(Our Story)

Dibaajimowin

We are working to eradicate homelessness, hopelessness, and violence among transition-age youth in the Red Lake area.

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of the Red Lake population is under 18 years old

45%

 the only intervention service in a 50-mile radius that offers cultural specific services

50miles

children in Beltrami County were living in poverty in 2018

23.6%

Abuse

Involved with Juvenile Corrections

Child Protection

Serving Oshkii-ayaa'aag (youth) ages 5-17

who may be experiencing, but not limited to:

Houselessness

Family or Individual Crisis

Runaway Status

Gwayakochige-Wigamig

(as in the choices Creator would want you to make) 

"Making the right choices"

There have been many discussions over the years about the ever-increasing need for a safe place for youth. 


Before the establishment of Gwayakochige-Wigamig in 2022, the closest place of refuge for a Red Lake endangered youth seeking shelter was over 42 miles away from Red Lake. This non- native youth crisis center was also the only crisis youth shelter in all of NW Minnesota. 

Any severe or major behavioral issues could lead them to the juvenile detention center, also 42 miles away. This center mimics youth incarceration.


Without a safe space like Gwayakochige-Wigamig, homeless youth have limited options for safety. The streets, gang activity, drug abuse, and human trafficking are often the only other options that endangered youth can use to provide essential resources that they need to survive in our community. 

Our vision

The Way Forward

Gwayakochige-Wigamig’s vision is to

decrease the amount of youth in need

of emergency shelter services while

increasing the amount of youth who are

more culturally confident, self-aware all

the while, honoring their resilience.

All services are reimbursed by Medical Assistance, Prime West, Private Insurance, Grant funding or Pro-Bono

We are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. An intake process is required to determine eligibility

Our shelter can house up to 8 youths at any given time

Shelter stays are temporary, however extended stays are available if eligible

How we are responding to the unique needs of our youth:

Gwayakochige-Wigamig is a trauma-informed, harm reduction program that is seeking to improve the efficacy of providers to engage youth who are experiencing homelessness and other coexisting conditions. We incorporate a spectrum of strategies, a framework for understanding structural inequalities like poverty, racism, homophobia, classism, etc. We are meeting youth “where they are”, but not leaving them there. We focus on:

  • Health & Dignity

    We encourage quality of individual and community life and wellbeing

  • Participant Centered Services

    We provide nonjudgmental, non-coercive services and resources

  • Participant Autonomy

    We affirm the participants as the primary agents of change, and empower them to share information and support each other

  • Sociocultural Factors

    We recognize that the realities of various social inequalities affect both people’s vulnerability to and capacity for effectively dealing with potential harm