September.qxp 9/11/07 4:58 PM Page 1 The Newspaper of the Mille Lacs Band September 2007 “The story as it’s told.” Volume 9 • Number 9 Successful 41st Annual Iskigamizigan Powwow By Sharon James, Mille Lacs • 2nd place: Leech Lake • Brad Kalk, Kalk Construction Powwow Committee Member Princess • David Granger, Double D The Mille Lacs Band of • 3rd place: Garrison Fire Construction Department Ojibwe's 41st Annual Traditional • Barb Benjamin-Robertson Powwow was held on August 17- • Best department float: • Carmen Weous-Behnkie 19. The event drew 915 dancers Community Development this year and approximately • Dan Oehrlein 3,000 people in attendance per Rez car • Dean Staples day. Saturday the rain was light • 1st place: Lesley Day • Gilda Burr enough to continue with the • 2nd place: Quint Anthony • Shawna Sam afternoon and evening grand Mille Lacs Messenger • 3rd place: Sharon entries, however the rain did get • Tina Merrill Pendegayosh heavier after grand entry on • Walter Bauer family tesy of the Sunday. our Horseshoe tournament • Powwow committee The powwow committee volunteers Photo c would like to thank all the • 1st place: Joel Shaugobay & • Amik Smallwood & the Hundreds of dancers attended the contributors and the Mille Lacs Jeremy Smith 41st Annual Mille Lacs Band immersion camp staff Band employees, who are a • 2nd place: Clayton Benjamin Powwow. This gentleman • Candy Cupboard participates in the the inter-tribals, major factor in making our & Judy Virnig in which all dancers can take part. annual powwow a success. Chi • 3rd place: Mike Davis & • Chief Executive Office mii gwetch! Terrance Sam • Community Development Royalty • Most ringers 1st Place: Clayton • Corporate Commission Benjamin • Cultural Harvest Program • Sr. Brave: Lucas Long-Goetz • Most ringers 2nd Place: Travis • Department of Natural • Jr. Brave: Darius Barnes Smith Resources • Sr. Princess: Olivia Killspotted Contributor list • District I Representative • Jr. Princess: Trina Fast Horse The Mille Lacs Band would like • Elder Services General raffle to thank the following for their • Grand Casino Hinckley generous contributions to the Mille Lacs Messenger • Prize 1 - ATV: Elizabeth Towle • Grand Casino Mille Lacs Area success of this year’s powwow: Relations & Grounds • Prize 2 - 52 weeks of bingo: • Anderson Brothers Department tesy of the Elizabeth Towle our • Bernick's Distributing • Housing Authority • Prize 3 - patio set with grill: Photo c Nathan Shore • Crow Wing County Sheriff's • Ne-Ia-Shing Clinic Junior brave contests were held Department • Prize 4 - 2 mopeds with • Public Works during the Mille Lacs Powwow, in • Garrison Disposal which youth contestants were helmets: Rick Boyd • Tribal Police Department judged on dancing and a speech • Prize 5 - quilt: Demitre Wind • Goff & Howard, Inc • The Workforce Center they had to give before the crowd. • Prize 6 - quilt: Kegan Mueller • Grand National Golf Club We have attempted to list • Grand Rapids Fire Center everyone, but if we have missed Parade anyone, we apologize. • Practical Benefits * 1st place: Ladies Auxiliary MILLE LACS BAND OF OJIBWE PRESORTED 43408 Oodena Drive Onamia, MN 56359 FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID Printed on 100% recycled paper BRAINERD, MN PERMIT NO. 265 September.qxp 9/11/07 4:58 PM Page 2 Game On agency to provide a better product for the ad dollars the casino is spending. My mentor said I could do that and more. So while I was the advertising League of Minnesota Human manager at the casino I was also preparing to jump out and Rights Commissions to Focus start my first business.” Annual Conference on That business became Red Circle Agency, one of the world’s American Indian Issues only Native American-owned Recent incidents involving Chairman of the Northwest advertising agencies. Founded Indian Fisheries Commission in 2001, Red Circle specializes disrespect shown toward Billy Frank, Jr. and Travis exclusively in American Indian American Indians prompted the Gaming marketing and they League of Minnesota Human McAdam from the Montana work with a dozen casinos all Rights Commissions to focus its Human Rights Network will Chad Germann around the country. annual conference on also speak. The following article appeared Now, here’s the upstart part. American Indian rights and Other speakers will include: in the September 2007, issue of The Potawatomi Community of human relations challenges. • Mille Lacs Band Chief Minnesota Business. It is being Wisconsin, operators of some The League will host its 36th Executive Melanie Benjamin reprinted with their permission. very successful casinos in annual conference – titled This entrepreneur rolled the Milwaukee and other places, • Commissioner Velma Korbel “Human Rights, Civil Rights, dice when he left a seemingly recently said they wanted to of the Minnesota Treaty Rights: Minnesota secure teaching track for the create a partnership with Department of Human advertising business, but the bet Challenges” – on Saturday, Germann and