MILLE LACS AREA
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

in partnership with;

the Cities of Garrison, Isle and Onamia; the

Milie Lacs Band of Ojibwe; the Independent

School Districts #473 (Isle) and #480 (Onamia),

and Nay Ah Shing Tribal School; businesses

including the Milie Lacs Band's Corporate

Commission and the Milie Lacs Health System;

local law enforcement agencies; Tribal Elders

and area Clergy

Chartered 2005

With the Minnesota Human Rights Commission

Mission Statement

"To work within the Mille Lacs Area communities to promote civil and human

rights, eliminate hate, prejudice and

discrimination and to create a community

that embraces diversity."

Education

• By advising local governments and businesses supportive of civil and human rights work via education, training and assistance in the develop­ment and adoption of human rights 'Best Practice'

policies and procedures

Enforcement

» By developing a process to assist individuals and organizations in addressing human rights conflicts, which may include education, mediation, Restorative Justice approaches, and/or referral to appropriate agencies.

• By developing a local Bias/Hate Crime Response and Prevention Plan

Encouragement

• By recognizing individuals for their over-and-above commitment to Human Rights work in the Mille Lacs area, and by promoting civil and human rights through community events, public information campaigns, workshops, organizational and business efforts, and through individual commitment

Jurisdiction of the Minnesota Human Rights Act

The Minnesota anti-discrimination law states that people cannot be treated differently in certain areas of life because of certain personal characteristics.

Listed below are the areas of life that are protected and the personal characteristics that cannot be used as reasons to treat persons differently.

What is a Bias Crime?

In Minnesota certain crimes are called bias crimes when they are committed against a person or group because o

•          Race

•          Color

•          Religion

•          Gender

•          Sexual Orientation

•          Age

•         Disability

•         National Origin

Bias crimes allow for a penalty enhancement for ; act that is already criminal. Crimes that can I classified as bias crime are assault, criminal trespas criminal damage to property, harassment or stal ing.

For these crimes, hate motivation may be consi ered by the court as reason to impose a mo severe sentence than for committing the san offense when not motivated by hate or bigotry.

What should I do if I think I am the victim of a bias crime?

In the case of an emergency, call 911,

For information about hate/bias crimes, contact:

MILLE LACS AREA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

PO Box 230 Onamia, MN S6359
Fax 320-532-4243

 

About the MLA Human Rights Commission...

 

Chartered   in   2005   with   the   Minnesota   Human Rights Commission, the Mille Lacs Area Human Rights

Commission represents a unique partnership among:

The Cities of Garrison, isle and Onamia;

the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe; Independent School Districts #473 (Isle) and #480

(Onamia),

and Nay Ah Shing Tribal School;

Businesses including the Mille Lacs Band's Corporate

Commission and the Mille Lacs Health System;

Local law enforcement agencies;

Tribal Elders and area Clergy.

The MLA HRC is unique because of its wide representation, including membership by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, which by its sovereign status is not required to abide by Minnesota Human Rights legislation. Together, appointed and volunteer representatives of these groups have joined efforts to support human rights work throughout the entire Mille Lacs Lake Area.

"Each time a man (woman) stands up for an ideal,

or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out

against injustice, he (she) sends forth a tiny ripple

of hope, and crossing each other from a million

different centers of energy and daring, those ripples

build a current that can sweep down the mightiest

walls of oppression and resistance. '

Robert Kennedy

 

For More Information

 

The Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission holds regular monthly meetings on the 3^rd Wednesday of each month from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. at the Rolf Olsen Center in Onamia, Minnesota. For more information, contact the Commission by mail at the address below or by fax to: (320) 532-4243.

Other Resources;

Minnesota Department of Human Rights (651) 296-5663 Minnesota League of Human Rights Commission (763) 535-1051

MILLE LACS AREA

HUMAN RIGHTS

COMMISSION