MILLE LACS BAND CONNECTING CULTURE AND COMMUNITIES ONE STEP AT A TIME

The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Color Guard brought in the flags with the traditional honor song, flag song, and veterans song to honor all local veterans at the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Garrison Andrew Kokesh VFW Post 1816 on June 10, 2023. Royalty representing the Chiminising District and Onamia Public Schools humbly share the Mille Lacs Band culture.

By VIVIAN LaMOORE, INAAJIMOWIN EDITOR

The Mille Lacs Band Color Guard was honored to have been invited to participate in the small-town celebration commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Andrew Kokesh VFW Post 1816 in Garrison, a mere nine miles from the Mille Lacs Band Reservation. "Finally. Two very distinct cultures coming together to have a celebration as one. Two worlds," District I Representative Virgil Wind said as he opened his remarks.

“I cannot emphasize enough how great it feels to be standing here today," Rep. Wind said.

The celebration opened with the Mille Lacs Band Color Guard bringing in flags with the honor song, the flag song, and the veteran’s song by a group of Mille Lacs singers as well as some Mille Lacs Band royalty jingle dancers. In a heartfelt speech, Rep. Wind focused on the benefits of communities embracing each other's differences, learning from each other, and coming together for a common goal as an "essential idea that must be embraced by all of us. By working together, we can accomplish more than we ever could on our own," he said.

Communities are faced with multiple challenges that require collective action and effort. "We have one common goal: to make the world a better place. Imagine the mountains that we could move and the things that we can get accomplished if we all work together. There is no better way to achieve this than by working together in collaboration across these communities."

Each person sees the world through "different lenses," but when coming together, each person "brings unique skills, experiences, and perspectives to the table," Rep. Wind said. "When people work towards a common goal, they create a bond that transcends their differences. This will lead to a greater understanding, empathy, and respect of the different groups. Coming together as different communities can promote diversity and inclusivity. We can learn from each other and appreciate those differences. This can lead to a more accepting and inclusive society."

Garrison Mayor Loren Larson thanked the VFW for 50 years of service to all local veterans and the extended community, and he thanked the Mille Lacs Band for participating and sharing the culture. "It is good to see the communities coming together." He recognized the Mille Lacs Band's contribution to assisting in the cleanup of the public access.

The celebration also included recognizing and honoring several members of the VFW by gifting them each with handmade quilts.

The VFW has contributed much to the local community and beyond not only in services to veterans, but also generous donations to several local organizations.

Rep. Wind quoted Henry Ford as saying, "Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success."

Rep. Wind closed with the words spoken to him by a Mille Lacs Band veteran who took "a couple bullets to the back" while serving. He said, “Indinawemaaganidog, which means ‘All of our relatives.’ We are all interconnected."