North Dakota

Letter: Unlocking the potential of North Dakota’s Indian reservations

Published

12 months ago

December 31, 2023

Letter: Unlocking the potential of North Dakota’s Indian reservations

What images come to mind when you think of life on a reservation? Isolated lands, scarce resources, and hardship? It’s time to challenge these stereotypes. Long before European settlement, Native American communities thrived with entrepreneurship and trade. Consider the Native blacksmiths in North Dakota’s

Mandan Villages produced and traded axes

that reached the North Pacific coasts quickly. Or the ancestral Puebloan culture in New Mexico’s Chaco Canyon around 850 AD, a regional trade and administration hub. These examples underscore a history of economic success rooted in respected property rights.

Despite their rich natural resources,

U.S

. government policies hindered native economic well-being. Since colonization, American Indians have been wrapped in “white tape,” as the late Coushatta Tribal chairman Ernest Stickey calls their bureaucratic quagmire. This has hampered their ability to build new businesses and become entrepreneurs. Since being declared “wards” of the federal government in 1831, Native Americans have faced cultural and religious suppression. This has contributed to the current reality where

one in four reservation Indians live in poverty

, many depending on federal grants.

Federal government interventions have complicated land arrangements, exacerbating economic challenges that persist today. The Dawes Act and the Burke Act intended to “assimilate” Indians into farming but instead worsened social and economic conditions. The Indian Reorganization Act attempted fix some of these problems, but perpetually locked the status of federal trust allotted lands. Today, land cannot be leveraged as collateral for investment because of these historical policies. For example, the

Fort Berthold reservation missed out

on a significant opportunity from fracking because trust land requires 49 regulatory steps before leasing, compared to just four steps off reservation. These legal issues reduce certainty and investment in projects that could benefit reservations.

The

Reservation Economic Freedom Index

offers insights into these challenges, measuring economic freedom across 90 U.S. reservations, which includes 42% of all Indians living on reservations in the lower 48. The REFI evaluates regulatory framework, governance, federal contracts, openness and transparency, and judiciaries, among other factors. It reveals that a 10% increase in REFI score increases median household income by $2,500.

This connection between the REFI scores and economic outcomes is observable in North Dakota’s reservations, each presenting a unique economic profile influenced by natural resources and governance structures. For example, in North Dakota, the measured reservations include Turtle Mountain (6.5), Fort Berthold (6.5), Spirit Lake (7.6), Standing Rock (8.0), and Lake Traverse (8.9). These scores reflect economic conditions and the cultural and historical contexts that shape them. Despite having the lowest REFI score, Fort Berthold, buoyed by oil activities, boasts the highest median income, illustrating how natural resources can offset certain economic freedom limitations.

A multifaceted approach is needed to address the economic challenges faced by North Dakota’s reservations. This includes strengthening bottom-up institutional arrangements that respect each reservation’s unique needs and histories rather than relying on generic, one-size-fits-all legislation. Empowering individual indigenous control over property is crucial, necessitating a critical reassessment and potential repeal of the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act. Cutting through the bureaucratic red tape is another vital step, simplifying governance for more efficient and effective administration.

Further, promoting tribal self-governance and autonomy stands at the heart of these solutions, recognizing the right of these communities to manage their affairs and resources. This empowerment extends to the judicial sphere, where funding independent tribal judicial courts and law enforcement is essential for maintaining order and justice within the reservations. Lastly, delineating and clarifying the overlapping jurisdictions of federal, state, and tribal laws will provide a more stable and predictable legal environment conducive to economic growth and prosperity.

These steps are not just about economic policies but are a recognition of the sovereignty and capability of Native American communities. By impeding business, the current system diminishes income. By embracing policies that encourage business development and entrepreneurship, we can help unlock the economic potential of these reservations, honoring the legacy of innovation, prosperity, and resilience that has characterized American Indian history.

Richard Feir is a research specialist at the Challey Institute at North Dakota State University and Thomas Stratmann is a professor of economics at George Mason University and author of Challey Institute research “Enhancing the Business Climate and Incentivizing Business Development on North Dakota Indian Reservations.”

Source link

Click to comment

North Dakota

New clinic in Grand Forks aims to help fill gaps in primary care

Published

6 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

New clinic in Grand Forks aims to help fill gaps in primary care

GRAND FORKS – The VitellaCare advanced primary care center opens Friday, Dec. 20, at 4399 South Columbia Road, Suite 102, according to an announcement from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

The center, staffed and operated by Crossover Health, will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays for those who have eligible Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.

