Newspaper of the Leech Lake EBAHJIMON Band of Ojibwe DOctober 2019 | Vol. XXXVI No. 2 MMIW Task Force LLBO Holds Grand Opening Ceremony and 27 member task force holds first meeting leading up to December Quarterly Meeting at New Twin Cities Office Report on MMIW. Pictured Left to Page 3 Right: Laurel Jackson, Chairman Faron Jackson, Secretary-Treasurer Archie LaRose, TCO Battle of Sugar Point Director Frances Butler, Recount the events of The Battle District III Representative of Sugar Point that made headlines Leroy Staples Fairbanks, Executive Director Robert across the Nation. Budreau and District II Page 4 Representative Steve White. LLBO-CNF MOU Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe signs MOU with the USDA Forest Service. Page 11 Continued on Page 8 PAID PRSRT STD PRSRT US POSTAGE BEMIDJI, MN Continued on Page 9 PERMIT NO. 68 PERMIT By Kayla Duoos this happen. The move from long-term These resolutions included new enrollments, Minneapolis – The Leech Lake Band of renter to property owner will greatly benefit ineligible enrollments, and transfers to and Ojibwe held their regular Quarterly Meeting us all.” from the band. New employees hired in the on Friday, October 11, 2019, at the new past quarter were also introduced and location of the Leech Lake Twin Cities Office. The address for the new LL Twin Cities welcomed at the meeting. Office is 2438 27th Avenue South, The Band purchased the new office space for Minneapolis, MN 55406. Offices are located Last on the agenda were presentations from $2.9 million earlier this year. Renovations on the second floor. Division Directors in attendance on their were completed this month leading up to the activities over the past three months, as well grand opening of the new location on Friday. Following a dedication of the building, Tribal as time dedicated for audience members to Tribal Chairman Faron Jackson, who was Chairman Faron Jackson Sr. gave the address the council directly with their ideas present in Minneapolis for the official opening remarks for the quarterly meeting and concerns for the band. opening, said owning a building in followed by a financial report from Secretary- Minneapolis is a huge step for the tribe. Treasurer, Arthur LaRose. The report features The Quarterly Meetings are held every three financial data from both government and months on a rotating schedule between each “This is a historic day for our Urban Band gaming operations. district on the reservation. The next Members, Twin Cities Office staff and our Quarterly Meeting will be held in January. Tribe as a whole.” said Jackson. “Chi-Miigwech A number of resolutions concerning All band members are welcome and to all the staff who worked tirelessly to make enrollment were passed at the meeting. encouraged to attend. 2 Binaakwii giizis • Falling Leaves Moon October 2019 | Debahjimon Vol XXXVI No 2 The Debahjimon is a free, monthly publication of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Leech Lake Tribal Council » Faron Jackson Sr., Chairman » Arthur “Archie” LaRose, Secretary-Treasurer » Robbie Howe, District I Representative » Steve White, District II Representative » LeRoy Staples Fairbanks III, District III Representative Staff Michael Chosa, Editor Kayla Duoos, Journalist Anthony Belgarde, Graphic Design Submissions The submission of pictures, articles, announcements Sarah Agaton Howes Madonna Peltier Yawakie Veronica Veaux Michael Laverdure and letters is encouraged. All submissions are subject to editing for spelling, MPR HOSTS NATIVE ENTREPRENEURS PANEL IN BEMIDJI grammar, length and libelous By Kayla Duoos content. Submission does not guarantee publication. Bemidji – Indigenous people have Principal, Architect, Director of western world. Veaux runs a non- stability. How can we not only The Editor reserves the always been entrepreneurs. First American Design Studio, profit alongside a graduate support our community, but also right to reject any material DSGW Architects, Sarah Agaton classmate called “DomiNative our environment How can we submitted for publication. Reminding the greater community Howes, Anishinaabe artist, teacher, Development.” Veaux’s business make decisions that will be good of this were four Indigenous designer, and community organizer, hosts multi-sport competitions decisions for seventh generations Debahjimon business owners, Thursday and Leech Lake Band member throughout the country for adults into the future, seven generations September 26 at the Northwest Veronica Veaux, Co-owner of and children who are three sport in the past, and our present 190 Sailstar Dr. NW Indian Community Development DomiNative Development and athletes. Veaux said being asked to generation.” Cass Lake, MN 56633 Center. Assistant Professor in the Business speak at the event was an honor, Administration at