Latest news with #BushFellowship
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
2025 Bush Foundation Fellowship recognizes Leech Lake Nation's Megan Treuer
Jul. 5—ESKO — Leech Lake Band member Megan Treuer is in good company given the recent announcement that she would join 28 other community leaders as part of the 2025 Bush Foundation Fellowship. Awarded to those with a track record of leading change and seeking to expand their community impact, the Fellowship will allow Treuer to pursue her professional goals as the country's first known female Native American judge and daughter of one of Minnesota's first Native attorneys. "I was thrilled and excited, but also humbled," Treuer recalled upon hearing the news of her award. "I had been looking for a way to scale back my caseload and really focus on immersing myself in the Ojibwe language. I know less than I did when I was a kid, so the Bush Fellowship came to my attention that way." Treuer noted personal connections to other recipients in prior years, allowing her to garner some background information on the award. With the Bush Foundation receiving around 1,000 applications for the 2025 cohort, each fellow receives up to $150,000 over a two-year period to support a self-designed leadership plan. Treuer plans to leverage her award with distinct goals in mind. "My No. 1 priority is becoming more proficient in the language, taking Ojibwe language courses and attending ceremonies connected to the language," Treuer said. Her second priority includes taking a step back from contract work with tribal courts as a tribal court judge but continuing her role as chief judge for Bois Forte Tribal Court. She also plans to connect with Indigenous legal mentors, scholars and spiritual leaders. "I really want to focus on what Anishinaabe justice used to be and really incorporate that into our modern-day Anishinaabe tribal justice systems," she added. Treuer also hopes to "recharge" during the two-year stint, aiming to spend quality time with her spouse and children. Attending school in Bemidji, Treuer continued her studies as a history major at the University of California Berkeley before attending law school at Hamline University. She soon secured a job at Anishinaabe Legal Services where she represented Red Lake members. "I had always wanted to come back and advocate for my community in some capacity," Treuer said. "I didn't necessarily know that I would become a lawyer, but that's how it worked out." The next step in her career journey involved criminal defense at Regional Native Defense where she represented Leech Lake and White Earth members in criminal cases throughout the region. Come 2013, she took the bench as a tribal court judge with Leech Lake, allowing her to live out a childhood desire. "I remember having a strong passion, feeling that things were not as they should be and wanting to advocate for my people and my community," Treuer mentioned. "That's fueled me." Treuer noted how skin color played a role in shaping her and her family members' experiences growing up. "Having a lighter complexion, I saw how even my siblings and close family members who are darker-complected were treated and seeing those differences. I remember being keenly aware of that even as a really young child," she said. "I found my calling for justice and equality that way." Through her work, Treuer aims to be a good ancestor for younger generations as well as the generations yet to come. "My predecessors, first, were surviving colonization and now we've maintained our teachings, our language, our ceremonies, our way of life," Treuer left off. "Not only did my predecessors survive, but they preserved all of that for us in the generations to come. "That's what I'm all about, making our way of life and teachings a part of our government infrastructure so those who are struggling the most don't have to look for who they are anymore because it'll all be right here." Information for the 2026 Bush Fellowship will become available at The Fellowship is open to anyone 24 years and older who live in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota or one of the 23 tribal nations that share the same geography.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Esko resident awarded Bush Fellowship to 'indigenize' tribal law
