A WARRIOR FOR INHERENT SOVEREIGNTY
On a bright sunny May morning, Mille Lacs Band Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin takes some time out of busy schedule to sit down with the Inaajimowin Editor.
By Vivian LaMoore, Inaajimowin Editor
Strong leadership is absolutely essential in order for Native American tribes to succeed and grow in a time when the world is facing increasing complexities and revolutionary changes ev erywhere around us. Each generation has faced and overcome challenges, and with each generation it seems the changes are accelerating at rates far above the generation before. For tribes to not only succeed, but to also thrive and rise above the status quo, it takes strong strategy-driven leadership with progress-driven teams and the ability to execute and implement solutions to the challenges to achieve success.
“Leadership isn’t something you choose. Leadership chooses you,” Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin said at the 2024 State of the Band Address. “I am really a good example of that,” she said recently. Benjamin explained that after she graduated from Bemidji State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, she began working for the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe with no intention of becoming a tribal leader. She was recruited by the late Arthur Gahbow to serve in the position of Commissioner of Administration, a role which she held between 1989 and 1997.
“[Benjamin] learned many administrative skills under the direction of Arthur Gahbow,” said Don Wedll, long-time advisor to the Band and former Mille Lacs Band Commissioner of the DNR. “This included how to make the Band government system; how to deal with Band members and employees; and how to deal with the political issues of the day. It was a busy time with many problems and limited resources to fund issues that needed to be addressed.”
After Gahbow’s passing, Marge Anderson became Chief Executive and Benjamin left her position as Commissioner of Administration after her term ended. In her time away from Band government, Benjamin took a highway construction job working on the resurfacing of State Highway 169. She started as a flagger and learned to run heavy equipment and operated a sheep foot roller. She also worked at the library.
At the request of Band Elders, Benjamin decided to run for the office of Chief Executive. She was first elected Chief Executive in 2000 with 67 percent of the primary vote. The MCT did not have the 50-plus-one provision in the election rule at the time. She then also won the general election. She was re-elected in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020. Benjamin has chosen to not seek another term and will walk away from her position as Chief Executive at the end of her term in July 2024.
Throughout her administration, the Mille Lacs Band has faced many challenges to its sovereignty, boundary, treaty rights, law enforcement, opioid crisis, and a world-wide pan demic, to name a few. Each challenge has been met head-on strategically with poise, precision, grace, and humility.
“In all of my years here, I never felt that I was the boss. I felt that the people are the boss and they gave me the mandate of what to do, and I did it. They wanted housing so we increased housing. They wanted scholarships so we created a scholar ship program.” [The original full scholarship funding program was later revised.]
Benjamin added that it is every Band member’s responsibility to know how the Band government is run. “The big gest message I want to send out for people to understand the division of power form of government is our government. We are the ones who created it. It is something we did. Each individual has a responsibility to protect this division of powers government and make sure they know how it works. It is their ancestors — such as Marge Anderson, Lenard Sam, Doug Sam, Art Gahbow — all of these people fought — tooth and nail — the other tribes, the local governments, and the federal government to make sure that this is our way of governance. Don’t ever take that for granted. If you don’t speak up, people will take that away.”
Through Benjamin’s administration, many programs and services were created and implemented that had never been before, Benjamin said. She touched on the success of the language preservation project lead by the Band that is now known world-wide. “That just doesn’t happen unless you have commitment and dedication of good people,” she said. The Mille Lacs Band is culturally strong and gaining momentum, she said. There is room for growth, but it is because of the efforts of the Elders past and present, “Marge Anderson, Batiste Sam, Dorothy Sam, Joyce Shingobe, Amik Smallwood, Jim Clark, and the second-speaker folks who believe in it to their core and share their knowledge of the language and culture and what it means. I am very proud of the Rosetta Stone project.”
She discussed the need for travel to attend national Indian country and federal agency meetings where decisions are be ing made on behalf of the Band and all of Indian Country. “It is foolish for Tribal leaders to not participate in those forums because you are taking away from the people by not being at the table. Our team advocates to provide the best services for the Band members.”
Band law solely authorizes the Chief Executive to conduct all external government relations with other governments, including exercising and protecting tribal sovereignty and self-governance to advance the priorities of the Band. The Chief Executive’s primary duties include advocating for and protecting the Band’s rights before state and federal agencies, including members of the U.S. Congress and the White House, the Governor and the State Legislature, and other regional, tribal, and international governments. Engaging in official government-to-government communication and consultation with other heads-of-state and federal agencies is a significant responsibility that directly impacts the Band’s ability to protect and promote the general welfare of our people today and for future generations. (See the full Chief Executive’s duties outlined in Band law at MLBSA Title 4, §6.)
During her administration, Benjamin was honored to have met with four U.S. Presidents (Presidents Clinton, Obama, Trump, and Biden) and has worked side-by-side with many state and national leaders.
“Melanie Benjamin is one of the most powerful Tribal lead ers and advocates in the country,” Senator Tina Smith said. “Her voice has made a difference in the lives of many people, including mine. I benefit every day from her friendship and part nership, and she has taught me so much. [Benjamin] will be missed as a Tribal leader, but I know she will continue to be a strong voice for Indian Country, and we are all better for that.”
