After nearly a quarter of a century, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe will soon select a new leader as Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin will step down from office rather than seeking a seventh term.

“You don’t choose leadership, leadership chooses you,” Chief Executive Benjamin reflected. “I was chosen by the elders of the Mille Lacs Band.”

Preserving culture, the language, and creating more opportunities have driven Benjamin during her time in office since 2000.

“It brings joy to your heart — with kids speaking the language, so that means we’re securing our future,” Benjamin said.

During her time in office, the community partnered with a language training company to provide lessons in Ojibwe to those near and far.

“All our answers are in that language. We have ceremonies from birth to death that are conducted by the language,” Benjamin said.

At the State of the Band speech back in January, Benjamin mentioned new economic development in the community. Construction is underway in what could be the largest seed-to-sale cannabis facility in the state — scheduled to open this year — on land near the casino in Onamia.

“It’s just adding to the portfolio, hopefully it’s very successful, we won’t know until we get up and running,” Benjamin said.

During her time in office, Benjamin has spoken out against proposed nickel mining in the region and helped launch a “Water over Nickel” campaign last year.

“It’s important we take a stand on that,” Benjamin said. “We do support green energy but there has to be a better way to do it.”

Benjamin says part of her legacy includes helping start “Women Empowering Women for Indigenous Nations,” which creates opportunities inside and outside tribal land. There are currently less than 5,000 enrolled Mille Lacs Band citizens.

“Hopefully, that generation of turmoil that people have experienced, we can start to minimize that, look forward to the good life,” Benjamin said. A new leader will be in place in early summer after a series of elections.