Regional Sustainability Project Planning in Minnesota A presentation prepared for the American Planning Association Conference Bloomington, MN April 25, 2009 by Deborah McLaren RBR Communications, Inc.

Examples from White Earth Indian Reservation Description of White Earth and their internal assets/economic engines Journeys with First Nations AEO’s Regional Flavors

Description of White Earth and their internal assets/economic engines

Journeys with First Nations

AEO’s Regional Flavors

White Earth Statistics The White Earth Reservation is in an area of especially severe continuous unemployment. MN Indian Affairs Per capita income: $4,917 Total unemployment: 24.8% Total labor force: 765

The White Earth Reservation is in an area of especially severe continuous unemployment.

MN Indian Affairs

Per capita income: $4,917

Total unemployment: 24.8%

Total labor force: 765

White Earth Resources/Assets Food Culture Land Wildlife People History

Food

Culture

Land

Wildlife

People

History

Traditional Anishinaabeg Foods * beef * bison meat / products * chicken * duck * game birds * goose * maple syrup * pork * sausage * specialty meats * turkey * venison * wild game * wild rice

* beef

* bison meat / products

* chicken

* duck

* game birds

* goose

* maple syrup

* pork

* sausage

* specialty meats

* turkey

* venison

* wild game

* wild rice

Beautiful skies: sunsets and northern lights

Cross-country skiing

Traditional cultural activities

Journeys with First Nations A “Green Routes” buy-local tourism project Renewing the Countryside Launched September 6, 2008

Journeys Goals Strengthen rural sustainability strategies Promote/Preserve First Nations Support locally-owned sustainable businesses, organizations and events Educate travelers about opportunities to support locally-owned green businesses

Strengthen rural sustainability strategies

Promote/Preserve First Nations

Support locally-owned sustainable businesses, organizations and events

Educate travelers about opportunities to support locally-owned green businesses

Description of RTC Renewing the Countryside (RTC) strengthens rural areas by championing and supporting rural communities, farmers, artists, entrepreneurs, educators, activists and other people who are renewing the countryside through sustainable and innovative initiatives, businesses, and projects. www.Renewing the Countryside.org 2105 First Ave So., Minneapolis MN 55404 1-866-0587 FOR MORE INFO...

Renewing the Countryside (RTC) strengthens rural areas by championing and supporting rural communities, farmers, artists, entrepreneurs, educators, activists and other people who are renewing the countryside through sustainable and innovative initiatives, businesses, and projects.

www.Renewing the Countryside.org

2105 First Ave So., Minneapolis MN 55404 1-866-0587

“ Journeys” is based on a highly successful Green Routes program Sustainable model has been implemented in seven regions Utilizes an integrated business approach (relies on other local sustainable efforts such as farming, forestry, fisheries and even architecture) Attracts visitors who can invest directly into the local economy through the arts, heritage, history, food and other small businesses. www.GreenRoutes.org FOR MORE INFO...

Sustainable model has been implemented in seven regions

Utilizes an integrated business approach (relies on other local sustainable efforts such as farming, forestry, fisheries and even architecture)

Attracts visitors who can invest directly into the local economy through the arts, heritage, history, food and other small businesses.

www.GreenRoutes.org

Long-term goals Duplicate the Journeys model in partnership with additional tribal communities and councils. Develop a volunteer mentor program to provide support to businesses, organizations and events that need assistance fulfilling the terms of the Journeys Sustainable Destination Agreement . Continue to support capacity building in the regions and networking between regional projects.

Duplicate the Journeys model in partnership with additional tribal communities and councils.

Develop a volunteer mentor program to provide support to businesses, organizations and events that need assistance fulfilling the terms of the Journeys Sustainable Destination Agreement .

Continue to support capacity building in the regions and networking between regional projects.

Association for Economic Opportunity (AEO) Regional Flavors at White Earth Why Regional Flavor? As many rural communities experience a ‘loss of power’ in their traditional economic engines (manufacturing, resource extraction, etc), this project offers new hope and opportunity.

Overview Utilizing collaborative efforts to implement a mix of rural economic development strategies that incorporate microenterprise development, regional tourism, cultural and historic assets, and agricultural product development, the Regional Flavor approach supports these entities and entrepreneurs in working together to rethink, redefine, and rebrand themselves and their regions.

Six “cluster” sites in the US AEO has assembled six learning clusters, where organizations that are working to harness the power of rural tourism to drive economic development come together, share their efforts and establish a wealth of information and ideas to advance rural areas.

AEO has assembled six learning clusters, where organizations that are working to harness the power of rural tourism to drive economic development come together, share their efforts and establish a wealth of information and ideas to advance rural areas.

These efforts range from the Food We Love program of the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet) (www.acenetworks.org) in Athens, Ohio

To the Arkansas Delta Rural Heritage Development Initiative (www.arkansasdelta.net) which highlights the ties between soil and soul in the history of the Mississippi Delta .

The common thread in this work is an appreciation of rural areas and helping rural residents recognize the value of their assets, whether they are historical, geographical or cultural. The process also encourages collaboration.

Preserve and Protect Food Assets

Preserve and Protect Sugarbush

Preserve and Protect Cultural Assets

Becker County Historical Society

Mingwigiji Café - a showplace and community gathering spot

Preserve and Protect Historical Assets

Internal Assets, Planning, Partnerships = Preservation and Strengthening a Traditional Economy

Thank you. For more info: