A community leadership program in North Dakota is aimed at reducing poverty among members of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.

Dunseith Horizons is based in Dunseith, an off-reservation community that is part of the Turtle Mountain Band. Over 70 percent of the population is Native American and 40 percent of families live below the poverty line in Dunseith.

The group began work in October 2008 and has hosted meetings and taken part in community events as part of an effort to reduce poverty. The group receives funding from the Northwest Area Foundation.

"We are in a unique situation because we can use tax credits and/or tax exemption as part of our development projects because of Indian trust land located in the Dunseith area," Delvin Cree of the Dunseith Horizons steering committee told The Minot Daily News. "We also have the option to work with state government off Indian trust land to make projects happen. Both would be beneficial."

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Reducing poverty (The Minot Daily News 10/7)