Side Bar Links

Aanjibimaadizing Website

https://aanji.org/

Adult Application

https://mlbo-laserfiche.millelacsband.com/Forms/Aanji477

Youth Application

https://aanji.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ge-niigaanizijig-youth-application-6-9-21.docx

 

Mille Lacs Band Ojibwe Rosetta Stone

https://www.culture.aanji.org/language/ojibwe-rosetta-stone/

Other Applications and Forms

https://aanji.org/homepage/apply/

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.millelacsband.com/government/resources1/aanjibimaadizing

About

Aanjibimaadizing, which means “changing lives” in our Ojibwe language, is a service organization operated as a division of the Mille Lacs Band’s Department of Administration. The goals of the program are centered on our mission statement:

To assist our fellow Anishinaabe with education, training, work experiences, cultural participation, and support services to be prosperous and change their life.

 

Aanjibimaadizing helps to empower participants with an acquired purpose or occupation that will contribute to the well-being of their community and family. Through this, we are able to offer services to a large percentage of our community and work closely with other organizations to help all ages embrace their culture and overcome barriers to sustainability. Our services support obtaining and retaining employment, improving or creating a position of job readiness, and addressing barriers that prevent our clients from leading their best life. We are devoted to the work of guiding gidinawemaaganinaanig (our relatives) to a place of wellness, self-sufficiency, and an anchored identity as Anishinaabe.

Connect

Aanjibimaadizing has offices in the Urban area, District I, District II, and District III. The offices are open by appointment. Clients can also call or email.

Aanjibimaadizing has an informational website, aanji.org https://aanji.org/  with information about applications, current services, resources, trainings and online applications; as well as a Facebook page where current events are posted.

Mailing Address

Aanjibimaadizing

43408 Oodena Drive

Onamia, MN 56359

 

DI

Aanjibimaadizing Central Office

43500 Migizi Drive

Onamia, MN 56359

800-922-4457 or 320-532-7407

DII & IIA

McGregor Office

201 W Hwy 210 Suite 100

McGregor, MN 56760

218-768-5330

DIII

Aazhoomog Community Center

45749 Grace Lake Road

Sandstone, MN 55072

320-384-6240

Evergreen Office

2481 Evergreen Court, Suite A

Hinckley, MN 55037

URBAN

MLBO Urban Office

1404 E Franklin Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55404

612-746-4800

Directory – Search Aanji (Button https://millelacsband.com/directory )

Goals 2022-2025

Our goals for 2019 – 2022 are as follows:

  1. Create youth mentorship/internship and training opportunities in all Mille Lacs Band districts that will synchronize with Anishinaabe values, for example, servant leadership to look at the well-being of people and community. This will ensure youth have a positive ongoing relationship with tribal government and promote healthy relationships with adults in the community. These opportunities will be measured by the number of youth placed in mentorships/internships and the number of youth who have completed these opportunities. The program anticipates that 50% of all youth placed will complete the internship successfully.
  2. Develop Ojibwe language resources, materials, and training to be used long term with Aanjibimaadizing clients and all Mille Lacs Band members to increase the use of language, number of speakers, and improve the health and education of the community holistically. Measured by the number of books, resources, and materials available at the end of this threeyear plan in comparison to current resources. Currently there is one level of Rosetta Stone. We anticipate the launch of at least one more level of Rosetta Stone in the three-year plan period.
  3. Build and strengthen our training program in the following areas: outreach to potential clients, emphasis on the importance of gaining new knowledge including digital literacy, which will help in job advancement. In addition, this will help clients see the importance in self-growth, by growing their skills. This will be measured by the number of clients attending trainings or the number of clients gaining employment, thus advancing their careers.
  4. Increase indigenous business development of individuals and companies by promoting skills to build human capital, business plans/development and problem solving. Measured by the number people attending small business classes and number of people obtaining a small business development grant.

