News Roundup, April 18–24

Published

DNR conducts controlled burns

On April 20 in District I on April 20, the Band's DNR Wildland Crew, in conjunction with other Tribal Fire Crews and the BIA, conducted controlled burns in an effort to rejuvenate wildlife habitat.

Chief Executive makes statement on guilty verdict

"Derek Chauvin has been found guilty of murder by a jury of his peers," said Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin in a statement released on Facebook April 20. "It is up to the family and the community of George Floyd to determine whether justice has been done, because no verdict can replace his life or erase their grief. In many ways, this trial was not about Derek Chauvin, but about institutional racism itself." For the complete statement, see https://millelacsband.com/news/chief-executive-releases-statement-on-guilty-verdict-in-trial-of-derek-chauvin.

Sign up now for summer sports programs

Ge-Niigaanizijig youth program has a host of fun sporting events planned for this summer, including golf league, 3-on-3 basketball, kickball, softball, basketball camp, football skills camp, and volleyball skills camp. Events kick off June 7 with a golf tournament at Grand National Golf Club in Hinckley and continue several times each week until August 23. The events will rotate among the districts giving youth a chance to meet and compete with friends from all reservation communities. Stay tuned to social media and the Ojibwe Inaajimowin newsletter for updates. For more information, contact Tim Taggart at 320-339-6199 or tim.taggert@millelacsband.com. Download the waiver and registration at https://millelacsband.com/news/sign-up-now-for-ge-niigaanizijig-summer-sports.

Casinos offer summer youth employment program

Attention Mille Lacs Band Member Youth, ages 15, 16, and 17: Are you interested in summer employment with Grand Casino Mille Lacs or Grand Casino Hinckley? We are on a journey to develop a strong team of future Mille Lacs Band member leaders. During your summer employment with us, we will show our loyalty by offering training and development opportunities to help match you with future educational and career interests. For more information, please contact us to schedule a meeting. We will host informational sessions (in person or Zoom). Contacts: April Benjamin, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Grand Casino Hinckley, 320 384-4722. Lana Oswaldson, Band Member Recruiter, Grand Casino Mille Lacs/Hinckley, 320-532-8202. For more information, see https://millelacsband.com/news/casinos-offer-summer-youth-employment-program.

Broadband benefit will help with internet service payments

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program to help households struggling to pay for internet service during the pandemic. This new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, and virtual classrooms. Click the link below to find out more. The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on Tribal lands. Check out the Broadband Benefit Consumer FAQ website here: https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit or read more at https://millelacsband.com/news/broadband-grant-will-help-with-internet-service-payments.

Call for nominations — Indigenous Stories of Strength

A new project titled Indigenous Stories of Strength has been launched by the Center for American Indian Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health . The flyer below provides more information about this project. The goal is to highlight stories of Indigenous strength and survival that illuminate leadership from individuals, groups, and communities to illustrate the incredible and innovative responses to the COVID-19 pandemic by Indigenous peoples in the US. Ultimately, the project aims to host a virtual showcase and celebration of these stories in fall 2021. Nominations are being collected for stories to be submitted and included in this virtual celebration. The form for nominating a story is available on the project website: https://indigenousstrengths.com/.

Ethel Curry Scholarship accepting applications

The Ethel Curry American Indian Leadership Scholarship is now accepting applications for the 2021-22 academic school year. Please carefully review the below information, and share widely with students and community members. This scholarship is open to any enrolled tribal member, of any age, who is pursuing a postsecondary degree at any higher education institution in Minnesota. See https://education.mn.gov/MDE/fam/indian/ethelcurry/.

MN Connect Powwow wants you!

