Updates from the Chief Executive

November Message from the Chief Executive

As the cool, crisp air of autumn settles across our homelands and fallen leaves blanket our sacred ground, we are reminded that the holiday season is approaching. November is a special time for the Anishinaabeg — a season of gathering, reflection, and gratitude for the many gifts our Creator has bestowed upon our families. This is my favorite time of year. I cherish the opportunity to get out on the lake with my brothers and exercise our treaty rights, carrying on traditions passed down through generations. It is about more than the fish we bring home. It is about the stories we share, the laughter and the bonds we strengthen while harvesting together.

Another favorite tradition is helping to prepare our family's holiday meal. There is a special joy in a busy kitchen filled with loved ones, especially when I get to take charge of roasting the turkey to perfection. Those familiar sights, sounds and aromas bring back cherished memories while creating new ones for the next generation.

Whether harvesting together or gathering around the family table, these moments remind us of the Anishinaabe value of Zaagi iwewin (love) and the traditions and togetherness that sustain us through every season.

October was another month of vital inter-tribal advocacy and government business. In early October, I had the honor of presiding as President over the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes (MAST) Fall Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisc., hosted by the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe at the Potawatomi Casino & Hotel. Our agenda brought together tribal leaders from 37 member nations to address crucial regional priorities. We received inspiring presentations from federal and tribal leaders, including U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore of Wisconsin's 4th Congressional District, newly appointed Indian Health Service Director Mark Cruz, and leaders from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. National Congress of American Indians General Counsel Leonard Fi-neday provided a thorough briefing on proposed federal policy changes to Section 106 historical preservation reviews. Additionally, MAST elected Jodie Palmer, Chairperson of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi, as our new MAST Treasurer. I want to congratulate Chairperson Palmer on her election and say miigwech to all our regional leaders for their continued unity.

Back home, our Executive Branch was hard at work maintaining momentum on key government operations. On October 13, our leadership held a formal consultation at the Government Center with representatives from the Minnesota Metropolitan Council, Minnesota Management and Budget and Board of Soil and Water Resources to ensure that regional coordination honors our tribal sovereignty and treaty rights. October 14, the Band hosted In-Person Early Voting events at the Government Center, District II and Meshakwad Community Center locations. I cannot stress enough the value and importance of exercising our civic duty by voting in external government elections. Our vote is our voice and we must stand for candidates who support sovereignty and trust responsibility. Please make time to vote on Tuesday, November 3. I encourage all voting-age Band members to visit the Minnesota Secretary of State website at www.sos.state.mn.us for more information relating to this important election.

On October 15, I participated in a Joint Session of the Band Assembly, where we approved tribal enrollments and enacted important amendments to the Band's Minors' Trust Agreement. Furthermore, on October 16, I convened our monthly Cabinet meeting at the Miskwaanakwadookwe Community Center in District I, where our Commissioners (and other leaders) shared updates and aligned our multi-departmental goals for the coming months. These meetings with our Executive Branch leaders are invaluable, as I always come away from them feeling a renewed sense of teamwork. I could not be more grateful for these leaders who continue to work hard for Band members, day-in and day-out.

To lead effectively, our Executive Branch must be staffed by capable leaders of high integrity. On September 23, I submitted the nomination of Janice (Jan) Manary to serve as Commissioner of Health and Human Services. Jan brings over thirty years of healthcare leadership experience, having served 25 years in the U.S. Navy before retiring at the rank of Captain with the prestigious Meritorious Service Medal. A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives with a Master's in Public Health Administration from the University of Minnesota and a Naval War College diploma, Jan has served as our Executive Director of Health Services since 2019. During her tenure, she helped lead HHS through the COVID-19 pandemic, operationalized new clinical facilities, and successfully transitioned our clinics to the EPIC electronic health record system while strategically managing over $50 million in annual expenditures.

Regrettably, the Band Assembly informed me on September 30 that Jan's confirmation hearing would not move forward. While I am deeply disappointed by this decision — as Jan possesses impeccable healthcare credentials and a strong commitment to mentoring future Band member leaders — I remain steadfast in my duty to ensure our Health and Human Services department remains stable, responsive, and well-managed for our families.

In education leadership, I am pleased to share that, on September 30, I formally nominated Michele Palomaki to serve as the Band's Commissioner of Education. Michele brings a wealth of professional experience, administrative capability, and a deep dedication to the academic and cultural enrichment of our youth. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a passion for strengthening student achievement, supporting our educators, and embedding Anishinaabe language and culture into everyday learning. Education is the foundation upon which our future rests, and I feel immense hope and optimism as her nomination moves forward before the Band Assembly. I am confident that, if confirmed, Michele will provide visionary leadership for Nay-Ah-Shing Schools, Early Education, and our higher education scholarship programs across all districts. Michele's confirmation is currently scheduled by the Band Assembly for October 28.

The annual National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) was held October 18-23 this year in Palm Springs, Calif. This intense week of caucus, general assembly, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities kept staff and myself busy throughout the week. As we gently navigate through the current federal administration, there continue to be threats that challenge trust responsibility and sovereignty such as proposed changes to Section 106 Regulations (Historic Preservation-related), the 2030 Census amendments that could impact grant funding in Indian Country, and the continued threat of prediction market gaming — to name a few.

Looking ahead to November, our government enters an intensive period of formal State-Tribal government-to-government consultations. These consultations provide an essential platform to hold state agencies accountable to our sovereign status and advocate directly for Band member needs. Our schedule includes:

• November 5: Consultation with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF);

• November 10: Joint consultation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), and Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB);

• November 12: Joint consultation with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE):

• November 17: Consultation with the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC); and

• November 18: Consultation with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS).

By the time this column is published, I will have also attended both an Elder Conference at Grand Casino Mille Lacs and a meeting of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Tribal Executive Committee at Fortune Bay Resort Casino. The Elder Conference was a two-day event designed to facilitate "Elders coming together" in fellowship and to share important information affecting our Band. Nearly 200 Band Elders pre-registered for the event, and there were nearly 30 program tables sharing information about the Band's programs and services. Miigwech to all who attended, and I am grateful to have had this time to share with you.

With respect to the Tribal Executive Committee, I have formally requested that three items be placed on the agenda for discussion: MCT land transfers to component Bands, Secretarial elections, and publication rights for the 1985 book entitled Against the Tide of American History: The Story of the Mille Lacs Anishinaabe. I will report more next month as to how these discussions play out.

In closing, as we gather around the dinner table this holiday season, let us hold close the memories of our ancestors and give thanks for the blessings of family, community, and land. May your homes be filled with warmth, laughter, and abundant good health throughout the month of November.

Miigwech. Onward, MLB.