Like every tribe and civilization before and those to come after, the history of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa is legendary, marked with growth and change, and a steady supply of leaders. They began as the Pembina Chippewa who emerged as a distinct group in the late 1790s near the Red River. Prominent leaders of the Anishinaabeg were soon apparent. In the early to mid-1800s notable Chiefs included Flat Mouth,, Cotton Wood, Little Shell I and II, Black Duck, Red Bear I, and Chief Little Shell III, who we’ve met on this Talking Trail.

In 1932 change was on the horizon for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. A written constitution was adopted and, in the process, an advisory council composed of five representatives was created. At this point in time, most decisions regarding the tribe were made by the Bureau of Indian Affairs because it had control of the federal funding sources. The advisory council, under Chief or Chairman Kanik, would provide counsel to the BIA. Kanik had Chief in his blood. His father was Little Crane, brother of Chief Little Shell. His mother’s name was Okeshewashicha or Flying Swift. Chief Kanik played a distinct role in the history of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and was, uniquely, the first tribal leader to use the title of chairman rather than chief.

In the years preceding 1959, near absolute power over decisions for the Chippewa was still in the hands of the BIA superintendent, but another wave of change was about to take place. In 1959, under the leadership of Chairman Patrick Gourneau, a new constitution was adopted by the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. It was based on a prototype of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and identified three branches of government: legislative or tribal council, executive or tribal chairperson, and judicial or tribal courts. As time passes, amendments have been incorporated into the constitution. To this day, it remains the governing document of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.