When you hear the name Leonard Fineday in Cass Lake, MN, people usually think of two things: a sharp legal mind and a guy who knows how to move mountains—or at least 11,000 acres of federal land.
He's a big deal. Honestly, it's hard to overstate the impact "Lenny" has had on the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe over the last decade. But as of January 2026, the local political landscape in Cass Lake looks a lot different. After serving as the Secretary/Treasurer for the Reservation Business Committee (RBC), Fineday has officially stepped away from his tribal office.
Why? Because the national stage came calling.
In a move that caught some off guard but made total sense to those who follow tribal law, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) tapped him to be their new General Counsel. He’s gone from managing the books in Cass Lake to defending tribal sovereignty for the entire country in Washington, D.C.
The Local Kid Who Stayed
Leonard Fineday isn't just some suit who flew in for a job. He was born and raised right there in Cass Lake. He's the son of the late Reverend Leonard F. Fineday and Mary Fineday, and he grew up with his feet firmly planted in the soil of Portage Lake near Bena.
You've probably seen him at the grocery store or a school board meeting. Before he was a national legal figure, he was a Cass Lake-Bena Panther. He didn't just leave for college and forget where he came from. After getting his JD from Marquette University Law School, he brought that degree straight back home.
He didn't just jump into the big office, either.
Lenny worked the grind. He was a Self-Governance Coordinator. He was a Legal Director. He even served on the Cass Lake City Council. Basically, if there was a way to help the community function better, Fineday was likely in the room.
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Getting the Land Back (The LLRRA)
If you ask anyone in Cass Lake about Fineday’s legacy, the Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Act (LLRRA) is usually the first thing they mention.
For over a century, the Leech Lake Band had been fighting to get back land that was illegally taken through "secretarial transfers" back in the day. We're talking about roughly 11,700 acres that were essentially snatched and handed over to the Chippewa National Forest.
Fineday was instrumental in the 2020 victory that saw that land returned.
But he didn't stop there. Just last year, in early 2025, he was back in front of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. He was pushing for "technical corrections"—which is lawyer-speak for "finishing the job." He wanted to make sure every last acre was accounted for so the Band could finally build housing and protect wild rice beds without federal red tape.
A Resignation That Shook the RBC
On December 22, 2025, the news hit that Fineday was resigning, effective January 2, 2026.
In Cass Lake, this was a massive shift. As Secretary/Treasurer, he was the guy keeping the Band’s finances transparent. He was obsessed with "clean audits" and making sure tribal members actually knew where the money was going before decisions were made.
There wasn't a special election to fill his seat.
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Because the regular election was already on the books for March 31, the Tribal Council decided to leave the position vacant. District III Representative Leon Staples took over the signature authority in the interim. It’s a bit of a "holding pattern" for the Band right now as they look for someone who can fill those very large legal shoes.
The St. Regis Superfund Headache
One thing Fineday hasn't been able to fully "fix"—mostly because it's a multi-generational mess—is the St. Regis Superfund site in Cass Lake.
If you live in the area, you know the story. Decades of wood treatment chemicals (creosote and pentachlorophenol) soaked into the ground. It’s a toxic legacy right in the middle of town. Fineday spent a huge chunk of his time as Secretary/Treasurer leaning on the EPA to speed up the cleanup.
He also secured a nearly $20 million grant for a new Division of Resource Management facility just before he left.
His concern, which he voiced to Senator Tina Smith, was that shifting federal priorities or executive orders might freeze that money. He’s been a watchdog for Cass Lake's environmental health, often acting as the only person willing to call out the federal government’s slow-walking of the remediation process.
Why the NCAI Move Matters
So, where is Leonard Fineday now? He’s the General Counsel for the NCAI in Washington, D.C.
This isn't just a career promotion. It’s a strategic move for Indian Country.
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The NCAI is the oldest and largest organization representing tribal interests. By having a guy from Cass Lake—someone who has literally been a tribal judge in Red Lake and White Earth, and a General Counsel for two different nations—leading their legal strategy, the Midwest gets a massive voice.
He’s not just a "paper lawyer." He’s a "nation-building lawyer."
What This Means for Cass Lake Residents
With Lenny in D.C., some people in Cass Lake feel like they’ve lost their best advocate. It’s a valid worry. Who is going to keep the pressure on for the St. Regis cleanup? Who is going to ensure the next 4,000 acres of land restoration stay on the congressional calendar?
However, having a "local boy" in a position of national power usually pays dividends.
Fineday still has deep roots in Minnesota. He’s still a member of the Cass Lake-Bena School Board (for now) and maintains ties with the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association.
Actionable Steps for Those Following Leonard Fineday’s Work
If you're a tribal member or a resident of Cass Lake-Bena wondering how this transition affects you, here are the practical things to keep an eye on:
- Watch the March 31 Election: This is the big one. The Secretary/Treasurer role is the financial backbone of the Leech Lake Band. Look for candidates who prioritize the "transparency" model Fineday championed.
- Follow the NCAI Cannabis Task Force: Fineday has been a leader here. If you’re interested in how tribal nations navigate the complex legalities of the cannabis industry, his work at the NCAI will likely define the national framework.
- Monitor the St. Regis EPA Updates: Since the $19.9M grant for the new DRM facility was one of Lenny’s final "wins," it's crucial to ensure the new administration follows through on the construction and the continued cleanup of the Superfund site.
- Land Restoration Progress: Keep track of S.622, the Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Amendments Act. Even though Fineday isn't sitting in the office in Cass Lake, his fingerprints are all over this bill. Its passage will be the final chapter of his local land-rights work.
Leonard Fineday’s journey from a kid on the Leech Lake Reservation to the top legal advisor for the NCAI is a rare trajectory. He didn't just climb the ladder; he brought his community along with him. While Cass Lake might miss his daily presence, his new role ensures that the issues facing Northern Minnesota—sovereignty, land rights, and environmental justice—are being discussed in the highest halls of power.