Primary Election Results Tribe Negotiating Treaty Rights
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THE SAULT TRIBE NEWS Visit us online at www.saulttribe.com (O)De'imin Giizis “Strawberry Moon” Win Awenen Nisitotung “One Who Understands” June 1, 2006 • Vol. 26 No. 7 Primary election results Tribe negotiating treaty rights BY CORY WILSON without carefully reviewing and Sault Tribe's negotiations with discussing the terms of the agree- the State of Michigan regarding ment. The tribes and the state have treaty rights and the tribe's sover- been negotiating since May 2005. eign right to self regulate their Terms of the agreement are unable inland fishing, hunting and gather- to be disclosed to the public, due ing rights has been a lengthy to strict confidentiality agreement endeavor. The 1836 Treaty tribes negotiated by both parties. were set to go to court this past The Sault Tribe Board of Direc- January over the interpretation of tors participated in several ses- article thirteen of the treaty which sions during the last seven months 'stipulate(s) for the right of hunting to review any potential settlement. on the lands ceded with the other The tribe has taken an active usual privileges of occupancies role in obtaining tribe member Members of the Election Committee look at questionable ballots during the primary vote count. until the land is required for settle- feedback regarding this issue. ment.' The tribes and the state have Early last fall, an extensive survey BY CORY WILSON which includes Chippewa, Mackinac, Luce, School- a long history of differing opinions was conducted on tribe members' Thirty-four candidates vying for a seat as a tribal craft, Alger, Delta and Marquette counties are di- board of directors member was narrowed to 12 vided into five units. Each unit is represented by an on what should or shouldn't be al- preferences for exercising the right following the conclusion of the public ballot count elected tribe member who serves on the tribe’s board lowed when it comes to exercising to inland fish, hunt and gather. on May 18. The primary election was required to of directors. The number of board representatives these rights. Over 3,000 members responded. reduce the candidate pool to twice the number of per unit is based on unit population. The 13-member The Great Lakes portion of the Twenty-two public meetings seats up for the election. Tribe members will get a board of directors is the governing body of the Sault initial trial was settled pursuant to were also conducted throughout voting choice of two candidates per open seat during Tribe. Each board member is elected to a four-year a consent decree in 1985 and 2000. the seven-county service area the general election. The top two candidates garner- term by the tribal membership in a general election The inland portion of the case is and northern lower Michigan to ing the most votes in the Unit II, III, and V primaries by a mail-in ballot. currently being litigated and was further obtain the concerns of tribe advanced to the general election. The top four candi- The unofficial results of the 2006 primary elec- previously scheduled for trial in members. dates collecting the most votes in the Unit I primary tion of the Sault Tribe Board of Directors indicated, January but the court agreed to a Collectively, the tribal govern- will also advanced to the general election. All of the Dennis McKelvie (933), DJ Hoffman (842), Darwin delay to allow for more negotia- ing body has indicated they feel election units, except Unit IV, will be subjected to (Joe) McCoy (571), and Nathan Wright (512) were a primary election due to the number of candidates. the top four vote getters in Unit I, therefore advanc- tions. The option of reviewing and confident they have gained the Unit IV has only two candidates running for office, ing all four candidates to the general election to negotiating an out of court settle- important feedback needed from therefore candidates Denise Chase and Ron Powers compete for two seats up for election. Other Unit ment was mutually agreed upon by the membership in order to negoti- will both appear on the general election ballot. I candidates receiving votes included Ken Eagle tribal officials and the state. This ate in the best interests of tribe Six board seats are up for election this term, (418), Steven Morello (361), Henry Boulley Jr. issue is being scrutinized very members. Following the intensive which include two seats in Unit I, one seat in Unit (322), Jackie Halfaday-Minton (305), Lynne Weaver carefully to ensure a settlement is collection of membership input, II, one seat in Unit III, one seat in Unit IV, and one (299), Charles Forgrave (249), Donna Marble (247), in the best interest of tribe mem- the