Lack of notice postpones tribal chairman election
Tribal members also given presentation on bond issue
Heather Holmes – General Manager – Lakeland Times
More than 120 Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Indians tribal members gathered at the public school Saturday to see the seating of a new tribal council chairman, but a snafu in noticing the meeting resulted in a chairman not being selected and the planning for a future meeting to address the issue.
The tribe has been without a council chairman since Carl Edwards resigned his position last November.
The selection was abruptly halted shortly into the meeting when tribal council member Joe Wildcat offered a voice of concern that the meeting was not properly noticed.
He said he had not received a letter in the mail, and other tribal council members also had not been properly noticed. The tribal constitution states that five days written notice are required to be given to all council members
Tribal council vice president Dee Mayo said that the meeting was discussed at a recent council meeting, and that it was also posted on a door. Recently-elected tribal secretary Betty Graveen took ownership of the non-notification, citing her newness in her elected position.
Council members agreed and the selection process could not continue due to the lack of proper notice.
Tribal members who were in attendance suggested having a special meeting, to elect a chairman.
Tribal member Frank Wildcat inquired about the submission deadline for candidate paperwork, citing names were being added to the list of candidates after the deadline.
“I was in the enrollment office at 3:30 on the 15th, and there were nine names on the list. The next morning, there was 10, including William Beson’s,” council member Goldie Larsen said.
Mayo then reviewed the candidates’ information, and discovered that the only candidate to submit his letter on time was Brooks Big John, who earlier requested that his name be removed from the candidate list.
A member of the audience reacted by saying that she was tired of being lied to, and wanted her name added to the list of candidates if the council were to allow this chairman selection process to continue.
Tribal member Tom Maulson said the selection process should be started over – a suggestion other tribal members applauded.
Graveen then reiterated her fault on the notification issue, and said they have “gotten along without a president,” and that things were going OK.
However, she later clarified her statement to say that she agreed that a president was needed, and agreed that they need a leader to help get out of debt, and look out for the reservation.
“I think that is what the goal of the entire council here. I am looking for a leader, too,” Graveen said.
The meeting to address the process for the election of a chairman is to be scheduled in the near future.
The money
Interim tribal administrator Buzz Beson discussed the recent bond issue with tribal members.
Several years ago, the tribe wished to expand their opportunities for revenue, and became involved in a project to build a riverboat casino in Natchez, Miss.
The Lake of the Torches issued bonds and entered a trust indenture with Wells Faro Bank to fund the Mississippi casino. The project has been plagued with problems since the onset, and is still not in operation. The income from the riverboat was to repay the bonds.
Wells Fargo Bank recently alleged that the Lake of the Torches Economic Development Corporation breached a Trust Indenture agreement, and filed a motion for the appointment of a receiver.
On Jan. 6, The United States District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, issued an order dismissing the case, citing that the entire contract was void.
The trust indenture was executed without prior approval from the National Indian Gaming Commission, and without approval, the contract is void. Wells Fargo Bank has 30 days to appeal the decision.
The tribal council resolved to stop paying on the bond, and claims that federal and state authorities continue to investigate all involved in the project, and those who committed fraud are being pursued by attorneys.
Maulson asked for clarification regarding where the revenue from the Lake of the Torches Resort Casino is now going. Council members assured the tribe that a special account is in place, and that is where the money is being deposited.
In question tribal members are the trust accounts that were set up with Wells Fargo Bank for their children. The trust accounts are showing losses, and council member Barry Lesieur said that the loss in the trust accounts was due to the loss in the market, and that Wells Fargo used the trust funds to prop their stock up.
“They may be liable for damages,” LeSieur said.
Brandon Thoms, a tribal member, recently learned that the Wall Street Journal is working on a story regarding the entire financial situation that the tribe faces.
“The entire country is watching us,” he said. “This situation should serve as an example. If the [tribal] government would have listened to the people, the people wouldn’t be in this position. If we would have just listened to our own people …”
This is an older post but very fitting.
Tribal members says:
January 10, 2010 at 1:42 amIT was the tribal members that decided enough was enough. They got rid of the bad council and put in a new one. Now all of the council needs to keep moving forward and those who are bitching need to pay attention to how they look by complaining or stabbing others in the back. I would try to get as educated as I could before making complaints. This is far from over, and now that the pressure is off a bit is the time to start moving forward.
Now, another thing, transparency as either an action or obligation, is not yet written within our Tribal Constitution. So those of you who keep screaming for it, put in a letter of interest to get appointed to the Constitution committee and, as we definately need Constitutional Reform.
Also we must expect that our Council will perform the duties required of their office.The Council should set the mode for the rest of our employees