Band (tribal) owned businesses

[Guest]

OK let's get a list, just so we know. Just so we can all make our own informed decisions of where to take our business.

1. Mille Lacs Casino at Vineland.
2. Grand Casino at Hinkley. Yes this one is also owned by the Mille Lacs band and the much greater revenue generator of the two.

3. Now . . . Eddy's (what a shame).

4. I'm not sure about the Conoco just south of Eddy's. Can someone verify or refute my suspicions? The place is named "MLB Conoco". I'm afraid that stands for MILLE LACS BAND Conoco.

5. Just on the off chance my suspicions are correct, I've been going to the Holiday in Onamia. Now my suspiciousness has turned to paranoia, please tell me that the Holiday isn't also owned by the "soverign nation".

Oh well I love Prince's and if it came down to it the drive to Prince's would always be worth the extra time and gas.

[Vickie]

You are right. Conoco is owned by the tribe.
Holiday is not.

Give your business to Prince's and Holiday,
and at Prince's tell then hi from Vickie. We are there almost every weekend.

Vickie

[Cyberfish]

I highly recommend Prince bait too.
They give you alot of bait for your buck, and have a good selection of tackle too.

Sola Scriptura

Michael T

[Cyberfish]

Hi GEG!

[Guest]

People...

Not only should we boycot the Mille Lacs Band's casino's and businesses, but also the other band's in Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Remember what happened in Wisconsin about 10-15 years ago. They netted and speared the lakes clean. Then those same bands came and joined the MLB (not Major Leauge Baseball, but they are just as greedy ) and now they net and spear with them..... because they are ALL TOGETHER. It's not safe to patronize any casino's in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

Good Luck,
Rusty

Eddy's makes me sick!!!!

[Tonka Boy]

I may be wrong, but I have heard a big percentage of bait shops purchase bait from the tribes. Any truth to this?

------------------
Tonka Boy

[mistermom]

This has probably been stated before but, I think that the walleye gill-netting isn't the Band's big objective. It is just a way to get to there ultimate goal. In my OPINION the ultimate goal is to get back as much of the 1837 ceded territory as possible.

The band has never taken there alotted pounds of walleye. I don't think they will. When this gets to court again, the Bands will look great while the DNR will look terrible (in the eyes of the court). Further resrtictions, less and less business, more and more for sale signs....

mistermom

[huskminn]

Some of this bantor bothers me. A post on another thread alluded to taking up arms. That is absurd.

I think Mistermom has it right. This isn't about money and it certainly isn't about fish. It's about power, land and making a statement.

It's fine to "boycott" the Indian-owned businesses, but realize that they don't care, because it's not about money. The Mille Lacs Band has all the money they need. They can pay above market prices for resorts, gas stations, etc. They want the land and they pay for it. It's legal, unprecedented and smart. They are putting the screws on from both sides.

And they are absolutely loving it, I'm sure.
There is a tremendous irony in this situation, and, as much as I dislike what is happening to the lake, I can't help but chuckle when I think about this.

They are finally accomplishing what they couldn't accomplish with violence 150 years ago. The Mille Lacs Band has the State of MN running for it's life. And the current administration in the state doesn't care......they are willing to let this one go.

All of you better think very hard about which gubernatorial candidate you vote for this November. And you'd better think harder about what senate candidate you vote for. If there is any hope of the current trend being slowed, it will have to come from state leadership and state representation at the federal level.

[Guest]

FYI - Izatys is just one of many small operations within the giant Carlson group of companies. The list of companies held by Carlson would fill this site.

[Guest]

This is fine and all, I don't ever plan on patronizing an tribal owned bussiness. But who is really to blame for what happened this year? Aside from the DNR and thier lousy management practices and survey results...It was the C&R hogs out there on the lake whoopin it up, gratifying thier egos, thinking they were pros, selfishly squandering our precious resources, by catching bragging numbers of half starved fish. Real sporting, to top it off, they had the ignorant mind to continue to do this during the hottest part of the summer, when hooking mortality becomes an even bigger factor. Thanks to all you heros out there, you managed to kill and waste more fish than where consumed, good going!

