Department Overview
The Ombishkaa Initiative provides individuals who are experiencing barriers related to a history or involvement in the criminal justice process. Our services are provided on a continuum of care based on the traditional gathering process of wild rice. The Ombishkaa team welcomes and transitions in new and current community members in the program to help them acclimate back home and to the community. We empower community members by providing comprehensive supportive services, information and resources, with movement towards developing life long healing and stability. In return our services support individuals in identifying and learning how intergenerational trauma impacts their lives and how to move towards healing.
Traditional Ojibwe Teachings
In addition to utilizing the harvesting of Wild Rice as our base programming. Ombishkaa integrates the seven grandfather teachings as member and program rights to guide developing a healthy, safe community for all.
Our Programs
Our Reentry Support Program, Ombishkaa, is designed to provide culturally responsive support within a Wild Rice model of care for Native American individuals returning to their communities. Focusing on healing, reconnection, and practical support, the program addresses key challenges faced during reentry while respecting and uplifting Native traditions and values.
This pathway aligns with the Wild rice Continuum of Care Stage 1: Preparation. The goal is to increase success in identifying and navigating immediate or crisis needs. Culturally responsive services are focused on welcoming members back into the community. Participants, their families and community members are encouraged to participate in a Welcome Home Ceremony, learn how to introduce themselves in the Anishinaabe language, and learn about the four sacred medicines.
Foundational services may include:
- Complete a Needs Assessment with a coordinator and address the immediate needs.
- Obtaining personal identification such as birth certificates, social security cards, and government identification cards.
Referrals for addressing housing needs and utilities. - Obtaining basic needs such as clothing, hygiene items, bedding, clothing.
- Participating in a Welcome Home Ceremony.
- Participating in elder teachings regarding the four traditional medicines.
Addressing needs as determined by Needs Assessment at intake
This pathway aligns with the Wild Rice Continuum of Care Stage 2: Collection. This pathway aims to develop collaborative care to increase members' social capital. This means supporting the member in creating a solid peer/familial/professional/community support network. Culturally responsive services include teachings about the medicine wheel and how to identify how to balance our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs.
Foundational services may include:
- Identifying positive networks of support, people or programs.
- Addressing transportation barriers or supporting progress towards resolving transportation barriers.
- Begin to develop goals focused on healing.
- Participating in Medicine Wheel teachings
- Engage in services within Ombishkaa, NWICDC, or the community.
- Participating in Language Learning Opportunities.
This pathway aligns with the Wild Rice Continuum of Care Stage 3: Addressing Challenges. This pathway aims to support the program participants as they begin to address challenges such as trauma, addiction, mental health, or other life concerns. This is the beginning of the healing journey. Culturally aligned support includes developing your healing bundle; such as obtaining teachings and guidance on the proper utilization of your bundle from an elder or knowledge keeper. A coordinator will assist with obtaining the participant's feast bundle, asema bag, personalized asema blend, creating a ribbon skirt/shirt and making your moccasins.
Foundational services may include:
- Preparing for healing.
- Supportive services will focus on restoration of self.
- Engagement in employment-building skills, life skills development, social engagement, and education.
- Support with mental and emotional health healing work.
- Engage in community-level supportive services.
- Begin to develop a personal healing bundle. Some essential healing items include a feast bundle, traditional plant medicines, ribbon skirt/shirt, asema bag, and personal asema blend.
This pathway aligns with the Wild Rice Continuum of Care Stage 4: Long Term Wellbeing. This stage focuses on supporting the member's long term healing, health and wellbeing. NWICDC's culturally aligned services include active participation in attending ceremonies on-site and off-site, learning Anishinaabemowin, and volunteering or co-leading ceremonies.
Foundational Services may include:
- Development in long-term wellbeing goals and supports
- Supportive services focused on continued healing
- Participating, volunteering, or co-leading on-site ceremonies or workshops
- Address any recidivism or barriers to long term healing.
This pathway aligns with the Wild Rice Continuum of Care Stage 5: Community Involvement. This stage focuses on active engagement in activities that support and improve social well-being.
Services are focused on community outreach and education once members have reached a level of their personal healing, they will be invited to actively participate in the community engagement pathway.
This pathway aligns with the Wild Rice Continuum of Care Stage 6: Sustainability. The focus of this stage is developing sustained wellbeing.
Services are focused on providing opportunities for program alumni to come back and engage in programming or alumni-focused opportunities and celebrations.
Department Services
The Ombishikaa Initiative is a program of mixed services that supports re-entry for men and women through:
Funding Support
Funding may be available to assist with obtaining identification, communication devices and more.
Housing Support
Funding may be available for rental, utility and security deposit assistance and obtaining household items.
Transportation Support
Funding may be available for gas cards or bus passes to go to job interviews, doctors appointments, NWICDC classes, focus groups and cultural events.
SUD & Recovery Support
Get the extra support you need to remain in recovery with support discussions, prevention plans, and more.
Networking
We provide 1:1 support to help you navigate the documentation of your release and advocate for community referrals.
Resiliency Planning
We foster resiliency development plans for our members to keep you moving forward.
Our Activities
The Ombishikaa Initiative provides a wide range of talking circle styled meetings for both men and women. We acknowledge that everyone’s path is unique and provide a range of community events to suit your needs to continue a healing pathway. View our list of upcoming community events on our monthly calendar.
Our Partners
Our program works to reduce barriers and support individuals in building stable, connected, and healthy futures for themselves and their families. We have partnerships with MN Department of Corrections, MN Department of Health, MN Department of Public Saftety, and Northwest Juvenile Detention Center to provide the support these families and individuals need.
Program Assistance
Have you been recently released from incarceration or experiencing barriers related to your criminal history? You don’t need to struggle through the steps alone, see if you qualify to become a member of Ombishkaa and receive the support and resources you need.
Follow Us On Facebook