BAND ASSEMBLY PASSES RESOLUTION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT POWERS AND AUTHORITIES

Minnesota Statute 626.90 and 616.93

By VALERIE HARRINGTON-WIND, DIBIKWE, CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

The Band Assembly recently approved Resolution 20-03-23-23 which is a resolution accepting and meeting the requirements for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe to have law enforcement powers and authorities specified in Minnesota Statute Sections 626.90 and 626.93.

The bill is sponsored by District II Representative Wendy Merrill and is available for public review on the Mille Lacs Band Tribal Register. The resolution was discussed at the Band Assembly meeting on Thursday, June 1, 2021, at 4 p.m.

“This ensures that law enforcement will continue to serve our communities,” Solicitor General Caleb Dogeagle said. “With the change in state law through the amendment of sections 626.90 and 626.93, this ensures that the Band meets the requirements to exercise state law enforcement authority even in the absence of a cooperative agreement with local county sheriffs.”

This resolution furthers the Band’s sovereignty by ensuring that our law enforcement officers are fully able to enforce our laws on our territory. Dogeagle, Chief of Police James West, along with Marc Slonim and Beth Baldwin of Ziontz Chestnut, provided valuable testimony in support of the resolution, which is available on the live-streaming page of the Band’s website.