Native Lights is a weekly, half-hour radio program hosted by Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe members and siblings, Leah Lemm and Cole Premo. Native Lights is a space for people in Native communities around Mni Sota Mkoce — a.k.a. Minnesota — to tell their stories about finding their gifts and sharing them with the community.
On today’s show, we talk with Joseph Nayquonabe Jr. (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) who isthe CEO of Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures, a role where he uncovers new business opportunities as well as overseeing the band’s existing businesses. He is also an avid runner, basketball player, and Ojibwe language learner.
Joseph Nayquonabe Jr. shares how his career path went from lobbying to marketing at Grand Casino to his current role in leading economic development for his and other tribal nations. Joe explains how it’s a “cool time” to be in business in Indian Country right now.
We loved hearing about Joe’s passion for this new era of business in Indian county. He explains how Tribes are tackling problems with new perspectives, leveraging wealth attained through gaming, and bringing forward new and innovative economic opportunities. Miigwech Joe, for your commitment to sustainable and value-centered businesses that will make a positive impact in our community, long into the future.
Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine is produced by Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund.
Subscribe to Native Lights wherever you get your podcasts
More from Native Lights
- Ruth Buffalo: Empowering Indigenous Communities as the new CEO of MIWRCRuth Buffalo is a citizen of the Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation and a descendant of the Chiricahua Apache. She has served on advisory councils focused on women’s health, women’s leadership development and local food systems. She is board President for the National Native Boarding School Healing Coalition. She is also the former board president of …
- Willard Malebear Jr.: Forging Positive Impacts for Community Through Tattoos, Non-profits, and ResilienceWillard Malebear Jr. is a Lakota artist who is the CEO and owner of Unified Theory Collective, he is also the Executive Chairman of Art Shelf. Both organizations are heavily geared toward infusing creativity and getting art supplies out to the community. Willard is an experienced painter and tattoo artist who found a way to …
- Mary LaGarde: The Grand Re-Opening of the Minneapolis American Indian CenterMary LaGarde is the Executive Director of the Minneapolis American Indian Center (MAIC) and a member of the White Earth Nation. She was selected to lead the organization in June 2013 and has over 30 years of nonprofit experience in program services, including management and development. In 2008, LaGarde received the DreamMaker Award from the …
- Staci Drouillard: Preserving History Through StorytellingStaci Lola Drouillard is a Grand Portage Band of Ojibwe direct descendant. She lives and works in her hometown of Kitchibitobig—Grand Marais, on Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior. Staci works as a radio producer for WTIP North Shore Community Radio and authors the monthly column Nibi Chronicles for Great Lakes Now, a branch of …
- Dr. Michael Migizi Sullivan: Teaching Language Learners in the Modern-Day ClassroomMichael Migizi Sullivan Sr. is a lifelong student of the Ojibwe language, father, husband, ceremonial drum keeper of the Ojibwe, powwow emcee, up-and-coming storyteller, and teacher of the Ojibwe language. Dr. Sullivan earned his doctorate in linguistics at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, working under the tutelage of Larry Amik Smallwood as his main language …