Art Gahbow Mural in the MLCV HQ Building
If you could go back in time and meet any leader, who would it be? This is a question I ask nearly all my interviewees.
Arthur Gahbow was a multi-talented, unprecedented leader. Born on April 26, 1935, Art began his Mille Lacs Band trailblazing mission in 1972 as Chairman and Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. His passing in 1991 marked the end of his 20-year tenure — but his accomplishments live on through the impacts of his leadership.
Taught by his Elders, Art’s leadership effortlessly reflected this. Not only did he learn their insights on Politics and Reservation history that filled his knowledge base and fueled his career, but he always involved Elders in his decisions and instilled the importance of this in each of his supporters.
This strategy created a strong foundation for what would become an expansive list of actions that forever changed the Mille Lacs Band in an upward trajectory.
Nay-Ah-Shing School
One of Art’s initial projects as Chairman was to help children. In 1975, Onamia students, facing cultural and racial turmoil within public schools, stood up and walked out. Art recognized this bravery. He was quick to assist with creating a safe space for the children and all those who would come after — right within the Reservation land they called home. He then worked to gather funding to develop what would soon become a celebratory Ojibwe culture center, Nay-Ah-Shing School.
Treaty of 1837 Rights
The ability to hunt, fish, and protect natural resources within sacred areas was a passion close to Art’s heart. And in the late 70s, he fought to assert the Treaty of 1837, which chartered a hunting and fishing territory for the Mille Lacs Band. The state was neglecting the treaty, and Art rose to attest. Through a battle of historical rights and even arrests, Art established a Natural Resources Department within the Band, rallied the neighboring state of Wisconsin to join forces, built relationships with treaty rights lawyers, and eventually, in 1990, the case went to Federal Court. Finally, in 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the 1837 treaty.
Without Art, this necessary preservation may have never been a reality. With his leadership, the right to live off the land stays, while a conservation code exists to assure a healthy balance for the safety of our beloved homeland, wildlife included.
Divisions of Powers Form of Government
As Mille Lacs Band Chief Executive, Art initiated a management pivot from a single-council Reservations Business Committee (RBC) to a three-branch division of powers form of government. This shift was provoked by the lack of stability during an economic fall in 1980. Art knew the community needed its treaty rights taken seriously and a secure Band government implemented — to maintain the people’s needs and desires were always put first.
Around this same time, Art was one of ten Band Assembly leaders who formed a self-governance movement. The self-governance would allow the Mille Lacs Band to direct its funding. With this and the formation of a division of powers was the rethinking of how business decisions should be made – separate from politics. And then, a Corporate Commission was born.
Corporate Commission: Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures
Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures (MLCV) resulted from Art’s vision for the future of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. MLCV’s first project as an organization to oversee the business operations of the Band was the Grand Casinos. And Art helped make it happen. His guidance and drive led to the construction of Grand Casino Mille Lacs, and doors opened to the public shortly after his passing. It was yet another milestone he would be so honored to witness.
Because of Art’s stewardship, MLCV’s portfolio now spans four business lanes, diversifying the economy and providing an economic boost that enriches the community.
Art Gahbow Day
Underlying each of Art’s endeavors sits a meaningful pattern — his dream to ensure that Native culture, values, traditions, and spiritual understandings are carried out, carried on, and never forgotten.
Yearly in April, MLCV celebrates Art Gahbow Day. We close our offices and encourage our Associates to reflect on Art’s dream — to think about how we’ve worked to sustain Native cultural teachings in every facet of our work and how we can continue to do so.
We also take time to understand the challenges Art overcame, the achievements he earned, and those we can today because of his leadership.
Here, 32 years after Art’s passing, as an Associate at MLCV, I witness Art’s character in my day-to-day. I can see how we learned from his solution-oriented mindset. If we face a challenge, we know not to shy from bringing solutions to the table. And the connection to Elders is a vital piece of our culture. We seek their wisdom in decisions ranging from new potential business opportunities to naming our workforce housing entities.
I wasn’t fortunate enough to meet Art. Still, I consider myself fortunate to be in a position to learn about who he was — to be here today, working for an organization whose mission and vision align with all that he stood for.
Whom would I pick for a time-traveling, leader-meeting expedition? Without hesitation, Art Gahbow. But Art was far too complex to label just a leader. He was a Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe citizen, Ojibwe language expert, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Band Member and President, Tribal Chairman, Chief Executive, United States Army Veteran, carpenter, teacher, son, grandson, brother, father, and an extraordinary man.
On April 28, 2023, we will celebrate Art Gahbow Day and hope this story inspires you to join us.
Sources:
Benjamin, Melanie. [Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe]. (2021, April 26). Remembering Art Gahbow. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKHtmV-FROE
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Our Government. https://millelacsband.com/government/government#:~:text=In%20the%201980%E2%80%99s%2C%20our%20Band%20elders%20and%20leaders,Branch%2C%20the%20Legislative%20Branch%20and%20the%20Judicial%20Branch
Wedll, Don. OjibweInaajimowin. Wewinabi – Arthur Gahbow. https://www.inaajimowin.com/news-blog/wewinabi-arthur-gahbow
Worthington, Rogers. (1991, February 14). Small Tribes Seek to End Indian Bureau Pact. Chicago Tribune. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-02-14-9101140055-story.html
This article was written by Hannah Torkelson, MLCV’s Brand Communication Specialist. Hannah is a storyteller and is responsible for capturing great moments within MLCV’s portfolio.