New Solicitor Sworn In

Caleb Dogeagle was sworn in on Wednesday, May 1, as Mille Lacs Band Solicitor General. Associate Justice Ramona Applegate of the Court of Appeals administered the oath of office: "I, Caleb Dogeagle, do hereby swear that I will support, honor and respect the Constitution of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and the laws of the Non-Removable Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians, and I will protect the rights of Band members and others under the jurisdiction of the Non-Removable Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office to the best of my judgment and ability so help me gi chi ma ni do."

A full house in the Band Assembly chambers in District I attended the ceremony and congratulated Caleb, who was joined by his wife Alyssa, children River and Stella, and Alyssa’s mother.

Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin welcomed Caleb and his family. Caleb thanked his family and those in attendance. “We’re really excited to be in this area and excited for this position. I’m very thankful to be here. It was a very warm and heartfelt welcome this morning, which I really appreciate. It makes me feel good about coming here,“ said Caleb. “Folks I talk to in Indian Country say the Band really treats their people well.“

Caleb is an enrolled citizen of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and previously served as Supervising Attorney for the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Montana State University and a JD and LLM from the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program at the University of Arizona. Before law school, he attended the Pre-Law Summer Institute through the American Indian Graduate Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

In accordance with Mille Lacs Band Statutes, the Solicitor General is nominated by the Chief Executive and ratified by the Band Assembly and has the following responsibilities, obligations and authority:

(a) To represent the interests of the Non-Removable Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians in all legal proceedings in the Court of Central Jurisdiction and all other exterior courts of competent jurisdiction.

(b) To independently uphold the laws and executive, legislative, secretarial and commissioner’s orders, judicial determinations, policies and the terms of domestic assistance grants and contracts of the Band when consistent with the Constitution of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and the laws of the Non-Removable Mille Lacs Bands of Chippewa Indians.

(c) To initiate and defend any legal action necessary, that is or can be brought in or against the name of the Non-Removable Mille Lacs Bands of Chippewa Indians, to uphold the provisions of the Constitution of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and the laws of the Band or to protect the rights of the enrolled members of the Band.

(d) To interpret all laws and executive, legislative, secretarial and commissioner’s orders and policies on behalf of the Non-Removable Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians.

(e) To aid in drafting public bills, resolutions, orders, policies or amendments thereto on the request of the Chief Executive, Speaker of the Assembly or the Chief Justice. To certify to the ordinances of Band government and codify said ordinances into Band Statutes.

(f) To advise and assist the Chief Executive, the Band Assembly or the Court of Central Jurisdiction in the achievement of a clear, faithful, and coherent expression of the laws and policies of the Non-Removable Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians as prescribed by the standards of the office of Solicitor General in 4 MLBSA § 19.