Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe's "Moccasin Telegraph" and "Perspectives" columns

Project description
Ojibwe people sometimes say they've heard something through the "Moccasin Telegraph" – the Ojibwe equivalent to the grapevine. To help share stories about Ojibwe history and culture with the community, Mille Lacs Band members submit "Moccasin Telegraph" columns to the local newspaper. The success of the "Moccasin Telegraph" has led to the development of another series of columns by Band youth and young adults, known as "Perspectives: The Band's Next Generation."

Why they came to Goff & Howard
Although the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has called the Mille Lacs Lake area home for hundreds of years, many local non-Indian residents knew little about their neighbors. The Band enlisted Goff & Howard's help to interview Band members and assist them with their newspaper columns.

How we have assisted them
Goff & Howard personally interviews participating Band members to gather information about their families, upbringings, and connections to their Ojibwe heritage.

Results
"Moccasin Telegraph" and "Perspectives" interviews are the source of regular columns in the Mille Lacs Messenger and are an enduring source of oral history for generations to come.

Polaris Industries Legislative Briefing Book

Project description
As a leading manufacturer of snowmobiles, ATVs, and other recreational products, Polaris needs to be current on laws governing its industry and products. The only way to remain current is through research.

Why they came to Goff & Howard
Laws governing ATV and snowmobile use are different in every U.S. state and Canadian province. Polaris turned to Goff & Howard to research these laws because of our experience and familiarity with research tools, and because it was a natural extension of the lobbying work we have done for Polaris for many years.

How we have assisted them
We have helped Polaris research ATV and snowmobile laws all across the United States and Canada related to machine specifications, age and number of riders on a single machine, and other restrictions.

Results
Our research findings database has provided Polaris with an easy-to-use and easy-to-update reference tool, and we have helped the company determine which states and issues to focus its attention on.

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe's Communications Survey

Project description
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe wanted to survey its members to measure the success of its current communications methods and explore new tools of communication.

Why they came to Goff & Howard
The tribal government turned to Goff & Howard to help develop and conduct the survey and to provide analysis and recommendations based on the response.

How we have assisted them
We developed a survey that effectively measured Band members' communication habits and preferences, including Internet and social media usage. We also gathered feedback on how the Band could improve its current communications methods, namely its newspaper and Web site. We surveyed Band members using both a paper and online version to reach a diverse audience ranging in age from18 to 85.

Results
The Mille Lacs Band received a strong response from the survey, which yielded many significant findings. The results have provided a solid basis from which the Band can make well-informed communications decisions. Additionally, modifications have been made to the Band's communications tools to reflect Band member input.

"Goff & Howard's quick and accurate research and recommendations have helped us transform our communications methods and allow us to better communicate with our members."

John Dunkley, Mille Lacs Band Commissioner of Administration