Things started to turn around about a decade ago, when the Twin Cities-based nonprofit Leech Lake Legacy began taking in surrendered animals - more than 9,000 to date - for adoption elsewhere and regularly bringing a visiting mobile clinic to the reservation for low-cost vet services. That meant that all too often, injured animals would die or be abandoned, as would litters of puppies and kittens nobody could afford to care for. Nearly 40% of Leech Lake's population lives in poverty, making it hard to afford routine spaying and neutering, let alone emergency care that can run up to hundreds of dollars per surgery. Now, "We're taking back our culture," added Fleming, a Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe elder and teacher at Leech Lake Tribal College. People forgot we need to care for them," said Elaine Fleming, who started rescuing animals 10 years ago after holding a ceremony for them with prayers, singing and drums. But as we were assimilated, and went into deep poverty, our stories weren't told. Cats and dogs have chosen to be with us and comfort us. "Traditionally we were told to be grateful to animals. So things like promoting pet care and bringing much-needed vet services to the reservation nestled among forests and lakes reinforce the Creator's intentions for harmony between humans and animals - a value that some say faded over the years. Since dogs are the wolf's relatives, the story teaches, they should be brothers to today's Native people, honored though separate. Their task completed, the Creator told them to go on separate paths, even though they both would be "feared, respected and misunderstood" by the people later joining them on earth. "Our pets are the ones who walk with us."Īnimals are central to Ojibwe beliefs and sacred origin stories.Īccording to one, which by tradition may be told only once snow blankets the northland, the Creator asked the original man and his wolf to travel the earth together, and on their journey they became as close as brothers. "It helps animals, but it brings people up too," said Rick Haaland, who has been leading the efforts among his fellow Ojibwe as community outreach manager with the Leech Lake tribal police. It's all thanks to a yearslong and increasingly organized push by several community members to improve animal welfare that is deeply rooted in cultural and spiritual values regarding the Ojibwe people's relationship with all living creatures. Kids are helping their elders in animal rescues, pet food and supplies are routinely distributed in the community and the first veterinary clinic in the main town, Cass Lake, is one final permit away from breaking ground. CASS LAKE, Minnesota (AP) - Animal neglect used to be such a problem on the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota, with basic services like sterilization out of reach for many due to poverty and remoteness, that packs of stray dogs would sometimes bring traffic to a halt on the main highway.
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