Melanie Benjamin (Ojibwe leader) facts for kids

Melanie Benjamin is a leader of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. She holds the important role of Chief Executive. The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe is a self-governing Native American tribe. They live on the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation in central Minnesota, USA. Being "self-governing" means they have their own government and make their own rules, similar to how a state or country operates.

Melanie Benjamin's Journey

Melanie Benjamin has been a key leader for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe for many years. Her journey in leadership began even before she became Chief Executive.

Early Roles in Leadership

Before becoming the top leader, Melanie Benjamin held other important positions within the Mille Lacs Band's government.

• From 1986 to 1989, she served as the Chief of Staff to the Chairman. This role is like being the main helper and organizer for the top leader.
• From 1989 to 1997, she was the Commissioner of Administration. In this job, she helped manage how the government ran its daily activities.

Becoming Chief Executive

Melanie Benjamin was first chosen as Chief Executive in 2000. This is a very important position, similar to a governor or president for the tribe. She was re-elected in 2004 and again in 2008.

After a period away from the role, she was elected Chief Executive again in 2012. The people of the Mille Lacs Band showed their trust in her by re-electing her in 2016 and then for a sixth time in 2020. This means she has served many terms as their top leader.

In January 2024, Melanie Benjamin shared that she would not seek another term in office. This means her long time as Chief Executive will come to an end. Her work has focused on helping the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe grow and thrive.