The Mountain and Friendship

Secretary-Treasurer Sheldon Boyd provides the State of the Legislative Branch.

State of the Band speech presented by Secretary-Treasurer Sheldon Boyd

Good morning everyone. To elected and appointed officials, government employees, attending dignitaries, and friends, and the Anishinaabe gathered here, and to our Indigenous brothers and sisters worldwide, we from the Legislative Branch of the Mille Lacs Band say, “Boozhoo and good morning. We all hope this day finds you well.”

The sun is getting brighter, there’s lots of snow, and hearing birds singing in the morning reminds us things are renewing and we all look ahead to the coming year.

Allow me to welcome you all to the 3rd Session of the 20th Assembly of the Mille Lacs Band Legislature.

This Annual State of the Band Address of Madame Chief Melanie Benjamin and Chief Justice Sylvia Wise is to be presented to the Band Assembly on the second Tuesday of each calendar year. Before we get started, I have a report to the people in my role as Secretary-Treasurer, because it is in my dual capacity as Speaker of the Assembly to officially open this session as this Legislature enters our 40th year.

These State of the Band gatherings as I remember were a good time to see friends again and reminds me that friendship, whether it’s one or 100, helps us get through to the next day, or move mountains as the saying goes. I remember one remark from then Madame Chief Marge Anderson in her speech many years ago: “They fight us every inch of the way.”

Looking back, that’s so true and the battles continue. Those comments were before Treaty Rights, Reservation boundary, and the gaming era was just beginning. Those were mountains of sorts, and our leaders didn’t shy away from the fight. The people of the Mille Lacs Band by majority vote this past year authorized four more years to continue the direction of this current Legislature. In preparing for this morning, there is reflection about the past four years' accomplishments and the impact moving forward. Most important is the timeliness of a financial milestone concerning the Treasury of the Band.

Reflection

Looking back for self-evaluation, there were three goals I set in an online statement I made October 17, 2018, after getting a realistic sense of what needs to be accomplished under statutory duties — the job ahead.

This “First 100 Days” statement targeted transparency, lawmaking, and investments. And I told staff we have four years. Transparency became live-streaming of sessions of Band Assembly, and lawmaking became a Revisor of Statutes. The first is to provide as immediate and concise of recordings as possible, and the second is to leave a record for the people and is foundational to our tribal sovereignty. The third: financial investments of the Band. The mountain.

You can’t see all of a mountain because of its size; you know a lot is there, and usually you can’t conquer a mountain without a plan and friends. The world of financial investments needed months of travel, asking questions where there were many freely offering advice, and knowledge. The enormity of the issue became apparent. Looking back, the treaty rights, Reservation boundary, and a gaming era were issues our leaders took head-on.

In reflection, there came a realization that position of leadership doesn’t mean you’re the fastest, smartest, or strongest Because as I look around there are so many Band members who shine so bright in what they do. I think it’s about being perceptive. It’s about purpose now for me and less about ambition. Maybe ambition gets you there, but clarity and direction is in finding purpose. There are also words that always help me: “Because we didn’t want people to forget” that I will refer to later. Three Goals Achieved Now I am proud to report that these achievements were primarily the work of the Legislative Staff and their ability to collaborate with so many people.

To my friends in Legislature, with live-streaming, Revisor of Statutes, and Title 17 Chapter 3 Institutional Investment Committee, you found common ground and made three goals a reality, and I thank you. And you did it in four years. Simply amazing.

This Legislative Branch is in our temporary care and we will pass this on to the next generation. Darcie BigBear, Deanna Sam, Semira Kimpson (who I make sure knows what I know), Brianna Boyd, Hannah Valento, Adam Candler, Mel Towle, Kianna Morrison (we miss you), Slippery Joe Jensen, and Valerie Harrington-Wind. It’s friendship and teamwork that is core to this work product.

Impact

The full impact of live-streaming of sessions of Band Assembly remains to be seen. Live-streaming is not a one-way street and it’s the people of the Band, the viewers, that are breathing life into the livestream and making this something more than we all imagined. We didn’t foresee a session with over 600 viewers this year and other sessions with 200 to 300 hundred viewers. Regular sessions consistently have over 100 viewers, which shows ownership.

In the First 100 Days statement I wrote; “People in power should not be allowed to be comfortable. Those in power need to be watched and constantly evaluated by those not in power to guard against the tendencies of human nature.”

I still believe that.

The impact of the Revisor of Statutes is legacy. The bulk of the material of the Revisor of Statutes rides on the shoulders of the work of Band Assemblies of the past 40 years. The written laws. The legacy of their work has been completely catalogued, guidelines for storage have been established by legislative order, and current statutes have been republished in new books that are free to Band members.

