Menominee Students Watch Election of New Chairman Craig Corn

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

KESHENA - Some 100 Menominee students were on hand, along with over 200 tribal citizens of all ages of the Menominee Nation, to witness democracy in action as the Menominee Tribal Council elected its new chairman last Thursday morning. The students attend schools on the Menominee Indian Reservation.

100 Students On Hand

Menominee Nation Chief Justice Stephan Grochowski proceeded over the election.

Legislator Craig Corn was elected by his peers to become the new chairman at the Tribe's organizational meeting held at the Menominee Convention Center at the Menominee Casino Resort.

Craig Corn to Tribal Chairman

Chairman Corn was elected to serve for one year. Per the Menominee Tribe's constitution, the Legislature elects the Tribe's chairman annually.

Former Chairman Randal Chevalier failed in his reelection to the Legislature in January. Therefore he was not eligible to run for reelection for the chairman position.

Corn was elected in a 5 to 4 vote. He beat Gary Besaw, who was elected to the legislature in January and sworn in at the meeting on Thursday.

Prior to the vote, Legislator Lisa Waukau's name was put into nomination for chair, but she immediately declined citing "it is a time for younger leadership. This is the 15th year I have been at our annual meeting on February 9. There comes a point in your life when it's time to turn the key over to the younger generation."

Three newly elected legislators were sworn in by Menominee Nation Chief Justice Grochowski. They include: Gary Besaw, Randolph "Randy" Reiter and Joan Delabreau.

In other actions, the Legislature set this year's annual salary for chairman at $85,000 and voted that the chairman not be compensated additionally for attending legislative meetings.

The Smokey Town Singers provided an honor song and two flag songs during the meeting. Tribal member David Grignon said a prayer of the prosperity of the Menominee Nation in the Menominee language.

posted February 13, 2012 6:30 am est