By: McKenna Green, Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior
Joe Nayquonabe (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) started as a marketing intern for the economic engine of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe located in Minnesota nearly 21 years ago and is now the CEO of the Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures. Nayquonabe explains that the mission of Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures has been to see the quality of life increase for its members by expanding profits and therefore increasing the usable “tax base.” Overall, Nayquonabe notes that the St. Paul gaming region (Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin) is down, which has led to the push to be “more creative than ever” to diversify and increase revenue for the tribe.
In search of learning opportunities that were applicable to tribal finance, Nayquonabe started attending NAFOA conferences over 10 years ago. Nayquonable explains that in Indian Country, “we are always looking for ways to make things better at home,” and he notes that the Leading People and Investing To Build Sustainable Communities Program (LPIBSC) he recently attended was “entirely applicable for back home.”
The program was developed in collaboration with the Harvard Business School (HBS) Executive Education, NAFOA, and AFOA Canada. Its mission is to inspire and support Native finance professionals and leaders, as well as equip them with the tools to lead high-performing, innovative communities or organizations. “Being at the Harvard Business School is a special thing,” says Nayquonabe, “Harvard is the mecca of business.”
The LPIBSC program, Nayquonabe notes, stresses the importance of managing current books of business better and diversifying your book of business. Nayquonabe appreciated that the program looked toward the future while understanding the past. The program is diverse and hosts Indigenous people from across North America, as well as guests from New Zealand. For Nayquonabe, learning from others’ challenges and successes was one of his biggest takeaways from completing the program. “Anytime we have the opportunity to spend time with others who face similar challenges and listen to each other” is an opportunity that should be taken, says Nayquonabe. He recommends applying to the program because “you will meet people, and leave the program with excellent meaningful connections” and a “new outlook on business.” “It was an incredible learning opportunity,” says Nayquonabe, the LPIBSC program was an excellent way to continue learning and challenging yourself.