Publications and scheduled updates in hard copy and electronic media are invaluable to elected officials and staff in their work of drafting bills and resolutions to continue the business of lawmaking. Hard copies are also sent to various institutions, including the Library of Congress, where now the Mille Lacs Band Statutes take a place on the shelves among other nations for historical record.

Again, staff made this a reality and surpasses what I had in mind. The impact of the Investment Committee is generational. Concerning establishment of the Investment Committee has significance that cannot be overstated at this point.

There are various types of investments: personal, retirement 401k, family fortunes for example. And there are the Institutional Investments of organizations and governments, large entities that have specific needs and industry standards. Institutional-size investments in best practice have a diverse group of professionals overseeing the portfolio because of the size and diversity, called investment boards.

During this first term, there was an independent analysis of Mille Lacs Band investments that gave sound reason for the law that now mandates an Investment Committee. The need was clear.

The same laws that applied 35 years ago when then Secretary-Treasurer Doug Sam and OMB oversaw a total government budget of some $2 million and had accounts at Onamia Bank for payroll, etc., simply were inadequate for the size and complexities of our current government and investments after 30 years of gaming revenue.

A Landmark Financial Event. A New Beginning.

Now a financial event took place just last week that marks a new era for the investments of the Mille Lacs Band. In order for this event to be possible, major financial structures needed to be in place.

Title 17 Chapter 3 Institutional Investment Committee was signed into law. And contracts with Verus Investments and Northern Trust Bank, two investment companies that best fit our needs, were ratified by Band Assembly.

These changes have essentially redefined the position of Secretary-Treasurer moving forward. Our Investment Committee currently consists of seven members; Secretary-Treasurer as the Chair, Commissioner of Finance Mel Towle as Vice Chair, Band member from District III Kathryn Davis, Madame Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin, who is a non-voting member because of Division of Powers, and three to five investment professionals with years of experience in Amy Jensen, Andy Christiansen, and Carol Peterfeso.

Keep in mind that Amy, Andy, and Carol are volunteering their expertise and time to the welfare of the people of the Mille Lacs Band, and history needs to recognize these inaugural committee members for their kindness. These are our friends.

This last year, after months of evaluation and planning beginning on January 3, 2023, the investment portfolios of the Mille Lacs Band began a transfer process from existing financial institutions Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley to Northern Trust Bank.

Verus Investments will now be advising on the management of our investments, ending a decades-long investment structure that demanded better oversight, fee structure, and accountability to the Mille Lacs Band Assembly fulfilling the duties of the Secretary-Treasurer. Now I take this time and I want all Band members to recognize the leaders behind this landmark financial event; Commissioner of Finance Mel Towle and Chris Waite of OMB.

Mel and Chris have worked tirelessly over these past months with the finance teams of Ann Westriech of Verus, and Karson Wattles of Northern Trust Bank to prepare for this change to move investment management in a more positive and accountable direction.

These investments are the financial security for coming generations. Investments was a mountain that led to a new beginning In closing, why didn’t we just leave things as they were? Could’ve just took my check and said “Investments are fine, we’re making money.” Why try to conquer this mountain? Investments may not quite be on the same level as treaties and Reservation boundaries, but it’s close. Just as fighting to get the treaty recognized wasn’t quite on par with negotiating those treaties and agreeing to the Reservation boundaries, now that’s pressure.

My point is, those people long ago didn’t back down either. Our grandparents survived and stood up when it was their turn. And it also took friends to help them through those times, they didn’t do it alone. When they were burned out of their village by Murray Beach and many of our grandparents ran north along the shore to around here someplace, a man from Onamia fed them and helped along the way.

Batiste Sam told me about why they built the Four Seasons Room at the museum: “Because we didn’t want people to forget.” My mom, Grace Boyd, recalling how she was cheated out of land. With the payment, she bought a pack of cigarettes. My Dad, Raining Boyd, refused to sell his allotment when people came and told him he would lose it to taxes. He was being lied to, because it's nontaxable. People all around this room have similar stories.

The horror stories of the boarding school era where the talked of angels but sent demons. People getting off the wagons in White Earth and walking back to Mille Lacs, refusing to leave this home. We were fought every inch of the way to be in this room this morning. I mentioned these unpleasant memories to point out that all along the way, there were people who helped us get to today.

What helps me is knowing there are still people today who care about us, our communities, our past, and the work ahead of us. There is a word I would like to leave you with this morning as we all look to the future — friendship. Stay humble and be kind.

Now before we move, on I would like to recognize Mel Towle, Chris Waite, Katy Radunz, Joni Wall, and the OMB staff for keeping this government running. And to the elected officials and staff for exercising their authority and making this time period incredibly productive.

I call to order the 3rd Session of the 20th Band Assembly on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.