Overview
The Legislative Branch is made up of the Band Assembly — comprised of three District Representatives and the Speaker of the Assembly. The Speaker of the Assembly wears two hats, as he or she is also the Secretary-Treasurer.
District I
District I includes the main reservation area on the west side of Mille Lacs Lake, sometimes referred to as "Neyaashing," or "The Point" in the Anishinaabe language.
District II
District II includes the communities in Minisinaakwaang (East Lake), Sandy Lake, and Minnewawa near McGregor, as well as the community of Chiminising in Isle on the south side of Mille Lacs, which we call District IIa.
District III
District III includes the Aazhoomog (Lake Lena) community near the St. Croix River east of Hinckley, as well as a large community of Band members living in Hinckley.
Responsibillities of the Band Assembly
The Band Assembly serves as the legislative authority of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
Its responsibilities include:
- Enacting laws through acts and resolutions
- Allocating and appropriating Band revenue
- Ratifying appointments of commissioners
- Overseeing the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the Revisor of Statutes
- Carrying out other essential legislative and fiscal duties that support effective governance and accountability
Band Assembly passes acts and resolutions, allocates revenue, ratifies appointments of commissioners, oversees the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the Revisor of Statutes, and more.
During regular session, Band Assembly typically conducts formal business every Wednesday at 10:00AM. You may view the Band Assembly meetings in-person at the Government Center or via live-streaming.
The Band Assembly has two regular sessions. The first is from January to the end of April. The second is from July to the end of September. If there are exigent circumstances, the Band Assembly may still meet when they aren't in a regular session.
Weekly Band Assembly Updates
Announcements
- Please find the Band's Constitution and Statutes on the Tribal Register.
- Public Hearing and Public Comment information can be found here.
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Sheldon Boyd
Secretary-Treasurer, Speaker of the Assembly
Sheldon Boyd was elected Secretary/Treasurer in 2018. In this role, he wears two hats — Secretary/Treasurer and Speaker of the Asssembly. As Secretary/Treasurer, he has the powers and duties in administrating the financial affairs of Band government. As Speaker of the Assembly, he is the leader of the Legislative Branch.
His priorities include transparency and inclusion of Band members in the legislative process. He considers his Ojibwe culture and spirituality the most defining parts of his life, and since 1985, he has been a drum member, serving as a pipe carrier.
Most recently, he was the IT manager for the Band’s Department of Health and Human Services. He formerly served the Band as Commissioner of Administration, who is the chief of staff to the Chief Executive.
He has four children and four grandchildren who inspire him to make decisions that consider the coming generations. He also is a health and fitness enthusiast who enjoys running. The son of the late Grace and Raining Boyd, Sheldon split his childhood between the Mille Lacs Reservation and Minneapolis, graduated from Minneapolis South High School and Northwestern Electronics, and attended the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Carolyn Beaulieu
District I Representative
Carolyn Beaulieu has been working towards improving the lives of Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Band members for over two decades in one capacity or another. She began her journey in 1999 as a blackjack dealer at Grand Casino Mille Lacs, and on July 9, 2024, she was sworn into office as the District I Representative.
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Throughout her career with the Band, Beaulieu has gained extensive experience in various aspects of Corporate Commissions business ventures, casino gaming, hospitality, and government. She began serving as Assistant Commissioner of Administration in 2009 and transitioned to Commissioner of Administration, holding that position until 2012.
As a young girl, Beaulieu looked up to her older brother, Ray, who enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1984. Beaulieu said he would write home telling tales of how much fun he was having in the Army and enjoyed being able to travel.
Following in her brother’s footsteps, Beaulieu enlisted while a senior in high school and started basic training in January ‘88. Her Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was Military Police. Her first duty station was Kaiserslautern, West Germany, followed by Ft. Benning, Georgia, and a short tour of duty at the Panama Canal before being honorably discharged in 1992.
Beaulieu was elected Secretary-Treasurer in 2014 and served four years in that position. After her term ended, she spent time with her family before returning to Eddy’s as a hotel supervisor in 2021. Looking for more of a challenge, Beaulieu returned to the casino, joining the Table Games Department as a dealer for a very short time before being promoted to Pit Boss.
In May of 2023, Beaulieu applied for and accepted the position of Talent Acquisition Manager. However, she missed the table games so much that in January of 2024, she applied and was hired as the Gaming Process Manager, a role she enjoyed and kept until she was sworn in as the District I Representative in July 2024.
Beaulieu knows the importance of education and, early in her career, decided to go back to school while working towards her career goals. It took some time, but she has never looked back. Beaulieu earned her Associate degree in 2009, her Bachelor’s degree in 2011, and earned her Master’s degree in 2013 holding a Master of Tribal Administration and Governance from the University of Minnesota, Duluth.
Beaulieu has an unquenchable thirst to see all Band members thrive— not just in District I but Band members throughout the tribe. She has always admired the late Chief Executive Marge Anderson, who was determined to provide better lives for Band members. Beaulieu says she is inspired by Anderson’s vision and vows to tenaciously pursue ways to continue that vision.
Raina Killspotted
District II Representative
Raina Killspotted is the newest member of the Band Assembly and was elected to serve as the District II Representative in 2026. Bio coming soon.
Michelle Pomerleau
District III Representative
Michelle Pomerleau is the newest member of the Band Assembly and was elected to serve as the District II Representative in 2026. Bio coming soon.
Legislative Branch Main Line
320-532-2006
Sheldon Boyd - Secretary Treasurer, Speaker of the Assembly
Office: 320-532-7427
Cell Phone: 320-630-6369
Carolyn Beaulieu - District 1 Representative
Office: 320-532-7424
Cell Phone:
Coleen Lueck - District 1 Office Manager
Office: 320-532-7423
Cell Phone: 320-362-4605
Raina Killspotted - District 2 Representative
Office: 218-768-3311
Cell Phone: 218-341-2478
Jen Gahbow - District 2 Legislative Aide
Office: 218-768-3311
Cell Phone:
Taria Aubid - District 2 Legislative Aide
Cell Phone: 320-630-5086
Michelle Pomerleau - District 3 Representative
Office: 320-384-6240
Cell Phone: 715-791-0112
- District 3 Legislative Aide
Office: 320-384-6240 X3224
Brianna Boyd - Legislative Affairs Director
Office: 320-532-7536
Cell Phone: 320-630-8702
Valerie Harrington-Wind - Legislative Chief Communications Officer
Office: 320-532-8918
Cell Phone: 320-630-5123
Semira Kimpson - Legislative Coordinator
Office: 320-532-7422
Cell Phone: 320-630-0350
Danielle Smith - Parliamentarian, Clerk of the Band Assembly
Office: 320-532-7420
Cell Phone: 320-630-7508
Danni Harkness - Assistant Band Assembly Clerk
Office: 320-532-7428
Cell Phone: 320-630-3800
Harmony Steffen-Powell - Legislative Office Assistant
Office: 320-532-2006
Jared Miller - Legislative Counsel
Office: 320-532-7421
Cell Phone: 320-364-9061
Reen Reinhardt - Revisor of Statutes
Office: 320-532-7435
Cell Phone: 320-630-9788
Deanna Sam - Department of Motor Vehicles Deputy Registrar
Office: 320-532-7498
Cell Phone: 320-279-0178
Raenelle Weyaus Baadwewidang Community Center Coordinator
Office: (320)532-7585
Cell: 320-630-4699