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On Monday, December 28, 2020, Band Assembly participated in a Three Branch Meeting through conference call and Zoom. The meeting was attended by all Elected Officials, as well as Commissioners and staff from all three branches. The agenda consisted of an update and comments from Secretary-Treasurer Sheldon Boyd, and topics raised by District Representative, including judicial planning, funeral numbers, and communication. The Judicial Branch brought forward the topics of criminal jurisdiction and the Tribal Law and Order Act. Executive Branch commissioners and the Solicitor General also gave updates.
Band Assembly occurred through conference call and Zoom. A confirmation hearing was held for Joseph S. Nayquonabe, Commissioner of Corporate Affairs, whose term expired on December 31.
Eighteen amendments to land lease descriptions were approved.
On Wednesday, December 30, 2020, Band Assembly occurred through conference call and Zoom.
A roll call vote confirmed Joseph S. Nayquonabe for a four-year term as Commissioner of Corporate Affairs.
A roll call vote confirmed Darla Roache for a Housing Board position. She was nomiated by the Chief Executive, who selected her from two names presented by the District I Representative.
Three bills were introduced and confirmed:
— Band Assembly Bill 19-02-17-21: A Bill of Supplemental Appropriation for Disbursement of Long-Term Savings Investment Income Funds for an Adult Band Member Economic Support Payment for February and March 2021 in the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2021. Sponsor: District III Representative.
— Band Assembly Bill 19-02-18-21: A Bill of Supplemental Appropriation for February and March 2021 Tribal Per Capita Distribution for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2021. Sponsor: District I Representative.
— Band Assembly Bill 19-02-19-21: A Bill of Supplemental Appropriation and Budget Revision/Transfer for Health & Human Services, Natural Resources and Judicial for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2021. Sponsor: District II Representative.
Two contracts were approved:
— Contract (HHS): A contract for Intertribal Software Consultants Inc. to provide an upgrade to One Tribe, the case management software. Contract end date is December 31, 2020.
— Contract (ADMIN): A contract for Minokaw Technologies, Var Services, LLC to provide digitization of all Band forms for community members and employees as well as the annual software maintenance and costs for the Laserfiche system. Contract end date is December 31, 2021.
Five foster care licenses and three hardship requests were approved.
A Joint Session of the Band Assembly occurred through Conference Call and Zoom. All elected officials were present: Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin, Secretary-Treasurer Sheldon Boyd, District I Representative Virgil Wind, District II Representative Marvin Bruneau, and District III Representative Wallace St. John Sr.
Valerie Harrington, Krista Klug, and Scott Tossey were approved to serve on the TERO Commission.
Susan Klapel was approved as Chairperson of the Gaming Regulatory Authority.
On Thursday, December 31, 2020, the Legislative Branch held a work session for the Band Assembly members, Legal Counsel, Staff Attorneys, Legislative Staff, Commissioner of Finance, Solicitor General and Mille Lacs Corporate Venture Attorneys. Staff Attorney Joseph Jensen gave an introduction to corporate law, which was followed by a discussion and overview of roadmap for Title 16 — Corporations.
The following remain on the table:
— 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
— 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
— 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
— 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
— 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
— Nomination: A nomination from Chief Executive Benjamin for Catherine Colsrud to serve on the Corporate Board, At-Large Position. Term ends March 31, 2021. Tabled 12/ 9/2020
— Contract (Admin): A contract for Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures to provide implementation of Tribal Economic Business Incubator through the Minnesota Disaster Recover Fund Grant through the St Paul & Minnesota Foundation in support of coronavirus recovery in the community. Contract end date is April 30, 2021. Tabled 12/02/2020
— 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
— 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
— 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 Representative Tabled 12/10/2019