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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

County board lauds Chavers for life of service

Jodi Summit
Posted 1/16/25

SOUDAN- The St. Louis County Board opened their Jan. 14 regular meeting by paying homage to Cathy Chavers, who recently announced her retirement from her position as Bois Forte Tribal Chair. Meeting …

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County board lauds Chavers for life of service

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SOUDAN- The St. Louis County Board opened their Jan. 14 regular meeting by paying homage to Cathy Chavers, who recently announced her retirement from her position as Bois Forte Tribal Chair.
Meeting at the Breitung Community Center, Commissioner Paul McDonald spoke of Chavers’ 50 years of public service, with both the county and the band, culminating in her election as tribal chair in 2016.
“It says a lot for her leadership,” he said. “She has given her heart and soul to what she has done. She has been a strong advocate for healthier outcomes,” said McDonald, noting that Chavers has served on the county’s public health advisory board.
Other commissioners commended Chavers for building a strong relationship between the tribe and county government.
“Our relationship with the band went to a new level with Cathy,” said Keith Nelson.
St. Louis County Sheriff Jason Akerson thanked Chavers for listening to concerns of the sheriff’s department and helping to finally get a stalled aid agreement in place.
The board passed a proclamation, in appreciation of her service.
The proclamation discussed her earlier career in health care, as well as her prominent leadership role as President of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, and appointment by the Governor to the Minnesota Board on Aging’s Public Policy Committee.
Chavers, for her part, thanked the county board for holding regular board meetings in both Nett Lake and Vermilion, noting that the meetings gave county commissioners and their staff time to build personal relationships with tribal leaders.
Chavers told the board she is not retiring from public service completely and will be expanding her work outside of the reservation, hoping to work with industries like mining to bring a tribal perspective.
“There is a lot more to do,” she said.
Chavers’ uncle Bill King also attended the meeting. King, now 94, was a longtime Orr Braves basketball coach and he had stories to share with McDonald, also a longtime basketball coach, now retired. McDonald said he also remembered watching Chavers when she was a cheerleader for the Orr Braves while she attended Orr High School.