LEECH LAKE CHAIRMAN DEFIES LATEST ATTEMPT BY COUNCIL TO UNDERMINE THE
POSITION OF CHAIRMAN
"I do this out of respect for tribal government and out of respect for the
people. The standoff I'm at with the council will probably continue and I
just want to reiterate that I don't recognize the authority of the court,"
Further stating that the the Minnesota Chippewa Tribal Court has been a
mere election appeals panel until now and lacks the jurisdiction to become
involved in the fight between him and the rest of the Leech Lake Tribal
Council, Chairman Eli Hunt tore up the restraining order sought by other
council members.
On Wednesday, July 31, Chairman Hunt suspended Secretary-Treasurer Daniel
Brown. without pay, and he will ask the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to
order a recall election toi fill Brown's position. Brown was informed of a
recall petition by the people of Leech Lake at a public meeting on July 15
and under the tribal constitution the council had 15 days to schedule a
hearing on the petition charges. The council has not acted on the
petition, so the constitution stipulates that the BIA consider the charges,
and if valid, set a recall election.
Respresentatives from the 12 local Indian councls across the reservation
will meet to suggest an interim replacement for Brown. The process will be
used to fill all interim opening on the council. Councilor Myron Ellis was
informed of similar recall petition charges on July 19. Petitions are
currently circulating for the removal of Coucil members Alfred Fairbanks
Jr. and Jack Seeyle.
In a news release issued Wednesday, Chairman Hunt said the court action is
just the latest in a string of attempts by the council to undermine the
position of chairman. "These council members have also harbored, among
them, one convicted felon and another who has admitted and pleaded guilty
in federal court to misappropriation of federal funds. One of the illegal
actions that the four have taken was to give jurisdiction to the Minnesota
Chippew Tribe Court of Appeals over the chairman and the Leech Lake
Reservation.
"The constitution of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe does not authorize the
formation of such a court. The field solicitor of the Department of the
Interior has repeatedly taken the position that such a court is illegal,
without a valid constitutional amendment voted on by the people of the
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe."
A drum group called the Leech Lake Ojibwe Singers played near an
anti-Tribal Council protest outside Tribal Headquarters in Cass Lake on
Wednesday. The unity group was drumming to "heal tribal government and put
the power back in the hands of the people,"
*****************************************************************************
MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA TRIBE SUMMIT
SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 1996
AT 9 A.M.
AT MASH-KA-WISEN POW WOW
AT SAWYER MINNESOTA
ON THE FOND DU LAC RESERVATION
All tribal members -- Leech Lake, White Earth, Bois Forte, Fond du Lac,
Milles Lacs, Grand Portage -- are invited to participate in the first
tribal summit. Come hear, come speak. Let's come together. Issues to
discussed are:
-Constitutional amendment: Amendement III
-Establishment of Tribal Courts: MCT Ordinance #15
-Full Government Authority or Business Committees
-Poiwer of the TEC
Bernard J. Rock, Sr.
Leech Lake Pillager Band
Spotted Eagle Warrior Society
North Central Minnesota Native American Veterans Outreach and Resource
Center