RED LAKE, Minn. – Shortly after the call
to order of the Red Lake Tribal Council on Dec. 9, Hereditary Chief
James Loud was called upon by Chairman Darrell G. Seki, Sr. to swear
in Robert Smith, recent winner of the special election for Red Lake
District Representative.
He joins council member Roman Stately
representing the community on the eleven member Tribal Council.
A special run off election was held on
Nov. 19, to elect one Red Lake District Representative to a two-year
term. The only eligible candidates in this contest were Donald
Desjarlait and Robert Smith. Smith was declared the winner of the
election winning 278 votes over Desjarlait’s 227.
Hereditary Chief George "Billy"
King was appointed by the council in March 2014 to serve temporarily
in the Red Lake seat after former council member and Smith’s
father-in-law Donald "Dudie" May, Jr., died on March 8. May
had won a four year term on July 18, 2012. King also served
temporarily as Chairman after the death of former Chairman Gerald
"Butch" Brun in 2003 until a special election was held.
Red Lake Youth Council
In what has become a regular part of
the Red Lake Tribal Council agenda, Red Lake Youth Council member
Mathew Antone gave a report to the council on the group’s activities.
Youth council members Anthony Benais and Breanna Johnson assisted
him.
Earlier in the month Antone traveled to
Washington, D.C. after being selected by the White House as a 2014
Tribal White House Tribal Nations Conference Youth Ambassador.
In a letter to Tribal Secretary Annette
Johnson, who had nominated Antone for the honor, Obama administration
official Raina Thiele said of Antone, "Your involvement in these
events will ensure that young Native leaders’ voices are heard at
the highest levels of our federal government. We hope these events
will garner attention, shine a spotlight on inspiring stories, and
promote youth-led efforts within Indian Country! Most importantly,
this is an opportunity for you to be recognized for your exceptional
service to your community."
