Four Tribal Representatives Sworn-In

On Tuesday, August 8, 2016, Red Lake members, relatives and friends of four winders of the July 20 run-off election gathered at Seven Clans Casino and Event Center for an inauguration.

With no candidates receiving more than 50% of the ballots cast in the general election on May 18, the top two winners in each district met in a run-off election on July 20.

Nearly 150 persons gathered at the Event Center. Live floral arrangements in birch bark vases decorated each table centered on beautiful blankets serving as table cloths. On stage stood emcee Gary Jourdain, Jr. Jourdain welcomed Spiritual Elder Eugene Stillday who performed a pipe ceremony aided by hereditary Chief Alexander Gillespie.

Red Lake Tribal Council members and Hereditary Chiefs were seated at the front near the stage. Jourdain then introduced Red Lake Chairman Darrell G. Seki, Sr. Welcoming the crowd, Seki, as is his custom, spoke first in Ojibwemowin then in English. He noted that it was important to not only have inaugurals for officers, but for all tribal elected officials.

Then a bit after 9:00 a.m., Seki called the meeting of the Red Lake Tribal Council to order from the stage. Secretary Donald Cook seated on the floor took the roll. A quorum present, Seki asked for a motion to accept the certified results of the recent election. On a motion by Secretary Don Cook, and second by Randall Kingbird of Ponemah, the motion passed unanimously.

Seki then recessed the Council meeting to reconvene in the Tribal Council Chambers at 1:00 p.m.

Next Seki swore in the newly elected officials. One by one Seki gave the oath of office to Richard Barrett re-elected from Little Rock, Glenda Martin elected from Ponemah, Robert Smith reelected from Red Lake, and Allen Pemberton reelected from Redby. Short speeches were given by all.

Seki then called on retiring Ponemah representative Randall Kingbird and gifted him with a blanket on behalf of the tribal council. Kingbird, draped in a beautiful blanket, took the microphone to thank all Ponemah members who had supported him during his time on the Tribal Council.

An Honor Song for the recently elected or re-elected officials was provided by the celebrated Drum Eyabay, while the four new council members took positions near center stage for the "meet and greet." Scores of friends, relatives, and members lined up to share handshakes and hugs with the newly installed Council members.

The ceremony over, friends chatted while waiting to be served a feast of roast beef, mashed potato and gravy, wild rice, corn, roll, cake, coffee and water.

Nineteen candidates originally vied for four district representative seats on the Red Lake Tribal Council in the general election held Wednesday, May 18, 2016. If a candidate receives 50% of the vote plus one, they are the declared winner. No candidate having attained this threshold, a run-off election was scheduled for July 20.

In that election, incumbent Little Rock Representative Richard W. Barrett, Sr., was opposed by former Little Rock Representative William F. "Billy" Greene. At Ponemah former District Representative, Glenda J. Martin defeated Daniel C. Johnson, incumbent Kingbird having not made the cut.

For Red Lake Representative, incumbent Robert "Bob" Smith topped Donald L. Good, Sr., and in Redby, incumbent Allen D. Pemberton bested Darrell "Ragg" Johnson.