MAHNOMEN — Hundreds gathered at the Shooting Star Event Center in Mahnomen to celebrate the second term of White Earth Tribal Chairman Michael Fairbanks as well as the first term of the newly elected District 3 representative Laura Lee Erickson.
In his speech on Tuesday, Aug. 6, Fairbanks emphasized his role in carrying the baton from White Earth’s past leaders for a way forward, including past councils’ work to grow the White Earth cannabis division.
The public-facing business, Waabigwan Mashkiki, or "medicine flower," has brought 50 jobs to the tribe, according to Fairbanks.
"That medicine can help all of us and our people," Fairbanks said. "And all people across Turtle Island, it has been helping people.
“We took the initiative to move forward and take the steps to invest in our company.”
Looking ahead, Fairbanks also highlighted priorities for the White Earth State Forest and the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge.
State Sen. Mary Kunesh, DFL-New Brighton, introduced a bill last session to transfer the White Earth State Forest to tribal management, and the White Earth Nation recently celebrated a new agreement for co-stewardship of the Tamarac Refuge.
While White Earth is the largest reservation in the state, a much smaller percentage of its lands remain in trust, or in tribal hands.
"It's just going to continue this next year — we're going to go back down there again. I'm gonna be down there every week, lobbying for our land back,” Fairbanks said to a resounding cheer.
Serving her first term, Erickson brings decades of tribal government experience to her new role. She most recently served as government relations specialist, where she advocated for the tribe with the state and federal government.
She had positive comments on working with the Gov. Tim Walz-Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan administration, and said she hopeful for what Harris-Walz in the White House could mean for Minnesota. White Earth band member Flanagan is next in line for the governor’s desk, if Walz resigns to serve as vice president of the United States
“You know, the lieutenant governor, she's a strong ikwe,” Erickson said, using the Ojibwe word for woman. “She's smart. She has always supported tribes, but not just tribes, all races. You know, her voice carries a long way and she has a strong impact on people.”
Tribal elections for Minnesota Chippewa Tribes follow a different schedule than local, state and federal. Primaries occurred in April, with the general election on June 11.
