The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa held its general election on Tuesday, June 14. Norman Deschampe was re-elected as tribal chairman.
The general election for the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa was held Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Band members went to the polls at the Old Log School from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to vote for one four-year position—tribal chairman. Running for the chairman seat was incumbent Norman W. Deschampe, opposed by Donovan Dahmen. Deschampe held on to the tribal chairman seat with 74.77 percent of the vote.
Voter turnout was quite low, with only 214 enrolled band members casting ballots. Deschampe received 81 votes at the Old Log School polls and 79 absentee votes for a total of 160. Dahmen received 34 votes at the polls and 20 absentee votes for a total of 25.23 percent.
Norman Deschampe has held the tribal chairman position for about 26 years. He also currently serves as president of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, whose members are of the Grand Portage, Bois Forte, Fond Du Lac, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs and White Earth bands.
Reached at his tribal council office the day after the election, Chairman Deschampe said he was happy to be able to continue his work. “I want to thank the people who supported me,” he said, adding that opposition is not a bad thing. “Everyone has a right to express their ideas and make their own choices.”
Asked what he felt were issues that need to be addressed in this next term, Deschampe said healthcare, especially of the elderly is important. “We are grappling with an aging population. We need to find a way to keep everyone healthy,” he said.
Asked about drug problems, which are plaguing the entire Northland, Deschampe said, “We really need to find a way to get help to the people who need it. It’s a two-pronged problem. We also need to deal with the people who are illegally selling.
“It’s not simple, but somehow we need to find a way to tackle this, we are losing a lot of young people, all across the country,” he said.
Deschampe said another important issue is the economy. He said the economy seems to be improving and the tribal council needs to do what it can to maintain that.
Environmental issues are extremely important. Deschampe said, “There are a lot of environmental issues right now. We need to determine how to best protect our resources.”
None of these things can be done without the community, Deschampe added. “We’re going to work hard to accomplish things, but we can’t do it without our constituents. The people deserve credit. Without them, we can’t accomplish anything.”
Vice-chairman Janice Marie Spry was re-elected to her seat in the primary election on April 5, 2016 when she earned more than 50 percent of the votes cast.
The election was held in accordance with the ordinances of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. Overseeing the elections were Judge Toby Stephens, Teller Marilyn Bowles, Clerk Jason Burnett and Alternate Bobby Deschampe.
The Grand Portage Reservation Tribal Council is the governing body of Grand Portage. Other members of the council are Vice-chairman Janice Marie Spry, Secretary-Treasurer Dennis B. Morrison, Councilman John Morrin, and Councilman Rob Hull. The council oversees health care, social services, education, jobs, housing, public safety, and more.
Leave a Reply