Updates from the Chief Executive

April Message from the Chief Executive

Aaniin. As spring begins, I want to share several important updates from the past month.

First, I have made nominations for all three vacant Commissioner positions within the Executive Branch.

For Commissioner of Corporate Affairs, I have nominated Adam Valdez — who previously served the Band for four years as Commissioner of Finance. Adam is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a masters degree in taxation. He also recently completed a postgraduate program in Artificial Intelligence for Leaders at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. Adam has more than 30 years of experience in finance, including nearly two decades devoted exclusively to Indian Country. He has advised tribal governments, gaming enterprises, Fortune 500 companies, and financial institutions in the areas of taxation, corporate finance, enterprise restructuring, employee benefits, and strategic planning. Although not an enrolled member of the Mille Lacs Band, Adam is an enrolled Kickapoo member.

For Assistant Commissioner of Administration, I have nominated Band member Tony Pike. Tony has served the Band for more than 30 years in the Public Works Department, including as Roads and Solid Waste Operations Manager for the past several years. For 24 of those years, Tony served in a supervisory role. Tony also served more than 20 years in the Minnesota National Guard, including various overseas deployments. For those of us who have worked with Tony, we know him to be hard-working and responsible. He is also deeply committed to the Band's culture, traditions, and reputation. If confirmed, I believe Tony will continue to grow as a leader and serve as a strong co-leader alongside Commissioner of Administration Gilda Burr.

For Commissioner of Health and Human Services (HHS), | have nominated Band member Carla Big Bear. Carla holds a master's degree in Tribal Administration and Governance and previously served the Band for several years in Grant Writing, Grant Compliance, and Child Support. This experience is important because the HHS Commissioner oversees both the department's Health Services and Human Services Divisions - each led by Executive Directors - and ensures compliance with the many state and federal grants that fund the department. Carla has also been a central figure in keeping Tribal Police operating for the past nine years, consistently demonstrating a strong commitment to the safety and security of our community members. It is for this reason that I trust her to oversee a department as large and important as HHS and to communicate the department's needs to Elected Officials, fellow Commissioners, state and federal counterparts, and Band membership. If confirmed, I believe Carla will do an outstanding job.

In addition to the vacant Commissioner positions, there are two terms on the Corporate Board that will have concluded by the time this column is published. One position is designated for a Band member from District I and the other for a Band member from District II. If I have not made nominations for these positions by the time this column is published, I will be doing so soon.

Also in March, I traveled to Washington, D.C. for several days to preside over Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes (MAST) Impact Week, testify before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies for Fiscal Year 2027, and meet with Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Billy Kirkland.

During MAST Impact Week, we heard from many speakers presenting on federal issues crucial to Indian Country. These speakers included David Flute, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Senior Advisor of Indian Affairs, who spoke on Homeland Security and ICE relations with Indian Country; Ken Parsons, one of the Band's federal lobbyists, who spoke on the new U.S. Department of Treasury/IRS Tribal General Welfare Benefit Regulations; and U.S. Senator Tina Smith. I want to say migwech to everyone who presented at MAST, as well as to MAST Executive Director Scott Vele and Senior Federal Government Advisor Adam Candler for coordinating the agenda.

During that same week, I had the honor of testifying before a House Appropriations Subcommittee to help ensure that the federal government upholds its trust and treaty obligations to Indian Country. Specifically, I requested that Congress fully fund the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) at $27.1 billion. I also asked that Congress continue providing resources for Native American languages in BIE schools, increase funding for Tribal Police, and fully fund the Indian Health Service at $63 billion while continuing advance appropriations to protect tribal healthcare services during the threat of government shutdowns.

For Band members interested in watching my testimony, it is available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=-LNDKvPcgGO. The written testimony is also available at https://www.congress.gov/119/meeting/house/119057/ witnesses/HHRG-119-AP06-Wstate-WindV-20260317.pdf.

My final meeting in Washington, D.C. was with Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Billy Kirkland. The Assistant Secretary is a Senate-confirmed official within the U.S. Department of the Interior who helps manage the federal governments trust and treaty responsibilities to Native American tribes. Billy was confirmed last October, and this was my first opportunity to meet with him.

We spent much of our time discussing the Tribal List Act, as I wanted to ensure that he and his staff understood the negative implications of the Mille Lacs Band being identified as a component band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe on the annually published list of Federally Recognized Tribes. As I mentioned in last month's column, this issue could affect not only federal funding but also matters such as tribal identification recognition by federal officers. While I cannot guarantee that the issue will be resolved in the near future, I do feel confident that Billy and his staff now better understand the complexities involved.

Returning to developments within Band government, I am pleased to announce the launch of the MyMLBO App. This is a project I have been working on with Band member Chad Germann for the past year. The MyMLBO App is an iPhone and Android application designed to improve communication between the Mille Lacs Band government and its members. It will primarily be used for community news, information sharing, emergency alerts, and surveys.

Too often, the good work of our government employees and appointed officials goes unnoticed. This app will help ensure Band members stay informed about the important work being done every day on behalf of the community. To take advantage of this new technology, please download the app from the iPhone or Android app stores by searching "MyMLBO App." I look forward to interacting with Band members on this platform.

Looking ahead, next month already includes a busy travel schedule. The Indian Gaming Association (IGA) Tradeshow & Convention will take place March 30 - April 2 in San Diego, California. The Tribal Self-Governance Conference will take place April 7 - 9 in Chandler, Arizona. The Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA) Annual Conference will take place April 27 - 28 in Reno, Nevada.

The Band has also scheduled a Three-Branch Meeting on April 24, and the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Tribal Executive Committee (TEC) meetings will take place April 29 - 30 at one of our Mille Lacs casinos. This will be a good opportunity for Band members to observe and participate in what is taking place at the TEC level.

As always, it is an honor and a privilege to serve the Mille Lacs Band. Onward MLB.

Miigwech.