Denise Johnson of The Minneapolis Star Tribune interviewed six Native students to get their thoughts about the tragedy on the Red Lake Reservation and of the issues facing Native youth today.

Q: "There is a lot of analysis going on about Native youth because of what happened at Red Lake. What should people really know?"

Belinda Mitchell, Leech Lake: "People should know that the 'rez' is not as bad as they show it on the news. Natives are really down-to-earth people."

Amandaleticia Campos, Blackfoot: "People who do that will miss out on the great things about our culture and people. Get to know us before you say or write anything about it. Know your stuff before you run your mouth. Be there for our community and don't be scared to ask questions to get to know us."

Belinda: "They [the media] put all that stuff in there about being poor, and bad test scores and things that happened on the rez in the past just to make us look bad. They didn't do all that with other shootings in other places."

Leticia Lopez, Mille Lacs: "But some of it's true. I ain't gonna lie. We are poor, our family doesn't have money."

Get the Story:
It was our culture, friends and family (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 3/27)
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Relevant Links:
Red Lake Net News - http://www.rlnn.com
Red Lake Nation - http://www.redlakenation.org
Red Lake High School - http://www.paulbunyan.net/rlschools/hs.htm

Related Stories:
Surviving victims talk about Red Lake tragedy (3/25)
Opinion: A dark day in the history of all tribes (3/25)
Column: Red Lake members in Twin Cities head home (3/25)
Opinion: Everyone to blame for Red Lake tragedy (3/25)
Deadly tragedy puts focus on Native youth problems (3/24)
Response continues to tragedy at Red Lake Reservation (3/24)
Yellow Bird: Red Lake community in deep pain (3/24)
Ojibwe Leader: Answers needed to help youth (3/24)
Opinion: Violence not uncommon at Red Lake (3/24)
Column: Has media underplayed Red Lake? (3/24)
Opinion: Media circus won't get to heart of matter (3/24)
Letters: Star Trib readers respond to tragedy (3/24)
Indian Country sends support to community in shock (3/23)
Details emerge on tragedy at Red Lake Reservation (3/23)
Tribal Member: My reservation will never be the same (3/23)
Opinion: Above all, this is a tribal nation tragedy (3/23)
Editorial: Tragedy at Red Lake unites all in grief (3/23)
Editorial: Solidarity with the people of Red Lake (3/23)
Column: Sacred pipe ceremony begins the healing (3/23)
Column: Media gets crash course in sovereignty (3/23)
Shooting at Red Lake Reservation leaves 10 dead (3/22)