Red Lake’s Equay Wiigamig dedicates Wellstone House

          (RLNN) - It was a year and three days ago on October 25, 2002, that a plane crash near Eveleth, Minnesota took the lives of two near and dear friends of Red Lake, Senator Paul Wellstone and his wife, Sheila. A year before that Sheila was in Red Lake and took part in Equay Wiigamig’s Indian Women’s Coalition round-table deliberation and Fall Feast.

         Sheila Wellstone was an ex officio member of the Equay Wiigamig Woman’s Advisory Board and Paul generously donated $1,000 a year from his senate pay to the Shelter.

         In their memory, and to honor the couple who lived life to help other lives, the new Equay Wiigamig Community Advocacy Center–an addition to the Woman’s Shelter–was officially named ‘The Wellstone House” on Tuesday, October 28, 2003.

         The new Advocacy Center was already in the planning stage when the Wellstones’ plane crashed last year, and was designed for counseling women who need legal advice and help in their domestic situation, but didn’t want to enter the Shelter.

         With standing room only inside the Wellstone House, the Kingbird Singers sang memorial and honor songs for the couple, and shortly after 11 a.m. a one-mile walk to the Red Lake Humanties Center took place in honor of the dedication and also against domestic violence.

         There were about 130 walkers, less than expected because of the cold rain and snow flurries.

         Students from Red Lake’s High School and Middle School joined the walkers at the Humanities Center for a scheduled balloon release of green and purple balloons. The green balloons were in memory of the Wellstones; the purple balloons were in memory of those who died as a result of domestic violence.

         Over 600 balloons were released at noon prior to entering the Humanities Center for the dedication and feast.

         There were nearly 1000 people that filled the Humanities for the rest of the event, and after a moment of silent for Paul and Sheila Wellstone and those who were victims of domestic violence, once again the Kingbird Singers sang honor and memorial songs before the Keynote Speaker, Red Lake Tribal Secretary Judy Roy, welcomed everyone and spoke about the dedication.

         Darlene Lussier, Director of Equay Wiigamig, had said over 30 women and children have died because of domestic violence last year.

         “Today is a very significant day for us,” Roy said, “in marking the first anniversary of the death of Paul and Sheila Wellstone, their daughter, their staff, and the pilots of the plane that crashed.”

         She said the actual anniversary was Friday, October 25, but they were doing this today because they wanted the young people to be involved. The reason for that, was they wanted young people to start thinking now about the effects of violence on the community, about the affects of violence on families.

         Roy said that when they started families it was very important that they learn to be peaceful, respectful, and taking care of each other.

         “We are all part of one circle,” she said. “As we started the walk this morning, the first thought that occurred to me was, Paul and Sheila would have been right in the forefront of this walk, as they were with us in many other walks against violence, against diabetes, against all the problems we have to confront in order to be a better nation.”

         She said Paul and Sheila walked with them, literally. They visited the reservation so often, people thought nothing in seeing them here–they were like the rest of us.

         Roy spoke about Paul being at former Chairman Jourdain’s funeral, and Sheila being a member of the Women’s Advisory.

         “She was there with us when she could be,” she said. “She was there with us in spirit when she couldn’t be.

         Roy said Paul and Sheila also sent a check for a thousand dollars every year for support of the Equay Wiigamig.

         “...As a couple they showed nothing but affection, trust, faith and respect for each other,” she said. “And that is what we need to aim for in our relationship.”

         She also read the Tribal Resolution signifying October of every year as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, as well as commended the work of Equay Wiigamig.

         Secretary Roy also read a letter from Mark and David Wellstone, the sons of Paul and Sheila, who were invited to the dedication but were unable to attend. They apologized in the letter and expressed their deep appreciation the Red Lake people felt for their parents and in continuing on with their work with domestic violence issues.

         Also speaking was Larry Stillday who talked about the spirit of the Wellstones, their work, and what he was taught by the elders, as well as Lisa Grolla, who spoke about the work of Equay Wiigamig and domestic violence.

         The winners of the Domestic Violence Essay Contest were also named (names and essays in Student Works section), followed by live music from a variety of musicians during the feast.

         Equay Wiigamig can accommodate about 30 people, and over the past year has served over 300 women and 400 children. Ten advocates are employed there, along with security personnel, maintenance and a cook. The area is under constant camera surveillance.