This is the second VitellaCare clinic in the state; the first opened last week in Minot. The clinics are designed to give Blue Cross members customized, affordable primary care, the announcement said.

Employees include a nurse practitioner, a mental health provider, a licensed practical nurse and two medical assistants.

The clinic offers same-day and next-day care appointments, either in-person or virtually. Patients may schedule appointments online or through an app.

Services include comprehensive primary care, wellness check-ups, sick care, preventive care, pediatric care for ages 3 and older, chronic condition management, mental health and pharmacy consultations, routine lab draws and care navigation.

“Crossover Health will work with other providers in the community to help get patients to the specialist they need,” said Lacey Bergh, senior vice president of health delivery, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

“Probably about a third of the members of Blue Cross Blue Shield don’t have a primary care provider,” Bergh said. “And we know that across the state of North Dakota there is a shortage of both primary care providers and behavioral health providers, so (the center) is providing additional access in the community in those areas where they are needed.”

“In general, health care is very complex,” Bergh said, “and so part of the model is really helping guide people through that health care experience …”

At the VitellaCare clinic, a “care navigator” helps patients by following up with them, providing support and coordinating visits with specialty care providers and even making those appointments for them, said Melissa Richard, director of communications at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

The VitellaCare advanced primary care center provides a model of care that emphasizes holistic health, Bergh said. It is “focused on integrated, whole-person care, so really thinking about physical health, also mental and emotional health and well-being as well, and really addressing those with every visit.”

The center focuses on “proactive health management,” Bergh said, “so thinking about preventive services and management of chronic conditions.

“The goal in the clinics is really to spend more time with the clinician, so that they can get a good view of that whole person, both the physical and mental and emotional pieces of their health.”Taking more time with patients allows the clinician “to catch severe chronic conditions early” before they lead to requiring more costly forms of treatment, Richard said. It’s a model that prioritizes “quality of care over quantity of care.”

Another benefit is “recognizing that different patients like to have care completed (in) different ways,” Bergh said. Appointments are available in person or virtually, “so people can select the type of appointment that they would like to have with the care team.”

The clinic is open to those with selected Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plans. Most plans do provide access to the VitellaCare center, Richard said. To determine if you have an eligible plan, call the Blue Cross Blue Shield member services line, 844-363-8457. If you have a plan that is not eligible, you can “buy up” into an eligible plan, she said.

HealthyDakota Mutual Holdings and Crossover Health have partnered to create the VitellaCare advanced primary care centers in North Dakota. HealthyDakota Mutual Holdings is a parent company that supports Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and several other subsidiaries.

The VitellaCare clinics represent the first partnership Blue Cross Blue Shield has entered into with HealthyDakota Mutual Holdings.

Along with Crossover Health, the insurance company is considering opening VitellaCare centers elsewhere in North Dakota, especially in areas with shortages of primary care and mental and behavioral health care providers, Richard said. Other locations have not yet been confirmed.

Pamela Knudson is a features and arts/entertainment writer for the Grand Forks Herald.

She has worked for the Herald since 2011 and has covered a wide variety of topics, including the latest performances in the region and health topics.

Pamela can be reached at pknudson@gfherald.com or (701) 780-1107.

Source link

North Dakota

Best golf courses in North Dakota for 2024-25

Published

14 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Best golf courses in North Dakota for 2024-25

By:

GOLF’s Course Raters and Ran Morrissett, Architecture Editor

December 22, 2024

The Links of North Dakota is the top-ranked course in the state.

Courtesy

As part of GOLF’s rigorous ratings process for our newly released Top 100 Courses in the U.S. and Top 100 Courses You Can Play rankings, our fleet of 100-plus expert panelists identified the best golf courses in every state.

You can check out the links below to browse all of our course rankings, or scroll down to see the best courses in North Dakota. And if you’re looking to create your own trip in the future, you’d be wise to let GOLF’s new Course Finder tool assist you. Here, you can toggle all of our lists — Top 100 public, best munis, best short courses, best par-3s and more — or filter by price to create the perfect itinerary for your next trip.

Check out our all-new travel podcast Destination GOLF. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: APPLE | SPOTIFY | IHEART | AMAZON

Explore our all-new Course Finder

Golf courses near you? Search here!

Begin Browsing

The best golf courses in North Dakota (2024/2025)

SYMBOL GUIDE
# = Top 100 Course in the U.S.
Y = Top 100 You Can Play in the U.S.
V = Top 100 Value Course in the U.S.
P = Public/Resort

Ed. note: Some courses were omitted from our rankings because they did not receive enough votes.