[Guest]

Okay we got a few more, thanks Terry H for supplying some. What's Rainbow, a resort? or is there a Rainbow grocery store owned by the band or what?

How about the Subway attached to the Conoco?

The hotel between the Conoco and Kathio?

I don't know about these two (but I have a strong feeling about the subway). Can anyone shed some light?

Any other places that haven't been mentioned yet?

[Grabs]

OK this may be walking a thin line, but I was told from a valid source that Mcquoid's is owned by the tribe. Is this true or false? The do advertise on here and they gain a lot of business from this,..and like wise that money they pay in advertising goes into supporting the website.

Can someone confrim or deny this?

[From Rick]
Grabs: McQuoid's is owned by Terry and Dusty McQuoid.

Thanks Rick, I will inform my source that this is not the case!
------------------

[This message has been edited by Grabs (edited 08-20-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 08-21-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Grabs (edited 08-21-2002).]

[Terry Hagstrom]

To my knowledge the band owns, and you can correct me if I'm wrong:
Both Casinos, Roll-in lodge, Cash's old store across from what was Roll-in, Rainbow, the Conoco, A Bank or two in Onamia, Eddies, Izaties ( I beleive the hotel/condo part).
There are also a few more resorts I can't think of that they have purchased and closed down.
I have been told by a number of resort owners that they (the Band) make a milk run around the lake offering cash to the owners for their resort.
The Band is as much at fault for this latest demand in regards to closing the lake to fishing. Had they taken their full share there would have been 50,000 less pounds for the non angler to kill and waste thus reducing the mortality number for the non-indian.
Terry

[Fisher Dave]

We all know its a mess up at Millacs right now, we all agree upon this. I'm not going to go into detail or express any predjudice to any tribe, race, orginization, etc.

I'm not happy at all about the current regulations on Millacs lake, its hard for me to find a reason to fish the lake with so many ever changing, endless regulations ... I'm not even sure what you can keep anymore to be honest without referring to the regs... what keeps me dropping in once in a while is the excellent fishing as of recent.

I also dont agree with boycotting any company because of who owns it .. If it were due to service I would understand. I'm not sticking up for anyone here but i'm looking at this under another light which is being overlooked here. Is anyone stopping to think of how many jobs these business's are filling in this area? It is not only native americans that are filling them. The population is obviously growing quickly in that area and there are allot of people that have to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads. The traffic generated by the casino helps the economy for miles around... well off the reservation and lake Millacs. I dont agree where all the money goes that we pay into fishing and hunting licenses .. then again I dont agree with getting a paycheck at the end of the week and losing 25% to taxes off the top, then pay another 7% sales tax on everything we buy... not to mention to go spend the money to pay the sales tax we have to fill the gas tank ... at about $.60 tax per gallon of gas... face it guys, theres allot to complain about in this system .... I'm just happy one area of our state has a stronger economy than it had 15 years ago. Thats more people that we dont have to feed with our tax dollars because there are plenty of jobs out there to feed themselves ...

The fishing is good ... why dont we enjoy some of it and see what the future holds for this fishery. Mother nature has a way of taking care of itself, and I'm sure it will help with us putting mature fish back to help it along.

[mistermom]

The only business I'm boycotting are the casinos. And if the Band wanted to be more reasonable on safe harvest and allow the DNR some wiggle room, I MAYBE wouldn't even boycot those. There are only 3400 Band members so a lot of those jobs at Tribal owned businesses are held by non-band members. I don't think we want to hurt those folks (or any folks for that matter).

The casinos are the mothership. We need political leverage to threaten the casino monopoly. And hopefully that will move things in a more reasonable direction.

mistermom

[Guest]

Thanks for the clarification Terry, guess they went the same was as Secguchie resort eh?

As far as the boycott, It ain't about good or bad service; Heck it ain't even about who owns the business. IT'S ABOUT WHAT'S BEIN' DONE WITH THE MONEY GENERATED FROM THOSE BUSINESSES. And as long as the revenues from those businesses are being used to advance anything in direct conflict to my interests, then I'll do whatever I can legally do to help shut off that money supply. Just check out the "outdoor political power" forum "spend your $ wisely" thread. A bunch of us won't go to Red Roof Inns or Motel 6's because they use a good portion of their revenues to support a radical PETA-type anti-hunting / anti-fishing organization. Not the same owners as the Mille Lacs Casino, probably not even the same race. So again, it's not who they are or what race they are; It's what's being done with the revenues that is in direct conflict with our interests as outdoors sportsmen.

