Native Lights is a weekly, half-hour radio program hosted by Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe members and siblings, Leah Lemm and Cole Premo. Native Lights is a space for people in Native communities around Mni Sota Mkoce -- a.k.a. Minnesota -- to tell their stories about finding their gifts and sharing them with the community.

Today on the show, we talk with Daniel Jourdain (Red Lake Nation), Bemidji’s new city council member for the at-large seat and is only the second Indigenous person to serve on the city council, throughout its history. Daniel Jourdain is also an employment specialist with the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.

 

As a Bemidji resident for over 6 years and a Beltrami County resident for over 30 years, Daniel Jourdain shares how he did not originally plan to go into politics.  But when a seat on the council opened up, many friends and mentors urged him to throw his hat into the ring. Daniel tells us what it was like learning to run a campaign (door-knocking in sub-zero temperatures), raising funds, and introducing himself by sharing his voice and speaking from the heart.   Now as an elected official, Daniel Jourdain seeks to serve constituents by building positive partnerships among diverse communities and creating policies that serve the public’s interest. 

 

We loved hearing Daniel’s good advice for everyone: you must believe in yourself, follow your dreams, give it your all, and never give up. Miigwech Daniel Jourdain for sharing your insights and gifts. 

 

Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine is produced by Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund. Online at https://minnesotanativenews.org/