PRESORTED Inside this Sota Sota Per Copy STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE SWO declares state of emergency due to blizzard, power outages, flooding risk PAID Council suspends Chairwoman Robertson; Removal hearing Friday, March 29 ORTONVILLE, MN PERMIT NO. 3 Chairwoman, Tribal Secretary February 2019 reports; news from Council meetings Change service requested Emergency aid needed for Santee, Pine Ridge reservations Sota Iya Ye Yapi, P.O. Box 5, Wilmot, SD 57279 ¢ Sandbag operation underway at SWHA garage at Sisseton; Flood risk levels high Contents – Time-Dated News/Do Not Delay Correcting a misunderstanding: There is no current Tribal justice center plan Mailed at Ortonville, MN, Monday, March 25, 2019 75 Historical look at Sisseton-Wahpeton alcohol prevention/recovery resources Publication of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe of the Lake Traverse Reservation since 1968 Vol. 50 March - Ista Wicayazan Wi - “Moon of Snow Blind Eyes” - Anpetu Iyamni - March 27, 2019 No. 13 Last Tuesday morning, March to perform the duties of office. payout and therefore … in violation requirement to provide the Tribal 19th, following an executive session, The Council alleges gross of Section 4(b)2, Misuse of office; Chairwoman with written statement Tribal Council passed resolution neglect of duties by failing to Code of Ethics of the SWO Revised of charges against her at least five SWO-19-014 suspending Ella follow the Accounting Policy when Constitution and By-Laws. (5) days prior to the hearing date Robertson from the Tribal Chair Chairwoman Robertson obtained 4. Section 4(b)4. Malfeasance of March 29, 2019, and that this TRIBAL COUNCIL Tribal funds or other resources for position, with pay, until a removal an unbudgeted leave payout without of Office. resolution shall be served to the RESOLUTION NO. SWO-19-016 such purposes; (d) to make rules hearing which will take place in authorization and therefore … in Based on the above-described Tribal Chairwoman within the time Declare a State of Emergency on governing the relationship of the Council chambers this Friday, violation of Section 4(a)1, Gross charges, the Council alleges that required. the Lake Traverse Reservation members of the Tribe, to Tribal March 29th. incompetency: unable or unwilling Tribal Chairwoman Robertson, (RESOLVED) … Tribal Passed by Tribal Council Tuesday, property, and to one another as Here are highlights: to perform the duties of office; in her official capacity, committed Council determines the need March 19, 2019 members of the Tribe; (e) to hire *Tribal Council has been made Code of Ethics of the SWO Revised a wrongful act by initiating, to suspend, with pay, Tribal WHEREAS, The Sisseton- employees and agents, including aware of alleged misconduct of Constitution and By-Laws. processing, and receiving the 2017 Chairwoman Robertson from her Wahpeton Oyate is organized under legal counsel, directly or as Tribal Chairwoman Robertson. 2. Section 4(b)1. Converting leave payout. And further allege an elected position until the outcome a Constitution and By-laws adopted independent contractors, and to *Due to the nature of the tribal property or monies without act of self-interest by expediting the of the hearing; and nothing in by the members of the compensate them for alleged misconduct, Tribal Council authorization through omission or issuance of payment to herself and this Resolution shall be construed Tribe on August 1-2, their services; (f) to has determined that suspension misrepresentation of facts. therefore … in violation of Section to deny the Tribal Chairwoman 1966, and approved deposit Tribal funds to is warranted, pending a removal The Council alleges 4(b)4, Malfeasance of Office; Code access to all official Oyate records by the Commissioner the credit of the Tribe, hearing, for Gross Neglect and Chairwoman Robertson by- of Ethics of the SWO Revised needed to defend herself against of Indian Affairs on without limitations Improper Conduct. passed the prescribed signature Constitution and By-Laws. the charges; and nothing in this August 25, 1966, and of the amount in any *It is the goal of the Tribal process and administered the leave *Section 55-01-09 of the Resolution shall be construed last amended effective account; (g) to take any Council to ensure that Tribal payout without authorization Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribal to make any conclusions of fact November 15, 2006; and action by ordinance, resolution, Chairwoman Robertson’s suspension and therefore she is in violation Code states: “A person so accused or law, or otherwise prejudge, WHEREAS, The Constitution or otherwise which are reasonably is followed promptly by removal of Section 4(b)1, Converting may be suspended from his/her whether or not, Tribal Chairwoman ARTICLE Ill, Section 1, states necessary through