The Column MLBO News

02/09/2022

D1 rep always doing cool stuff. The reps seem pretty engaged. Now this is how we do!

REMINDER: The DI End of Summer Celebration is happening tomorrow at the New Community Center. It starts at 1pm. Meal provided by Dawn Day. Lots of fun for everyone! Inflatables, games with prizes, karaoke, concessions, and drawings. Splash pad will be open. Bring your favorite chair if you want to sit outside.

We will be doing a custom made DI backpack giveaway with some basic school supplies inside. Parent or guardian will need to sign for them. Child/children must be present to get one. First come, first served til gone.

In the interest of safety, children must be supervised. If you are not feeling well, please stay home and get well. Everyone welcome. We hope to see you there! Miigwech! 😎

01/09/2022

Opinion received 8/26

Thank you to the contributor. This is some real talk.

Opinion:
I see the destruction of “MLBO Leading the way in Indian Country”. MLBO use to be talked about in good ways. We most likely are getting laughed at now! Even us Band Members laugh at or talk bad about couple of our Elected Officials. We use to be advanced and innovative within the government programs and making sure we stood apart from chaos. But it’s this chaos Chief Benjamin created and stands strong too because she probably believes it will make her look good if or when something gets right!
It’s a very dark and dreary time and not because of Covid happening either. The Covid pandemic force many things to happen, and the main thing it showed is in lack of quality leadership! You’d think Something as scary and horrendous as Covid was would have brought out the real meaning of Culture.

I’m sure Previous elected officials, commissioners and other employees are shaking their heads at the loss of their many hours spent trying to create teamwork, programs that meant something and safe environment to speak your truth. TITLE 4, Executive Branch, chapter 5 ETHICS CODE subsection 1161- says; Dedication and cooperation inspire unity. Unity is essential in order to ensure the long-term survival of our culture, our people and our nation. In order to promote unity,Band officials must be committed to: (a) demonstrating the highest standards of personal integrity, truthfulness and honesty in all their activities in order to inspire public confidence and trust. (b) constructively promoting and supporting open communications with the membership and employees in a positive and professional manner.(c) serving the membership with respect, concern, courtesy and responsiveness, recognizing that service to the Band and its membership is more important than service to oneself.

What ever happened to honoring our women and being a good role model for our generations to come! Chief Benjamin has allowed sexual predators, women beaters, and drug users to walk the halls of our government center by way of nominating for commissioners.
Peter Nayquonabe, currently; Tim Jackson, Percy Benjamin and Tiger Brown Bull (? Bull Brown).
There are no excuses except “Lacking in Leadership”! Then what about Melissa Boyd, just plain inexcusable.
Allowed to present herself in those tight leggings and low cut shirts! Speaking Ojibwe but not explaining what she said because we should All know our language! She was paid to learn Ojibwe.
Chief Benjamin knows some Ojibwe, but not fluent. For Fxxk sakes she don’t even write her own speeches!!!
I’m sorry for the ugliness in this opinion BUT it hurts to know that couple of good hard working commissioners are being defeated, Elders have to see this failure, and our children and grandchildren will FEEL the repercussions of failed and lack of respectable leadership in the Chief Executive!!
But I’m sure her way to fix this will be to increase per cap. Yay more money to do drugs and not work, not take care of children or pay our bills! Wickedly collapsing our future as she travels about smiling!
Miiqwech

26/08/2022

Opinion received 8/25

"Band members, the elected officials work for us. Are we all happy with the direction the government is heading? Executive branch is a battle zone run by a dictator and her pawns. Keep the people separated and fighting is her tactic. Lies are their true language. Who's ready for a new Chief? Who would make an honest chief who fights for all the people? We can think of a few, what about you?"

24/08/2022

Band member opinion.
Received 8/24 at 946am

"Pervert Pete is prowling around the government building again. Slid back in a high paying job as expected. every woman in that building should be very afraid. Melanie has never supported women or womens rights. actions speak louder than words."

Disclaimer
This is submitted as opinion and not yet confirmed or validated.

16/08/2022

Nomination for Melissa Boyd as Administration commissioner fails by unanimous vote. Looks like this band assembly cannot be bought. Go reps! The executive branch needs to be held accountable. This is good.

16/08/2022

Good stuff coming out of the D2 reps office.

Tomorrow and Thursday!

16/08/2022

Good old fashioned fun for the family.

Are you ready? The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe 56th Annual Traditional Powwow is only days away! Starting on Friday, August 19 through Sunday, August 21, 2022.

See the flyer below for more information. We hope to see you there! Miigwech

16/08/2022

After a brief "violation"' the news page is back to reporting. Stay tuned!

03/08/2022

Opinion by anonymous band member submitted August 2 2022
Copied and pasted as written and submited.

