Band Assembly Weekly Update, January 11-15

Published

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After a Pre-Band Assembly meeting on Monday, January 11, to discuss the agenda, Band Assembly met on January 12 through conference call and Zoom. In accordance with statutes, the session was convened at the Annual State of the Band Address and recovened after the address.

Band Assembly voted down a nomination from Chief Executive Benjamin for Catherine Colsrud to serve on the Corporate Board, At-Large Position. The nomination was taken from table with a roll call vote.

The following were approved:

— Band Assembly Bill 19-03-20-21: A Bill of Supplemental Appropriation for Administration for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2021. Sponsor: District III Representative.
— Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Housing Department Drug Policy.
— Five foster care licenses.

At a joint session with Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin, enrollment applications were approved and denied.

On Thursday, January 14, Legislative held a work session for the Band Assembly members, Legal Counsel, Staff Attorneys, Legislative Staff, Commissioner of Finance, Solicitor General, Mille Lacs Corporate Venture Attorney, and Outside Corporate Counsel to Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures. Staff Attorney Joseph Jensen presented an Introduction to Partnerships and LLCs.
A road map for Title 16 (Corporate) Statutory Revision plan was presented.

The following remain tabled:

a) Legislative Order 31-21: A Legislative Order Establishing Procedure for When the Band
Assembly Receives a Critical Nomination from the Chief Executive Tabled 01/06/2021

b) Contract (Admin): A contract addendum to add additional funding to the Red Circle contract to complete 9 videos and provide 2 additional video shoots and production pieces for Aanjibimaadizing Language projects. The addendum also extends the contract end date from December 30, 2020 to September 30, 2021. Tabled 12/16/2020

c) Contract (ADMIN): A contract for Keller Paap to provide continued consultation for Language revitalization; serve on the Aanjibimaadizing Ojibwemowin Strategic Planning Board; and assist with the MLB book development project. Contract end date is September 30, 2021. Tabled 12/16/2020

d) Contract (ADMIN): A contract for Chato Gonzalez to provide continued consultation for Language revitalization; serve on the Aanjibimaadizing Ojibwemowin Strategic Planning Board; and assist with the MLB book development project. Contract end date is September 30, 2021. Tabled 12/16/2020

e) Contract (ADMIN): A contract for Indigenous Enterprise, LLC (Anton Treuer) to provide continued consultation for Language revitalization; serve on the Aanjibimaadizing Ojibwemowin Strategic Planning Board; and act as managing editor for the MLB book development project. Contract end date is September 30, 2021. Tabled 12/16/2020

f) Contract (ADMIN): A contract for Michael Sullivan Sr. to provide continued consultation for Language revitalization; serve on the Aanjibimaadizing Ojibwemowin Strategic Planning Board; and act as text editor and technical writer for the MLB book development project. Contract end date is September 30, 2021. Tabled 12/16/2020

h) Band Assembly Bill 18-04-16-20: A Bill for Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures (“Corporate Ventures”), a corporate body politic of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (“Band”), for the purpose of appropriating funds and authorizing expenditures to Corporate Ventures for its operations, and capital and economic development projects for the period beginning October 1, 2019 and ending September 30, 2020. Sponsor: District I Representative Tabled 12/10/2019

i) Band Assembly Bill 18-04-17-20: A Bill for Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures (“Corporate Ventures”), a corporate body politic of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (“Band”), for the purpose of appropriating funds and authorizing expenditures to Corporate Ventures for the operations, and capital and economic development projects of any current or future non-gaming business managed or operated directly or indirectly by Corporate Ventures (“Non-Gaming Businesses”) for the period beginning October 1, 2019 and ending September 30, 2020. Sponsor: District II Representative Tabled 12/10/2019

j) Band Assembly Bill 18-04-18-20: A Bill for Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures (“Corporate Ventures”), a corporate body politic of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (“Band”), for the purpose of appropriating funds and authorizing expenditures to Corporate Ventures for the operations, and capital and economic development projects of Grand Casino Hinckley and Grand Casino Mille Lacs (“Casinos”) for the period beginning October 1, 2019 and ending September 30, 2020. Sponsor: District III