Legislative Branch

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.

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

  1. Please find the Band's Constitution and Statutes on the Tribal Register.


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Elected Officials

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.

Wendy Merrill

District II Representative

Wendy Merrill is the newest member of the Band Assembly and was elected to serve as the District II Representative in 2022. Merrill grew up in District I of the Mille Lacs Reservation, where she was raised by her parents Melanie & Jeff Sam until she was 16 then she moved to Chiminising. Merrill currently resides in the Chiminising community (DIIA) in Isle. Wendy and her husband, Carlos Merrill, have three children together; Amelio, Nevaeh, and Carols Jr. In addition, they have added to their family by taking in their nieces Celleia, Brooklynn, and Rihanna, and their nephew Derek.

Representative Merrill’s education includes; receiving her GED,
Associate in Arts degree from Central Lakes Community College, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of St. Scholastica, with a focus on Organizational Behavior and a minor in Psychology.

2018 was a big year for Merrill as she was able to celebrate another important milestone, the achievement of a Master’s degree. Her degree program, through the University of Minnesota -Duluth, was called the Masters of Tribal Administration and Governance. This program was designed for current or future tribal administrators, council members, and tribal leaders. Her graduation from this program came at a pivotal moment, as she was asked to take on a new role in the Legislative Branch of government as the Legislative Affairs Director working directly for Secretary-Treasurer Sheldon Boyd.

In 2020, Merrill decided to tackle a new academic goal of earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA), with completion in May 2022. Also, in 2020, she was recruited to serve as the Assistant General Manager of Grand Casino Mille Lacs.
As Representative Merrill learned about the world through the lens of an academic, she also felt a gravitational pull to have a voice in the education system, specifically around tribal youth. She serves on the American Indian Parent Committee for close to 10 years.
Culturally, Representative Merrill and her family are active in the Ceremonial Drum society of the Mille Lacs Band and surrounding communities. She embraces the beauty and importance of her culture.

Representative Merrill announced her intention to run for Mille Lacs Band elected office, as the District II Representative in December 2021. She won the Primary Election on April 6th, 2022, and was sworn into office on July 12th, 2022.

Harry Davis

District III Representative

Harry Davis, a dedicated leader, has a rich history of service within the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Let’s delve into his remarkable journey:
Family: Davis is devoted to his family with wife: Laureen (Benjamin) Davis, children: Beverly Davis, Roxanne Davis, Dione Davis, Weylin Davis, Kate Davis, Aaron Davis and his wonderful grandchildren.
Election and Re-elections: Harry Davis was elected to the office of District III Representative and officially assumed his duties on July 12, 2022, embarking on a four-year term. However, this isn’t his first time in this role. He brings 16 years of prior experience serving as the District III Representative.

His initial election to this position occurred in 1998. Subsequently, he was reelected for two more terms, serving until 2010. His commitment to the community led to another reelection in 2014, where he continued to serve until 2018. And most recently, he secured reelection in 2022.
Background and Talents: Before entering the realm of tribal leadership, Harry Davis contributed his talents to Burlington Northern Railroad switchmen foreman after graduated high school and Grand Casino Hinckley as a lead slot technician from 1992 to 1998. His dedication to the well-being of Band members motivated him to step into the role of District III Representative. His primary goal? To improve the lives of his constituents.
Adapting to Change: As he navigates the current term, Davis acknowledges the shifts in how the Band Assembly operates. Meetings have transitioned from in-person gatherings to virtual Zoom sessions. While these online meetings offer convenience, Davis still values the personal connections forged during face-to-face interactions. He remains committed to serving his community, even as the landscape evolves1.
Community Engagement: District III community meetings have proven invaluable, providing information, fostering connections, and creating a sense of community. Davis’s dedication to his constituents shines through these gatherings, which he finds both helpful and enjoyable. This also includes his dedication to the youth, elders, his boxing club, and his cultural dedication with our culture, Midewin society.
Harry Davis’s legacy of service and adaptability continues to benefit the Mille Lacs Band, and his commitment to making lives better remains unwavering.

Legislative Branch Employee Contact List

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

Wendy Merrill - District 2 Representative

Office: 218-768-3311

Cell Phone: 320-362-4925

Cheryl Miller - District 2 Legislative Aide

Office: 218-768-3311

Cell Phone: 320-630-6870

Taria Aubid - District 2 Legislative Aide

Cell Phone: 320-630-5086

Harry Davis - District 3 Representative

Office: 320-384-6240

Cell Phone: 320-630-5368

Monica Benjamin - 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

Angela Potter - 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