Tired of not being able to go to powwows? Join us to eat our virtual fry bread at MN Connect Powwow! We want to connect with others around Minnesota while being safe and know you do too. MIGIZI is hosting a virtual powwow from April 15th to May 14th and everyone is welcomed to join our powwow! Visit https://www.migizi.org/mn-connect-powwow for more information, or see the flyer below. #MNCP21 #MIGIZIMN #powwow #virtualpowwow

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

2020 Official Acts published online

Revisor of Statutes Hanna Valento has compiled all 2020 official acts of the Mille Lacs Band tribal government into a single document that is available on the website at millelacsband.com/government/legislative-branch#OfficialsActs. "The Official Acts is the first of its kind, which makes them pretty special," said Hanna. The Official Acts document is over 1,000 pages long and is summarized in the Introduction: “In Fiscal Year 2020, the Band Assembly approved 160 Resolutions and four Legislative Orders. The Band Assembly also approved 64 Ordinances, 54 of which were signed into law by the Chief Executive. The Secretary-Treasurer issued one Secretarial Order; the Chief Executive issued four Executive Orders; the Chief Justice issued four Chief Justice Orders; the Commissioner of Health and Human Services issued two Commissioner’s Orders; and the Solicitor General issued one Opinion of the Solicitor. Each of these records are included in the ’Official Acts’ for 2020.“ https://millelacsband.com/news/official-acts-published-online

District Representative shares video update

Representative Virgil Wind provided an update to District I Band members, including a recognition of the tragic drowning of a community member, and the heroic actions of Curt Kalk and Luther Sam in saving three others. Over 150 community members came to a "pop-up" powwow on April 14. He announced a district community meeting at 5 p.m. on April 28 at the Events Center at Grand Casino Mille Lacs, made a request for new cooks, and welcomed requests for information about Band Assembly business. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w25zZCMtgC0

For Band Assembly Weekly Updates and other Legislative news, see https://millelacsband.com/government/legislative-branch/legislative-news.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S VIDEO UPDATES

Tuesday, April 20, 2021 — Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin began her message with a special message to the community. The community has been hit hard with many losses in recent weeks, including the tragic loss last week. Chief Executive Benjamin provided Band members with a COVID-19 update and discussed recent updates with Senator Tina Smith and other government consultations. She gave reminders of the upcoming spring clean-up, the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (CERA), and the Emergency Broadband Benefit for internet services needed during the pandemic. Chief Executive Benjamin also gave a shout out to Bobby Anderson on his new position as the Diabetes Fitness Coordinator joined by Jackie Braun, the new Diabetes Program Director in HHS. https://youtu.be/MtlR7SjuEEM

Wednesday, April 21, 2021 — Melanie provided a COVID-19 update for Band members. In addition she provided information about a new grant program and requested graduation photos for publication in the newsletter. She also talked about Zakab Biinjina supportive transitional housing. For more information on the program, see https://millelacsband.com/news/zakab-biinjina-supportive-housing-comes-to-all-districts. For the Chief's video, see https://youtu.be/cAXdAMrVnsE.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Survey responses needed; participants entered in iPad raffle

On March 11, 2021, the Blandin Foundation announced that the Mille Lacs Tribal Economy (MLTE) had been selected to participate in the Community Broadband Resources (CBR): Accelerate Program. The program will provide a 15-week course of study and education about broadband for a community team. The program consists of three parts 1) Leadership Education, 2) Information Gathering, and 3) Analysis and Next Steps. The project includes a community survey to obtain real-time data. We ask that you take this survey from your home as the desire is to collect data for residential users. Survey participants can enter into a drawing for an iPad! The Survey can be found here: http://z.umn.edu/uptospeed.

Graduation photos needed!

Are you or is someone in your family a 2021 graduate of high school, college, or graduate school? If so, we want to share your accomplishment with other Band members! Send a photo to news@millelacsband.com, along with name, school, degree, awards, activities, interests, and future plans. Graduates — Band members, descendants, and community members of other tribes — will be honored in the June issue of Ojibwe Inaajimowin and at millelacsband.com.

Reminder: Apply now for COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance

Aanjibimaadizing is grateful to be able to offer COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA). CERA is federal funding for current and past due rent and related utilities. Mortgage payments and home owner utility payments are NOT eligible for this funding. To qualify you must be a Minnesota resident; currently owe, or be behind, in rent or rental utility payments from 3/13/2020 or after; and have outstanding related expense(s) due to unemployment, illness, or another issue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications can be made online at https://mlbo-laserfiche.millelacsband.com/Forms/CERA. For more information, see https://millelacsband.com/news/covid-19-emergency-rental-assistance-is-now-available.

Language revitalization video focuses on Rosetta Stone project

You can find many videos at youtube.com/millelacsband, including the latest in a series on the Aanjibimaadizing language revitalization projects: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho2bS2F6zSM.

Click here for last week's News Roundup.

LOOKING FOR WORK?

Check out the new job postings at https://millelacsband.com/jobs.

You can request information about jobs by emailing hr@millelacsband.com or calling 320-532-7460. To apply for a job, please submit an application, cover letter, and resume to the HR email by the closing date.

For openings at Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Hinckley properties or Eddy’s Resort, visit: grandcasinomn.com/careers. For openings with Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures, visit https://mlcv.com/career-opportunities. For openings at Grindstone Laundry or Crossroads Convenience Store, email enelson@grcasinos.com or call 320-384-4722. Applications are also available at the main receptionist desk of the Corporate Commission building at 700 Grand Avenue, adjacent to the Grand Casino Mille Lacs Events and Convention Center.

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST

The Government Affairs Department, which is in charge of communications with Band members, maintains a list of email addresses so we can send news summaries and breaking news updates to Band members. To sign up, go to https://millelacsband.com/services/mailing-list.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Spring cleanup has started!

Gardening 101 presented by Mille Lacs Band DNR April 28

Join us for the first ever MLBO Agriculture Zoom class at noon on April 28!
To Join via Computer: https://zoom.us/j/96269133256?pwd=RFNrWFJFYjJpUHBCYjd3Y0ZVanFZZz09
Meeting ID: 962 6913 3256
Passcode: 094186
To join via Phone: 13126266799
Meeting ID: 962 6913 3256
Passcode: 094186

Healthy Indigenous Masculinity webinar April 28

In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, please consider joining a Webinar Series with a panel of menfolk that are doing that serious internal work for personal and community wellness on Wednesday April 28 at 1pm CST. Band member David Sam is one of the panelists. Register as a zoom attendee at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_61o9PEUtTVKec_YeRFj0qA. Or join us on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/MIWSAC.

Traditional Medicine Clinic April 29

Pop-Up Pantry coming to Garrison

Note: This is not a Mille Lacs Band event but is open to all in need

Circle of Health, MNSure Outreach coming to all districts, urban area

Chiminising Yard Sale May 7 and 8

Next Elder food distribution is May 12 and 13

The May Elder food distribution will take place while supplies last, on a first come, first served basis, at the following locations:
Wednesday, May 12, 1–3 p.m.
— Districts I and IIa: Grand Casino Mille Lacs, south side of Convention Center
— District II: Minisinaakwaang Community Center
— District III: Grand Northern Inn Hinckley parking lot
Thursday, May 13th from 1pm – 3pm
Urban Office – 1404 E Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis.

Ceremonial Dance Dates

Men's Empowerment Group

Men's Empowerment Group - M.E.G. — meets on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. at the old District 1 Community Center across from the Grand Casino Mille Lacs.

Women's Healing Group

The Women's Healing Group meets on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m.at the old District I Community Center across from Grand Casino Mille Lacs.

Recovery group meetings

Most recovery meetings are held via Zoom conference during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Monday night Migizi meeting ID is 856 8473 0121, and the password is 56359. The Wednesday night Red Brick meeting ID is 895 631 97923, and the password is 56359. The Thursday Wellbriety meeting ID is 966 0395 9591, and the passcode is 944772. The nightly Zooming Towards Recovery code is 601-532-2869, and the password is zoom800. ”The Rez” NA meeting meets in person (with social distancing and masks required) on Fridays at 6 p.m. at the old Ne-Ia-Shing Clinic, 43500 Migizi Drive. Meetings for Urban Band members in recovery are held on Zoom Tuesdays at 7 p.m. (Sa Miikana) and Fridays at 6:30 (On the RedRoad). ID: 214 608 6245. Password: Redroad.

INAAJIMOWIN ONLINE

The April issue of Ojibwe Inaajimowin is now available for download at https://millelacsband.com/news/inaajimowin-archive. You can find stories from the current and previous newsletters at https://millelacsband.com/news, where you will also find links to stories from around Indian Country.

Scroll down for more flyers you may have missed

Send your flyers and other submissions for the News Roundup to news@millelacsband.com!