The Bureau of Indian Affairs has assumed operational control of Ombimindwaa Gidinawemaaganinaadog (formerly Red Lake Family and Children’s Services) on the Red Lake Reservation after an FBI and BIA search warrant was executed on Sept. 10, 2026. Federal officials have not disclosed the warrant’s contents. The BIA says the takeover aims to protect children and ensure continuity of services, while the Red Lake Nation says it is coordinating with federal representatives and remains committed to protecting children and tribal sovereignty.
BIA Assumes Control of Red Lake Child-Welfare Agency After FBI Search; Tribe Reaffirms Commitment to Children and Sovereignty
Ombimindwaa Gidinawemaaganinaadog building on Red Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota. (Photo/Google)
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has assumed operational control of Ombimindwaa Gidinawemaaganinaadog — the agency previously known as Red Lake Family and Children’s Services — on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota.
The move follows the execution of a federal search warrant on Thursday, September 10, 2026, by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the BIA. Federal officials have not released the warrant’s contents as of late Monday.
In a statement issued Monday, the BIA said the takeover is intended to protect the safety and well-being of children, families and other vulnerable members of the tribal community and to ensure continuity of care.
"BIA staff are in place to immediately support the transition and ensure continuity of services. Our team is working to provide stability for children and families while maintaining the essential services and protections they rely on," the statement said. "We understand that any transition involving child welfare and related services can be challenging for families and the tribal community."
Ombimindwaa Gidinawemaaganinaadog, an Ojibwe name meaning "Uplifting Our Relatives," provides behavioral health care, children and family services, family welfare programs and compliance services related to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) on the reservation.
Tribal Response and Next Steps
The Red Lake Nation issued a statement dated September 13, 2026, acknowledging the federal search warrant and saying tribal leadership met with representatives from both the BIA and the FBI. The tribe said it will "continue to address the federal search warrant" and work through appropriate legal and administrative processes.
"We will continue to work through the appropriate processes and pursue the necessary steps available to the Nation as we move forward," the tribal statement said. "Our priority has not changed and will not change; we remain committed to protecting our children, protecting our sovereignty, and protecting our Nation."
The Red Lake Indian Reservation is home to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa, which the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau recorded as having about 5,500 residents. The BIA says its immediate goal is to maintain essential services while the transition is in effect and to minimize disruption for families who rely on the agency.
What Remains Unclear
Federal authorities have not made public the specific allegations or the contents of the search warrant. Officials from the BIA and the FBI have declined to provide further details pending ongoing inquiries. The tribe and federal agencies say they have met to discuss coordination and next steps.
This story is developing; further updates may be released by federal authorities or the Red Lake Nation as investigations and administrative actions continue.
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