the Potawatomi Rights seems to be paying off big. Business Development September 29, from 8:30 a.m. “What’s your Grand Casino Corporation to create a new full- to 4:30 p.m. at the Grand • Larry Clark, League of story?” Before coming up with service, minority-owned Casino Mille Lacs Events & Minnesota Human Rights that ad campaign tagline Chad advertising firm. The new Convention Center. Commissions Board Member Germann thought his story agency, Howl Fire, with offices in The League’s annual • Jackie Fraedrich, League of would involve education, not Minneapolis and Milwaukee, will conference will be an Minnesota Human Rights entrepreneurship. After all, his support the PBDC family of dad told him having summers companies and target Fortune opportunity for people to learn Commissions Board Member off among other things was a 1000 business to business about human rights concerns • Marion Helland, League of pretty good deal. With a pair of assignments. in Minnesota and how the Minnesota Human Rights BA’s in hand, a Master’s in “Obviously, we are not going League is working to address Commissions Board Member language and literature on the to get the mass media account these challenges. Speakers will • Mary Jo Brooks Hunter, way, and a Ph.D. in his future, for a Target or a Best Buy, but discuss topics such as Tribal Appellate Judge for Germann did spend three fateful our goal is to identify large American Indians’ role in the summers interning in the companies that have dollars set the Winnebago Tribe of civil rights movement, racial marketing department of Grand aside to work with Native Nebraska disparity in education, the anti- Casino. There some light bulbs American-owned businesses or • Tadd Johnson, Special started going off though he did minority-owned businesses and Indian movement in the United Counsel for Government have some help finding the “on” go after specific projects,” said a States, and race and racism switch. laid back, but very confident implications in federal Indian Affairs for the Mille Lacs “My tribe identifies members Germann in his hip downtown policy. Band who have potential – like me – office environs. “I think the “The League was prompted • Ralonda Mason, St. Cloud and then they go out and put squad we’re putting together is to focus this year’s conference Legal Services Attorney together a program for you,” suited for getting those small on American Indian issues after said Germann, a member of the pieces done. We’ll get in the • Irene Opsahl, Minneapolis learning of the incidents in the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. “I side door, prove our worth and Legal Aid Society Attorney said I would like to start an ad competence, and then grow Mille Lacs area,” said Evelyn The League of Minnesota with the business.” Staus, League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions is Human Rights Commissions a coalition of public human President. “We are aiming to rights commissions in Updates from bring awareness to the communities throughout Ne-Ia-Shing Clinic challenges American Indians Minnesota; however, the face everyday.” League itself is a private Extended hours the upper and lower schools. It The keynote speaker will be organization. is mandatory to immunize your Morris Dees, co-founder and Effective September 10, 2007, For more information about children by September 28 in the clinics in all three districts Chief Trial Counsel of the order to not interrupt school the conference or to register, have extended their hours. Southern Poverty Law Center, a attendance. e-mail Evelyn Staus at nonprofit civil rights • Ne-Ia-Shing Clinic: [email protected] or Marion 8:20 a.m.-4:20 p.m. – Benefit coordinator organization that works to sue Helland at Clinic appointments (Excludes hate groups and educate Every Monday from 10 a.m.-2 [email protected]. MLHS providers and people on tolerance. Along p.m. the benefit coordinator will Or, call either of them at Podiatrist) with Dees, U.S. Representative be available at the Ne-Ia-Shing 763/535-1051 or visit • Aazhoomog: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Clinic to assist patients with Keith Ellison plans to speak at www.hrusa.org/league. (Excludes Diabetes Clinic) health insurance applications. the event if his schedule Registration for the event is • East Lake: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. If you have any questions, allows. Civil rights activist and $100. (Excludes Diabetes Clinic) please contact Vanessa Weyaus at 320/532-4163. Immunization clinics Immunization clinics will be held September 10-14, all day at 2• Ojibwe Inaajimowin • September 2007 September.qxp 9/11/07 4:58 PM Page 3 Band Member Teaches Nay Ah Shing Updates About Health Care through Best year yet at Nay Ah Shing Personal Stories By Eric North, Nay Ah Shing Schools Principal from six months ago. The report Students boarded buses and were welcomed back by teachers at Nay stated “interval worsening” since Ah Shing Schools for a successful first day of classes.