Roger Jourdain facts for kids

Roger Jourdain (born July 27, 1912 – died March 21, 2002) was an important leader of the Ojibwe people. He led the Red Lake Band of Chippewa, a Native American tribe, as their chairman from 1959 to 1990. Roger Jourdain is remembered for protecting his tribe's right to govern themselves and for making big improvements to their community.

Early Life and First Steps in Leadership

Roger Jourdain was born on July 27, 1912. He finished eighth grade and worked as a machine operator. He helped build the famous Alaska Highway and the airport in Bemidji, Minnesota.

Jourdain was also a key member of the "Young Man's Council." This group of Red Lake citizens wanted to improve their government. Thanks to their efforts, Red Lake changed its old way of choosing leaders. They started electing a tribal council. In 1959, Roger Jourdain was elected as the chairman of this new council.

Leading the Red Lake Nation

After becoming chairman, Jourdain started many projects to make Red Lake better. He reopened the Indian Health Service hospital in the town of Red Lake, which had been closed. He also worked hard to bring running water to homes across the reservation.

Jourdain spent a lot of time in Washington, D.C.. He asked the United States government for help with housing and education for his people. He also worked to protect Red Lake's tribal sovereignty. This means the tribe's right to make its own laws and decisions. Red Lake was special because it stayed separate from the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. This law created the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, which included many other tribes. Because Red Lake was separate, it was not affected by laws like Public Law 280, which could limit tribal self-governance.

Jourdain also became friends with U.S. Senator Hubert Humphrey. He changed his political party to work with Humphrey. Jourdain was chosen to represent his state at the Democratic National Convention in 1976 and 1984. He also served in the Electoral College in 1976.

Roger Jourdain worked with other tribes too. In 1967, he helped organize a protest where tribes stopped buying things from businesses in Bemidji, Minnesota. This protest happened because a local official made unfair comments about Native Americans. Jourdain also helped create a national group for tribal chairmen. He is also known for starting the Minnesota Indian Scholarship Program, which helps Native American students pay for college.

Challenges and Changes

In the late 1970s, there were some disagreements within the Red Lake government. These disagreements led to a difficult time for the community. In May 1979, some people caused unrest at the Red Lake law enforcement building. This led to a riot where some buildings, including Jourdain's home, were burned. Sadly, two teenagers died during this unrest, and the damage was very costly.

After these events, Jourdain moved to Bemidji, but he continued to serve as tribal chairman. Even though there were still some concerns about his leadership, he kept working for his tribe. In 1989, he made a decision that helped the tribe take over services that the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service had been providing. However, this decision caused some debate. In 1990, Roger Jourdain lost the election for chairman to Gerald Brun, who had been an ally.

After His Time as Chairman

After leaving office, Roger Jourdain received an important award from the National Congress of American Indians. He passed away on March 21, 2002, at the age of 89. He was married to his wife, Margaret, for 60 years.