The Northwest Mission Area History: Part 3

Cass Lake Episcopal Camp on the Leech Lake Reservation was a bright spot for our diocese.  The camp provided a retreat atmosphere for the Native American Clergy and Lay leadership. Many Department of Indian Work and the Committee on Indian Work convocations gathered at camp for ministry celebrations and ordinations. The Camp was booming with youth during the sixties and many friendships were developed between urban and rural and reservation youth.  Fr. George Smith and George White Bird and their relatives provided hospitality and programing and caretaking.  Many lay and clergy leaders were formed by the experience at Cass Lake Episcopal Camp. For multiple reasons the camp programing became unsustainable and the land on which the camp was held was given back to the Leech Lake Reservation. 

The Gilfillan Treatment Center was founded in Bemidji during this time. It initially was organized to deal with troubled youth mostly from the reservations. Youth were troubled by addictions, and other emotional behaviors that required residential long-term treatment—sometimes court ordered. The program expanded throughout this period thanks to the leadership of Episcopal Community Services. More than 100 persons were employed by the center. There was a school on campus.  Eventually the program expanded to two off campus group homes near the White Earth reservation.  In its later operation, youth from the urban area out-numbered Native American youth. The costs of operating this facility eventually became unsustainable. The campus was sold to the White Earth Reservation who was able to continue its original focus on troubled Native American youth thanks to funding it was able to generate for this purpose. It continues to serve troubled Native youth.

Indian Wood was a reservation business that the Episcopal Church supported to provide jobs for the reservation. Rev. Bill Freeman was a strong political activist involved with this effort. Firewood was delivered all over the state from reservation timber. It was short lived but inspired other ideas to overcome the extreme poverty on the reservation.