Therefore be it resolved, that the Red Lake Tribal Council hereby declares Tuesday, March 21, 2006 to be a 'Day of Remembrance' for the Red Lake Nation; and
"Be it further resolved, that there will not be one community-wide observance, but that all tribal programs will be closed so that personnel may take part in family events as they see fit; and
"Be it finally resolved, that such resources as the Band would have spent on a community-wide feast will instead by distributed among the families for their benefit."
