CONSTITUTIONAL DRAFTING MOVES FORWARD WITH MEMBERSHIP DISCUSSIONS TAKING CENTER STAGE
July 30, 2026
#YourVoiceOurSovereignty
By Delegate Committee
The Constitutional Delegation has completed three community drafting sessions as work continues on a proposed Constitution for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Membership emerged as Band members' highest constitutional priority through community surveys, and current discussions are now focusing on enrollment, lineage, and other foundational issues that will help shape the next draft.
Using the 2010 draft Constitution as a starting point, Delegates are revising each article through community discussion and feedback to create a document that reflects the priorities of today's Mille Lacs Band members. As additional input is received, draft language will continue to evolve and return to district meetings for further review.
Community participation remains central to the drafting process, and recent meetings have highlighted both encouraging engagement and the need for broader involvement.
At the recent Meshakwad meeting in Hinckley, just over a dozen Band members participated, with nearly half of those attendees being youth. Their questions, ideas, and perspectives reinforced the importance of including younger generations in shaping the Nation's future. Attendance at the District I meeting at the Aquatic Center, however, was limited to one Elder. While every voice is valued, the Delegates hope to see greater participation at future meetings from Elders, adults, young adults, and youth alike.
Community discussions in all three districts have focused on several membership/enrollment-related issues, including identifying which constitutional articles should receive priority.
Current discussions have explored several membership-related topics, including:
• emphasizing descent through parents, grandparents, or family lineage;
• reviewing documented family history as part of enrollment considerations;
• considering DNA verification for paternal lineage when appropriate;
• discussing DNA considerations involving adopted children; and
• exploring the replacement of blood quantum with a lineage-based approach that recognizes all enrolled members equally.
These discussions reflect community feedback only, and no decisions have been made. As drafting continues, each article will be revised and brought back to future district meetings for additional discussion.
In addition to membership, participants have discussed broader issues that could accompany future constitutional changes, including the role of a Mille Lacs Band Enrollment Office, enrollment-related program responsibilities, cultural considerations surrounding membership, and residency or mailing address requirements connected to eligibility for services.
The next community drafting sessions are scheduled for Aug. 10 in the Urban Area at the Ventura Housing and Urban Office in Minneapolis, with the meeting time to be announced, and Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. to noon in District Ill at Aazhoomog, where lunch will be served immediately following the meeting.
The Delegates also expressed appreciation for the continued support of the Mille Lacs Band's elected leadership and Executive Branch. Commissioner Burr has authorized up to two hours of Community Service for eligible Band employees who attend Delegation meetings through August, with the possibility of extending the authorization if participation continues to grow. Participants are also invited to share a meal and receive a $25 gift card to a Mille Lacs Band business.
Meeting dates and times continue to be based on survey responses submitted by Band members. As additional surveys are received, future schedules may be adjusted to better accommodate participation throughout the community.
Beyond the district meetings, the Delegates continue working with representatives from the six Minnesota Chippewa Tribe member Bands through monthly Constitutional Reform Meetings. Earlier this spring, interested Band members were invited to attend those meetings alongside Delegates to observe the collaborative work taking place across the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. To date, one community member has participated. The Delegates also hope to expand opportunities for additional Band members to participate more directly in the future, which may require revisions to the current Delegation Resolution.
The Delegates recently transitioned to a new official email address, mibdelegates@millelacsband.com, and encourage Band members to continue sharing questions, ideas, and feedback throughout the drafting process. Monthly updates, text alerts, and email communications will continue, and the Delegates are exploring a dedicated website that will provide meeting materials, historical documents, research, and other constitutional resources.
A Constitution is strongest when it reflects the voices of the people it serves. Every conversation, every meeting, and every participant helps shape the future of the Non-Removable Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Your voice matters. Our sovereignty depends on it.
The Constitution belongs to all Mille Lacs Band members, and its strength depends on broad community participation. Every meeting, every conversation, and every voice helps shape the future of the Non-Removable Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
Your voice matters. Our sovereignty depends on it.
