LAKE LEAF READY TO BECOME THE BEST CULTIVATION FACILITY IN STATE

A celebration and official ribbon cutting of Lake Leaf was held on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, which began with a heartfelt invocation by Baabiitaw Boyd and speeches by members of Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures, Chief Executive Virgil Wind, District II Representative Wendy Merrill, and District I Representative Carolyn Beaulieu.

Tribal Government News

SWEARING-IN CEREMONY HELD REMOTELY

The circular cafeteria at the Abiinoojiiyag school was bustling and packed full of K-12 grade students, faculty, and staff on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. With the full Band Assembly seated in the front row, all commissioners scattered through out the audience, and many government employees, Raina Kill spotted was sworn in as the new Commissioner of Education by the District II Associate Justice Brenda Moose. The Execu tive Branch now has a full cabinet. Holding the swearing in ceremony at the school in lieu of in Band Assembly chambers was fitting for the new Commission er of Education. To be seen by the students, faculty, and staff made sense as she will be leading the work they all do for the education of the students.

WATER OVER NICKEL REFLECTIONS AND RIPPLE EFFECTS

As the winter season sets in, the Water Over Nickel team is grateful for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe’s support of our work to protect the Band’s water, land and community.

Since our launch in early 2023, Water Over Nickel has continuously raised awareness of the risks associated with the proposed Tamarack Mine, including ensuring the Mille Lacs Band is a leading voice in media coverage and conversations regarding the proposed mine, engaging tribal communities in this issue, and managing a wide-reaching campaign to engage Minnesotans on the importance of protecting Minnesota’s pristine water from the impact of nickel mining.

MLB TAKES ON MINNESOTA GOVERNOR'S DEER OPENER 2024

In early November, upon opening day of the Minnesota rifle deer hunting season, the tradition of celebrating Minnesota’s deer hunting season took place at the Osprey Wilds Environ mental Learning Center. The 22nd Annual MN Governor’s featured guests from across the great state of Minnesota including Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, MN DNR Resources Commissioner Sarah Strommen, representatives from Explore Minnesota, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Bluffland White tails Association, Minnesota Conservation Federation, and Mille Lacs Band DNR Commissioner Kelly Applegate as the tribal representative.

Highlights

STORYTELLING IS AN ART

Band member Autumn Waaseyanakwadookwe Mixsooke grew up in the Lake Lena area. Throughout her childhood, Mixsooke had a vivid imagination and a talent for spinning tall tales. That love for storytelling only grew as Mixsooke became an adult. Now a moth er of two living in Isanti, Mixsooke is a published author. At the urging of her then 9-year old son Levi, Mixsooke turned a favorite tale into a published book. “Dresses and Dirt” by Autumn Mixsooke was published by Dorrance Publishing Company, Inc. in March of 2024.

HINCKLEY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Sugar Maple Crossing is well on the way to becoming a pre miere housing development in Hinckley, designed to be an affordable, high-quality housing community that supports fam ilies and fosters a strong sense of connection and well-being. It is located conveniently just blocks from Interstate 35W and a few short miles to Grand Casino Hinckley and offers the con venience of nearby shopping and entertainment. Also, within a brief 30-minute drive residents can find the beauty of some of Minnesota’s finest parks and outdoor recreation.

MENTAL HEALTH HOLIDAY TIPS PART 2

Welcome back for part II of mental health holiday tips! Part two is about “having a plan.” What does that mean? It means it is okay to put “you” first during this exciting, joyful, and often stressful season. Make a plan for yourself during this time that f its within your boundaries.

THE DOWNBEAT OF FRYBREAD – THE BAND

Back in April of 2022, Nay Ah Shing schools began offering a non-traditional music elective to middle and high school stu dents. The class is taught by Social Studies teacher Joe Covert who teaches the students how to play rock and roll. Think of the 2002 movie, “School of Rock” (starring Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, and Sarah Silverman). The NAS students had little or no experience in rock and roll, let alone performing in front of an audience. While not all of the shenanigans of the movie happen in this class, one similarity is the student’s enthusiasm for learning the art of rock and roll. The Nay Ah Shing Band is now called Frybread. They have performed for several Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe functions and have taken their show on the road to perform at venues in the metro area as well as in Brainerd.

NAY AY SHING CELEBRATES HERITAGE

November was a month of celebration at Nay Ah Shing Schools. Students participated in several events and activities honoring Native American Heritage Month. Highlights included the annual royalty powwow, the Rock Your Mocs dance, and engaging classroom lessons focused on Native art and story telling.

ICE SAFETY RECAP

In the year 2024, it should go without saying that no ice is ever 100% safe, and yet, here we are coming off a record-setting year for ice-related incidents across the ice belt related to vehicles and persons falling through the ice compared to any recent year on record. According to the Minnesota DNR, since 1976, an average of 5.6 deaths have occurred annually as a result of falling through the ice while pursuing fish on bodies of water across Minnesota. In the ice season of 2023-2024, due to an abnormally warm winter, the ice conditions varied across lakes throughout the entire state.

