About
Hope Camp
Elbow Lake
We’re a community in Elbow Lake on the White Earth Reservation — growing together as Creator’s family, honoring Native culture, following Jesus and His ways, being set free, and raising up the next generation.
Our Values
Growing Together as Creator’s Family
We believe our Creator has brought us together as family. We are all Aunties, Uncles, Cousins. We cook together, share meals, tell stories, have fun together. We take care of each other during difficult life seasons.
Honoring Native Culture
We see God’s beauty in Native culture and the land. We honor Anishinaabe culture and care for the land because they are gifts from our Creator. We believe Jesus meets us within our culture, not outside of it.
Following Jesus and His Ways
Jesus is calling us to come follow Him. He leads us along the Good Path, one that is filled with love. He is our Brother, our Friend, our Healer, our Waymaker. We meet with Jesus in the sacred traditions.
Being Set Free
We know Jesus is powerful. Jesus heals us and sets us free from addiction. He brings restoration to our hearts and our families. Jesus has broken the power of death in the world. He invites us to live forever with Him.
Raising Up The Next Generation
We are committed to mentoring our young people as they grow as leaders for our community. We encourage youth in their God-given gifts and support them as they step into leadership.
Our Team
Our Hope Camp team is made up of members of the White Earth Nation, the Evanston Vineyard in Chicago, the Lakes Area Vineyard in Detroit Lakes, and various communities throughout Turtle Island. We partner with the Elbow Lake Community Council. Our team is made up of young people, families and elders, from six of the seven continents. We are all brought together as Creator’s family.
We’d love for you to join us!
Our History
We’re celebrating our 20th Hope Camp in Elbow Lake this summer! We met for the first time at the Community Center for dinner, music, and fun in 2007. We hosted our first summer camp in Elbow the summer of 2008 at the Rec Center.
Beginnings
Our first Hope Camp took place in Ponsford in 1997, led by Lynn Wilson and 9 teenagers from Illinois, in partnership with Pastor Pat and Mt. Calvary Full Gospel Church. We later created the non-profit Hope for the First Nations. HFtFN has been hosting Hope Camps for 30 years.
Our hearts and lives have been woven together by our Creator as we’ve spent time with Him. We have countless stories we can tell!
Partnerships
We’ve had so many fun partnerships over the years! We’ve partnered with Community Councils and Boys and Girls Clubs in Pine Point, White Earth, Rice Lake, Mahnomen, Nay Tah Waush, and Elbow Lake.
We’ve partnered with Firefly Fields Youth Ranch, Miguel’s Mexican Food, and other businesses and organizations.
Interested in partnering with us? We’d love to hear from you! Send us a message and we’ll be in touch.
Thank You, Family!
Chi Miigwech Indiniwemaaganidog, a huge thank You family, for being part of our story! We are so grateful for each of you!
We are so excited to see everything our Creator has next for us and we’d love for you to join us!