1. Links of North Dakota (Ray) [V, P]

2. Hawktree (Bismarck) [V, P]

Award-winning architect Jim Engh is best-known as a maximalist, but Hawktree’s main lines of defense are all natural. This Midwestern marvel rambles through glacier-carved land near the Missouri River, forcing players to contend with high plains winds and water that’s in play on 11 holes. When you arrive at Hawktree, the first thing you notice are the sweeping prairie vistas — 14 holes are visible from the clubhouse. The next thing you notice are the trademark bunkers, filled with black coal slag instead of white sand. By the end of the round, you’ll be thinking, “I need to play more golf in North Dakota.”

Hawktree golf course in North Dakota. — A gorgeous vista at Hawktree.
Patrick Koenig

3. Bully Pulpit (Medora) [V, P]

4. Oxbow (Oxbow)

5. Fargo (Fargo)

How we rank our courses

For our newly released Top 100 U.S. and Top 100 You Can Play lists — a process that helped us create 50 best-in-state rankings — each panelist was provided a ballot that consisted of 609 courses. Beside the list of courses were 11 “buckets,” or groupings. If our panelists considered a course to be among the top three in the U.S., they ticked that first column. If they believed the course to be among Nos. 4-10, they checked that column, followed by 11-25, 26-50, and so on out to 250+ and even a column for “remove.” Panelists were also free to write in courses that they felt should have been included on the ballot.

Points were assigned to each bucket; to arrive at an average score for each course, we divide its aggregate score by the number of votes. From those point tallies, the courses are then ranked accordingly. It is an intentionally simple and straightforward process. Why? Because it historically has produced results that are widely lauded. Like the game itself, there’s no need to unnecessarily complicate things or try to fix something that already works so well.

The key to the process is the experience and expertise of our panel. Hailing from 15 nations and all the worldwide golf meccas, each of our 127 handpicked panelists has a keen eye for architecture, both regionally and globally. Many of our panelists have played more than 1,000 courses in 20-plus countries, some over 2,000. Their handicaps range from +5 to 15.

Because the nature of course rating is so intensely subjective, no one opinion carries the day. The only way, then, to build meaningful consensus is to incorporate this diversity of panelists and experiences into one ranking.

Need help unriddling the greens at your home course? Pick up a custom Green Book from 8AM Golf affiliate GolfLogix.

Source link

North Dakota

Montana State defeats South Dakota 31-17 in FCS semifinals to advance to Frisco

Published

22 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Montana State defeats South Dakota 31-17 in FCS semifinals to advance to Frisco

11:34 pm, December 21, 2024

Montana State defeated South Dakota, 31-17, to advance to the national title game.

The Bobcat defense stepped up big in the second half, holding South Dakota to only three points. In the fourth quarter, Montana State came up with two fourth down stops and a key fumble recovery on the final defensive possession.

Denied ❌@MSUBobcats_FB forces the fumble and recovers to close it!#FCSPlayoffs x 🎥 ABC pic.twitter.com/sXk20fQ8OC
— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 21, 2024
Advertisement

Quarterback Tommy Mellot led the way offensively with 134 passing yards and a touchdown plus 125 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

It’s the first title appearance for Montana State since 2021. Fittingly enough, Montana State played — and lost to — North Dakota State in the title game that year, the first for head coach Brent Vigen and quarterback Tommy Mellott. The Bobcats and Bison will meet in Frisco, Texas to play in the FCS National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET.

Next Stop: Frisco ⏭🤠#FCSPlayoffs x 🎥 ABC / @MSUBobcats_FB pic.twitter.com/YzRv0wJ3Ln
— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 22, 2024

Click or tap here for stats from the game

11:26 pm, December 21, 2024

11:19 pm, December 21, 2024

After Montana State stopped South Dakota in the redzone on fourth down, the Coyote defense forced a punt to get the ball back. South Dakota will get the ball down 31-17 with 4:46 remaining and two timeouts.

11:00 pm, December 21, 2024

One quarter remains until we find out who the second FCS title game participant is. Montana State has a 14-point lead over South Dakota, 31-17 entering the fourth quarter. The Coyotes added a field goal with 2:11 to play in the third quarter to cut the deficit.

When play resumes, South Dakota will have the ball facing second-and-three at its own 40-yard line.

See stats through three quarters below

10:31 pm, December 21, 2024

Tommy Mellott showed off why he’s one of the most electrifying players in the FCS. Mellott dropped the snap, made a defender miss, hurdled another defender and darted 41 yards into the endzone. Montana State leads 31-14

LIVING LEGEND 🤯
Appreciating every minute of @Tommy_Mellott pic.twitter.com/yv65Rh8VOV
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) December 21, 2024

9:57 pm, December 21, 2024

A field goal lat in the second quarter gave Montana State a 10-point lead entering halftime. The score was another addition to an explosive first half.

