Red Lake Hospital Comprehensive Health Service receives awards

By Molly Miron

The Pioneer

      RED LAKE - Their response to the crisis of March 21 demonstrates their standing as warriors for their community.

      That was the pronouncement of Dr. Craig Vanderwagen, chief medical officer of the Indian Health Service. Vanderwagen traveled to Red Lake Thursday from Washington, D.C., to offer praise to the health care teams in dealing with the dead and wounded of the March 21 Red Lake High School shootings. He awarded plaques to the Red Lake Hospital and Red Lake Comprehensive Health Service members, commending their exemplary actions during the tragedy.

      Vanderwagen used the description of a warrior several times in his honoring speech, saying warriors are not just people who fight, people of aggression.

      “To me, the warrior in reality is protecting the community,” he said. “The award was a specific recognition of their response to extraordinary circumstances.”

      When Jeff Weise entered Red Lake High School shortly before 3 p.m. on March 21, he shot and killed seven people before shooting himself. Weise also wounded seven students. Prior to entering the school, he shot and killed his grandfather and his grandfather’s partner at their home.

      All the dead and wounded except one person arrived at the Red Lake Hospital a few minutes after the shooting. Staff members had to deal with unknown situations, as well as the knowledge they were treating their friends and relatives.

      Hospital Administrator Dr. John Robinson said the teams are developing plans for the future in light of the events during the tragedy.

      “We’re going to be responding to March 21 for a couple of years,” he said. “We’re changed from that day, forever changed.”

      The flags at the hospital still fly at half staff and some members of the health care team continue to wear buttons stating that the community is in mourning.

      Vanderwagen said his office will work with Red Lake to move the plans forward, coordinating health care, faith and law enforcement communities.

      “You all did a marvelous, marvelous job,” he said. “I can’t tell you how much you were an inspiration to all of us. ... People took the responsibility to stand and protect and serve the people in a very positive way in a very tragic experience.”