I'm expanding my corollary:
Ain't it just too coincidental how large amounts of Money, large amounts of Power and large amounts of Land are almost always intimately intertwined?

[This message has been edited by GEM EYE GUY (edited 08-21-2002).]

[Guest]

Ya the premier resort just north of Onamia was bought by the tribe. I find this a total bummer because I really like the Bentleys and I stayed there about once a year and love the place, but I won't stay there again.

At least the premier resort just north of Isle is owned by the family whose name is on the sign out by the highway. NOW JUST TO BE CLEAR, please understand this is MY PERSONAL FEELING ONLY and I'm NOT asking anyone else to even consider holding the same opinion but I won't stay there either since the owner called me and most of my buddies "meat hogs" right there in newspaper print.

The only place I know of to treat the wife and kids to an indoor pool is to go stay with the golfers at Izaties. Now before y'all go thinkin' I'm spoilt or sumpin', when I'm by myself or with buddies we are usually in tents at Kathio. If the wife and kids are with for two days and a night, any resort is fine, but when the kids have to spend more than one night a little something extra for them is a nice sanity saver. Ya the crowd at Izaties ain't exactly my peers, but at least it's still owned by Curt Carlson and I kinda respect the ol' guy. (There . . . whew . . . I finally said somethin' nice about someone and it felt pretty good)!

If anyone knows of any other place on the lake that's great for kids, has a pool and has family friendly and fisherman friendly ownership/management/staff, PLLLEEEEASE let me know. Is that askin' too much of a resorter? I dunno, but I'd gladly consider givin' them my lodging money when the family is with me for overnight fishin' trips on DA BIG POND.

[This message has been edited by GEM EYE GUY (edited 08-22-2002).]

[Guest]

Gem Eye Guy,

WATCH OUT..... Terry Hagstrom posted the hotel/lounge part of Izati's is owned by the tribe. Is this for sure Terry?

Good Luck,
Rusty

[Terry Hagstrom]

Roll-inn lodge and the Rainbow-Inn used to be resorts...used to be.
Terry

[Guest]

Okay,
Let's get this one back on track. If we re-read the first two lines of my first post, I'm not asking anyone to do anything except MAKE OUR OWN INFORMED DECISIONS. I'm not patronizing any band-owned businesses myself. I'd like everyone else to make up their own minds on which businesses they will support with their consumer dollar.

All I want is for the needed info to be available for those of us who want to avoid the band-owned businesses. So let's get back to which are and which aren't.

1. The Casinos
2. Eddy's
3. MLB Conoco
4. Cash's old store (Terry is this store still open?)

We still aren't sure about the Subway connected to the MLB Conoco, the Hotel on the west side of 169 between MLB Conoco and Eddy's, maybe part but not all of Izaty's.

I seem to remember reading in the Mille Lacs messenger last fall that the band was in negotiations to buy Izaty's but the deal fell through. So until I have clear evidence to the contrary, I'm going on the assumption that there isn't any band ownership at Izaty's.

Any answers on the Subway or the hotel on the west side of 169 (is it a Day's Inn?)

Any others that haven't been mentioned?

Thanks to Terry H and Vickie for their input, and yes Vickie if Prince's is open when I'm driving to DA POND and I need either bait or tackle that's where I stop and spend my money. By the way I highly respect the fact that they are closed on Sunday.

[Grabs]

The hotel is an EconoLodge, but I am not certain who owns it.

------------------

[This message has been edited by Grabs (edited 08-22-2002).]

[Cyberfish]

Ahhh, that explains why that subway is the only one I have seen that has Walleye Subs on the menu

[Guest]

We just need to hire better lawyers, I hate to say. Probly not local either, maybe from the NRA or some other lobbying group. You can bet the Tribes paid good money for some white lawyer who knew the "Political Correctness" of this whole issue. Isnt there a group out there who is supposed to be doing this? PERM or something?

[mistermom]

www.perm.org