Tribal gaming has been a critical economic tool, not only for the Mille Lacs Band but also for the surrounding communities in East Central Minnesota. The compact was intended to further develop on-reservation economies and create additional economic opportunities for tribes in Minnesota. Humphrey III, and Minnesota legislators worked together to create a gaming compact with American Indian tribes in Minnesota. In 1989, as a means to create jobs for Indian people, Minnesota Governor Rudy Perpich, Attorney General Hubert H.

In 1988, Congress enacted the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which established rules for Indian gaming operations. Supreme Court reaffirmed the 1825 Supreme Court decision on tribal sovereignty and ruled that as sovereign nations, American Indian tribes could operate gaming casinos on their reservations. Today, the unemployment rate is approximately 14 percent.įor decades, the Mille Lacs Band’s leaders have shared a vision for diversifying the Band’s economy beyond gaming, and the Band’s non-gaming businesses are steadily becoming an increasingly important part of the Band’s economic enterprise. From our casinos and hotels to our non-gaming operations, our businesses are a vital economic force in East Central Minnesota.īefore the casinos, the unemployment rate on the Mille Lacs Reservation was more than 80 percent, making it one of the poorest reservations in the nation. The Mille Lacs Band’s Commissioner of Corporate Affairs is appointed by the Chief Executive and ratified by the Band Assembly to oversee Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures.Ĭreated by the tribal government of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures is committed to building a sound economic future by developing and nurturing a diverse range of businesses. Today, Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures oversees the Mille Lacs Band’s business enterprises, including gaming and non-gaming businesses, to ensure a secure economic future for the tribal members living both on the Reservation and in other Minnesota communities. When the Band had very little money or support from state and federal governments, Band members worked in traditional enterprises, creating and selling crafts and food products like maple syrup and wild rice, and working in the logging, agriculture, and fishing/tourism industries.Īs development occurred and sovereignty was strengthened, the Band operated resorts, manufacturing programs, schools, and a growing government and housing infrastructure. Mille Lacs Band members have always contributed to the economy of East Central Minnesota.

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