PAGC Hears Rags-To-Riches Story From Mississippi
Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 09:19
Over 200 chiefs and delegates crowded into a hotel boardroom in Prince Albert yesterday to hear a presentation from a member of America’s richest native band.
Charlie Benn spoke on the opening day of the Prince Albert Grand Council’s economic development conference.
Benn says it was around 25 years ago that the Mississippi Choctaw Band first began its track into financial independence.
He says the band was in deep poverty when its chief and council decided to write 500 letters to companies in their area about employment opportunities.
They only got one response.
A company named Packard Electric said it was looking for someone to help it build wire harnesses.
Benn says they took the contract, even though it paid minimum wage.
After that, Benn says the band got into more economic ventures, adult education classes and, eventually, gaming.
Today, the Choctaw band has a payroll of $173 million and is Mississippi’s third-largest employer.
Benn says the future is finally looking bright.
His advice to bands is don’t be afraid to take chances.