Services

Ojibwe Language and Culture

It is the purpose of Aanjibimaadizing to prepare the members of the MLBO community to contribute to the Mille Lacs Band. While a primary part of this contribution is in the form of employment that helps enrolled members thrive financially, it is of equal importance that MLBO membership reflects the unique history and culture of its people.

As such, the Program also recognizes the vital role of education in traditional cultural and linguistic practice which allows those who receive services to contribute across the whole spectrum of membership in the Mille Lacs Band community. In pursuit of this balance the Program will provide Ojibwe cultural and language training which encourages fluency in the Ojibwe language, at the heart of which lie the values and lived experience of MLBO culture as a whole.

Mille Lacs Band Ojibwe Rosetta Stone

Research has shown that cultivating connections with one’s Indigenous language and culture contributes to improved physical and mental wellbeing, and therefore success in school, family, and workplace. The first level of the Mille Lacs Band Ojibwe Rosetta Stone launched in March 2022. Other levels are currently in production. To register, go to aanji.org. https://www.culture.aanji.org/language/ojibwe-rosetta-stone/

Ojibwe Language Books

We have secured numerous stories from elders in our Ojibwe language and completed five Ojibwe-language books. The books are a collection of stories from elders comprising of two illustrated books for children, one for high school learners, and two for general readers of Ojibwe. They can be purchased through the Minnesota Historical Society.

Career Training and Development

Aanjibimaadizing regularly provides basic work and family related trainings. These include: GED preparation, driver’s license assistance, budgeting, parenting skills, First Aid/CPR, food handling, communication, and other courses related to career readiness.

Adult Support Services

Adult Support Service payments are single payments to vendors to assist participants in overcoming specific, immediate and essential family stabilization or employment related barriers. Those eligible may receive supportive services for such things as:

  • New employment clothing and/or supplies when required by the employer
  • Driver’s Education costs.
  • Leadership, education or cultural training costs, including tuition or registration and supplies (Based on a program recommendation or required list. Please note: The program does not pay for out of state travel.)

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

Tribal TANF Cash Assistance makes monthly cash payments to families with minor children based on family size and composition. These benefits require participating adults to agree and to follow a case plan designed to move them away from assistance and to self-reliance. Cash Assistance has a 60-month lifetime limit.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a State of Minnesota program that the Aanjibimaadizing administers for our Cash Assistance families. This program provides cash assistance specifically for food purchases.

Adult Work Experience (WEX) Program

The Work Experience (WEX) Program is a 720-hour on-the-job work experience training program structured to promote self-sufficiency through the development of appropriate work habits and job skills. The program is designed to move the participant to unsubsidized, career-oriented work by building their talents and abilities. Its incentives are directly related to mastery of four critical work behaviors: Reliability; Safety; Team Building; and Achievement.

Adult Partial Subsidy Program

Participants who demonstrate that they are work ready and who are hired into career oriented, long-term, stable employment may arrange to have the first 720 hours of their new employment subsidized. These subsidies are paid to the employer, not the employee. A special contract with the employer is required that specifies the terms of agreement for the employer and Aanjibimaadizing.

Childcare Assistance

Childcare assistance helps parents or guardians who are employed or enrolled in educational programs pay for child care. The three types of care that qualify include center based, licensed family care, and legal-non-licensed (provided by a relative outside of the child’s home).

Ge-Niigaanizijig (Youth and Teen Activities)

Ge-Niigaanizijig activities and regularly scheduled meetings are designed to inspire and motivate our youth to embrace a tradition based pro-social lifestyle free of chemicals and risky behavior. These activities are offered to all eligible reservation service area youth from kindergarten through age 20. Ge-Niigaanizijig works to develop skills in the 4 pillars of youth programming Ojibwe Culture, Community, Career, and Education through healthy learning activities with kids ages Kindergarten through Grade 6. Teen Mentors provide Healthy Circles and Expanding the Circle programming to youth ages twelve (12) through twenty (20). Cash incentives and awards are made to Ge-Niigaanizijig teens who meet program participation and achievement goals.

