Ground Breaking to Support Early Education

Construction has begun on additions and updates for the Head Start program in Minisinaakwaang

By VIVIAN LaMOORE, INAAJIMOWIN EDITOR

It was a big day for the tiny tots of Minisinaakwaang on Friday, August 26, 2022, as several Mille Lacs Band members, educators, Tribal leaders, and children gathered for ceremonial ground-breaking of the new Head Start additions and updates at the District II Community Center.

The project will consist of adding two classrooms, including an infant room and a toddler room. It will also include renovating the existing space of the toddler room to make it more functional for the program and provide a safe space for infants and toddlers. These new and renovated classrooms will also support Wraparound childcare for those who need it.

"We are pleased and excited to be adding a another classroom to the District II site which will allow Mille Lacs Early Education the opportunity to offer Early Head Start services to children under 1 year of age," said Nancy Saboo, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Director of Mille Lacs Early Education. "Additionally, staff will benefit from much needed storage space and a teacher’s area.

Head Start programs and early education are essential for children for so many reasons. Early childhood education benefits more than the children who participate — it also helps their kids, even decades later, and the entire community.

A recent study of Head Start, the large federally funded pre-kindergarten initiative that started in the 1960s, found that the children of kids who participated were substantially more likely to graduate high school and attend college, and less likely to commit crime and become a teen parent.

Along with the many benefits of Head Start or Early Head Start, Mille Lacs Early Education also provides Early Intervention Services. These services are designed to meet the needs of students ages 0-5, address any issues or concerns about your child’s development, and assist children with needs as early as possible.

"This is exciting!" said Wendy “Bebiskaneyaashiikwe” Merrill, District II Representative. "As a former Head Start kid and parent of Head Start children myself, I loved the support of the program. It benefits the community by giving youth a bigger, welcoming place to learn. Opening an infant and toddler room will allow for parents in the community to work, provide services, and opportunities. I want to give a special Miigwech to Marvin Bruneau, former District II Representative, who was a huge supporter of this project while he was in office."

The Head Start programs provide services for at-risk children ages 0-5 and their families. Some of those services include health, dental, and developmental screening and early intervention services, education designed to meet the individual needs of each child using a variety of learning experiences, parent engagement and education in the form of Family Activity Nights and training opportunities as well as support with family goals, and family and community partnerships and advocacy.

The construction project is expected to be complete in the spring of 2023. For individuals interested in possibly enrolling their children, please have them contact Tricia Thomas, Family Support Specialist at 320-532-7590