From Casinos to Cannabis: Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grows Its Businesses

These days, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe is about a lot more than just imploring folks to tell their Grand Casino stories. Just ask the guy who came up with that prompt in the first place.

“We’re more than a casino now,” says Joseph Nayquonabe Jr., the 42-year-old CEO of Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures (MLCV), the business arm of the tribe, in his office overlooking the lake just across the parking lot from Grand Casino Mille Lacs. “Gaming’s topped out in our region, but the tribe continues to grow. I think we’re the only tribe projected to grow over the next 50 years, so we’ve got to decide: Do we grow aggressively, or do we try to curb the quality of life for our members? And the Mille Lacs Band’s not interested in the latter.” 

Click here to view the original article from Mpls. St. Paul Magazine.