Can this man put a smile on your face? (video, photos)

Promising to work to put a smile on the face of anyone who wasn't smiling, Joe McCoy was sworn in last night at the new chairman of Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

But most of the faces in the crowded main ballroom at Kewadin Sault Ste. Marie were indeed smiling last night.

A video captured by SooToday.com's Tyler Simpson can be viewed below, and a gallery of photos taken at last night's event appears beneath it.

The tribe issued the following statement:

************************* McCoy takes oath as new tribal chairman

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI - The Sault Tribe’s new chairman and six newly elected board members took their oath of office on the evening of July 2 in front of a large crowd of supporters, family, and friends at the Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie.

Darwin (Joe) McCoy was officially sworn in as the new chairman of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

Cathy M. Abramson (Unit 1), Joseph V. Eitrem (Unit 1), Bernard A. Bouschor (Unit 1), Lana E. Causley (Unit 2), Patrick D. Rickley (Unit 3), and Tom Miller (Unit 4) also took their oath of office and will represent their respective units for the next four years as members of the Sault Tribe board of directors.

Chairman McCoy recited the acceptance of office and tribal oath by stating, “I Darwin (Joe) McCoy, having been elected to the office of chairman of the board of directors of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians for a term of four years, beginning July 2, 2008, do hereby accept said office and affirm my eligibility for same as a member and qualified voter of the tribe, I do solemnly swear, that I will support the constitution of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of chairman of the board of directors of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians according to the best of my ability. In discharging those duties, I will honor the Seven teachings of our people: love, respect, honesty, humility, truth, wisdom and bravery.”

Each of the newly elected board members also recited the oath and then gathered as a group to recite the Ojibwa Oath in our native language.

Translated into English, the oath reads, “Continually as our ancestor we in the past, and are now and will continually be forever; I will honor the Anishnabe way of life.”

The six board members being honored gave a brief heart-felt thanks to the tribe, as well as their family, friends, supporters and those in attendance.

Chairman McCoy followed by addressing the crowd with an acceptance speech and received a thunderous applause from those in attendance as he stepped up to the podium.

“Thank you, Thank you, this is a real honor,” stated McCoy. “I want to thank my family, my mother, and all of you out there smiling. It’s great to see you all smiling. It's nice coming up here following all the board members. The good thing is, they said everything I wanted to say. I just want to keep all those smiling faces out there, and for those of you who aren’t smiling; give us a chance, we’ll put a smile on your face,” said McCoy.

The ceremony concluded with a feast and spirited closing song from the Bahweting Singers.

The first scheduled board meeting with Chairman McCoy and the newest members of the board of directors will take place on Tuesday, July 8 at 2 p.m. in Sault Ste. Marie.

The first order of business is the election of officers.

Full transcript of Chairman McCoy's oath and speech *************************