Eugene "Ribs" Whitebird
District III Representative
Eugene “Ribs” Whitebird has been a life long resident of The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. He was in the U.S. Marine Corp from 1974 to 1977. He has two daughters, Jamie and Kelly Taylor.
Mr. Whitebird was elected to a four year term as the Leech Lake Reservation Business Committee District III Representative in 2008. He is currently an Ojibwe Hymn singer, a member of ICWA Child Welfare Board, LLBO Tax Commissioner, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Finance Committee Member, National Indian Gaming Association Member, Minnesota Indian Gaming Association Member, Secretary/Treasurer of the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes, Chairman of the Superfund Committee, and Vice-President of the National Congress of American Indians.
Mr. Whitebird has been instrumental in supporting a resolution for the creation of an Indian Health Board located in the Bemidji Federal Building. As a member of MAST, NCAI, and NIGC, he was part of a team that fought for the “Free Employee Choice Act” that addresses the union’s harassment in our casinos. He was able to lobby Congress to include Tribes in a $23 billion appropriation bill that will include funding for the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School’s $24 million funding request.
Mr. Whitebird has the strong belief in open and honest Tribal government. He has conducted a positive presence within the halls of Congress for federal funding that will benefit Leech Lake. He has stressed the importance of Leech Lake being seated at the table with these National Organizations that protect and fight for Tribal sovereignty. He has stressed the importance of Leech Lake receiving its fair share of the available resources to better the Leech Lake Communities.