board then voted 11:1 to autho- seat in Unit V. All primary winners will appear on Sharon Fegan (204), Jason Oberle (131), Tom bers. By reviewing the settlement rize a team to negotiate a possible the general election ballot which is scheduled for Rapson (118), Sheila Berger (99) and Toni Osterhout option, the Sault Tribe has indicat- settlement consistent with tribal distribution on June 1. The general election date is (90). ed they are not going to arbitrarily members' desires. set for June 22. dismiss the idea of a settlement –– Continued on page 16 The Sault Tribe’s seven-county service area, –– Continued on page 16 Constitutional Convention Committee looking for member input BY BRENDA AUSTIN side the service area is available are going to be the tribe’s future. discussions at future meetings. Even the membership who have The Constitutional Convention at www.saulttribe.com. Click on Youth from Sault Ste. Marie also Before moving on to the next attended past meetings have been Committee was formed to review the constitution project link and attended a meeting held in the area, which would be executive impressed with how the commit- and make suggestions for the choose from schedules, meeting Sault and I was impressed with functions, the committee com- tee gets into fact finding and open development of a new tribal con- reports, agenda and committee them as well. We need more par- pletes its review and suggestions communications. The committee stitution. The 29-member com- members. Committee members ticipation from tribal elders to on the topic it is currently work- has been very successful in what mittee began holding monthly also welcome phone calls with guide the committee both cultur- ing on. There are a lot of changes it was asked to accomplish.” meetings in March to gather tribe your ideas and suggestions. ally and spiritually. It is important being made and issues that are Causley said he encourages member input and suggestions. Causley said input from the they are there to do that,” Causley being addressed,” he said. members to attend meetings to The monthly meetings are held Cheboygan and Sault Ste. Marie said. Causley said he is impressed find out what issues are being throughout the tribe’s seven-coun- areas has been good but some There are three areas the com- with the 29 members of the com- discussed and evaluate what the ty service area and are scheduled outlying areas including St. mittee is addressing; judicial, leg- mittee. “For such a large group of committee is doing. “We are to continue through the month of Ignace, Hessel and Manistique islative and executive functions. people it is going amazingly well. doing what we can to make sure December. need to become more involved. The committee recently com- There are about 25 committee the membership is aware of what Committee Chairman John “Our youth and elders have a pleted their review and sugges- members who have consistently the committee is doing and where Causley Jr. stressed the impor- chance to change our tribal con- tions for changes to the judicial made it to the meetings. There the meetings will take place,” he tance of all tribe members, stitution. Some youth from the system, and is currently working has been some conflict but we said. regardless of where they live, Youth Education and Activities on legislative issues. “We began welcome it; it opens up communi- becoming involved in the devel- (YEA) program in Hessel par- the review of the legislative por- cation. The personalities involved –– Continued on page 16 opment of the new constitution. ticipated at the meeting there. We tion of this process at our meeting on the committee are good at A Web page for those living out- welcome youth participation; they in Cheboygan and will continue getting the conversations going. Powwow ad 21 In This Issue Young Scholars Program 22-26 Police report 2 Kewadin Casino 27 News 3 News of other nations 28 Chairperson's report 4 ACFS 29 News 5 Health 30 & 31 49735 Meeting briefs and unit reports 6-9 Education 32 MI Gaylord, Obituaries 33 30 No. Permit Political ads and misc. 10-17 PAID People 18, 19 Calendar 34 Postage U.S. Photo gallery 20 Advertisements 35-40 STD PRSRT OLICE AND EWS THE SAULT TRIBE NEWS Page 2 P N June 1, 2006 • Trial rescheduled for lawsuit Mentoring today against former chairman for tomorrow’s BY CORY J. WILSON ties, and fraudulent. This action of the trial will remain in Sault The trial date pertaining to was taken by the former Chair- Ste. Marie. the civil suit between the Sault man Bernard Bouschor in June of Previously, as reported in local Tribe, former Chairman Bernard 2004, following the incumbent’s newspapers from a press release futurecess. Bouschor, and seven former key unsuccessful re-election bid.