BEMIDJI 鈥� The Beltrami County Historical Society will host a public panel titled "Women Elected to Lead: Voices from Local Government" at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, at the Beltrami County History Center.
As part of an ongoing series recognizing the significant impact of women in shaping Beltrami County, this panel will feature three women with firsthand experience in public office.
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Local historian Lois Jenkins will moderate the discussion and offer historical context about women who have served in elected office throughout the region.
Panelists include:
- Rita Albrecht, who served four terms as mayor of Bemidji following her election in 2012. She previously served on the Bemidji City Council and has been a longtime advocate for sustainable land use and public engagement. In 2021, she was appointed co-chair of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources.
- Gwenia Fiskevold-Gould, current Bemidji City Council representative, who has been active in discussions surrounding community infrastructure, business development and neighborhood engagement.
- Elaine Fleming, who made history in 2003 when she was elected the first female and first Ojibwe mayor of Cass Lake. She served two terms and has remained active as a professor at Leech Lake Tribal College and host of the radio program "History of Leech Lake." She is also known for her environmental advocacy and oral history work.
Panelists will explore the challenges, responsibilities and rewards of local leadership and the importance of civic participation and representation, a release said.
The event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information about this event, visit or contact the Historical Society at (218) 444-3376 or via email at depot@beltramihistory.org.
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