A Statement from Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures on the murder of George Floyd

Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures was created by the tribal government of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe to manage the business affairs of the Band, including Grand Casinos and many other businesses in East Central Minnesota, the Twin Cities, and other states.

On Friday, June 5, MLCV issued the following statement about the murder of George Floyd:

As we think about the tragic murder of George Floyd, his final words still haunt us: “I can’t breathe.”

For centuries in this country, Black and Indigenous communities have endured the ugly reality of racism, and the weight of that hatred at times is enough to take our breath away. This nation was organized around the ideals of freedom and equal rights, yet it was built through the systemic oppression of people of color.

We stand with the Black community against racial injustice. Like African Americans, Native American communities — like the Mille Lacs Band — have experienced centuries of racially motivated discrimination and oppression.

In 2020, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) still face public acts of racism daily. The murder of George Floyd shocked the world and served as a spark to fight against racial injustice across the country, but for the Black community it was just the latest example of society disregarding the value of a human life based on the color of his skin.

As an Indigenous owned and operated organization, Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures is committed to defending equality and celebrating diversity. We are committed to making a difference where we can, and our biggest opportunity for influence is within our own organization.

We have the opportunity to leverage our corporate culture and our training opportunities to make a lasting impact. As we move ahead, MLCV will emphasize being leaders for equality alongside our commitment to servant leadership, and we will use our influence to shape our workforce and ultimately the communities in which we operate.

BIPOC shouldn’t have to hold their breath waiting for equality and justice. Join us as we memorialize George Floyd’s last words as a call to action to make our world a place where diversity is valued and respected.