Red Lake Nation College plans to establish permanent endowment fund with $7 million donation  



Red Lake Nation College announced Thursday that it received a $7 million unrestricted donation. It says the gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s foundation, Yield Giving, is the largest in the college’s history.

The tribal college has two campus locations — one in northern Minnesota and another in Minneapolis.

The school’s board and president say the school will invest the money into a permanent endowment fund, which they say will guarantee the school's financial stability well into the future — following Ojibwe teachings to visualize how today's decisions will impact the next seven generations.

“This is historic and this fund will end the poverty cycle for our college. The key is to put it all in a new fund, and let it grow and build, so we can get it to a point where we can use it to support us for anything we need,” said RLNC board chairman Delwyn Holthusen Jr.

Holthusen says the money in the endowment will only be used in “extreme emergencies.” If money were to be taken out, school leaders say it will be paid back with interest, to allow the fund to continuously grow over the next several decades.

Tight internal restrictions have also been placed on withdrawals. According to a press release, college board members must all agree to taking out funds from the endowment.

Chief Dan King is RLNC’s president. He says the endowment is the start to “ending poverty” for the college, which receives a quarter of its funding from private donations annually.

“I am so proud of our RLNC Board for having the courage and vision to look out for the long-term financial sustainability of our current and all future RLNC students,” King said.

After 35 years, the school estimates the endowment will reach $224 million.

Chandra Colvin covers Native American communities in Minnesota for MPR News via Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues and communities.



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A Republican lawmaker charged in an alcohol-related driving offense won’t have to appear in court again until after the Legislature adjourns for the year.

A June 10 arraignment hearing is set for Rep. Elliott Engen, a Lino Lakes Republican who faces three misdemeanor charges following an arrest early Friday. He was stopped for speeding and other infractions in White Bear Lake; officers detected alcohol and he later tested well above the legal limit for driving, according to a citation.

Engen has apologized for a lapse in judgment; he promised to learn from his actions and “do better.” Aside from being a second-term legislator, he is also a candidate for state auditor.

A second lawmaker, GOP Rep. Walter Hudson, was in Engen’s truck at the time of the stop and an open bottle of alcohol was found in a rear seat. Hudson, a second-term legislator from Albertville, was in possession of a permitted handgun, which could cause him legal problems if he is determined to have been intoxicated.

Police officers wrote in their report that Hudson disclosed he had the gun as the truck was being searched. The report said police took the firearm for safekeeping and said he could pick it up at a later time, which Hudson agreed to.

“I regret the poor decisions that were made during this incident, and commend the White Bear Police Department for their professional response,” Hudson said in a written statement. “I’m grateful that no harm was done to ourselves and others.”

Two lawmakers stand and look around
Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, (center) and Rep. Bidal Duran, R-Bemidji, (right) join other Republican lawmakers gather in the House chambers Jan. 27, 2025.
Tim Evans for MPR News file

A third, unidentified passenger was in the truck as well, according to police. Hudson and that person were transferred to the police department until they could arrange rides.

The Minnesota lawmakers had been at the Capitol late into the evening Thursday as the House debated procedural motions on gun, immigration and social media legislation. The motions failed on 67-67 votes.

There is no indication yet that either Hudson nor Engen had been drinking on Capitol grounds, which would be a violation of a House rule against consumption of alcohol or drugs in spaces under that chamber’s control.

According to a White Bear Lake Police report, Engen initially said he had not been drinking when asked by the police officer who pulled him over — “nothing at all,” he is quoted as saying. He performed a field sobriety test, which the report says showed signs of impairment.

Engen gave a preliminary breath sample there, the report says, which estimated a 0.142 blood alcohol level. After he was taken by squad car to the police department “Engen spontaneously stated, ‘Sir, I had a drink three hours ago,’” the report says.

He told the Minnesota Star Tribune in an interview Monday that he had also consumed alcohol in the afternoon on Thursday as well.

Engen is charged with two impaired driving offenses and speeding. White Bear Lake police also said he was driving a vehicle with expired registration and an inoperable headlight.

Engen has not returned calls from MPR News. A court docket lists a “notice of appearance” on Tuesday.

He is being represented in the criminal case by Chris Madel, an Excelsior attorney who waged a brief Republican campaign for governor.



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