Mille Lacs Band elects new chief executive and more tribal election results

The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has elected a new chief executive, according to official results from the Tuesday, April 2, tribal primary elections.

Virgil Wind earned 67% of the vote in the race, with Samuel Moose coming in second place among three candidates.

Wind is the current District 1 representative on the Band Assembly. Because he earned more than 50% of the vote in the primary election, Wind is the winning candidate and will not need to move on to a general election.

Current Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin announced earlier this year she would not seek reelection for a seventh term.

Valerie Sam-Harrington and Carolyn Beaulieu were the top two vote-getters to replace Wind in District 1.

Thousands of members of Minnesota Chippewa Tribes cast ballots, including in Leech Lake, White Earth, Bois Forte, Fond du Lac and Grand Portage.

Incumbents who ran again for chairperson in Tuesday’s races will be moving on. All were the top vote-getters but failed to garner more than 50%.

This includes White Earth Chairman Michael Fairbanks, who will face Eugene “Umsy” Tibbetts; Leech Lake Chairman Faron Jackson Sr., facing Gerald White; Fond du Lac Chair Kevin Dupuis Sr., against Bruce Savage; and Bois Forte Chair Catherine Shavers, facing a challenge from Hannah Lehti-Chosa.

Next up is the June 11 general election.

More from KAXE

MN holds off on a bill prohibiting Medicaid coverage for weight loss drugs

Thirteen states, including Minnesota, cover weight loss medications for obesity treatments through Medicaid, according to Kaiser's 2025 Medicaid budget survey.

Flagship 'No Kings' protest draws thousands to St. Paul

Organizers of the event estimated that as many as 200,000 people gathered, making it the largest protest in Minnesota history.

Lawmakers discuss changes to natural burials, mortuary science requirements

A flaw in last year’s language allowed organic reduction facilities to hold a non-enbalmed body for only 24 hours, which makes it hard for them to offer the reduction service.

Self-driving car regulations stall in Minnesota House committee

The bill would establish an advisory board to study the impacts of autonomous vehicles, create a state permitting process and require a human operator while policy is still developing.

Minnesota Senate committee aims to help small businesses impacted by ICE surge

Businesses with fewer than 50 employees that operate a physical location, including licensed home businesses and small farms, would be eligible for aid.

Boys basketball: Pequot Lakes 3rd, Red Lake County 4th at state

The Patriots beat conference rivals Albany in the third-place game, and the Rebels lost to Henning to finish fourth.

Burning restrictions in place for central, NW and NE Minnesota

While spring burning restrictions are in place, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will not issue open burning permits for yard waste.

Evacuation lifted, 'soft closure' in place after train derails near Warroad

The Roseau County Sheriff's Office reported it conducted a precautionary evacuation to the Patch Motel in Warroad.

Head-on crash in Park Rapids kills drivers, seriously injures child

The Minnesota State Patrol reported alcohol was suspected to be a factor in the crash.

Study provides greater detail on Northern Minnesota's housing needs

Greater Minnesota Housing Fund's Nate Dorr discusses the next steps after a Beltrami County-specific housing study shows high demand for new housing builds across all categories.

Election results

Bois Forte Band of Chippewa

Chairperson

• Catherine Chavers (incumbent) — 157 votes, 41%.
• Hannah Lehti-Chosa — 125, 32%.
• Brian L. Whiteman Sr. — 74, 19%.
• Carlos Hernandez — 31, 8%.
  

District 1 Representative

• Perry L. Drift — 78 votes, 32%.
• Edward Villebrun — 55, 22%.
• William G. Isham — 47, 19%.
• Robbie Goggleye — 41, 17%.
• David H. Villebrun Jr. — 24, 10%.

Source: Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Facebook post.

Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

Chairperson

• Kevin R. DuPuis Sr. (incumbent) — 302 votes, 41.43%.
• Bruce M. Savage — 281, 38.55%.
• James Roy Blacketter Jr. — 74, 10.15%.
• Victoria A. Smith — 51, 7%.
• John A. McMillen — 21, 2.88%.

District 1 Committeeperson

• Wally Dupuis (incumbent) — 215 votes, 47.88%.
• Michelle Debolt — 84 votes, 18.71%.
• Kami Diver — 66, 14.7%.
• Valerie A. Whitebird — 53, 11.8%.
• Juanita "Nucka" Anderson — 22, 4.9%.
• David Petite Jr. — 9, 2%.

District 3 Committeeperson

• Roger M. Smith Sr. (incumbent) — 50 votes, 32.47%.
• Earl Otis — 45 votes, 29.22%.
• Bryan "Bear" Bosto — 41, 26.62%.
• Dawn M. LaPrairie — 15, 9.74%.
• Debra Johnson-Fuller — 3, 1.95%.

Source: Fond du Lac Band Facebook post.

Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

Results unavailable.

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe

Chairman

• Faron Jackson Sr. (incumbent) — 580 votes, 36.87%.
• Gerald White — 297, 18.88%.
• Terri Finn-Goggleye — 240, 15.26%.
• Michael Reyes — 156, 9.92%.
• Walter "Frank" Reese — 139, 8.84%.
• Dawn Litzau-Staples — 68, 4.32%.
• Branden Bowstring — 64 votes, 4.07%.
• Tami Jackson — 12, 0.76%.
• Calvin Howard — 9, 0.57%.
• Raymond "Skip" Lyons — 8, 0.51%.

District 3 Representative

• Leon Staples Jr. — 270 votes, 25%.
• Glen "Tuffy" Fisher — 203, 18.8%.
• Donald "Mick" Finn — 152, 14.07%.
• Jennie Reyes — 102, 9.44%.
• Kari Fisherman — 100, 9.26%.
• Delmar Jones III — 80, 7.41%.
• Kyle Fairbanks Sr. — 78, 7.22%.
• Hershel Ogema — 28, 2.59%.
• Thomas Brown — 19, 1.76%.
• Julian Molash — 16, 1.48%.
• Diane Osceola — 14, 1.3%.
• Peter "Big Pete" Jackson — 11, 1.3%.
• John Johnson — 7, 0.65%.

Source: Leech Lake News.

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe

Chief Executive

• Virgil Otis Wind — 667 votes, 67.44%.
• Samuel Archie Moose — 303, 30.64%.
• Wallace Ervin St. John Sr. — 19, 1.92%.

District 1 Representative

• Valerie Charissa Sam-Harrington — 179 votes, 28.32%.
• Carolyn Marie Beaulieu — 176, 27.85%.
• Curtis Leroy Kalk — 94, 14.87%.
• Megan Ann Ballinger — 68, 10.76%.
• Melissa Marie Boyd — 68, 10.76%.
• Billie Jo Boyd — 47, 7.44%.

Source: Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Facebook post.

White Earth Nation

• Michael A. Fairbanks (incumbent) — 658 votes, 46.21%.
• Eugene "Umsy" Tibbetts — 605, 42.49%.
• Donovan G. Burnette — 140, 9.83%.
• Karen Marie Manypenny — 21, 1.47%.

Source: White Earth Nation Facebook post.