City Detail

Background Information

City of Red Lake Nation
County: Beltrami
Population: 5000
GreenStep City category: B
Full-time equivalent city staff (approx.): 250
Participating township, county, school: Red Lake, Redby, Little Rock, Ponemah

GreenStep Coordinator

Annie Johnson
City Staff
218-679-1455
City web page relating to sustainability/GreenStep activities:
GreenStep City resolution: Click here to view the file.
GreenStep City status and date: STEP 1 ( )

City Assessment Files and City Performance Metrics

City councils pass a resolution to join the GreenStep program and are recognized at Step 1. Step 2 and Step 3 recognition levels reflect completed city actions, reported and rated below with stars (1 star = good, 2 stars = better, 3 stars = best). The Assessment File below summarizes completed city actions in a short Word file. Step 4 recognition is awarded to cities who report a minimum number of core metrics for the previous calendar year. These metrics aim to show the aggregate, quantitative results of taking multiple GreenStep actions. Step 5 cities show improvement in the Step 4 metrics. See yearly data for Steps 4&5. Additional city data can be found by reviewing information on B3 Benchmarking and Regional Indicators Initiative.

Assessment File

Best Practice Actions Underway and Completed

Completed actions are denoted by stars.

Total completed actions: 7
1 star actions: 5
2 star actions: 1
3 star actions: 1

Buildings and Lighting Buildings and Lighting

Building Redevelopment {BP no.5}

2 star - Action 5:

Adopt development/design standards and programs that facilitate infill, redevelopment, and adaptable buildings.

Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
This housing retrofit project consists of 40 single family houses, 10 houses in each of the four communities in the Red Lake Tribal Nation that are being gutted, and repurposed with new flooring, windows, insolation, furness’s, central air, and water and sewer systems. Each house is going to be EnergyStar rated. The contract work is being done by Norson Construction. This Project includes the installation of EnergyStar-Rated clothes washers, dishwashers, and refrigerators and lighting fixtures and ceiling fans if needed as well as roofing that is Energy Star compliant. All interior paints will meet the MPI and Green Seal standards for VOC’s. After the retrofit is complete and before the tenants can move back in, they will be given a guide that explains intent, benefits, use, and maintenance of the green building features.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Housing Authority, Red Lake Tribal Council, Norson Construction, Red Lake Nation TERO

Land Use Land Use

Comprehensive, Climate and Energy Plans {BP no.6}

1 star - Action 1:

Adopt a comprehensive plan or (for Category B & C cities) adopt a future land use plan that was adopted by the county or a regional entity.

Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2009
Implementation details:
Red Lake Nation Land Use Plan 2009 and is currently under review for updates. The current Land Use Plan is a collaboration of Economic Development, Tribal Planning, and Tribal Engineering. Updated population data and green energy efforts will be included in the updated plan.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
For more information contact:
Annie Johnson (City Staff) | annemarie.johnson@redlakenation.org | 2186793350
1 star - Action 3:

Include requirements in comprehensive and/or other plans for intergovernmental coordination addressing regional land use and watershed / wellhead impacts, infrastructure, transportation, economic development and city/regional services.

Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2009
Implementation details:
Red Lake Nation Land Use Plan is currently under review for updates. The current Land Use Plan is a collaboration of Economic Development, Tribal Planning, and Tribal Engineering. Updated population data and green energy efforts will be included in the updated plan.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
For more information contact:
Annie Johnson (City Staff) | annemarie.johnson@redlakenation.org | 2186793350

Design for Natural Resource Conservation {BP no.10}

1 star - Action 7:

Support and protect wildlife through habitat rehabilitation, preservation and recognition programs.

Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2008
Implementation details:
Red Lake Nation DNR has implemented a Wolf Management Plan within the Nation's boundaries. Wolves are acknowledged as a relative and coexist with Anishinaabe.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
For more information contact:
Annie Johnson (City Staff) | annemarie.johnson@redlakenation.org | 2186793350

Transportation Transportation

Living & Complete Streets {BP no.11}

1 star - Action 4:

Identify, prioritize and remedy complete streets gaps and lack of connectivity/safety within your road network by, for example, bike/pedestrian plan, adding a bike route/lane, truck route, sidewalk or mid-block alley.

Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2023
Implementation details:
U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Red Lake Nation with funding to improve pedestrian safety and walkability in the Red Lake Hospital Compund.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
For more information contact:
Annie Johnson (City Staff) | annemarie.johnson@redlakenation.org | 2186793350

Environmental Management Environmental Management

Parks and Trails {BP no.18}

1 star - Action 1:

Make improvements within your city's system of parks, offroad trails and open spaces.

Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2023
Implementation details:
A 4 mile walking trail and pedestrian rest areas are planned between the Red Lake Government Center and New Beginnings at Redby.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
For more information contact:
Annie Johnson (City Staff) | annemarie.johnson@redlakenation.org | 2186793350

Resilient Economic & Community Development Resilient Economic and Community Development

Local Food {BP no.27}

3 star - Action 2:

Facilitate creation of home/community gardens, chicken & bee keeping, and incorporation of food growing areas/access in multifamily and residential developments.

Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
Red Lake Band of Chippewa Tribal Nation has a Local Food Initiative with which the goals are to decrease diet-related health issues, increase access to local healthy foods and develop a local foods economy. The Initiative incorporates community beliefs and attitudes about contemporary and traditional foods, in which the community garden is a part of. This community garden was started to provide food for the community and for the Oshkiimaajitahdah (New Beginnings) kitchen for employees. The food produced will also be used for cooking classes and programs to teach locals how to prepare traditional dishes, start a farmers market and help individuals start their own garden plots. There is also a High Tunnel Training Program with which, after community members finish the 13 week training, they receive a grant and a loan for a high tunnel and other equipment to start their own garden. The community garden currently has 1 high tunnel to help extend the growing season. The garden was done all by community members and includes the following foods:
4 types of Tomatoes- Heirloom Cherry, Beefy Steak, Big Girl, and Aroma
4 types of Potato- Russets, Red, Yukon Gold, and Purple Viking
5 types of Peppers- Green, Chili, Jalapeno, and Poloma, and Hungarian wax Pepper
3 types of Lettuce- Red Heirloom, Red Leafy, and Kale
3 types of Corn- Heirloom Vanity, Hominy, and Popcorn
Squash
Cucumbers
Broccoli
Onions
Scallions
The Community Garden space also includes an orchard which contains 60 trees with 4 varieties of fruit- Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry, and Apricot. The Garden also has flowers planted throughout the space and has a plot for just wild flowers. For the future, Dave has a “Dream List” of things to add to the community garden space that includes: better irrigation with soaker hoses, inputting landscape fabric, adding 2 more green houses, and adding a deep winter green house.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Oshkiimaajitahdah (New Beginnings); Red Lake School District; Poly Tex; Project Grow; DNR; Wozupi Tribal Gardens; Sanitation Department; Comprehensive Health; local SNAP educator, Debra Hawthorne
For more information contact:
Dave Close (City staff) | dclose@redlakenation.org | 218-679-3350