Susan Klapel

Susan Klapel is currently a Special Consultant to the Commissioner of Health and Human Service at the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Twenty years ago she started working as a conservation officer for the Mille Lacs Band. Eventually she was appointed to the Commissioner of Natural Resources for Mille Lacs Band.  Being the first woman to hold this position was challenging enough, but adding concerns about pipelines, mining and declining walleye populations on Minnesota's premier fishing lake Mille Lacs, it was a struggle.  Since then she has worked for the Chief Executive as the Deputy Assistant and to her current position in Health and Human services. Susan currently sits on the Woodland National Bank Board of Directors and was elected secretary for the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission during her appointment to the Board of Commissioners.