The first Northern Minnesota Economic Development Summit and Trade Show kicked off Wednesday on the White Earth Ojibwe Reservation.

The two-day summit is sponsored by the White Earth Band, the Leech Lake Band and the Red Lake Nation. About 400 people are attending.

Dave Anderson, the founder of the Famous Dave's restaurant chain and the former head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, spoke yesterday. "Our elders would be in shock if they found out we were teaching our kids how to make moccasins and not how to look at computers to look at our family�s investment portfolio,� he said, The Fargo Forum reported.

Former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell and National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Stevens are scheduled to speak today.

Get the Story:
Three nations (The Grand Forks Herald 11/30)
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Tribal heads hold summit (The Fargo Forum 11/30)
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Northern tribes rally to boost economy (Minnesota Public Radio 11/30)

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