About the Award
The Child Welfare Leadership Award recognizes Minnesota leaders for their outstanding statewide contributions to child welfare practice.
2023 Leadership Award Recipient
She has a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Bachelor of Arts in Indian Studies from Bemidji State University. She also has her Associate of Arts from Rainy River Community College. During her time at Rainy River, she had mentors that taught her more about her own Anishinaabe history and traditional teachings. Laurie assists with Cedar healing ceremonies, feasts, and other ceremonies in the White Earth Community. She has worked diligently advocating for Native families as the Co-Chair of the Indian Child Welfare Advisory Council for the past 6 years. Laurie has testified before the Minnesota legislature in Indian Child Welfare issues that affect tribal families. In March 2020, Laurie presented at the World United Nations in Vienna, Austria on an Indigenous panel to inform treaty and policy makers from around the world on the importance of our way of life and how it is key to our healing. Laurie is also a member of the Criminal Justice Institute, ICWA Subcommittee.
Past Leadership Award Recipients
She is a member of the ABA’s Center on Children and the Law’s Steering Committee for Parent Representation. She also regularly presents locally and nationally at trainings focused on parent advocacy, system reform, and trauma informed practice. She teaches Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Constitutional Law, and Feminist Jurisprudence.
Prior to joining the faculty at Mitchell Hamline, she worked as a public defender in the Tenth Judicial District in Minnesota. She is a graduate of the University of WI-Madison, with a BS in Wildlife Ecology and Botany, and received her JD from the University of San Francisco School of Law. She lives in South Minneapolis with her 9-year son Jack and two cats.