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The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa elected a new chairperson earlier this week as voters from across the six member nations of 

Minnesota Chippewa Tribe went to the polls

Fond du Lac voters chose Bruce Savage to lead the tribal nation over incumbent Kevin DuPuis, Sr. DuPuis led the Fond du Lac Band for the past eight years. 

Savage, who will take office in July, will lead during a moment when the band is expanding its economic footprint on its lands. 

In late May, the Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation 

 to the Fond du Lac Band for a start-up cannabis business on the reservation located southwest of Duluth. The band is also undertaking a 

 in the Duluth-Superior harbor after a decades-long fight to have the land returned.  

Fond du Lac Band voters also elected incumbent Wayne Dupuis to the tribe’s District 1 committeeperson and Earl Otis to the District 3 committeeperson office. 

Each member nation of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe is governed by a reservation business committee. Elected officials from each of the member nations elect an executive committee from their own ranks. 

Incumbent candidates at Bois Fort Band of Chippewa, a tribal nation north of Ely, edged out challengers to keep their seats — incumbent chairperson Cathy Chavers over challenger Hannah Lehti-Chosa by six votes. Perry Drift won by the same margin in the race for District 1 representative.  

Leech Lake Band voters re-elected Incumbent Faron Jackson, Sr. over challenger Gerald White. Leon Staples, Jr. won the race for Leech Lake District 3 representative. The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is east of Bemidji in northern Minnesota. 

White Earth Nation voters returned chairperson Michael Fairbanks to office for another term. Laura Lee Erickson was elected District 3 committeeperson over the incumbent Cheryl “Annie” Jackson. White Earth Nation is just south of Detroit Lakes.  

Chairperson of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Robert Deschampe ran unopposed and will remain in office. Incumbent Marie Spry won reelection for Grand Portage committeeperson. The Grand Portage Band shares a geography with the far northeast part of the state. 

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe voters elected Carolyn Beaulieu to the band’s District I office.  

Mille Lacs Band voters had earlier elected Virgil Wind

 as the band’s chief executive after Wind had earned more than 50 percent of the primary vote held in early April.  

Election winners will assume office July 8.

Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 

Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 

Correction (June 15, 2024): This article incorrectly stated the winner of District 1 committee person for Fond du Lac Band. The article has been updated, and percentages of vote counts have also been updated.

Correction (June 16, 2024): A previous version had an incorrect first name for a candidate in the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa elections. The story is updated.

Correction (June 18, 2024): A previous version of this story incorrectly identified a candidate as an incumbent. This has been updated.

Melissa Olson

Author

Several band’s incumbent candidates were reelected, while the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa will have a change in leadership come July with a newly elected chairperson.

Minnesota Chippewa Tribe general elections have concluded, new chairperson to lead Fond du Lac Band

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