“Chief Executive Benjamin is an incredible leader and changemaker,” Governor Tim Walz said. “I am grateful for all of the work we have accomplished together. She has spent more than 20 years leading the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and leaves behind an incredible legacy.”
“Chief Executive Benjamin has modeled servant leadership in Indian Country,” Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan said. “She is a role model for Indigenous youth across the nation and has led by example as a fierce Anishinaabekwe. I'm grateful for our friendship, and all the years we worked together.”
Benjamin has a style that is different from some leaders, she said. She believes in giving people chances and when she first meets a person, she believes the best in them, that they are good and do not have negative motives. “Until they prove me wrong,” she added. “I am the type where I get everything off my chest and let it go — especially in this office — And I apologize to anyone who kept it. I get it off my chest so it doesn’t weigh me down. The Elders always say everyone has a gift. I didn’t realize that is the way I am. Give everybody chances to be part of the solution and good things will happen.”
She added that laughter is her medicine. And her motto is “words matter.” She added that she learned through experience and emphasized that not only do words matter, but it is the tone and the delivery that matter as well.
Things she looks for in staff members and officials are honesty, integrity, kindness, compassion, being prepared, respectful, solution oriented, good listeners, and willing to look at a situation from other sides. She is also a proponent of education, adding that it is not always a degree in higher education she looks for, “Because there is also the school of hard knocks,” she added with a grin. “There are always people who know more than we do and we recognize that and learn to utilize all of the different gifts of each person to create a team that is balanced.” She added to that theme stating it is important to have both men and women to add balance to the staff and cabinet members.
Don Wedll served the Band in various capacities for over 30 years. Wedll recalled when Benjamin was first elected as Chief Executive; it was, “a change in the historical leadership of the Band, and a new generation of Band members moved ahead to build, improve, and protect the future of the Mille Lacs Band. This has always been the challenge of the leadership of the Mille Lacs peo ple. How do you serve the people, build their resources, and imple ment ideas for the future? The leaders need to understand how to use funding wisely and control spending so that the best benefit can be had so that a strong future can be preserved. That is the goal that each leader can judge their success against.”
Tadd Johnson has also worked for the Band for over three decades under the administration of several Chief Executives. “During [Benjamin’s] time as Chief, the Band was a leader in treaty rights, self-governance, language preservation, and eco nomic diversification. She will be remembered as a tough ne gotiator and skillful politician who was not afraid to advocate for Band issues at the highest level of the State and Federal governments. I remember Governor Dayton came into a meet ing one day and said, ‘What can I do for you?’ and [Benjamin] didn't miss a beat and said, ‘Put our Treaty boundaries back on the map!’ Eventually, the State did put us on the map as the Federal government had years before. She threaded the needle like no politician I ever worked for in DC, and she's leaving at the top of her game.”
Government Affairs Contract Lobbyist Richard Ginsberg of the Rotunda Group said he has had the privilege of represent ing the legislative interests of the Band for over 20 years. “The one constant which has defined the successes of the Band has been its strong leadership. The challenges and attacks on its sovereignty, culture, boundaries, treaty rights, law enforcement, and gaming have been many, but they have always been met with a swift, powerful, and successful response by the MLBO Government,” Gins berg said. “Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin has often been that voice. She’s recog nized as a leader with firm convictions who was willing to listen and accommodate when possible but who always defended and pro moted what was in the best interests of the MLBO. Her successes were many and varied. She takes her place with other MLBO Leaders as a respected, consequential difference maker.”
Having worked for and represented the Mille Lacs Band for nearly a quarter of a century, Benjamin will go down in his tory alongside many past significant fearless leaders such as Shobaushkung, Mou-zoo-mau-nee, Migizi, Art Gahbow, and Marge Anderson. Looking back on her successes, she said it is important to be grateful and humble, but celebrate success es also. Most will agree that the most historic moment of her tenure has been representing and fighting for the affirmation of the Non-Removable Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Reservation boundary of the 1855 treaty remains intact and was never dis established.
“I think my proudest moment has been securing the boundary of the Mille Lacs Band. To know that is secure for generations to come. And now it is up to people to protect that and take care of that. Everybody has a responsibility for that,” she said.
As her term ends in July, Melanie Benjamin believes in the further success of the Mille Lacs Band Reservation and the people of the Band. “The future is bright for everybody if they just take the opportunities that are in front of them.”
Those who have worked with her throught her years in of f ice say she leaves behind a legacy of being known as a warrior for inherent sovereignty. Benjamin said the citizens of the Mille Lacs Band are all warriors. “We have a legacy of resilience and strength, compassion, love, and the value system — we are those. We are in a cycle of the ones who will carry that forward. That is a huge responsibility, but it is also one of the biggest gifts that have been given to us. We are the protectors of that. Seek out the wisdom from the ones who speak the language. A lot of our culture cannot be translated into English. We have to live the values. Keep in mind our values are the same values of everybody in the world. But it is how we live the values that will ensure our success.”