White Earth Nation chooses new leader after passing of chairman

Monday, August 5, 2019  

Voters of White Earth Nation are choosing a new chairman in a special general election on Tuesday.

Brent David Gish, 72, and Michael Allen Fairbanks, 56, are appearing on the ballot after securing the most votes in a June 4 primary election. They are seeking to serve the remainder of the term left by the passing of Terrence “Terry” Tibbetts in March.

"As chairman, I will focus on what White Earth can be…IF we unite and work together. IF we work together, we can make our communities safer and end the devastating cycle of addiction. IF we work together, we can join our brothers and sisters in the [Minnesota Chippewa Tribe] to revise our Constitution to reflect our cultural values, address separation of power issues and long-term tribal enrollment issues," Gish, an educator and lifelong resident of the reservation, wrote in a social media post ahead of the primary.

Fairbanks, who worked for the tribe up until being laid off last year, Minnesota Public Radio reported, is promising to address much of the same issues as his rival. He has been endorsed by Winona LaDuke, a prominent activist from White Earth.

"We need a Chairman who is fair, has vision, has commitment to culture and our Mother Earth," LaDuke wrote on social media.

The election comes as Ojibwe officials address a crisis connected to the opioid epidemic in their communities. According to the state, White Earth was overpaid $12 million for providing medication assisted therapy to patients who are trying to overcome addiction.

The state was providing federal funds to the tribe at the incorrect rate, according to news reports. The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe was also allegedly overpaid about $13.3 million under the same billing system.

Leaders of both tribes said they are willing to work with the Department of Human Service on a government-to-government basis but they criticized the way state officials have handled the situation.

“We know this discussion is ongoing,” Leech Lake Chairman Faron Jackson said in a press release, “but so far we do not feel DHS has meaningfully consulted with us on this issue in accordance with Executive Order 19-24."

Vice Chairman Eugene “Umsy” Tibbetts of the White Earth Nation offered similar comments. He has been leading the tribe since the passing of his distant relative in March.

"We are deeply troubled by the lack of meaningful consultation on this issue and assert that none of the communications with the tribe concerning this topic qualifies as appropriate government-to-government conversations," Tibbetts said in an August 1 statement.

Secretary-Treasurer Alan Roy on Monday said the tribe plans to hire a general counsel to address the situation with the state and to deal with other legal matters.

Fairbanks shared Jackson's statement on his campaign page and said he agreed with his approach. Gish has not publicly commented on social media about the controversy.

White Earth Nation prepares to choose new leader (Minnesota Public Radio August 5, 2019)
Gish, Fairbanks square off Tuesday for White Earth tribal chairman (The Detroit Lakes Tribune August 3, 2019)
Minnesota DHS overpaid tribes by $25.3 million for substance abuse treatment (The St. Paul Pioneer Press August 2, 2019)
State could be on the line for $25 million apparently overpaid to 2 tribes (The St. Paul Pioneer Press August 2, 2019)
Legislative auditor investigating $25 million in Minnesota overpayments to two Indian bands (The Minneapolis Star Tribune August 1, 2019)

White Earth Nation in mourning over passing of Chairman Terry Tibbetts (March 19, 2019)