Hunting. Fishing. Gathering. Amid deep lakes, wild rice fields, majestic maple trees, and wild and bountiful berries, the Ojibwe thrived in the mid-1700s, following the cycle of the seasons. A profound respect for nature was instilled in every child.

Pressures from non-Indian culture led to hardship and poverty, but the Ojibwe worked hard towards a better future.

In 1988, the Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act helped those dreams become a reality. The Mille Lacs Band opened Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley in 1991 and 1992, creating thousands of jobs and generating revenues that benefit the Band, its nearly 4,600 members, and its non-Indian neighbors.

Casino revenues have helped the Mille Lacs Band build and improve schools, health care facilities, community centers, a water treatment facility, roads, ceremonial buildings, and more. Millions of dollars have also been donated to food shelves, schools, hospitals, law enforcement agencies, and other organizations that serve the entire community. The casinos have also attracted new residents to the area, boosted tourism, and created dozens of new businesses across the region.

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