The Spirit Lake Dakotah Nation of North Dakota will elect a new chairman on May 3.

Leander Russ McDonald, 48, and Roger Yankton Jr., 64, won the most votes in the primary. Yankton is McDonald's uncle.

McDonald, the dean at Cankdeska Cikana Community College, wants to address poverty on the reservation. He also hopes to incorporate Dakota culture into more aspects of tribal government and tribal programs.

Yankton, who previously served on the council, wants to spur economic development. He also says he will make the tribal government more transparent.

Both McDonald and Yankton say substance abuse is a big issue on the reservation.

Get the Story:
The race for Spirit Lake Nation Tribal Chairman (The Devils Lake Journal 4/28)