Mille Lacs Band Swears In Chief Executive and Leaders

New leaders were sworn in to Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Tuesday in a ceremony.

Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin, District I Representative Sandra Blake and Nay Ah Shing School Board members Kimberly Kegg and Semira Kimpson were sworn in to their respective offices at the Mille Lacs Band District I Community Center.

As Mille Lacs’ 5th executive, Benjamin will lead for four years, 2016 to 2020.

In her inaugural speech, Benjamin is optimistic for the future of the reservation and its members. In her final remarks, she said, “If we do things right, our people will be speaking our language, practicing our traditions and putting on powwows like we are today. Today, we are here together, the sun is shining, and Now is our time. Let’s live, and eat, and dance, and sing, and celebrate our survival and our future!”

For the full text of Benjamin’s address: bit.ly/29wtmPI

Photo credit: Melanie Benjamin via Facebook