Indian Country News

Insider thinks MN sports betting bill could get passed before Super Bowl

Legal sports betting in Minnesota could be gaining momentum as Running Aces Casino recently sent a letter backing a deal. Lawmakers have debated legalizing sports betting for years in Minnesota. During the 2024 session, advocates thought they had gained some ground but the bill once again stalled out in the legislature, as lawmakers faced pushback from horse tracks like Running Aces. Running Aces sent this message to the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association: "Running Aces understands the importance of tribal gaming in Minnesota and the economic support that it provides to each of the sovereign tribal nations in this state. We also believe that racetracks, tribal casinos and charitable gaming all provide important and distinct benefits to the communities we each serve and broad benefits to all Minnesotans. Minnesota has demonstrated that all three types of gaming can be successful. We believe it is possible to work through any disagreements and arrive at successful compromises" A source close to the negotiations told FOX 9, "stakeholders are as close as they have ever been." The source believes sports betting could "potentially be legal in Minnesota by the 2025 NFL season. Source: Fox9.

‘Niimiwin’ exhibit showcases Indigenous culture and community through art

“Niimiwin,” an Indigenous multimedia art exhibit, opened at the All My Relations Gallery on Franklin Avenue on Nov. 7 and will run until Jan. 18, 2025. Thematically, “Niimiwin” is centered around the relationship between movement and identity in Indigenous communities, inspired by traditions of dance and powwow. “Niimiwin” is Anishinaabemowin for “everyone dance.” Curated by Emerging Curators Institute Fellow Josie Hoffman, the exhibit explores images, space and sound through works from several Indigenous artists spanning multiple creative mediums. Jingle dresses, a ceramic installation and wildlife photography are among the diverse works shown. Ceramic artist and member of Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Channelle Gallagher created clay water vessels for the exhibit. She said her work was inspired by reading about Ojibwe craftsmen bringing clay water vessels for trade. Source: MNDaily

‘It’s a beautiful way to maintain our identity.’ New MPS Board member hopes to expand language immersion for Indigenous students

Lucie Skjefte is a big advocate of language immersion for native students. Skjefte, a Red Lake Tribal member, now has a seat on the Minneapolis School Board. As the chair of the school district’s American Indian Parent Advisory Committee, much of Skjefte’s focus has been on Anishinabe Academy in Minneapolis. She says about 200 Native students attended classes there, taking pre-K language immersion — with the option to continue in later grades. Jaeden King, Mille Lacs Band member and descendent of Red Lake graduated from the University of Minnesota, majoring in American Indian studies and the Ojibwe language and hopes the immersion school will turn into a hub. Source: KSTP News.

HOW WOULD PROJECT 2025 AFFECT NATIVE COMMUNITIES? Analysis: A look at the pos sible impacts of the conservative road map on Indian Country

Besides promising federal recogni tion to the Lumbee Tribe in North Carolina, Trump’s campaign has not established a solid plan for Indian Country. However, Project 2025, a nearly 1,000 page book, does have some rough ideas for Indian Country. While the president-elect has publicly distanced himself from the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation’s highly controversial Project 2025, the project was written by many of his former staffers as a road map for Trump. A majority of the plan relating to Indian Country focuses heavily on resource extraction, critiquing President Joe Biden’s initiatives over the past four years, particularly in terms of his push for electric vehicles, reduced fos sil fuels and climate change initiatives. Aside from land management and mining, the report briefly outlines the desire to reform Indian Health Services, the Bureau of Indian Education and crime in Indian Country. A majority of the plan’s details related to Indian Country come in the Department of the Interior section. The 2025 Project critiques Biden’s naming of several locations as national monuments and requests that Trump repeal the Antiquities Act of 1906 and retroactively remove already established site protections. This act was initially created to address the theft of Native artifacts on federal land. Project 2025 calls for reforming the Indian Health Services, the primary healthcare provider for Indigenous people. In general, Project 2025 seeks to eliminate Head Start programs, which over 28,000 Native children use. In terms of Indian Education, the project suggests all federal Indian Education programs be transferred to the Bureau of Indian Education, as well as tribal postsecondary career and technical programs, to reduce “bloat” and streamline services. The project does not make any recommendations for increasing law enforcement in Indian Country. Source: Indian Country Today and Rapid City Journal

Interior Secretary nominee draws praise from tribal leaders

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum was tapped to serve in President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet as Secretary of the Department of the Interior, replacing Laguna Pueblo leader Deb Haaland, the first Native American to hold the position. "I have full confidence that Gov. Burgum's heart and intentions are in a place that will ensure tribal nations are heard and respected in the decisions that shape our shared future," said Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Chairman J. Garrett Renville. Source: Indian Country Today.