Melanie Benjamin (Ojibwe leader)

Melanie Benjamin
Occupation(s)	Chief executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Website	millelacsband.com/government/chief-executive

Melanie Benjamin is chief executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, a sovereign, federally-recognized American Indian tribal government in the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation in east-central Minnesota, USA.[1]

Biography

Benjamin was originally elected chief executive of the band in 2000, and re-elected in 2004 and 2008.[2] In October 2008, shortly after the start of her third term, she was removed from office following accusations of misappropriation of tribal funds.[3] She was again elected chief executive in 2012[4] and in 2016.[5] In 2020, Benjamin was again re-elected by the citizens of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe to her sixth consecutive four-year term.[6] In 2018, Benjamin addressed the Band's opioid crisis and provided harsh comments to traditionally Band-supportive groups on their lack of assistance to the Tribe.[7] In January 2024, Benjamin announced that she would not seek a seventh term in office.[8]

Preceded by Marge Anderson	Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe 2012–present	Incumbent
Preceded by Marge Anderson	Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe 2000–2008	Succeeded by Marge Anderson
Preceded by Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe	Commissioner of Administration of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe 1989-1997	Succeeded by Cheryl Miller
Preceded by	Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe 1986-1989	Succeeded by Commissioner of Administration of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe

References

1. "Constitution and Band Statutes". Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
2. [s.n.] ([2008]) Benjamin elected to third term as Mille Lacs Chief Executive. News From Indian Country. Accessed November 2015.
3. [Associated Press] (10 October 2008). Mille Lacs Band removes CEO for theft of tribe money. StarTribune. Accessed November 2015.
4. Curt Brown (28 January 2014). Three Minnesota tribal leaders will be at Obama's speech. StarTribune. Accessed November 2015.
5. Vivian LaMoore (13 April 13, 2016). Benjamin reelected Mille Lacs Messenger. Accessed May 2019.
6. "Mille Lacs Band members reelect Benjamin as chief executive, elect Wind as District 1 rep". Brainerd Dispatch. September 1, 2020. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
7. Zach Kayser (10 January 2018). In State of the Band speech, Mille Lacs leader takes on opioids, lawsuit opponents. Pine and Lakes. Accessed May 2019.
8. "Tribal chief executive Benjamin won't seek reelection". MPR News. 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2024-05-25.