Bureau of Indian Affairs takes control of Red Lake Nation child welfare program

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) assumed control of the Red Lake Nation’s child welfare program, Ombimindwaa Gidinawemaaganinaadog, on September 10. This takeover follows allegations from the Department of the Interior regarding the program's failure to protect children from abuse and neglect.

A federal notice describes the deaths of eight children since December 2021, alleging that the program's placement and custody decisions contributed to these fatalities. The BIA further alleges that staff failed to report abuse to law enforcement and that the Nation refused to cooperate with federal investigators. One specific instance cited involved an infant who died from a fentanyl overdose after being returned to a home with a known history of drug use.

The Red Lake Nation has disputed parts of the BIA's findings and is currently appealing the decision through a mediation process. The Tribal Council has acknowledged the grief of affected families and stated it is conducting an internal review. While the BIA has reassumed operations under the tribe's self-governance compact, the Nation maintains that the federal account of the program's conduct has not been tested.