Jun. 6—ESKO — Tribal courts on reservations nationwide often rely on practices derived from the American legal system. For Esko's Megan Treuer, chief judge for the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, these practices can overlook the nuances of tribal culture and, consequently, fail to deliver effective justice. The Bush Foundation announced Tuesday, June 6, that Treuer is the recipient of a $150,000 two-year fellowship. The funds will allow her to further incorporate traditional Ojibwe practice into her tribal court by immersing herself in the Ojibwe language and culture, and travel across the world to mentor under global Indigenous leaders. "We don't have a separation of our way of life, our ceremonial practices, or language and justice," she said. The Bush Foundation aims to identify and support leaders in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota by providing monetary assistance to grow their capacity and knowledge to be even more effective community leaders, according to Adora Land, grant-making director with the Bush Fellowship. "Megan was someone who we identified for the work that she's doing," Land said. "(It) would be really impactful (for Treuer to) have a fellowship in this moment." A member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Treuer has worked in tribal justice for about 20 years and served as a judge for the past 12. Through her fellowship, Treuer will focus on how to "fully indigenize" the tribal justice system by reexamining how justice is delivered in Indian country and revitalizing cultural justice practices that reflect how the communities have traditionally taken care of each other. Bois Forte is one of two tribal nations in Minnesota with criminal jurisdiction, the other being the Red Lake Nation. Most of Treuer's casework is criminal and child protection. Treuer believes that implementing Indigenous practices that reconnect legal jurisdiction to culture will result in lower recidivism rates and better outcomes. For example, she said that if a young offender partakes in a ceremony instead of being sent to jail, it could yield better long-term outcomes. But to do that, Treuer believes she first needs to reacquaint herself with and immerse herself in her own culture and language. Treuer's top priority with her fellowship is reacquainting herself with the Ojibwe language, which she admits she knew better as a teenager. She plans to take Ojibwe language courses and immerse herself where the language is frequently spoken, such as tribal ceremonies. "It's hard to authentically deliver Anishinaabe justice when you don't have good command of the language," she said. Additionally, Treuer plans to travel to seek mentorship from leaders of Indigenous justice globally. She plans to go to New Zealand, which is governed by the Treaty of Waitangi, the country's founding document between the British Crown and the island's native Maori population, which grants significant rights and recognition to its Indigenous population. Treuer cited one of her mentors, Paul Day, the recently retired chief judge of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, as a source of inspiration for the future of Indigenous law. She said he would often perform ceremonies in the Ojibwe language during court proceedings, such as a family being reunited or a child being adopted. Treuer believes it is her responsibility to follow Day's legacy. "Now that he's retired, and a number of other trailblazers are retiring or moving on, I feel it's incumbent on myself to learn what my predecessors used to do," she said.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
North Dakotan leads while living with HIV, earns Bush Fellowship
Jason Grueneich, pictured June 2, 2025, at the Capitol in Bismarck, is a 2025 Bush Fellow. Grueneich works to build support for people living with HIV, including advocating for legislation approved earlier this year. (Amy Dalrymple/North Dakota Monitor) A Bismarck man who has experienced substance abuse, recovery and living with HIV is hoping to develop his leadership skills after being awarded a Bush Foundation fellowship. 'I've been able to change my own life and work to help others to do the same,' Jason Grueneich told the North Dakota Monitor. 'I'm just lucky to be alive and here doing the work. And it's amazing that the Bush Foundation saw something in me.' Grueneich's work includes being an advocate for those living with HIV. He created Bismarck's first LGBTQ+ recovery group and this year founded Shine Bright and Live, an HIV-focused nonprofit, and helped repeal a North Dakota state law that he said stigmatized people who are HIV positive. Grueneich is one of three North Dakotans awarded a Bush Fellowship in 2025. Up to 30 Bush Fellows are selected each year to receive up to $150,000 to support their leadership goals. Fellows can come from any sector — including business, nonprofit and government, according to the Bush Foundation. Grueneich said the Bush Foundation isn't so much about funding a project but investing in leaders. 'Leaders work to bring as many people with them as possible,' Grueneich said. 