Tribal members of Spirit Lake Nation held a Grand Opening and Dedication of the Glen Walking Eagle Wellness Center on Friday, April 14, 2017. Shingobee provided construction of the Wellness Center as an expansion and renovation of the existing Recreation Center, in the Crow Hill District, Fort Totten, ND.

The new and renovated facilities, designed by DSGW Architects, provide for a spacious gymnasium, a fitness room with workout equipment and locker room, multi-purpose meeting space, a commercial kitchen, and restrooms with showers. The significance of the center goes beyond fitness, because it will also provide a place for Dakota language classes designed to help preserve the Tribe’s culture.

The dedication program, attended by over 100 community members, included addresses by Tribal Chairperson Myra Pearson and Vice-Chair Doug Yankton, Sr., songs by the Spirit Lake Nation Singers, and various other speakers. Shingobee Project Manager Cale LaVoie presented a donation to the Four Winds – Minnewaukan Boys Basketball Team to assist with their summer team camps and leagues.

The new building has been named for Glen Walking Eagle, who was a life-long resident of the Crow Hill District and a leader in the Spirit Lake community as school board member and councilman. He was the primary caretaker of one of the original buildings in the district, the old log cabin, and was a great supporter of all youth activities.

In addition to the Wellness Center, Shingobee has also constructed a senior living center for the Spirit Lake Nation, and is currently building an Alternative / Continuing Technical Education School at the nearby Four Winds High School.