South Dakota scored two touchdowns of 55 and 45 yards on the ground. However, the pass game hasn’t been as explosive as Aidan Bouman only has 76 yards through the air going 0-2 on third down.

BOZEMAN’S OWN 💪💪
📺 ABC@kennetheideniv | #BobcatBuilt pic.twitter.com/mkYnfX0mGj
— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB) December 21, 2024

Montana State’s offense has been powered by Tommy Mellott. He’s 8-15 passing for 134 yards and a touchdown while rushing 13 times for 69 yards and a score. Mellott and the Bobcat offense have run 44 plays to South Dakota’s 16, while possessing the football for 20:28 to 9:24 for the Coyotes.

When play resumes, South Dakota will receive the second half kickoff.

9:30 pm, December 21, 2024

9:19 pm, December 21, 2024

It took just one play into the second quarter for South Dakota to tie the game up. Running back Charles Pierre Jr. rushed 45 yards to the house on the second big run for the Coyotes today.

Pierre Powers Ahead 🏃‍♂️
Charles Pierre Jr. takes it 45 yards to the house!#FCSPlayoffs x 🎥 ABC / @SDCoyotesFB pic.twitter.com/ptvbHqoItq
— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 21, 2024
Advertisement

9:15 pm, December 21, 2024

It’s been an explosive first quarter as both Montana State and South Dakota are moving the ball with ease for the most part. While both teams punted on their second possession, they scored quickly on their first.

Montana State’s third possession put them in front shortly before the first quarter expired as Tommy Mellott has two touchdowns, passing and rushing, for 90 yards passing and 29 yards rushing.

When play resumes, South Dakota will have the ball facing first-and-10 at the Montana State 45-yard line.

See first quarter stats below

9:10 pm, December 21, 2024

8:47 pm, December 21, 2024

South Dakota responded to a quick Montana State touchdown on its opening drive with a quick touchdown of its own. The Coyotes found the endzone in just five plays as running back Travis Theis ran 55 yards for a touchdown.

Theis for the Tie! 🙌@SDCoyotesFB RB breaks loose for a 55-yard touchdown to even the score!#FCSPlayoffs x 🎥 ABC pic.twitter.com/oShCPoukkx
— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 21, 2024

8:41 pm, December 21, 2024

It took just six plays and a little over three minutes for Montana State to find the endzone in the FCS semifinals. Quarterback Tommy Mellott found wide receiver Taco Dowler for a 34-yard score to put the Bobcats up 7-0. It was the second time the duo connected on the drive as they connected for 20 yards on the first play of the game.

TACO TIME TACO TIME 🌮🌮@DowlerTaco x @Tommy_Mellott
📺 ABC#BobcatBuilt | #CATS pic.twitter.com/HuyoCB2QTj
— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB) December 21, 2024

8:38 pm, December 21, 2024

The second FCS semifinal game is underway as No. 4 South Dakota battles No. 1 Montana State. The Bobcats received the opening kickoff.

8:12 pm, December 15, 2024

Here’s how to watch the 2024 FCS semifinal game between South Dakota and Montana State:

8:11 pm, December 15, 2024

Here are some of the top storylines and players to watch entering this year’s FCS semifinal game between South Dakota and Montana State.

Storylines

How they got here
- South Dakota ended the regular season with plenty of momentum after knocking off North Dakota State in a top-five matchup. Once the postseason started, the Coyotes rallied past Tarleton State in an explosive second-round win before beating UC Davis without ever trailing in the quarterfinals.
- Montana State has dominated the competition all season long as the only undefeated team remaining in the FCS. The Bobcats haven’t played a close game in the playoffs after averaging 50.5 points scored and a 32.5 margin of victory in two games.
Past matchups
- Montana State and South Dakota have only met once in the two program’s histories. The Bobcats won the lone matchup in 2008, 37-18.
Coaching
- Two Coaches of the Year will meet in the semifinals. Big Sky Coach of the Year Brent Vigen will face MVFC Coach of the Year Bob Nielson. Vigen was also named the Eddie Robinson Award winner as the FCS coach of the year.
What’s at stake
- South Dakota is in uncharted territory making its first-ever semifinal appearance. It’s only the fourth FCS playoff season in Coyote history. Meanwhile, Montana State is still chasing its 1984 FCS championship. The Bobcats have only made one return to the title game since (2021), the first year of the Brent Vigen-Tommy Mellott era.