INAAJIMOWIN EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION IN 2025 APEX AWARDS

The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Inaajimowin has captured national attention, earning an APEX Award for its powerful storytelling and celebration of the Mille Lacs Band voices. The 2025 APEX Awards, the 37th annual program honoring excellence in publishing by professional communicators, recognize outstanding achievement in graphic design, editorial content, and overall communications excellence. Awards of Excellence are presented to entries that stand out in individual subcategories.

"The quality of all the entries continues to impress our judges year after year," said Ken Turtoro, APEX Senior Judge. "Each year, it becomes harder and harder to select the winners because of the high caliber of entries - and 2025 was no exception. With more than 1,000 submissions, the competition was as intense as ever."

The 2025 judging panel included Ken Turtoro, Senior Judge and Concepts Executive Editor; John De Lellis, Concepts Editor & Publisher; Christine Turner, Contributing Editor of the Writing That Works Archives; and Anne Gilio, Consulting Editor.

Migwech to all writers and photographers whose voices and talents bring the pages of the Inaajimowin to life. Band members, descendants, community members, and members of neighboring tribes are all eligible to be paid for their submis-sions. If you have a story idea you'd like to share, please emai Vivian.LaMoore@millelacsband.com.