REDBY, Minn. -- Growth is the foundation of Red Lake Nation's future, a sentiment that proliferated the entirety of the 2026 Red Lake State of the Band Address on Friday, Feb. 20.
Congregating inside the Oshkiimaajitahdah Community Center in Redby, band members and tribal leadership reflected on 2025 and the start of 2026 -- with successes, challenges and future hopes all intact.
As the band stands today, Red Lake Nation represents 17,277 members, marking a 59% increase in membership since 2013. Around 41% of tribal membership resides inside tribal boundaries, while 59% live outside of Red Lake Nation itself.
Of its current membership, 27% are children ages 18 and younger. This demographic saw a particular focus throughout Friday's festivities.
"That 27% represents the little ones that we are working hard for," Tribal Treasurer Vernelle Lussier said, "day in and day out."
Playing into the idea of supporting the band for future generations, Tribal Chairman Darrell Seki Sr. updated members on efforts to restore boundaries to include the entirety of Upper Red Lake, of which roughly 60% currently falls within tribal boundaries.
The band had introduced legislation in 2024 and 2025 as a means to comply with the treaty negotiations of 1889, which had been met with a mixture of support and opposition.
A central focus of those respective State of the Band Addresses, Seki noted on Friday, is an ongoing push for the U.S. Department of the Interior Solicitor's Office and the Office of Tribal Justice to resume work on forming a legal opinion, supporting reestablishment of the intended 1889 boundaries.
"The tribe identified the conveyance of selected state-owned lands around Upper Red Lake as an actionable near-term opportunity," Seki said,"and we continue to conduct historical research to supplement our current historical record on the east boundary."
Seki has previously claimed that the eastern portion of Upper Red Lake was unlawfully taken by the United States government during treaty negotiations of 1889. Reclaiming this portion is the way to "right a historical wrong," as well as ensure proper environmental stewardship, Seki said.
"Red Lake operates as a single ecosystem," he mentioned. "Mismanagement of Upper Red Lake poses a direct threat to the Nation's fisheries, economy and way of life."
Seki reflected on the laborious, years-long process associated with reclaiming the whole of Upper Red Lake, but that the fruits of the Nation's labor will make it worthwhile.
"I know it's going to take time to get the east boundary, but we've got to continue going after it," he said. "We should not give up. It was stolen from our chief. It was stolen from us.
"The next generations will keep fighting for it. But someday, someone from the federal government will realize they made a big mistake and we will get the east boundary back, and then we'll have a big celebration."
Among other topics, Seki took aim at the Trump administration for actions taken during his first year back in office. Seki referenced President Trump's proposed reductions in federal funding for the 2026 fiscal year, which would have slashed more than 35% in funding for tribal nations.
"Three of the most important agencies that fund our day-to-day government service programs include the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education and the Indian Health Service," Seki detailed. "Remember, our chief negotiated with the United States government. This is what the government promised us, and it's always broken promises and commitments to this day."
Congress would pass a three-bill minibus package on Jan. 23, which included funding for these agencies. Seki noted that BIA funding saw an increase of less than one-half percent, while the BIE saw no increase and IHS saw a 1% increase. Funding for environmental protection was cut by 4%.
"Basically, these programs were flat-funded," Seki said. "While we're pleased that Congress finally rejected Trump's reckless proposal, this funding was actually a cut because it doesn't do anything about inflation -- providing nothing for the cost of living, pay adjustment for critical staff including our police officers, firefighters, social workers and federal officers."
Another topic concerned Immigration and Customs Enforcement, affecting certain tribal members residing in the Twin Cities. The Red Lake Tribal Council passed a resolution on Jan. 13 preventing ICE officers from entering Red Lake Nation without a court order.
Red Lake passed the resolution after observing that "ICE officers (were) moving north," and that council members were recently informed that ICE officers apprehended a Leech Lake Tribal member in the Walker area.
Among these and other challenges, the State of the Band also provided a forward direction for Red Lake Nation.
Tribal Secretary Sam Strong reminded all in attendance of the band's strength and commonality as one of two closed tribal nations in the United States -- the other being Warm Springs in Oregon.
"We have always stood strong against the federal government," Strong said. "That's why we hold all our land in common. We've held our land in common because we have a common interest: our lake, our land, our way of life."
Looking ahead to later this year, Strong shared his hard decision not to seek reelection to his position, encouraging others to pursue their own leadership endeavors as he does the same.
"We've done many great things and we will continue to do great things. I made this decision to focus on being a father, to focus on being a grassroots leader, and continuing to do the work that we all do," Strong said. "Each one of us is a leader in our own right. We do not need to hold a title to help bring about change in our community.
"We can do this together. We will do it together. As we move toward election season, let us remember unity over division."
Alongside Strong, Seki and Lussier several other speakers took to the microphone to share updates on their respective organizations and initiatives -- providing updates on the Red Lake Boys and Girls Club Native Care and Red Lake Gaming Enterprises among others.
The full scope of updates provided a well-rounded wrap-up to not only the State of the Band but to 2025 as Red Lake Nation has known it.
"We have new businesses. We've grown our health care. We have a new government center. We have all of these programs and services in place to help our people," Strong left off."This growth is the foundation for our future;the foundation for next generation."