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

Comments on proposed year-round bass season close Thursday

Currently closed periods would be open for catch-and-release for largemouth and smallmouth bass, creating a continuous, year-round season.

MnDOT to host 2 open houses for Bemidji main corridor project

Between MnDOT and the city of Bemidji, six roundabouts are planned for construction between 2025 and 2027 on Highway 197 and its access roads.

Arrowhead Regional Development Commission welcomes climate resiliency fellow

Ann Seigfreid's work will focus on energy sovereignty for the Bois Forte and Fond du Lac bands.

New data on MN's free tuition program elicits positive feedback

Minnesota officials say in its first year, the state's North Star Promise program provided more than $100 million in tuition aid to low-income families.

MN Power, Great River Energy break ground on Northland Reliability Project

The 180-mile electrical transmission line from Grand Rapids to St. Cloud will reportedly boost grid reliability and resilience in Northern and central Minnesota.

Rural Nashwauk woman sentenced in voter fraud case; Bemidji chamber hosts federal disaster loan roundtable

And: Arrowhead Regional Development Commission hosts a Coastal and Climate Resilience Fellow; and girls soccer and tennis state tourneys start Tuesday.

Bemidji State Beavers celebrate 30 years of splashing victories

The Bemidji State victory over Northern State University on Oct. 4, 2025, marked 30 years of a unique tradition for the "University in the Pines."

Rock Ridge, Thief River Falls qualify for 2025 state tennis tourney

Student-athletes from Wadena-Deer Creek, Pequot Lakes, Staples-Motley, Crosby-Ironton, Rock Ridge, Thief River Falls and East Grand Forks will compete in singles and doubles.

Bemidji chamber hosts roundtable discussion on federal disaster loans

The Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce hosted an official from the Small Business Administration to discuss financing the long recovery from the June 21, 2025, storms.

Rural Nashwauk woman sentenced after pleading guilty to voter fraud

Danielle Javorina, formerly Miller, was sentenced to three years probation on Oct. 15, 2025. She was charged with absentee voter fraud after voting on her dead mother's behalf.

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.