Updates from the Chief Executive

June Message from the Chief Executive

Aaniin. As Memorial Day weekend has come and gone, we are reminded of the sacrifices made by those who came before us and the importance of honoring their legacy. The holiday also marks the unofficial beginning of summer and a season of celebration throughout our communities. In the coming weeks, many Band families will proudly celebrate students from the Class of 2026 as they reach an important milestone in their educational journeys. As I stated in last month's column, congratulations to all the graduates - whether you’re graduating from high school, college, or some educational program. Your efforts matter, and your community is so very proud of you.

Perhaps the most notable piece of Band business over the past month has been the Band's adoption of an Elder Mortgage Loan Forgiveness Program. Sponsored by District || Representative Wendy Merrill, this program will forgive the remaining balance of a Band home loan if the borrower is 55 years of age and has repaid 50 percent of the original principal amount.

After the bill was first approved by the Band Assembly in late April, I issued my veto for a few separate reasons. First, I asked for a 20-year forecast of what the program will cost. Second, I asked that the Band's outside tax counsel review the bill to make sure it complied with the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014. Finally, I asked that both the funding source and the Housing Board appellate procedures be clarified.

The Band Assembly responded with some truly awesome amendments. We now know that the program will cost approximately $19 million over the next 20 years; that is to say, just under $1 million per year. The Band is also now confident that any Elders benefitting from the Elder Mortgage Loan Forgiveness Program will not be subject to state or federal income tax. Finally, the Band Assembly adopted detailed appellate procedures so that any potential disputes have a clear method of achieving resolution. As difficult as my disagreements with the Band Assembly can sometimes be, I am very proud of the work we accomplished together on Elder mortgage loan forgiveness.

Speaking of Elders, issues pertaining to Elders were a hot topic in my latest round of community meetings. At my District Ill meeting in Hinckley, for example, I was asked about various safety and security concerns at the District III Senior Living Facility. As a result of this conversation, I will now be pushing for upgraded security at both the Band's Senior Living Facilities in Districts | and Ill. Although theres always more that I can do as Chief to help our Elders, this will be a step in the right direction.

In other news, I recently had the privilege of nominating James Rennicke to serve as an Associate Judge in our Tribal Court. James has been an attorney for more than 40 years and has been serving as a Judicial Attorney in our Tribal Court for the past 14 months. James is licensed to practice law in a multitude of jurisdictions, including before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Mille Lacs Band Tribal Court, the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Court, and the St. Croix Band of Chippewa Tribal Court. If confirmed by the Band Assembly, James will be a great addition to our tribal bench. I am very excited for him!

Also in May, the Band received a visit from the Federal Reserve Center for Indian Country Development (CICD). The CICD is conducting a Survey of Native Nations to provide tribal governments analysis and visualization of the finance data of local governments and the anonymized, aggregated finance data of other participating tribal governments. If the Band decides to participate in the Survey of Native Nations, the soft deadline is August 1, 2026. I will let you know if the Band decides to participate.

Looking ahead to June, the Ventura Project will begin taking housing applications on June 12. If you wish to show interest in a housing unit, please contact the Community Development Department by email at cmd.receptionist@mille lacsband.com, or by phone at 320-532-7448. Required application materials include tribal enrollment documentation, proof of income, household information, a government-issued photo ID, Social Security cards for all household members, and a birth certificate for all household members.

The Ventura Project has been a long time in development and means a great deal to our Urban community. Not only will the Ventura building house all the Bands Urban services; but it will also increase housing opportunities for our Urban members. (The first residential move-ins will occur in August and September.) Migwech to all those employees who helped get this project across the finish line, including Commissioner of Community Development Tracy Burr, Housing Director Dan Boyd, MLCV General Counsel Chad Ambroday, MLCV Director of Corporate Strategy Katherine Davison, and the MLCV Projects Team (including Zach Atherton-Ely and Cameron Wind). Our Urban membership is very grateful for all your hard work!

Miigwech also to the Band Assembly for approving the Master Service Agreement, as well as the rest of the MLCV team who will be operating the building for the next few years. This project started several years ago, and we are finally here! Over the next few weeks, the Urban Office will transition into the new facility, and an open house/ribbon cutting will occur on June 28. This will include a tour of the new Urban Offices, as well as a tour of the residential areas.

Looking ahead to June, Mille Lacs Early Education will host graduations in all three of the Band's districts. (District |I - June 11, District | - June 16, and District I|I - June 17.) | will also be hosting my second Chief Executive's Elder Meeting on June 11 at Grand Casino Hinckley. And finally, the Hinckley Powwow will take place June 19-21. I hope to see many of you there as we gather to celebrate our students, honor our Elders, and spend time together as a community.

Summer always brings a renewed sense of energy throughout our communities. It is a time for gatherings, celebrations, ceremonies, and reconnecting with one another. As we move into the season ahead, I encourage all of us to continue looking after one another and working together in a good way for the future of the Mille Lacs Band.

As always, it's an honor and a privilege to serve the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Onward MLB.

Migwech.