Seki sworn in as 6th Tribal Chairman of the Red Lake Nation - P48

RED LAKE, MN - On Tuesday, June 10, 2014, at shortly after 9 AM, Red Lake Chairman Floyd "Buck" Jourdain called his last Regular Tribal Council Meeting to order at the Red Lake Humanities Center.

After roll call, the first order of business was for a vote to accept the results of the May 2014 Elections where two candidates received over 50% of the vote. Darrell Seki Sr. received the majority of votes for Red Lake Chairman, and Gary Nelson the majority for Ponemah Representative.

Seki received 55 percent of votes for chairman in the general election. Current chairman Floyd "Buck" Jourdain received 1,284 votes, and Seki won by 623 votes with 1,907. Kathryn "Jody" Beaulieu (192 votes) and Ron Lussier (57 votes) had also been in the race for chairman.

Red Lake's first secret ballot election was held in Red Lake in 1959. Roger Jourdain was elected Tribal Chairman for the Red Lake Band of Chippewa at that time, a position he would hold from 1959 until 1990. At his election he retained the heredity chiefs as advisors to the elected council.

Gerald F. "Butch" Brun defeated Roger A. Jourdain in 1990, after 30 years in that office, and in 1994 Bobby Whitefeather was elected Chairman after former Chairman Gerald F. Brun did not seek re-election to a second term.

However, in 2002 Gerald "Butch" Brun ran and defeated Whitefeather, but passed away in April 26, 2003 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.

On May 11, 2003 Hereditary Chief and brother to Chairman Brun, William "Billy" King was appointed by the Red Lake Tribal Council as Interim Tribal Chairman of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. The Red Lake Tribal Constitution called for an appointment under the circumstance, until a special election could be held. King was appointed until a successor was elected. Red Lake Representative Roman "Ducker" Stately and former Chairman Bobby Whitefeather were also names that came to a vote for the appointment, but failed by Council majority.

Floyd "Buck" Jourdain was elected Chairman of Red Lake in May 2004, defeating Roman "Ducker" Stately in a special election. This term would be for the remaining 2 years Brun would have still held the Chairmanship.

For Jourdain it was his first elected office (he ran for Chairman in 2000 and finished third next to Brun and former Chairman Bobby Whitefeather.) Jourdain, 40 at the time, was also the Red Lake Nation's youngest Chairman.

In May 2006 Floyd "Buck" Jourdain Jr. was re-elected as Chairman, defeating former Tribal Secretary Judy Roy, and won reelection again in May 2010.

After Red Lake Tribal Treasurer Dan King was removed from office in February 2002 following a Recall Election, the Red Lake Tribal Council appointed then Executive Administrator in the Whitefeather Administration, Darrell Seki Sr., as Tribal Treasurer.

Seki ran and was elected officially in May 2002, was reelected in May 2006 and again in May 2010-running unopposed in that year.

Upon a motion by Redby Representative Allen Pemberton and a second by Little Rock Representative Richard Barrett, the motion certifying the election results carried 9-0.

Chairman Jourdain stated before Heredity Chief King swore in Chairman-elect Seki he had a brief presentation to make, and a gift for the new Chairman for working together for the last ten years.

Jourdain said it was a pretty grueling job, but it was also a good job, and they often held pipe ceremonies and put out their tobacco.

"So I ask all of you," Jourdain said to the crowd, "do that when you have some time, just to take a little tobacco and put it out, and think of all of our leaders and their families, and what they go through."

Jourdain asked of everyone to respect Chairman Seki, his family, his time and understand what he was going through, and pray for him and all of the council members.

"We have to look out for each other," he said.

He said it was a pleasure working with Seki over the years.

"He's a hard worker; he's a good man," Jourdain said. "I know he loves his wife, he loves his family. He's been going non-stop for 10 years just like me."

Jourdain said he wished the best to Seki, and that he would be looking forward to what happens.

"I know it's going to be good things," Jourdain said, before shaking hands and embracing each other.

Jourdain presented Seki with an emblem to represent the tribe and assured everyone he would do a great job in doing so.

"Anything I can ever do, Mr. Chairman," Jourdain stated, "I will be here for you."

Seki thanked Jourdain and presented him with a blanket before requesting Eyabay do an honor song for him.

After Chief's King and Loud swore in Ponemah Representative Gary Nelson and Chairman Darrell Seki Sr., Seki presented his acceptance speech first in his native Ojibwe language, and in his second language, English.

It's an honor to stand before you to say a few words as your new Tribal Chairman of the great Red Lake Nation," Chairman Seki said. "As the Tribal Chairman I want this understood clearly. One does not succeed alone in tribal government to make things work. It will take working together, all tribal council members, and chiefs, and you, as Red Lake Nation members."

Seki stated he would not make promises he couldn't fulfill, and that change would not happen overnight, but if everyone worked together diligently, things would happen.

He spoke of tribal sovereignty, the constitution, land and tribal resources, more meetings in all districts and the urban areas where off reservation members live, jobs and economic development and Red Lake businesses.

Chairman Seki also spoke of tribal members being given priorities in hiring and being treated fairly and equally, and creating a stronger, financially sound Red Lake Nation.

Trespassing on sovereign waters would not be tolerated, he had also stated, along with bringing back the County Welfare offices to the reservation instead of having them located miles away in Bemidji.

"We need to work together in our effort in the war on drugs, violence, gangs and alcoholism to reach a solution," Seki said.

He also talked about finding solutions in dealing with suicides by young people, and that they were the tribe's future.

"Chi-miigwetch to Buck Jourdain," Seki said, "and to you, to members, because this is all about you. You can make the Red Lake Nation the strongest nation."

Chairman Seki's first order of business after his speech, was to give Tribal employees the rest of the day off.

A public meet and greet followed with the honor song by Eyabay, Red Lake royalty performed, and that was followed by a feast of Red Lake walleye and prime rib and live entertainment.

Darrell was born in Red Lake, raised in Ponemah, is fluent in the Ojibwe language and practices traditional ways and values. He attended Red Lake High School where he graduated with honors. After High School, he attended college at Rasmussen Business College and then enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served from 1968 to 1970. He has been married to Doris (Johnson) Seki for 41 years. He has 3 sons and 1 daughter, 13 grand children and 3 great-grand children. Darrell has served the people of the Red Lake Nation as Tribal Treasurer since 2002, with a total of 43 years of service to the people in various positions within the tribal workforce.

The tribal council meeting reconvened at Tribal Headquarters at 1 PM with the regular order of business on the agenda.

In other tribal council races not yet decided, Don Cook and Sam Strong will be in a run-off for Tribal Secretary; Annette Johnson and Glenda Martin will run-off for Tribal Treasurer, and Red Lake, Redby and Little Rock Representative elections will also see run offs that will take place in mid July.