BAM’IDIZOWIGAMIG CREATOR’S PLACE
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Bam’idizowigamig Creator’s Place is a Native-led employment social enterprise and on-the-job training center rooted in the small tribal village of Pine Point, within the White Earth Nation Reservation in northern Minnesota. We provide meaningful work, hands-on training, and creative opportunities for adults in our community—especially those who face barriers to traditional employment. Whether we’re making wild rice soup mixes, hand-beaded earrings, or Ojibwe language books, everything we do is about strengthening culture, building skills, and creating paths to greater economic security. At the heart of it all is our belief that tradition and innovation go hand in hand—and that by working together, we can shape a stronger future for the next generations.
History
Bam’idizowigamig Creator’s Place began with a simple idea: that even in a small, remote village like Pine Point, there could be a place where people come together to work, learn, and create. Located many miles from the nearest town, Pine Point had long suffered from a lack of local job opportunities. In 2021, a group of community members—led by longtime educator and organizer Jean Kruft—came together to change that. They founded a Native-led employment social enterprise rooted in cultural knowledge, economic opportunity, and community resilience. The name Bam’idizowigamig, meaning “a place to support oneself” in Ojibwe, reflects a mission to create paths toward greater stability and self-sufficiency. What began with a few part-time jobs and a strong sense of purpose has grown into a vibrant center for food production, traditional arts, publishing, and skills training. Our story is one of determination, creativity, and deep love for our people and ways of life.
Pine Point Community
Bam’idizowigamig Creator’s Place is located in the small reservation village of Pine Point., MN. Pine Point is located at the remote South-East corner of the White Earth Nation Reservation . It is a 30 minute drive to the nearest center of employment. Even though there are many skilled artisans in the village, there is nowhere to sell their work. The poverty rate in Pine Point is close to 70% , with a per-capita income of $7,485.00. The crime rate is 50% higher than the national average. Drug and alcohol abuse negatively impacts the community every single day and has resulted in many many deaths. But Pine Point is also home to a fine community of people, many of whom are related, and who care deeply for one another and the land to which they belong.
Vision
Our vision is that Bam’idizowigamig Creator’s Place will be a place of positive hope within the community. A place that allows people to stay in their home town and still be engaged in productive, satisfying work.
Photos provided by Unheard Earth, a media support non-profit organization
Board of Directors
In order to better serve the Pine Point community, Bam’idizowigamig Creator’s Place has a board of directors equipped with literally hundreds of combined years of experience in business, woodworking, sales, education, corrections, psychology, cross-cultural understanding, historical trauma and Anishinaabe heritage and history.
Jean Kruft chairs the Creator’s Place board. She has an undergraduate degree in Cultural Anthropology and a Master’s degree in Education. Jean retired a couple of years ago, but has been a teacher, administrator and education consultant. She has owned her own retail business and has done woodworking as a hobby for over 40 years. Jean has a strong desire to do what she can to provide hope, encouragement and support to her neighbors in the Point Point area.
Evelyn Bellanger, of Pine Point, Minn., is an enrolled member of the White Earth Ojibwe Nation. She has been an environmental activist supporting stopping DAPL (Standing Rock), Line 3, a board member of The Rights of Manoomin (Wild Rice) committee and on the Board of Directors of the Niibi Center (water). She has been a Historical Trauma consultant and holds a master’s degree in Tribal Administration & Governance. She has written educational articles published in the White Earth tribal newspaper (the Anishinnabeg Today), Environmental Working Group (EWG) Pineland Sands, Voices Rising and currently working on her memoir. She is committed to helping her people.
Sara Forsberg is a retired educator and published author of Diamonds in the Garbage. Teaching adults in
Parenting Through Divorce classes, being a speaker and trainer for Stonecroft Ministry as well as a past
member of the Park Rapids Library Board and five years in jail ministry have all been fulfilling.
Currently her interests include volunteering, spending time with family and friends and going on walks
with her dog, Sam. Sara lives with her husband, Frank, on a small lake in the Park Rapids area.