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Twenty-one county commissioners from seven northeast Minnesota counties gathered at Island View Restaurant in Grand Portage on Friday, May 21, 2010 for an Association of Minnesota Counties district meeting. Cook County board chair Fritz Sobanja said, “Grand Portage, I think, is one of the most beautiful places in the world.” Norman Deschampe, tribal council chair and president of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, welcomed the visitors and thanked them for coming. “We have a very good relationship with our county commissioners,” he said. “We appreciate that.” Left: Tribal elder Billy Blackwell offered an opening prayer and invited others to join him. “I will be asking for strength [and] wisdom to do the best you can to help your people,” he said. He asked for the Great Spirit to give a good life to all human beings. “What is happening in the future, I don’t know,” he said. “Hopefully, we can get through what’s coming ahead in time.” He marveled at the history of the area, noting a discovery of cone-shaped copper goggles dating back an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 years.