Youth Support Services

Ge-niigaanizijig provides a variety of support services that help youth to reach the goals that they have set with their mentors. Eligible youth ages three and up who are enrolled in day care or school may receive supportive services for such things as:

  • New employment clothing and/or supplies when required by the employer
  • Driver’s education costs.
  • Athletic or academic program fees and supplies
  • Special tutor costs (such as individual music lessons)
  • Leadership, education or cultural camp costs, including tuition, travel and supplies (Based on a program recommendation or required list. Please note: The program does not pay for out of state travel.)

Youth Career and Work Exploration Program

Eligible youth, ages sixteen (16) through twenty (20) may participate in the Youth Career and Work Exploration Program. Youth are given an incentive for actual hours worked. To be eligible you must be in school, making satisfactory attendance and grades. The type of work and the number of hours worked per week depend on the needs of the worksite supervisor.

Facilitated Services

Aanjibimaadizing offers facilitated services to help connect clients to other support services within the community and assist them in meeting their goals to obtain and retain employment. Often these services support client needs that are social, health, and mental health related. Facilitated services offers a more targeted support for employment, training and self-sufficiency.

Zakab Biinjina

Zakab Biinjina is supportive – but temporary – housing meant to bridge the gap from homelessness to permanent housing by offering structure, supervision, support, life skills, education, and training. Its objectives promote the development of families, self-sufficiency, and a safe and healthy place to live. Clients must complete 90 days of working with an Aanjibimaadizing Case Manager before entering Zakab housing to ensure they have the support they need in place to be successful.

Housing Support

Clients may access support including long term homeless prevention and state opioid response funds if they qualify.

Mille Lacs Band Suicide Prevention Project

In the spring of 2021, Aanjibimaadizing began organizing a task force of Mille Lacs Band members and employees to begin organizing a Suicide Prevention Project. American Indians have the highest rate of suicide in Minnesota. Aitkin County is ranked 1st in Minnesota for the highest suicide rate of any county; Mille Lacs County ranks in the top five; Pine County 13th.  Youth ages 15-34 make up 55% of people who die by suicide among American Indians in Minnesota. We are working to build suicide awareness and increase capacity with culturally specific mental health care services, support systems and guidance to ensure the whole community knows how to intervene and help.

Eligibility

An eligible household must include at least one adult who is

  • An enrolled member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe; or
  • A first generation descendent of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe; or
  • An enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe; or
  • For TANF, if residing within the Urban Service Area, an enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.

Eligible households must also reside within one of our federally approved service areas:

  • Reservation Service Area: Within one of the Minnesota townships of Aitkin, Benton, Crow Wing, Chisago, Kanabec Mille Lacs, Morrison or Pine counties, or
  • Urban Service Area: Within one of the urban Minnesota counties of Hennepin, Anoka, and Ramsey.

Financial Eligibility determines what types of services you are eligible for. It is based on the household income with specific types of income excluded.

Some programs have their own special eligibility standards. There may be additional eligibility standards for various services.

Veterans and veteran families, including survivor families, are given preference.

How to Apply

Apply online by clicking the link below. Online applications and forms can also be found at aanji.org. https://aanji.org/homepage/apply/ (Please note that online applications are not able to be accessed through internet or wi-fi that is on the MLB network.)

Adult Application (Button https://mlbo-laserfiche.millelacsband.com/Forms/Aanji477 )

Youth Application (Button https://aanji.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ge-niigaanizijig-youth-application-6-9-21.docx )

A complete application includes the following:

  • Photo ID
  • Proof of residency (utility bill or lease)
  • Proof of tribal enrollment or Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe first descendancy
  • Proof of income for the last two (2) months. (Per-cap, Earned and other income received)
  • For males only – selective service number

Additional information may be needed for various services. We can assist with acquiring these if needed.

Feel free to contact us at any time with questions at 800-922-4457 or 320-532-7407.