Bemidji State and helping inspire new entrepre- According to the Small Business [email protected] The four featured entrepreneurs University. neurs is a passion. Administration, Veaux’s business is shared their knowledge on the one of many new native businesses Ph: (218) 335-8200 Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) The event was hosted by MPR’s “In the 1970’s and 1980’s, most of that have sprung up within the past Fax: (218) 335-8309 hosted panel “Conversations on Chris Farrell who is the senior the business schools you went to few years. According to a report the Creative Economy, economics contributor at they talked about the only social done by the Small Business Deadlines Entrepreneurship and Identity: Marketplace, American Public responsibility of business is to earn Administration, Native owned Building a Native Owned Business.” Media’s nationally syndicated public a profit. That methodology coined businesses grew by 15 percent Nov. Issue.................10/25/2019 The running theme of the night was radio business and economic by Milton Friedman as we can see, from 2007 to 2012. Indigenous Dec. Issue.................11/29/2019 growth within small communi- programs. Farrell led the four that has caused a huge devastating businesses in Minnesota are some Jan. Issue..................12/27/2019 ties, and focusing on opportunity, entrepreneurs on a 50 minute impact on our economy and of the most diverse, ranging from not disparities or deficits. discussion surrounding their environment. Sustainability, was telecommunications to architecture journey into becoming business not at the forefront of decisions,” to athletics. The entrepreneurs who spoke were: owners and community leaders. said Veaux. The full program can be found Madonna Peltier Yawakie, archived online on the MPR website President and co-founder of Turtle Veronica Veaux took time before “Whereas today, when you look at https://www.mprnews.org/ Island Communications, Inc. the panel to discuss both her the Indigenous mindset in busi- story/2019/10/02/native-american- (TICOM), Michael Laverdure, business and cultural identity in a ness, we’re looking at long-term entrepreneurship October 2019 | Debahjimon Binaakwii giizis • Falling Leaves Moon 3 Leech Lake there are three separate living areas Walz, Flanagan Launch Task Force to for men, women, and families. Homeless There will be a computer room for End Violence Against Indigenous Women adults to apply for jobs, search for St. Paul – Governor Tim Walz to violent crime at alarmingly high Commissioner John Harrington Shelter housing, as well as a large dining and Lieutenant Governor Peggy rates, and we’re taking action to said. “This task force will help us area with a commercial kitchen and Flanagan launched the first meeting end this disproportionate epidemic,” ask the right questions and provide Nearing two laundry rooms. There is also a of the Missing and Murdered said Governor Walz. “That’s why recommendations to reduce and reception/intake office, a nurse's Indigenous Women (MMIW) Task we established a task force to hopefully end violence against room, and five individual offices. Force with a ceremonial bill signing examine the root causes of this Indigenous women and girls.” Completion that brought together advocates, violence, collect better data, and Submitted by LLBO The Shelter will be staffed 24/7 by tribal representatives, law provide support to Native families The MMIW Task Force consists of Human Services Shelter Technicians. There will also enforcement, and elected officials who are caught up in this nightmare.” 27 members. The primary duties of be a House Manager, two Case in their commitment to end vio- the Task Force are: to advise the Cass Lake – The Leech Lake Band Managers, a nurse, and two kitchen lence against Indigenous women. “This task force will rely on the Commissioner of Public Safety; to of Ojibwe Homeless Shelter is set staff. For information regarding The establishment of the MMIW experiences of survivors and serve as a liaison between the to open this November. employment at the shelter please Task Force was included in the families as it works towards Commissioner of Public Safety, visit the Leech Lake website (www. 2019 Omnibus Public Safety and identifying effective strategies agencies, and organizations that The shelter was first approved by llojibwe.org). Judiciary budget bill (S.F. 8). grounded in community,” said provide legal, social, or other the Leech Lake Tribal Council in Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. community services; and to report Spring 2019 and Hawk The shelter will be more than a bed The MMIW Task Force, established “We are witnessing increased recommendations to the Construction broke ground in and a roof. The vision is to provide with bipartisan support,