Updates from the Chief Executive

May Message from the Chief Executive

Spring has arrived. Both within our culture and others, spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. For that reason, it is one of my favorite times of the year. Having struggled through the winter, we can look forward to all the possibilities that lay before us.

Shortly after my last update, Band member Les Gahbow and I flew to Memphis, Tenn. to attend a college softball game between Blue Mountain Christian University (BMCU) and Middle Georgia State University. BMCU conducted a first-ever Native American Heritage recognition and — since one of our Band members, Shante Beaulieu, plays for the team — Les and I were invited to provide a welcome before the first pitch. I offered a few words, and Les sang a flag song.

A huge part of my role as Chief Executive is building relationships with leaders of other federally recognized tribes. While attending the BMCU softball game, I was able to spend some time and share great conversation with Cyrus Ben, the Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Cyrus and I seem to have similar personalities, and I look forward to building upon our relationship in the future.

I also want to provide a shout-out to Shante and her family for the warm welcome and invite. I also want to thank Les for being willing and able to attend this special event. Miigwech.

From Memphis, I flew to Washington D.C. for the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes (MAST) Impact Week. As MAST President, I am responsible to oversee its official meetings and ensure that we effectively advocate for our 35 member tribes within the Upper Midwest. For MAST Impact Week, we deliberate amongst ourselves about the most important issues facing Indian Country — including input from some very important speakers — and then communicate our stance on those issues to federal legislators on Capitol Hill. In this new era of massive spending cuts, it is paramount that we do what we can to preserve those programs which are positively benefitting Native peoples.

One speaker who stood out to me was U.S. Representa tive Sharice Davids from Kansas. A former Mixed Martial Arts fighter who also earned a law degree from Cornell Law School, Representative Davids is a charismatic, intelligent, and strong Native woman who sets a great example for us all. I am both excited and relieved to have her as a leader in the U.S. Congress, looking out for and defending tribal interests across the country.

Another notable event from MAST Impact Week was Sen ator Tina Smith’s Minnesota Tribal Flag Ceremony. For the first time ever, the flags from all 11 tribes in Minnesota will be f lown in the U.S Senator’s office. I was honored to be in attendance, along with various singers from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe: Nick Cash, Jeremiah Churchill, Scott Matrious, Bobby Eagle, and Bobby Eagle Jr. I could not have been more proud of the way they performed bringing honor within the halls of Congress to both our people and our way of life. Congratulations to you all.

While on Capitol Hill, I, along with District II Representative Wendy Merrill and Commissioner of Natural Resources Kelly Applegate, met with Representative Pete Stauber. We all enjoyed a candid and cordial conversation about such issues as the proposed Tamarack nickel mine and federal legislation being set forth by Republicans to de-list the wolf as an endangered species. Although Rep. Stauber and I do not always see eye-to-eye on various issues, I value both his forthrightness and the professional relationship we have begun to develop. It is to the Band’s benefit that we work with Representative Stauber’s office whenever and wherever we can.

After returning from MAST in late March, I — along with other Minnesota tribal leaders — met with Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan in St. Paul. The key focus of the meeting was communications between tribal nations and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Although the Band has fostered a positive and effective relationship with the Minnesota DNR, other tribes have not had the same experience. Therefore, we discussed expectations and ways to better communicate moving forward.

April began with our monthly Maadaginzo Ceremony in the Government Center. In mid-April, I visited Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures’ Sugar Maple Crossing workforce housing project in Hinckley and the Ventura housing project in Minneapolis. These projects represent investments the Band has made out side the reservation that benefit not only Band members and Band businesses, but also other members of the broader com munity.

Specifically, the Ventura project represents a significant step forward in the Band providing improved services and housing opportunities to our urban membership, which now totals more than 900 people. In all the years the Band has had urban members, it has never bought and built within the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. That all changes with the Ventura project. Miigwech to tribal leadership for supporting this project.

Also, in mid-April, I met with the Pine County Board of Commissioners in Sandstone to discuss a host of issues, including development projects in Hinckley, the fee-to-trust process, and out-of-home placements of Band member children. The Commissioners were very gracious, and I am confident that the meeting helped to build upon the already positive relationship that the Band has with Pine County.

Also occurring in April was a dish setting at the District III Head Start; a meeting of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Foundation Advisory Committee; a visit to the government center by Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler and Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari.

One other event that occurred in April was the fifth meeting of my Cabinet. We met at the Miskwaanakwadookwe Community Center to discuss important issues in each of the Commissioners’ respective areas. I must say that I am quite pleased with the Commissioners’ progress toward the various objectives that I laid out at my State of the Band address a few months ago. Commissioner of Administration Darcie Big Bear and Assistant Commissioner Maria Costello are hard at work modernizing our administrative and technological frameworks; Health and Human Services Commissioner Nicole Anderson is working to get the women’s halfway house up and running; and Commissioner of Education Raina Killspotted is working to breathe life back into the Band’s Critical Careers Program so that Band member employees have the opportunity to further their college education in exchange for continued service to the Band.

Finally, Natural Resources Commissioner Kelly Applegate is continuing to support and strengthen the Traditional Ecolog ical Knowledge that our DNR staff has built over decades and continues to pass on to future generations through the Cultural Resources program. This program teaches Band member chil dren traditional skills such as fishing, hunting, sugar bush, and more. As a key component of my “Year of the Child” initiative, the Band is very fortunate to have Commissioner Applegate at the helm.

Although Commissioner of Community Development Tracy Burr’s term does not expire for another couple of years, I also could not be more pleased with his work. Commissioner Burr recently developed a Strategic Housing Plan that would begin addressing some of the Band’s home loans that are in default, allow for new home loans to be made to Band members, and renovate the multitude of boarded-up houses spread across our lands. Both the Housing Board and the Band Assembly ratified Commissioner Burr’s plan, and then both the Administration Policy Board and Band Assembly approved a $17 million appropriation to carry out the plan. I was honored to sign the appropriation into law so that we can begin not only address ing the Band’s housing shortage but also cleaning up within our communities. When it comes to housing, we as Band members have a lot to be excited about.

Looking ahead to May, I will be turning my attention to ne gotiating a Cannabis Compact with the State of Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management. These negotiations are ex tremely important so that our emerging cannabis businesses — operated by both MLCV and individual Band member licens ees — will be properly regulated. In May, I am also looking forward to a Three-Branch meeting with the Band Assembly and Tribal Court; the McGregor School Powwow; the Ziigwan Round Dances at Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley; another Cabinet meeting; and all the graduation ceremonies taking place within our local schools.

I thank all of the Band members for their continued support as my staff and I continue to work a heavy schedule for the well-being of the Band. We will continue working hard every week always striving to build a better future for the Band. Chi miigwech.