Cathy Chavers, who had just started her third term last July, said she was stepping down to take care of her mental health.
Chavers made the decision to resign in early December after hitting a deer with her car – the fourth deer she had hit with her car since last spring.
That’s when Chavers said she told her son, “I’m done.” I got it.
The next day was the group’s Christmas party and Chavers said she couldn’t bring herself to leave her house.
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“I am a people person. I like to cuddle and talk and be happy, and I didn’t want to go anywhere,” Chavers said.
The recent incident with the deer came after a prolonged period of personal and professional stress. Chavers served as a legal guardian for an ailing sibling. She said she also worked to help a family member recover from drug addiction.
Forte Wooden Chair Cathy Chavers.
Courtesy of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
Chavers said that as a teenager, she watched her mother struggle with mental health issues. She said she wanted to be honest with her family.
After the vacation, she began discussing with them the possibility of stepping down from elected leadership. She said it was a difficult but necessary decision.
“It’s like leaving your family… you have the group depending on you, and it’s hard to say goodbye, but it’s not goodbye. I’m still here. I am an elder, I am a member of a group. I live here but…I have to do something else,” Chavers said.
She said her family members supported her. She announced her decision to Bois Forte tribal members Thursday, and she said they also expressed support.
“I’ve gotten a lot of contact from people saying… ‘We’re glad you did this,’ because I’ve always preached, make sure you take care of yourself, because no one is going to take care of you, but I never followed my own advice,” Chavers said.
Chavers will remain in office until the end of January to allow for a transition period.
Bois Forte is one of six member nations that make up the Chippewa Tribe of Minnesota, the federally recognized tribal government that oversees each member nation’s elections.
Per the MCT Election Order, special elections will be held to fill the remainder of Chaver’s four-year term, which expires in June 2028. It is not yet clear when the special elections will be held.
Chavers said she is proud of her work at Bois Forte, particularly her work helping restore more than 28,000 acres of tribally owned land in 2022.
She said she shares these accomplishments with her fellow Bois Forte leaders and employees. She also highlights the use of federal funding to make much-needed updates and improvements to buildings and roads on the reservation.
“It’s been a very positive and nice thing to see,” Chavers said.
She said she has enjoyed building relationships between tribal nations and local, state and federal governments.
“You have to build those relationships and partnerships and educate. It’s all educate, educate, educate,” Chavers said.
Chavers said she intended to continue working, but wanted to find a position that would allow her to “change the subject.”
“I’m going to jump in a vehicle and go a different route,” Chavers said.
Chavers said she looks forward to attending her grandchildren’s hockey and basketball games. She is the grandmother of 8 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
She also said she plans to take some time for herself as well: “I’m looking forward to having some time off.”
Editor’s note: The story has been updated to clarify that Chavers did not attend the group’s Christmas party.