Band swears in officials

ONAMIA - Curt Kalk, Marvin Bruneau and Diane Gibbs were sworn into office with the Mille Lacs band of Indians on July 13.

All three officials were elected in the Mille Lacs Band's general election on June 8 and will serve four-year terms in the Band's legislative branch, known as the Band Assembly. Joe Nayquonabe, Sr. was also elected to the Nay Ah Shing School Board.

Kalk was sworn in to his first term as the Mille Lacs Band's secretary-treasurer. He authorizes all subpoenas and official documents on behalf of the Band Assembly and investigates financial irregularities. Kalk also serves as Speaker of the Band Assembly, the legislative body that enacts laws that regulate the Band's affairs and appropriates money for tribal government programs.

Before being elected secretary-treasurer, Kalk served as the band's commissioner of natural resources for nine years. He has also worked for the band's Department of Natural Resources as a deputy registrar. Kalk graduated with honors from the Band's Nay Ah Shing High School in 1981 and served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years. He is the first graduate from Nay Ah Shing to become an elected official for the Band.

Bruneau was sworn in to his fifth term as Mille Lacs Band District II representative, a position he has held since 1990. He represents Districts II and IIa, which are located near the cities of McGregor and Isle. He has also served the band as a member of the Housing Authority Board of Directors, a community health representative, and a drum society member. Bruneau graduated from McGregor High School and attended the College of Saint Scholastica.

Diane Gibbs was sworn in to her first term as Mille Lacs Band District III representative. She represents District III, which is located near the city of Hinckley. In addition to that role, Gibbs is a member of the Pine Grove Leadership Academy school board, the Blandin Foundation Community Leadership Programs advisory board, and an Indian Child Welfare Act qualified expert witness.

Before serving as the District III representative, Gibbs served the band in other roles for almost 20 years. Gibbs became interested in politics after she served as a legislative liaison in District III for six years. She has also worked for the band's tribal TANF program, as the Aazhoomog Clinic and Hinckley ALU office manager, and District III program administrator. Gibbs is currently attending Central Lakes Community College and is pursuing a bachelor's degree in political science.

Nayquonabe Sr. was sworn in as the District I representative on the Nay Ah Shing School Board.

More than 100 people gathered for the ceremony, which was held in the Band Assembly chambers at the Band's Government Center in Onamia. The elected officials were sworn in by Chief Justice Rayna Mattinas and Clarence Boyd, Associate Justice for the Band's judicial branch.