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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Ely native to UM Board of Regents

Keith Vandervort
Posted 7/22/22

REGIONAL - Tadd Johnson, from Ely, was appointed to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents last week. He is the first Native American to be appointed to the Board since it was established more …

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Ely native to UM Board of Regents

Posted

REGIONAL - Tadd Johnson, from Ely, was appointed to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents last week. He is the first Native American to be appointed to the Board since it was established more than 170 years ago.
Johnson, 65, a member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa now lives in Duluth. He retired last month as the University of Minnesota’s first senior director of American Indian Tribal Nations relations, a job that he said came about in 2019 when he complained to new President Joan Gabel that the University needed to do more to consult with tribes.
He’s also a former professor, tribal attorney and tribal court judge. He still serves as senior advisor on government affairs for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
Johnson will represent the 8th Congressional District on the Board. He replaces David McMillan, who resigned to be interim chancellor at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
“My passions are giving a voice that hasn’t been heard from before, and making sure that the 8th District and the University of Minnesota Duluth are well represented on this board,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the University of Minnesota has lagged behind other universities in teaching about tribal issues at its law, public policy and business schools. He said it’s also important for Native Americans to be represented on the governing board of a University that was built with funds generated from land taken from Native people.
“There’s an old saying, if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” Johnson said. “For many, many years we were on the menu, as the Board of Regents and other universities were using Indian land to build their endowments. It’s an honor to be finally sitting at the table.”
Johnson said he’ll likely seek an appointment to a full six-year term when this term expires next February.
“I am proud to appoint Regent Tadd Johnson – the first Native person ever appointed to this board,” said Governor Tim Walz in announcing the appointment. “With a background in leadership, education, and deep understanding of government on all levels, he brings a wealth of higher education expertise to this group.”
“Regent Tadd Johnson will give a voice to the many Native students who have been underrepresented for too long,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “This historic appointment is made possible by the continued advocacy from tribes, community members, and leaders across the state to see representation at every level. As a University of Minnesota alum, I couldn’t be more proud of this appointment.”