HOW JAEDEN KING FOUND HER PURPOSE – AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO HER COMMUNITY

May 3, 2026

By Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures

At 14-years-old, Mille Lacs Band Member Jaeden King attended the Wiidoo Program, a Tribal youth employment program that inspired her to think about her future career. At 15, she began working at the Grand Market. It was her first real connection to MLCV, which would later play a pivotal role in her career trajectory.

By 17, Jaeden was encouraged to apply for the MLCV Student Internship Program. Her participation deepened her community ties, and inspired a shift in her thinking. After attending a speaking engagement about building a purpose-driven career and designing better futures, Jaeden made a commitment to herself - and her community. She would attend college, acquire knowledge, develop new skills, and then pursue her dreams, while working with and for her community. Which is exactly what she did.

While completing degrees in American Indian Studies and Ojibwe Language at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Jaeden also garnered work experience as an intern for a Legislative Office working for the Secretary and Treasurer, at SLOTCO (an MLCV company), and at MLCV within the Strategic Initiatives, People and Culture departments.

Upon completing her degrees, Jaeden was eager to return home to share what she had learned. She put her newly-acquired skills to good use, speaking to Mille Lacs Band Elders in Ojibwe at an Elder Event, explaining the personal mission that had inspired her return. Their response? An eruption of applause, and a resounding "Welcome Home."

"It made it all so worth it," Jaeden says. "If I'm having a hard day, it's really grounding to remember my community. The people who matter are out there, not behind this desk," she says.

Now, as the Community Engagement Officer at MLCV — a role she's held since June of 2025 - she is continuing to deliver on her commitment. Jaeden's work focuses on managing key events, such as Elder Events and the Fall Feast, building relationships with community members, and cultivating a strong relationship between the Band and MLCV. "My biggest job is to build trust - through transparency, education, showing up consistently, and acting as a bridge," affirming that community engagement is particularly important when creating economic development opportunities.

But Jaeden's contributions don't stop there. Her commitment to her community extends beyond the reach of her day-to-day at MLCV. In fact, Jaeden is also an Ojibwe voice actress for Rosetta Stone, helping to ensure that the language and culture will be preserved, celebrated and accessible, far into the future.

Today, Jaeden is focusing on one of her favorite projects yet: planning this year's MLCV Student Internship Program. "It's a real full-circle moment," says Jaeden, who is excited to introduce high school Tribal members to MLCV, its mission, and the various career pathways across MLCVs companies. "I'm excited and honored to help inspire the next generation of Tribal members."

Learn more about Jaeden's work in an upcoming MLCV article, as well as the MLCV Student Internship Program, in forthcoming communications.