Announcement about Sault Tribe referendum

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE TRIBE OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS

******************** