People

Wisdom Steps is represented by a Board of Directors who are appointed by their respective Tribal Councils.  Elders in each reservation/urban community recommend an elder to the council, who then appoints them to the board.  Some are self nominated and appointed by the council.  Currently, Wisdom Steps is represented by nine reservations and three urban communities.  Wisdom Steps hold quarterly meetings, hosted by a tribal or urban community.  The meeting are open to all elders and elder can join as an advisor.  Each appointed representative, alternate and advisor(s) also serve as the local Wisdom Steps coordinator and promote, recruit and plan Wisdom Steps activities in their local communities.  Participation in Wisdom Steps is voluntary and self monitored.  Members encourage each other to conduct the Wisdom Steps activities and report their efforts once a year to their local Wisdom Steps coordinator for inclusion into tribal/urban support to attend the conference. We have hundreds to thousands of particpants each year and have over 300 elders attending our annual conference.  Minnesota is home to an estimated 5000 American Indian individuals age 55 and over.

Staff

Minnesota Board on Aging Indian Elder Desk
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Indian Area Agency on Aging

 

 

Jackie Dionne
Jackie Dionne was hired by the Minnesota Board on Aging to staff their American Indian Elder Desk in November 2005.  The Indian Elder Desk staff person, prior to Jackie was instrumental in starting Wisdom Steps as a partnership with MN Tribes and urban communities.  Jackie has over 25 years experience working with urban American Indian non-profits and is enrolled in the Turtle Moutain Chippewa Tribe.   She have lived and grew up in Minneapolis.  The MBA provides the only staffing for the project. 

 

Other Voluteers and Support
Wisdom Steps would not be possible without the support of our volunteers and partners.  The Minnesota Chippewa Tribes Indian Area Agency on Aging was also instrumental in the development of Wisdom Steps.  Vera Brown, Elderly Programs Manager and Tammy Erickson, Elderly Programs Assistant help support the project and volunteer on many of Wisdom Steps events and activities. All the board members, alternates and advisors also volunteer and support the project, often times seeking local support through their respective tribes and local communities.  The often seek donations for our events and organizing local Wisdom Steps activites, conducting walks, holding Medicine Talk educational sessions,and serve as volunteer instructors for arthritis education classes (Arthritis Foundation's Self-Help, Exercise and  Aquatic) in partnership with the North Central Chapter Arthritis Foundation.

Board of Directors (see list)

 

The success of Wisdom Steps is tied to its Board of Directors. The following appointments have been received from Tribal Councils and Urban Indian Affairs Council:

 

Advisory Committee

Interested American Indian Community Members from reservations and urban communities serve as advisors.