[1][2] Mille Lacs Band Elder Marge Anderson was born on the Mille Lacs Reservation, was fluent in the Ojibwe language, and had served more than 30 years in the Band's tribal government.
She then served as Secretary/Treasurer from 1987 to 1991 before being appointed Chairman of the Mille Lacs Band in 1991 after Arthur Gahbow died while in office.
In 2000 Melanie Benjamin replaced her as Chief Executive until December 2008, when Anderson won the post back in a special election.
[3] During her tenure as Chief Executive, Anderson had led the development of Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley and the rebuilding of the reservation through new schools, clinics, community centers, housing, a water treatment plant, and other infrastructure.
Her efforts to strengthen tribal self-governance and increase American Indians’ self-sufficiency had received national recognition.