Where champions are made: Mille Lacs band boxers shine at grand showdown

The moment you step inside, the energy hits you like a jab— heavy with ambition, buzzing with adrenaline, and scented with the unmistakable grit of hard work and sweat. This is where raw talent becomes skill, where discipline is forged punch by punch, and where tomorrow's champions are molded long before the spotlight finds them.

At the Grand Showdown at Grand Casino Hinckley on November 8, that energy was on full display. Young fighters from across the region stepped into the ring, each carrying hours, weeks, months — even years — of training. Every punch, every dodge, every feint was a testament to their dedication. But what stood out most wasn't just the skill. It was the spirit of true sportsmanship. Even in the heat of competition, these kids cheered for their opponents, showed respect, and carried themselves with a kindness that reflected the heart of boxing beyond the punches.

Tribal Government News

MERRIL ELECTED MIDWEST REGIONAL VP OF NCAI

District Il Representative Wendy Merrill was elected as the new Midwest Region Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and was sworn into office on Friday, November 21, 2025. She will serve a two-year term.

Founded in 1944, NCAl is the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization, serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities.

MENTAL HEALTH AND SELF-CARE OVER THE HOLIDAYs TAKES PRACTICE

For some, the month of December brings joy, parties, presents, and family gatherings. For some, the holidays aren't always merry and bright. They can be difficult, lonely, even depressing. Sometimes life can feel overwhelming this time of year. Winter blues, work, children, family crises, life commitments, not having the funds to buy all that you want to buy, and remembering our loved ones who have passed can add stress to our lives, even amidst the excitement of the holiday season. For some, feeling left out of dominant society traditions that are on full display can feel lonely. Paying attention to our mental health and having a self-care plan during the holidays is super important. Taking time to create a wellness-focused holiday tradition that works for you and your family can help keep things manageable.

UNicorn Grant: NAYAADAMAAGEJIG launches new truancy prevention efforts

Nayaadamaagejig is pleased to receive an Early Intervention Grant from the State of Minnesota to support family preservation and proactive measures that assist families facing challenges or barriers linked to poor school attendance or truancy. The goal is to address these issues early - before they escalate into child protection cases.

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Domestic violence touches far too many families, leaving deep wounds that aren't always visible. Nearly one in two women and more than two in five men in the United States have endured intimate partner violence. Every single minute, 32 people are hurt by someone they love.

GATHERING IN GRATITUDE: 25 YEARS OF FALL FEAST TRADITIONS

The 25th Annual Fall Feast welcomed Band members for a warm, community-centered meal hosted by MLCV, continuing a beloved tradition that embodies gratitude, togetherness, and service to the Mille Lacs Band. Now in its 25th year, the Fall Feast reflects MLCV's commitment to honoring the community and creating spaces where families can gather, celebrate, and reconnect. Photos by Michele Palomaki.

UNBELTED DRIVERS STILL RISKING LIVES

In just one week, Minnesota law enforcement cited nearly 1,000 people for not wearing a seat belt or properly securing children. While buckling up is second nature to most, lack of seat belt use is still a leading factor in fatal crashes on Minnesota roads. That's why the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) partnered with law enforcement for extra seat belt enforcement and awareness the final week of September.

Highlights

FROM OJIBWE ROOTS TO EMMY SPOTLIGHT: Band member Leah Lemm takes top awards

Leah Lemm is more than just a journalist — she's a storyteller rooted in her culture, and her work recently earned her major recognition. As a senior editor for MPR News's Native News team and a citizen of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Leah has spent her career amplifying Indigenous voices and connecting community traditions to broader audiences.

In 2024, Leah released a deeply personal and powerful documentary titled Finding Manoomin: A Search for the Spirit of Wild Rice. The film follows her journey to reconnect with her cultural roots through the harvest of manoomin — wild rice — a sacred food and ancestral relative for the Ojibwe people. This fall, Leah and her team took home an Upper Midwest Emmy Award for the film.

WEWINABI ON THE MOVE! MODERNIZATION PROJECTS ROLLING OUT ACROSS ALL LOCATIONS

Wewinabi, Inc. is entering a major phase of growth and modernization. If you've driven by any of our locations recently, you've likely seen the construction underway — and that activity represents meaningful progress. These projects are part of a strategic capital investment designed to reinforce our buildings, upgrade our services, and keep our community-owned businesses strong for the next 10 years and beyond. From structural improvements to customer experience enhancements, these updates reflect our commitment to serving the community with excellence, efficiency, and long-term stability.

