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Minnesota Chippewa Tribe voters head to the polls Tuesday to elect leadership across the six member nations. The MCT consists of six reservation business committees from the seven Ojibwe tribes sharing geography with Minnesota. 

Voters will have the opportunity to elect several offices, depending on the tribe. Tribal leaders make decisions on topics related to regional and state politics, including cannabis dispensaries and grow facilities and the restoration of tribal lands. 

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe was among the most recent MCT member nations to open a dispensary. Tribes in Minnesota are among the first to open dispensaries across the state. 

cannabis dispensary opens in Minnesota, closest to Twin Cities

 A provision in an environment and natural resources bill passed during the most recent state legislative session will return the title to 18 acres of land to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. The band had sought for several decades to have the land returned. 

Each member tribe, except the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, will elect a chairperson Tuesday. The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe elected their new chairperson in April, after Virgil Wind won the three-person primary race with over 67 percent of the vote. Wind won the election under an MCT provision which holds that a candidate who receives more than 50 percent of the vote in primary wins the race. MCT primaries took place in early this past April.  

for Mille Lacs Band decided in Minnesota Chippewa Tribe primaries

The Grand Portage Band’s chairperson is running unopposed.  

In addition to the chairperson, voters from several of MCT member nations will also elect candidates to district representatives and committeeperson offices. 

Results will be certified later this week and published by the MCT’s General Reservation Election Board. 

Polls are open until 8pm at various sites both on and off 

The following are the winners of MCT primary races. Incumbent candidates have “(I)” designation. 

Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 

Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 

Election winners will assume office in July. 

Melissa Olson

Author

Minnesota Chippewa Tribe voters head to the polls Tuesday to elect leadership across the six member nations. Tribal leaders consider issues related to regional and state politics, including cannabis dispensaries and grow facilities and the restoration of tribal lands. 

Minnesota Chippewa Tribe voters head to the polls to determine next phase of leadership

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