White Earth Band to Create Sober-Living Community in Bemidji

WHITE EARTH (KDLM) – The White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe have announced they’ll soon close on a purchase of the Ridgeway Court apartments in Bemidji with plans to renovate the buildings to create a sober-living community.

White Earth Band’s acquisition of the Ridgeway Court property aligns with its ongoing work to address homelessness and addiction through its Behavioral Health and Human Services divisions, a press release said.

The White Earth Band intends to allow current lawful tenants to continue to occupy their units for up to 180 days after closing. The White Earth Band says they will immediately secure the buildings to protect against extreme weather and unauthorized entry by non-tenants.

White Earth Reservation is located in Becker, Clearwater, and Mahnomen counties in north-central Minnesota. Created in 1867 by a treaty between the United States and the Mississippi Band of Chippewa Indians, it is one of seven Chippewa reservations in Minnesota.