Shannon Nayquonabe made a facebook post talking crap about the courts office. Shannon argued on her post with an elder who used to be rep of d3. Screenshots from the post have been floating around and I hear is still up on her Facebook. Shannon was at the same training and posting on band travel time that the program was already a failure. Who is she to speak about anything. Shannon is a chimook woman from isle who thinks people are jealous of her. She runs around here like she's a band member constantly flapping her mouth at the same time slamming other programs that she knows nothing about. It's very insulting to many. She should not be employed by the band after all her bu****it. Pete ain't there to cover for her bad behavior anymore. i wonder if anything will be done?

Disclaimer
This is a opinion piece.

03/08/2022

Looks like the new D2 rep is doing some fun stuff for families.

Super exciting!! This month Family Fun Night will be in Chiminising. Open to all D2/D2A community members!

Volunteers please sign up at the front desk of D2A Chiminising Community center.

Next month will be in East Lake on September 8th!

03/08/2022

Attention Elders!

Here they come Elders. When you get them please open, fill out completely and return to Elder Energy! If these are not filled out completely your application will be returned to you, labeled “incomplete” so please fill them out and return with all necessary documentation attached.

31/07/2022

There is a request to post opinion pieces. Here's what we can do. If you send a message with what you would like posted we will post it as anonymous. The opinion post would be marked as an opinion by anonymous band member. The Column would know who is submitting and would not share that information. We know that is scary and assure that your name is kept confidential.

An example of how opinion pieces will be posted

OPINION submitted by anonymous band member on July 31 2022.

Message received to follow the titled format.

29/07/2022

Peter nayquonabe is wanting a new trial. After his wifes post a couple weeks ago about her access to information we can only assume is from her job. isn't this a conflict??????????? this should be investigated. Indian legal should be investigated. Shannon and Amy at legal need be investigated. Lots of fishy business happening at mille lacs band.

24/07/2022

Melissa boyd has been nominated by the chief for the commissioner of administration. Did we forget about the dictatorship during her last commish stint? The list is long. Fired a bunch of people at the command of the chief and had to bring them back. Embarrassing.

If you were a victim of Melissas lies and bullying contact the elected officials and let them know. Remember they work for the people of the band. Don't forget what it was like last time she was at the government building causing problems for the people who had to work with her. The band is in a scary place when this is what the chiefs nominations look like. Maybe thats the chiefs strategy. Just put her bobble heads in that will do her dirty deeds. Scary times at mille lacs.

16/07/2022

The page goal is to provide public information for all to see. Uncensored and factual. The stuff that is normally covered up and swept under the rug. If that makes you uncomfortable then you may not be ready for truth. Until we face the truth nothing will change.

15/07/2022

There is a lot of chatter about Trisha Moose confirmation hearing/interview with band assembly. Trisha was not able to answer any questions. There are plenty of qaulified band members in the department to choose from. Let me guess? They won't take the chiefs orders. Band members call the elected officials. All of them. They work for us and need to be reminded of that. We are the majority. Not them! The community deserves better and so does the staff who have already been through enough. Stop punishing us!

15/07/2022

Band membership [the People) want to know what is going on? Will Pete be paying back this salary? Is the chief going to try to get him a sweet severance package like she has with others? What the heck is going on in the executive branch? things are really out of control. Let's be real would anyone else be treated so we'll? The golden Nayquonabes.

14/07/2022

S*x offender evaluation ordered for Peter Nayquonabe. Still nothing from any officials of the band. You would think they would release something about the Commissioner of Administration being found GUILTY of sexually assaulting a woman.

To the victim your voice was heard.

It should also be exposed who the defense had on their character witness list. See attached.

To name a few:
Melanie Benjamin (chief)
Shannon Nayquonabe (indian legal)
Syngen Kanassatega (chief office attorney)
Shena Matrious (media/gov affair director)

Funny how they all stick together and cover for each other!

This is public information found on the Google machine.

13/07/2022

Peter Nayquonabe the head commissioner for mille lacs band found guilty of sexual misconduct.

Does Melanie Benjamin have a history of putting abusive and privileged men in positions of power? This does seem like a pattern.

To the elected officials of mille lacs band,

What will you do now?

12/07/2022

Confirmation hearing for cmd commissioner happened today after the new reps got swore in. It did not go to well and Ms. Moose was not able to answer most of the questions asked by the reps. Will Moose get the support of band assembly? should she?

12/07/2022

Today the Mille Lacs Band welcomes the new District 2 Representative Wendy Merrill, District 3 Representative Harry Davis and Secretary Treasurer Sheldon Boyd. The band is at a crossroads. Will these newly sworn in elected officials do what is right by band membership or will they fall into complacency?

What big decisions will they be walking into?
commissioner of community development is on the table. This position is huge. Will the new band assembly approve?

Peter Nayquonabe is the main commissioner. Should he be? Think about what he's currently on trial for. Should he be removed?

These are real life issues that impact each and everyone of us.