BLANKETED IN LOVE- District I Geniigaanigizig youth made tie blankets for children of Ronald McDonald House

In late September, the Geniigaanizijig youth of District I wanted to honor Child Cancer Awareness Month in a meaningful way. Led by youth leader Bugs Haskins, they decided to make tie blankets for children at the Ronald McDonald House.

The Ronald McDonald House provides a caring home away from home for families with seriously ill or injured children, helping keep families together and easing stress during difficult times.

CHAMPIONING NATIVE STUDENTS ACROSS MINNESOTA

As a student in Robbinsdale Area Schools it likely never occurred to Annie Huberty that one day she would work in a role that would impact Native American students across the state.

Though the path wasn't direct and she didn't set out to have a career in education, that is exactly what happened. In August, Huberty became the Director of American Indian Education for the Minnesota Department of Education - the agency that is tasked with ensuring every child receives a quality education, no matter their race or zip code.

NASS PARTICIPATED IN THE CRASH SIMULATOR 'TOWARDS ZERO DEATHS' CAMPAIGN

Students and staff at Nay Ah Shing Upper School got a hands-on lesson in traffic safety during the annual Fire Prevention and Safety Day in September, participating in the "Towards Zero Deaths" crash simulator.

SPOOKTACULAR FUN AT THE HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION HOSTED AT MILLE LACS GOVERNMENT CENTER BY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE

It was a night filled with a few tricks and tons of treats on Friday, October 31, 2025. The Annual Halloween at the Government Center proved to be a truly spooktacular evening, bringing together the community for fun, laughter, and a little bit of fright.

Roughly 400 community members of all ages showed up in costumes that ranged from the cutest and cuddliest to the spookiest and most spine-chilling. From superheroes to witches, princesses to pumpkins, the creativity and spirit of the crowd lit up every hallway.

Indian Country News

Wife of accused Minnesota lawmaker killer says husband's actions were "a betrayal"

The wife of Vance Boelter, the man accused in the deadly Minnesota lawmaker shootings, released a statement on Thursday calling her husband's alleged actions "a betrayal." Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed inside their Brooklyn Park home in the early morning hours of June 14. Their golden retriever, Gilbert, was also shot and later died from his injuries. Also targeted in the shootings were Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who were attacked inside their Champlin home about 90 minutes before the Hortmans were killed. Boelter, 57, faces federal and state murder and attempted murder charges. He was captured some 36 hours after the shootings near his home in Green Isle, about 50 miles southwest of Minneapolis, in what officials say was the largest manhunt in state history. Jenny Boelter's full statement, released on her behalf by her legal team: "On behalf of my children and myself, I want to express our deepest sympathies to the Hortman and Hoffman families. Our condolences are with all who are grieving during this unimaginably difficult time, and we are praying daily for them."

Source: CBS News.

‘As vulnerable as a plant can be’: New study finds climate change largely to blame for less wild rice:

A new study finds the availability of a wild rice in the Great Lakes region has been declining over the past 30 years, partially due to climate change. The decline, the study says, “has disrupted Ojibwe lifeways, family, and health.” Brandon Byrne, inland fisheries biologist at the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, or GLIFWC, coauthored and helped collect data for the study. Byrne said that the plant is most vulnerable during its early stages. “Not only is it vulnerable to weather or climatic variables, it’s also vulnerable to motorboat use. Its ecology is very delicate.” Rob Croll, coauthor of the study and commission policy analyst and climate change coordinator, said, “You have to look at manoomin and climate change holistically. It’s as vulnerable a plant as a plant can be. One of the things that we’re seeing — will continue to see — is our precipitation coming less frequently, but more intensely: much heavier rain storms, which can cause quick floods. During [early growth] stages, floods will uproot the plant. Later on in its growth, when there are seeds on the plant, big storms and heavy winds can devastate a rice bed just by blowing the stalks down into the water. Source: WPR Wisconsin Today.

White House budget request slashes funding for tribal colleges and universities:

In President Donald Trump’s budget request, he’s proposing slashing funding for tribal colleges and universities, including eliminating support for the country’s only federally funded college for contemporary Native American arts. If the budget is approved by Congress, beginning in October, the more than $13 million in annual appropriations for the Institute for American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, would be reduced to zero. It would be the first time in nearly 40 years that the congressionally chartered school would not receive federal support, said Robert Martin, the school’s president. Source: APNEWS.