# Chip Wadena

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**Darrell "Chip" Wadena, Sr.** (November 11, 1938 – June 24, 2014) was an American [Ojibwe](/source/Ojibwe) tribal executive.

Born in [White Earth, Minnesota](/source/White_Earth,_Minnesota), Wadena grew up in [Naytahwaush, Minnesota](/source/Naytahwaush,_Minnesota), and went to school there. He served in the [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army), worked at the [American Crystal Sugar Company](/source/American_Crystal_Sugar_Company), and in construction. Wadena served on the [White Earth Indian Reservation](/source/White_Earth_Indian_Reservation) tribal council and as chairman of the council from 1976 to 1996. As tribal chairman, he helped start the reservation's Shooting Star Casino. During his chairmanship, a community center and clinic were built on the reservation.[1]

In 1996, Wadena was convicted in the [United States District Court](/source/United_States_District_Court) of bribery, conspiracy, theft, embezzlement, and money laundering, for which he served two years in prison. Dissatisfaction with his leadership, and suspicions of corruption, led to a 1990s campaign by other [White Earth Band of Ojibwe](/source/White_Earth_Band_of_Ojibwe) members to end his tenure on the council. These events were covered in a 1999 documentary film by Nick Kurzon, [*Super Chief*](/source/Superchief_(film)).[2]

In 2004, Wadena made an unsuccessful attempt to regain the position of chairman; he was defeated by [Erma Vizenor](/source/Erma_Vizenor), a candidate who had raised concerns in the 1990s about Wadena's dealings and had given evidence against him at his trial.[1]

Wadena died in [Fargo, North Dakota](/source/Fargo,_North_Dakota), aged 75.[1][3]

## Notes

1. Doyle, Pat. (June 24, 2014). "Chip Wadena, longtime head of White Earth band, dies at 76". *Minneapolis Star-Tribune*.

## External links

[Darrell "Chip" Wadena](http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2578476&fh_id=11533), obituary at Meaningful Funerals

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chip Wadena](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_Wadena) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_Wadena?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.