Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe

09/15/2026

🌿 PRE-REGISTER NOW! GICHI-AYA’AAG MAAWANJI’IDING

Elders are invited to come together for two days of community, sharing, learning, and entertainment at the Gichi-aya’aag Maawanji’iding — “Elders Coming Together” Conference.

📅 October 26 & 27, 2026
📍 Grand Casino Mille Lacs Convention Center

Come together to strengthen our community, share information, and learn from one another.

🎶 ENTERTAINMENT
Kasey Nicholson
Frybread Band

📞 PRE-REGISTRATION IS OPEN
Call or text 320-674-0823 and leave:
• Your first and last name
• Whether you are requesting a hotel room

🏨 Hotel rooms are limited, so please pre-register early if you need accommodations.

We look forward to welcoming our Elders for two days of gathering, visiting, and learning together!

09/15/2026

🌿 AN AFTERNOON AT THE MINNESOTA GOOSE GARDEN

Please join us Saturday, October 3, for a special afternoon at the Minnesota Goose Garden in Sandstone.

Ojibwe Elder Reine Garbow will be the guest speaker, sharing the story behind the garden’s new sculpture of Cecilia and talking about the lives and experiences of Native women in the 1800s and today.

Representatives from Women’s Wellness at Osprey Wilds and Friends of 210 Gallery & Art Center will also be in attendance.

📅 Saturday, October 3, 2026
⏰ 1:30–3:30 p.m.
📍 Minnesota Goose Garden
3136 355th Ave., Sandstone, MN

No reservations are required. Light refreshments will be served, and donations are appreciated.

Come spend an afternoon learning, listening, and connecting through history, art, and community.

09/15/2026

MEN’S GROUP — EVERY MONDAY

Looking for a place to connect, talk, listen, and spend time with other men in the community?

Men’s Group meets every Monday from 6–7 p.m. at the Men’s Halfway House Brown Building.

📅 EVERY MONDAY
⏰ 6–7 p.m.
📍 Men’s Halfway House — Brown Building
17222 Ataage Drive, Onamia, MN 56359

Men’s Group meets every Monday, including all Band holidays.

For more information or questions, contact:
📞 Bobby Eagle: 320-362-4799

09/14/2026

🚧 ROAD CONSTRUCTION NOTICE — DISTRICT I VINELAND 🚧

The Mille Lacs Band Public Works Department is notifying residents of an upcoming road construction project in District I.

Construction is scheduled to begin the week of September 21, with repaving of the highlighted roads on the project map. Work is expected to continue through the month of October.

The project will include:
• Reclaiming existing pavement
• Installation of some new culverts
• Widening walking shoulders
• Installation of speed tables

Roads will remain open to traffic during construction, but motorists should expect brief delays while crews are working.

Please slow down in construction areas, follow all posted signage and directions from flaggers, and watch for workers and equipment.

Anderson Brothers will serve as the general contractor for the project.

Thank you for your patience while these road improvements are completed. Please drive carefully through the construction areas.

09/14/2026

There are still a few hours left before the Minnesota DNR public comment period ends regarding the proposed Tamarack nickel mine. Here is a recent commentary written by Mille Lacs Band Chief Executive Virgil Wind and posted by the Minnesota Star Tribune on Sept. 12.

The piece can be read in its entirety at ⬇
https://www.startribune.com/tamarack-mn-mining-debate-environment-pollution-clean-water/601888022

We are sharing the piece in an effort to engage more readers to let their voices be heard and make a comment before 4 p.m. today. It only takes a few minutes to make a comment that could impact all Minnesotans — and beyond — for generations.

Chief Executive Wind said, "I encourage all Minnesotans to make their voices heard during this public comment period and ask the DNR to give the proposed Tamarack mine the thorough review our waters, communities, treaty-protected resources and future generations deserve."

Click the link to comment: https://mndnr.commentinput.com/?id=6eAPuQKx2b

Share your thoughts on the proposed Tamarack nickel mine with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources before Sept. 14, Virgil Wind writes.

09/14/2026

🧘‍♀️ YOGA CLASSES ARE BACK 🧘‍♀️

Join Shena Matrious for weekly yoga at the Miskwaanakwadookwe Community Center Dance Studio. Whether you’re looking to stretch, build strength, or simply take some time for yourself, all are welcome. 💛

✨ Classes are 5:30–6:30 PM
✨ No registration required
✨ All are welcome

Opening Week:
📅 Tuesday, September 15 — Gentle Yoga
📅 Thursday, September 17 — Strength Yoga

Regular Schedule:
🌿 Mondays — Gentle Yoga
💪 Thursdays — Strength Yoga

📍 Miskwaanakwadookwe Community Center — Dance Studio

Please note: There will be no yoga classes on September 28 or October 2.

Questions? Contact Hailey Schewe at [email protected].

Come move, stretch, strengthen, and take a little time for yourself. 🧘‍♀️✨ We hope to see you there!

09/14/2026

Today is your last chance to submit your comment!

The public comment period on the proposed Tamarack Mine ends September 14.

This is your chance to ask the Minnesota DNR to protect clean water, Manoomin (wild rice), communities, and cultural resources from the risks of nickel mining.

LEARN MORE AT https://waterovernickel.com

09/14/2026

🍂 FALL FASTING CAMP 🍂

The Mille Lacs Band Fall Fasting Camp will be held October 5–7, 2026, at the Mille Lacs Band Cultural Grounds.

📅 October 5–7, 2026
📍 Mille Lacs Band Cultural Grounds
43504 Timber Trail Rd.
Onamia, MN 56359

Faster Expectations:
• All fasters are expected to be at camp on October 5.
• Fasters should report to camp in the morning on the day they are fasting.
• Drugs and alcohol are prohibited.

If you are sick, please stay home and take care of yourself.

Please see the flyer for additional details and information about the camp.

⁉ Interested in participating or have questions? Contact:
☎ Dan Wind: (320) 364-9528
☎ Lyndsay Mitchell: (218) 241-9410

09/11/2026

🌾 The Mille Lacs Band Department of Natural Resources is seeking finished wild rice! 🌾

We are currently looking to purchase 200–300 lbs of finished rice.
If you have rice available for sale, please contact the DNR front desk at (320) 532-7896 or email [email protected].

09/11/2026

Mille Lacs Early Education's Royalty Powwow is September 17th at the East Lake Community Center in McGregor. Please come join us for some dinner and dancing and to witness the crowning of the new 2026-2027 MLEE Royalty. See flyer for more details.

For families with children enrolled at MLEE - if you are interested in registering your student to be a contestant, forms can also be picked up at any of our sites.