Updates from the Chief Executive

March Message from the Chief Executive

Aaniin. What a whirlwind the last several weeks have been in Minnesota, the United States, and within Band government. It is difficult to imagine a time within our country's history when the federal government has targeted a specific state for enforcement activity as it did with Minnesota during the last couple of months. As Band members know, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deployed thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents to the Twin Cities metropolitan area - not only spreading fear within our communities but also resulting in the unacceptable deaths of two United States citizens. These last couple of months have been grueling on all of us.

The Mille Lacs Band responded to these crises not only with the temporary closure of our St. Paul hotels, but also through direct consultation with DHS. In late January, Band Assembly members and I had the opportunity to speak with the DHS Senior Advisor for Indian Affairs David Flute. Although the conversation was uncomfortable at times, the Band's elected officials were able to clearly express their concerns about ICE's aggressive enforcement tactics, the level of training its officers receive, and whether tribal IDs are being properly recognized and acknowledged. Mr. Flute assured us that the conversation had been productive. I sincerely hope the Band will have played a part in DHS adopting a more dignified posture toward not only Native Americans, but all people who reside within this country.

Importantly, the recent turmoil we have all experienced has prompted many Band members to ask important questions about the extent of our business operations. How much money does the Band owe on its hotels? How much revenue do the hotels generate? Does it make financial sense to sell them? And what types of activities does Makwa Global engage in? Do their business operations align with the Band's core and traditional values? These questions are all well-considered and come from a place of ensuring that our government accurately reflects the will, intentions, and values of our people. I promise to accept all of these questions in good faith and do what I can to provide answers.

Many of these questions were asked by Band members directly during my February round of community meetings. As I've stated previously, I intend to travel to each district once per quarter to provide in-person updates of what's going on in Band government. This past month I held meetings in Nayahshing, Chiminising, Aazhoomog, and the Urban Area. All of these meetings were live-streamed online. I am very grateful for the Band members who were able to attend and for those who asked the tough questions that keep the Band moving forward. During these challenging times, I am also grateful for the well-meaning spirit with which these questions were asked. It is an honor and a privilege to serve, and I will always strive to make improvements.

In addition to the threat posed by DHS and ICE, another threat has also reemerged. On February 3, the Mille Lacs County Board of Commissioners, by a 3 to 1 vote, approved a resolution requesting that the U.S. Department of the Interior vacate Solicitor's Opinion M-37032 (the "M-Opinion") regarding the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation. Finalized in 2015, the M-Opinion is a 37-page, single-spaced opinion that affirmed that the Bands Reservation boundary was never disestablished or diminished. Although the Mille Lacs County Board has not cited any harm caused by the opinion, the Board is nevertheless leading the charge to have the opinion revoked.

Let me be clear: The Mille Lacs County Board's conduct is completely unacceptable. Not only does the County's resolution make numerous false assertions and mischaracterizations of the law; but it also attempts to conflate the County's legal posture with national-level politics. The Band will not tolerate this type of devious and dishonest behavior. The lands that our ancestors sacrificed so much to preserve are far too important to us, and so this is one fight that we will never back down from.

I will be bringing this issue to the attention of federal officials in March, when I'll be in Washington D.C. for MAST Impact Week. MAST stands for "Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes" - an organization of 35 Midwest tribes (representing more than 130,000 Native people) of which I currently serve as President. During MAST Impact Week, we will be lobbying federal officials on such important pieces of legislation as the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act and ongoing efforts to ensure that prediction markets (e.g. sports event contracts) are being properly regulated. We will also be hearing from various speakers on such topics as DHS/ICE relations with Indian Country and the recent Tribal General Welfare Benefits Regulations approved by the U.S. Department of Treasury. All in all, it should be an important and worthwhile trip.

While in Washington D.C., I'm also interested in raising the issue of the List Act. Instead of being identified individually on the List of Federally Recognized Tribes, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribes are all listed as component bands of the MCT. This becomes a serious issue not only for federal funding purposes, but also for matters of tribal affiliation. If a federal agent fails to identify the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe within the Federal List, for example, then he or she may choose not to honor a Mille Lacs Band Tribal ID. That's a problem we cannot have, and so I mean to press the issue.

Also occurring in March will be our first Cabinet meeting with Gilda Burr as Commissioner of Administration. Over the past 18 months, we have held several Cabinet meetings that serve as an opportunity for Commissioners — and other Executive Branch leaders, as needed — to provide updates about the activities of Band government. I also use this time to inquire about the progress of initiatives set forth during the State of the Band Address.

Recently, Band members have articulated the need to fill vacant Commissioner positions, and I have heard those concerns loud and clear. Although the Administration Policy Board now has quorum and is fully operational again, it is vital that we fill all Commissioner positions so that Band government can operate at its fullest strength. I will continue to search for candidates that both the Band Assembly and I feel can best perform duties and responsibilities of a Band Commissioner.

Lastly - on the most positive of notes - the next Maadaginzo Ceremony will be held on Monday, March 2, in the Government Center Rotunda. The Bands Department of Natural Resources will also be hosting a Treaty Rights Celebration at Grand Casino Mille Lacs on Friday, March 20. I hope to see you all at one or more of these events.

We are — and always will be — the Non-Removable Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

Onward MLB.

Miigwech.