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TRIBAL CONSTITUTION
INTERPRETATION NO. 1-80
WHEREAS, The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe is federally recognized Indian Tribe organized under
Section 16 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984) as amended; and
WHEREAS, The Tribal Executive Committee and the Reservation Business Committees of the White
Earth, Leech Lake, Fond du Lac, Bois Forte (Nett Lake), Grand Portage, and Non-removal Bands of
Mille Lacs Chippewa Indians are the governing bodies of The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe; and
WHEREAS, The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe possesses the powers of sovereignty and self
government; and
WHEREAS, The Tribal Executive Committee possesses and exercises quasi-judicial powers and
among said quasi-judicial powers is the power to give official binding opinions regarding the meaning
and powers possessed by tribal government under said Constitution,
NOW THEREFORE, The Minnesota Chippewa Tribal Executive Committee does declare that it shall
henceforth issue written opinions as to the meaning and interpretation of its Constitution. Said opinions
shall be issued in writing upon written request of the Reservation Business Committees, the Tribal
Executive Director, Divisions Heads of the Tribe’s subdivisions, Tribal Judges, the United States and its
various departments and bureaus, the State of Minnesota and its political subdivisions and other entities
at the discretion of The Tribal Executive Committee or upon its own motion. Said opinions shall be
conclusive and final as to the meaning and interpretation of The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe’s
Constitution and the powers contained therein. (Said opinions shall be binding upon any tribal court
system established by tribal ordinance.) All written opinions of the Tribal Executive Committee
relating to interpretation of the Tribe’s Constitution shall be numbered as Tribal Constitution
Interpretations and given a number and said number shall be followed by the year in which the opinion
is given. The Tribal Secretary shall keep said opinions in a separate binder. This opinion shall be
known as Tribal Constitution Interpretation No. 1-80.
We do hereby certify that the foregoing Constitution Interpretation was duly presented and acted upon
by a vote of 11 for, 0 against, at a regular meeting of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribal Executive
Committee, a quorum present, held on October 22 & 23, 1980, at Grand Portage, Minnesota.
Darrell Wadena, President
The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe
ATTEST: Daniel Morrison, Sr., Secretary
The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe