Benjamin Swankier

General Counsel | Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe

Benjamin “Ben” Swankier serves as General Counsel for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, advising the Tribal Council and overseeing legal operations for tribal enterprises. A descendant of the Leech Lake and Lac Courte Oreilles Bands, his practice centers on protecting tribal sovereignty, advancing economic development, and navigating complex regulatory landscapes, including gaming and tribal cannabis governance.

Swankier earned his Juris Doctor from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in 2023, where he graduated with a certificate from the Native American Law and Sovereignty Institute. During his studies, he served as Vice President of the Native American Law Student Association and was named the 2022 Post-Secondary Student of the Year by the Minnesota Indian Education Association. Today, he remains actively involved in the legal community, serving on the Native American Law and Sovereignty Institute Advisory Board and collaborating with the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association.