About LLBO

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About Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe


Our Mission

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is committed to the responsible operation of government, preservation of our heritage, promotion of our sovergeignty, and the protection of natural resources for our elders and future generations, while enhancing the health, economic well-being, education, and our inherent right to live as Ojibwe People.

Population

As of September 2015
Leech Lake Reservation Enrollment: 9,509

Land

The Leech Lake Tribe holds the smallest percentage of its reservation of any of the state’s tribes. County, state, and federal governments owned well over half of the original land. Of the 864,158 original acres, nearly 300,000 acres are surface area of the three big lakes. The National Chippewa Forest has the largest portion of the land. Seventy-five percent of the National Forest is within the reservation. This leaves less than 5% of land owned by the Band.

Official Emblem and Flag

Leech Lake Reservation Flag

The flag of the reservation is white and bears the tribal seal in the center.

Within the red ring and outside the edges of the yellow triangle starting from the hoist side, are symbols of nature. In this case pine trees, as they are an obvious canvas viewed everyday here on tribal lands. The soaring eagle represents the continued strength and perseverance of its members from generation to generation.

The symbols of education, represented by the diploma and graduation mortarboard, indicate the knowledge of our past and present that maintains our past and present that maintains our continued existence in the ever-evolving world we must live in. The scales of justice symbolize our sovereignty to govern our own people.

Within the triangle appear two stalks of tobacco and a peace pipe which signify the respect for our traditions, our ancestors in the spirit world and its close connection to our continuing cultural identity as Ojibwe people.

The most prominent device is the yellow equilateral triangle bringing all the symbols together. Depicting the actuality, that as Ojibwe people, we can prosper under the rule of law and through education. Most importantly, its members have been able to continue to maintain their cultural identity while remaining in harmony with nature.

The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (MCT)

The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, comprised of the Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, and White Earth reservations, is a federally recognized tribal government that, through unified leadership, promotes and protects the member Bands while providing quality services and technical assistance to the reservation governments and tribal people.

The Leech Lake Reservation Business Committee (RBC)

The Leech Lake RBC a.k.a. Tribal Council is the governing body with their offices in Cass Lake. The Tribal Council consists of a chairwoman, secretary/treasurer, and three district representatives:

Chairman, Faron Jackson, Sr.
Secretary/Treasurer, Leonard Fineday
District I Representative, Kyle Fairbanks
District II Representative, Steve White
District III Representative, LeRoy Staples Fairbanks III

Eleven communities make up the reservation

The people have organized their own community councils to give a political voice to their concerns. These community councils are called, Local Indian Council or LIC’s. The smaller communities have facilities for community events and services such as medical clinics and programs for elders. Click on the name to go to their web page.

Health Care

Health services are provided at the IHS hospital and clinic in Cass Lake and clinics in the other communities. If care that is more extensive is needed, the hospitals in neighboring cities are used.

State counties within the Reservation boundaries

The reservation is split among four counties

  • Beltrami
  • Cass
  • Hubbard
  • Itasca

Tribal Owned Businesses

6280 Upper Cass Frnt. Road
Cass Lake, MN 56633
Off Highway 2
(218) 335-8827

We sell and deliver fuel oil.

 6800 Y Frontage Road
Walker, MN 56484
Located next to
Northern Lights Casino
(218) 335-3181		 6280 Upper Cass Frnt. Road
Cass Lake, MN 56633
(218) 335-6101
Open Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. www.biggestbook.com

The Tribe operates three gaming enterprises

Cedar Lakes Casino Northern Lights Casino White Oak Casino
6268 Upper Cass Frontage Rd NW
Cass Lake, MN 56633
(844) 554-2646 Phone
cedarlakescasino.com 		6800 Y Frontage Road
Walker, MN 56484
(218) 335-3100 Phone
(866) NLC-HOTEL
(800) 252-PLAY
northernlightscasino.com		 45830 US HWY 2
Deer River, MN 56636
(218) 246-9600 Phone
(800) 653-2412 Toll-free
whiteoakcasino.com