'It ripples out into the community and raises people up.' Gruenich grew up in Bismarck but said he moved away, developed a substance abuse problem and became infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. He returned to Bismarck and went through a recovery program in 2016. Since then, 'I have dedicated myself to community,' Grueneich said. Two other North Dakota also were awarded a Bush Fellowship. Sarah Dixon-Hackey of West Fargo will pursue certification in suicide prevention skills, expand her expertise in digital media, and deepen her research into cultural disparities in care, according to a news release. She has created storytelling projects with college students and produced podcasts for refugee families to amplify underrepresented voices, especially on the topic of mental health. Richard Pallay III of Fargo has used his experience as a DJ to found the cultural initiative WEAREONE. He also launched Soul Dads, a peer support network for Black fathers that blends mentorship with creative expression. Pallay will use his Bush Fellowship to launch a statewide artist network and scale Soul Dads into a model that can be replicated, the news release said. Grueneich chairs the North Dakota HIV Advisory Board while working in state government. He has worked for the Department of Transportation for the past five years and is operations manager for the driver's license division. After founding Shine Bright and Live in January, Grueneich spent time at the Capitol advocating for the repeal of a state law that makes it a felony to willfully transfer body fluid containing the HIV virus. Rep. Gretchen Dobervich, D-Fargo, sponsored House Bill 1217 that repeals the law. She said the law singled out HIV from other infectious diseases by creating the felony crime and discouraged people from getting tested for HIV, leading to the potential spread of the virus. The law, 'had the opposite effect of what it was intended,' Dobervich said. She said Grueneich was instrumental in getting the bill through the Legislature. 'He was able to make the issue real,' Dobervich said. Testifying in front of a legislative committee was new for him, Grueneich said. 'A leader faces fears,' Grueneich said. 'Somebody living with HIV, standing in front of the Legislature numerous times when there's a lot of stigma about HIV can be daunting.' In his testimony, Gruenich cited President Donald Trump, who in his first term in 2019, used the State of the Union address to announce a plan to end the HIV epidemic. Grueneich said it was a way to find common ground on HIV issues. 'Unfortunately, we see now the administration is cutting funding for HIV prevention. It's cutting funding for the years of work we've had on finding HIV vaccination or care,' he said. Grueneich said one way he hopes to benefit from the Bush Fellowship is learning how to deal with traumatic life experiences that come with working with high-risk communities such as HIV and recovery. 'You're continually working through trauma and loss,' Grueneich said. 'I want to learn how to heal and process those losses, so I can teach others how they can process that and then refill their cups so they can keep doing the work that's necessary.' Editor's note: The North Dakota Monitor is a recipient of funding from the Bush Foundation through its media partnership program. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
4 sentenced to prison in Colombia for murder of Twin Cities comedian
Four people have been sentenced to prison in Colombia for the murder of a comedian from the Twin Cities, his family announced this week. Tou Ger Xiong, 50, was on vacation in December 2023. His body was found after he went out to meet a woman he reportedly met on social media. 'After 14 long and agonizing months, we wanted to share the bittersweet news that the four individuals responsible for the heinous crime and the tragic murder of our beloved brother, Tou Ger Xiong, have been found guilty and sentenced to up to 29 years in a maximum-security penitentiary,' Xiong's brother, Eh Xiong, posted in a statement from his family. Tou Ger Xiong grew up in St. Paul and most recently lived in Woodbury. He was a recipient of the prestigious Bush Fellowship in 2019, founded 'Hmong Minnesota Day' at the Minnesota State Fair, and hosted an online broadcast, 'The Tou Ger Xiong Show.' He was a 1996 graduate of Carleton College in Northfield, Minn. Colombian officials announced in January 2024 that two men and a woman were charged with aggravated kidnapping for extortion and aggravated homicide. They said a minor admitting to having participated in the crime and also was charged in the case. 'While we are relieved that justice has been served, there will always be a deep void in our hearts, a void that no verdict can ever truly fill,' his family's statement said. 'The pain of losing Tou Ger remains with us, but knowing that those who caused this tragedy will be held accountable offers some semblance of closure, though the journey toward healing is ongoing.' Crime & Public Safety | Georgia man sentenced to to 1 year in theft of Arnold Palmer green jacket, other Masters memorabilia Crime & Public Safety | Jury convicts alleged ringleader of massive Feeding our Future fraud scheme Crime & Public Safety | Feds charge Sen. Justin Eichorn, Minnesota lawmaker accused of attempting to pay for sex with minor Crime & Public Safety | Burnsville man killed in weekend crash on Interstate 35E is identified Crime & Public Safety | 'He wasn't a street dude,' father of St. Paul shooting victim says at killer's sentencing