committees, proceedings where she shall be tribal property or monies without position with or without pay until Robertson’s conduct constitutes that, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate boards, agents or otherwise, to carry afforded the full opportunity to authorization through omission or such time guilt or innocence has improper conduct, malfeasance of shall be governed by a Council, and into effect the for-going purposes; defend herself against the charges misrepresentation of facts; Code been established. If the allegations office or violations of policy; that ARTICLE VII, Section 1, states (h) to promote public health, of Gross Neglect and Improper of Ethics of the SWO Revised are not substantiated, the person/ effective immediately Chairwoman that, the Council shall have the education, charity, and such other Conduct. Constitution and By-Laws. defendant should be restored to full Robertson is suspended, with following powers: (a) to represent services as may contribute to the *The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate 3. Section 4(b)2. Misuse of duties and responsibilities.” pay, pending a Removal Hearing the Tribe in all negotiations social advancement of the members Constitution and By-Laws grants office. *In addition to its express scheduled for March 29, 2019, at with Federal, State and local of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate; the DCA and/or the Tribal Council The Council alleges misuse Constitutional duties and 10:00 a.m., in the Tribal Council governments; (b) to acquire, own, (i) adopt resolutions regulating the the authority to determine improper of office when she obtained an responsibilities, Chapter 55 clearly chambers. use, manage, lease and otherwise procedures of the Tribal Council, conduct and the Tribal Council has unbudgeted leave payout after permits the Tribal Council to All voted in favor of the encumber and to dispose of Tribal its officials and committees in the determined the following charges having been denied by the former suspend members of the Tribal resolution, which was signed by property, both real and personal, conduct of Tribal Affairs; and support the alleged Gross Neglect Tribal Chairman and Tribal Council pending a final removal Tribal Vice-Chairman Floyd Kirk wherever situated; (c) to engage WHEREAS, beginning in and Improper Conduct of office: Council. Tribal Council alleges hearing. Jr. and Tribal Secretary Myrna in any business that will further 1. Section 4(a)1. Gross that she used her position as Tribal *The Tribal Council Thompson. the economic development of the Emergency declaration incompetency: unable or unwilling Chairwoman to obtain the leave acknowledges their constitutional Tribe and its Members, and to use Continued on Page 20 Tribal Council went into Chairwoman’s written report.) from elderly Tribal members. It is an option being explored added to the discussion. Tribal Attorney Deb Flute regular session last Tuesday After the Chairwoman’s report, And she asked for changes by the Tribal Secretary’s office and There was consensus that the was called to Council chambers morning, March 19th, with an Council went into executive session. made to Tribal code. Dakotah Pride Center. process needs to be overhauled for to give a legal opinion on what is agenda that had been postponed When coming out of executive Audrey German, Manager of Sara provided Council with a the sake of “fairness.” public information and what is twice due to winter storms. session, Council suspended the the Community Health Education 50-year history of alcohol/recovery Lorraine added “outside and confidential. Milton “Nippy” Owen, Old Chairwoman and Tribal Vice- program, reported on a Great Plains treatment provided on the Lake objective” to whoever assumes Council decided to release Agency District Councilman, gave Chairman Floyd Kirk Jr. began Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board Traverse Reservation (which is being responsibility for grievance hearing the resolution passed that morning the opening prayer. chairing. (GPTCHB) grant for $20,000. published elsewhere in this Sota). outcomes. which suspended the Chairwoman, First on the agenda was Council reviewed and approved The funding is for a Tribal The Judicial Committee was on The District Chairmen’s but no supporting evidence – approval of the requests for budget women’s health initiative and mini the morning agenda. Association (DCA) was on the which had been shared with the February draft modifications before health fair. Lorraine Rosseau introduced afternoon agenda. Chairwoman – would be released. minutes. Tribal Secretary (Editor’s note: See notices and members to Council. After giving their reports, DCA members received copies Chairwoman Myrna Thompson news elsewhere in this Sota about Following a noon break, District executives engaged with of