Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch, also called the Band Assembly, is made up of three District Representatives and the Secretary-Treasurer, who is also the Speaker of the Band Assembly. The Legislative Branch passes laws, allocates revenue, ratifies appointments of commissioners and oversees the Office of Management and Budget. Band Assembly meets regularly at rotating locations around the districts.

Click here for Legislative Branch news.

Elected Officials

Sheldon Boyd

Secretary-Treasurer

Sheldon Boyd was elected Secretary-Treasurer in 2018. In this role he is the leader of the Legislative Branch that has the authority to enact laws that regulate the Band’s affairs, appropriate funding for Band programs and services, and serves as Speaker of the Mille Lacs Band Assembly. His priorities include transparency and inclusion of Band members in the legislative process.

Most recently he was the IT manager for the Band’s Department of Health and Human Services. He formerly served the Band as Commissioner of Administration, who is the chief of staff to the Chief Executive. He considers his Ojibwe culture and spirituality the most defining parts of his life, and since 1985 he has been a drum member, serving as a pipe carrier.

The son of the late Grace and Raining Boyd, Sheldon split his childhood between the Mille Lacs Reservation and Minneapolis, graduated from Minneapolis South High School and Northwestern Electronics, and attended the University of Minnesota Duluth. He has four children and four grandchildren who inspire him to make decisions that consider the coming generations. He also is a health and fitness enthusiast who enjoys running.

Virgil Wind

District I Representative

Virgil Wind is the newest member of Band Assembly and was elected to serve as District I representative in 2020. Wind grew up in District I of the Mille Lacs Reservation, where he was raised by his grandparents, the late Sonny and Dorothy Wind.

Wind is known as a collaborative leader who is committed to getting things done for the betterment of Band members. “I’m going in knowing that my personal feelings and biases really don’t count at all compared to the needs of 4,800 Band members who want to leave a better world for our future generations. If we take a collaborative approach mentality and maintain the willingness to have hard conversations as a team and as a family, we will be worlds ahead of where we are today.”

In addition to his service to the Band, Wind is an active community volunteer, serving as chairman of the Onamia Public School Board, and a member of the local Indian parent committee. He also volunteers in support of youth sports and for his children’s activities. Wind enjoys participating in cultural activities, playing volleyball, and spending time with his fiancé Nicole and his five kids, Dionne, Keenan, Josh, Jakob, and Emma.

Prior to joining Band Assembly Wind was an entrepreneur and business owner, operating an independent contracting business for the past 27 years.

Marvin Ray Bruneau

District II Representative

Marvin Bruneau is a lifelong resident of District II on the Mille Lacs Reservation.  He is the father of three daughters, Erin, Amanda, and Amber. He graduated from McGregor High School and attended the College of St. Scholastica.

Bruneau served as the Mille Lacs Band’s District II Representative from 1990 to 2014, and was re-elected in 2018. He has also served the Band as a member of the Housing Authority Board of Directors, a Community Health Representative, and a Drum Society member. In addition, Bruneau has been an Emergency Medical Technician and a factory worker in the McGregor area.

He enjoys fishing, reading, and spending time with his family. He looks forward to coming back to serve as a member of Band Assembly and making positive changes for the tribe.

Wallace St. John Sr.

District III Representative

Wallace St. John Sr. was elected District III Representative in 2018. He has worked for the Mille Lacs Band government and resided in District III of the Mille Lacs Reservation since 1999. District III includes the Aazhoomog (Lake Lena) community near the St. Croix River east of Hinckley, as well as a large community of Band members living in Hinckley.

Most recently, St. John worked in land maintenance and wildland for the Band’s Department of Natural Resources for seven years. Previously he held housing and public works positions for the Band, at Black Bear Casino as a blackjack dealer and shift supervisor, and in public works for the Fond du Lac Band. His volunteer service includes 10 years on the Nay Ah Shing School Board and 11 years on the Mille Lacs Band Boxing Commission.

St. John is the proud father of six children and twelve grandchildren. He is a graduate of Flandreau Indian School, where he was active in student government. He intends to integrate the Ojibwe cultural values of peace, harmony and balance with nature into his work for the community.

Legislative Departments

Office of Management and Budget

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) strives to serve all Mille Lacs Band Members and Government Associates in a professional, courteous manner. Our goal is to provide accurate, efficient financial services while respecting our customers and co-workers, always with an emphasis on teamwork.

The Office of Management and Budget is led by the Commissioner of Finance. The Commissioner of Finance is Mel Towle.

For more on OMB, click here.

Department of Motor Vehicles

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which registers vehicles, boats, ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and trailers.

DMV OFFICE HOURS:

Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Lunch Breaks: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. (M-F)
FOR REGISTERING A VEHICLE/BOAT/ATV/SNOWMOBILE/MOTORCYCLE OR TRAILER, IT IS REQUIRED TO BRING:

  1. A BILL OF SALE
  2. STATE TITLE
  3. CURRENT INSURANCE
  4. CURRENT TRIBAL ID

There is a 5% Mille Lacs Band Tax, on the purchase price of the vehicle, before transferring or purchasing Band Plates.

Mille Lacs Band Plates are only dispersed to Band Members that reside within the boundaries of the Mille Lacs Reservation and Service Areas, or for Governmental Departments.

Mille Lacs Band License Plates are to remain with the Band Member or Department (if the vehicle is sold or transferred) the license plate will become null and void if you relocate out of the boundaries of the Mille Lacs Reservation or Service Areas.

Personalized plate fee $50.00

Any questions you contact Deanna Sam at 320-532-7498.

Fax number is: 320-532-7805

Email: mlb.dmv@millelacsband.com

Legislative Staff

Brianna Boyd
Legislative Affairs Director
320-532-7536

Valerie Harrington
Chief Communications Officer
320-532-8918

Adam Candler
Legislative Counsel
320.532.7421

Semira Kimpson
Legislative Office Coordinator
320-532-7422

Darcie BigBear
Parliamentarian/Clerk of the Assembly
320-532-7420

Deanna Sam
Deputy Registrar
320-532-7498

Darla Roache
District I Office Manager
320-532-7423

Hanna Valento
Legislative Staff Attorney
320-532-7435

Joseph Jensen
Legislative Staff Attorney
320-532-7435

Kiana Morrison
Assistant Band Assembly Clerk
320-532-2006

Contact Information

Mille Lacs Band Government Center
43408, Oodena Drive
Onamia, MN 56359
Phone: 320-532-4181

District I (Mille Lacs) Community Center
43500 Virgo Road
Onamia, MN 56359
Phone: 320-532-4181
Fax: 320-532-7581

District IIA (Isle) Community Center
2605 Chiminising Drive
Isle, MN 56342
Phone: 320-676-1102
Fax: 320-676-3432

District II (East Lake) Community Center
HCR 2, Box 58
McGregor, MN 55760
Phone: 218-768-3311
Fax: 218-768-3903

District III Aazhoomog Community Center
45749 Grace Lake Road
Sandstone, MN 55072
Phone: 320-384-6240
Fax: 320-384-6190

Band Statutes

Certificates of Correctness

Secretarial Orders

Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Constitution

The Mille Lacs Band is a federally recognized, sovereign constituent band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. At the core of tribal sovereignty is the power to make and enforce laws within tribal jurisdiction. Accordingly, the Band has statutes and ordinances that define its laws and the authority of each branch of government.

Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Constitution and Bylaws

Read more about the MCT Constitution and Bylaws, including Ordinances and Interpretations, at the MCT Website.