Endazhi-Nitaawiging Charter School

Welcome to Endazhi-Nitaawiging Charter School

Land-Based and Experiential Learning Grounded in the Ojibwe Language and Culture

Red Lakes First Charter School

Serving Kindergarten through 6th Grade Students in Ojibwe Intensive/Immersion

Our Mission

Our mission is to prepare each student for college with an enhanced knowledge of the Ojibwe language, culture, leadership, and environmental stewardship.

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Our Vision

To create confident leaders grounded in their true inherent identities and to ensure that they are academically, socially, and spiritually prepared to positively change the community and world.

Board Candidate Bios

Parent Representative:

Victoria Fineday

Is a community member, a grandmother and a mother to 10 children and 13 grandchildren. Along with living in the community, she continues to help our community through her work. Her goal is to become a school board member to ensure our children of our Great Nation receive our Red Lake language, culture and traditions to keep our existence intact.

Mark Kingbird

Mark is originally from Ponemah and currently resides in Red Lake. He has worked with children in many aspects of life from ceremonial, to teaching language and culture. He has years of experience coaching youth from elementary to college levels. He is a true believer in our culture, ceremonies and language. His goal is to see all children flourish with knowledge to be able to carry themselves with dignity and strength of their education. He would like to become a board member in order to share his knowledge and experience of both our culture and to help our younger generations be able to have the best education possible.

AnnMarie English Defoe

Received her AA degree and is currently a student at Bemidji State University in the Indigenous Studies program. AnnMarie has years of experience working with children helping her husband coach basketball. She is involved in cultural activities, attends pow wows, sporting and community events. Her Goal is to bring knowledge and ideas to help improve our school academically, socially, and spiritually. She would like to become a board member to be a voice for students, staff and parents, to keep our school safe and make sure our students are getting the best education learning about our culture and language in a safe and secure environment.

Bianca Mendoza

Is a member of the Red Lake Nation and the Bear Clan. Her family does their best to practice language and culture in their home. Over the years she has learned more through her children as they attend school at both Waasabiik and Endazhi-nitaawiging Charter school. Her goal is to continue learning and growing alongside the community and to help wherever she can. She carries a strong sense of responsibility to show up, contribute, and to support others. She would like to become a school board member to be a more active parent and community member.

Teacher Representative:

Chelsey Jourdain

Is an Red Lake Ojibwe educator with a strong background in culturally responsive teaching, Indigenous leadership, and community-centered education. She holds a bachelor's degree from Bemidji State University. She has vast experience teaching American Indian language and culture and brings a deep understanding of how to integrate Indigenous knowledge with academic standards. She is passionate about supporting the whole child: mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and academically. Her goal is to help shape an educational environment where cultural identity, academic rigor, and student wellness are prioritized. She would like to become a board member because she believes educator perspectives, especially those grounded in Indigenous knowledge which are essential at the decision-making table and wants to ensure our policies reflect the values and lived experiences of our students, families, and communities.

Leslie Bellanger

Comes from the White Earth community and is a Red Lake Resident. She is currently our 4th grade teacher who holds a license in Elementary Education. She also has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. Her goal is to become more involved in our school community and help break the cycle of Generational trauma, starting with our youth. She would like to become a board member in hope of learning and helping the inner workings of our school.

Community Representative:

Nokomis Paiz

Has a history of teaching and working in mental health. She has a strong belief in what this school can bring to our community. She would like to become a school board member because of her belief that a school like this is needed for our community and our future.

What Makes Us Unique

Our Red Lake Charter School aims to strengthen the Red Lake Nation by providing our children with an Ojibwe immersion education grounded in Ojibwe values that is academically rigorous and celebrates Indigenous culture.