Leaders Sworn into Minnesota Chippewa Tribe

VERMILION- On Friday at the Fortune Bay Resort Casino on the Bois Forte Reservation, leaders of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe gathered to swear in newly elected tribal officials at their regular quarterly meeting.

Stated in the press release, elections were held in April and June on each of the MCT member reservations and elected officials were sworn into their tribal offices in July.

TEC board members sworn in at Friday’s meeting included:

• Faron Jackson Sr., Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Chairman
• Cathy Chavers, Bois Forte Band Chairwoman
• Kevin R. Dupuis Sr., Fond Du Lac Band Chairman
• Norman W. Deschampe, Grand Portage Band Chairman
• Melanie Benjamin, Mille Lacs Band Chief Executive

Terry Tibbetts Sr., White Earth Band Chairman, was unable to attend Friday’s meeting and will be sworn in at an upcoming special meeting. Selection of the TEC officer positions was also postponed until that time. Current TEC officers will continue their job duties until the special meeting is convened.

The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (MCT) consists of the Bois Forte, Fond Du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, and White Earth reservations. The MCT was created in 1934 and formally recognized by the Secretary of the Interior in 1936. It serves as a centralized governing body for the six tribes, representing an estimated total population of 41,000 Ojibwe citizens.
The Tribal Executive Committee (TEC) is composed of the Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer from each of the six member bands. The TEC selects from within the group a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer for two-year terms. The remaining officials act as board members. The TEC holds four quarterly meetings each year.