Constitutional Convention Information
Ten delegates chosen from four Mille Lacs Band communities (Districts I, II, IIa, and III) and the urban area are attending the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (MCT) Constitutional Convention meetings.
The Constitutional Convention was authorized by the MCT's Tribal Executive Committee after preliminary meetings held in 2017 and 2018 on all six reservations and in the urban area.
The Mille Lacs delegates are encouraging their fellow Band members to learn about the MCT Constitution and share their ideas or opinions about possible changes to be made or proposals that will come out of future meetings.
This page provides background information about the constitutional conventions and the MCT Constitution. Please use the links below to read the Constitution and other materials.
Delegates
District I: Curt Kalk and Danielle Smith
District II: Tom Benjamin and Michael Davis
District: IIa: Michele Palomaki and Todd Sam
District III: Maria Costello and Birdie Roberts
Urban area: Al Olson and Dawne Stewart
Background
In 2017, the Tribal Executive Committee (TEC) of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (MCT) scheduled meetings to be held on the six member reservations and in the urban area to gather input from MCT members about the need for a constitutional convention to consider changes to the MCT Constitution.
Preliminary meetings were held in 2017 and early 2018 on all six MCT reservations and in the Twin Cities. The first was held in August 2017 at Grand Casino Mille Lacs.
Six of the seven meetings were facilitated by the Native Nations Institute (NNI) of the University of Arizona with support from the Native Governance Center (NGC).
A total of 398 individuals attended the six sessions facilitated by NNI. Reports on the meetings and a final summary were prepared by NNI and NGC and are available on the MCT website at mnchippewatribe.org/constitution_convention.html.
The constitutional convention was called to address several issues and questions raised by TEC members and other MCT members who have spoken up in recent years.
The current Constitution was adopted by members of the six MCT Bands as part of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.
Links
For more information on the MCT and the Constitution, see the documents and links below. Check back to this page for updates on the Constitutional Convention process.
1963 Revised Constitution and Bylaws
1938 MCT Corporate Charter
48 Stat. 984 — The Indian Reorganization Act
1936 MCT Constitution
For more information on the MCT Constitution, Ordinances and Interpretations, see the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe website.
The MCT Tribal Government Student Handbook has a wealth of information about the history of tribal government and the MCT. To download the Handbook, click on the following:
Index
Chapter 1 — Traditional Chippewa Tribal Government
Chapter 2 — Chippewa Treaties
Chapter 3 — The Indian Reorganization Act
Chapter 4 — Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Structure and Powers
Chapter 5 — Federal Legislation and Policy
Chapter 6 — Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Programs and Services
More coverage of MCT Constitutional Conventions
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Will Hold Constitutional Convention
Meetings Prepare Band Members for Constitutional Convention
Wide-ranging Discussion at First MCT Constitutional Convention Meetings