On Wednesday U.S. District Judge Michael Davis refused to reinstate ousted
Tribal Chairman Darrell "Chip" Wadena. One of Wadena's attorneys argued
that Wadena should be reinstalled as chairman, at least until election
challenges are sorted out. Wadena's attorneys contending "Allowing the BIA
to proceed as it has [recognizing the interim government at WE] sets a
terrible precedemt. It encourages, across the United States, virtual
anarchy by anyone who would claim to be the leader of an Indian tribe,
nation or band."
BIA attorney Robert Small said the agency's action was reasonable,
in light of convictions of a quorum of the five council members. "This was
an unprecedented action because the (BIA's) director was faced with
unprecedented circumstances."
Former federal Judge Miles Lord, now a special legal council to the
interim White Earth Tribal Council, also argued that other factors are at
play. He told Judge Davis that Wadena is challenging the election in hopes
that one of his supporters will win and grant him amnesty for the hundreds
of thousands of dollars Wadena was convicted of stealing.
[Wadena's son, Tony, still holds a position on the White Earth
Tribal Council.]
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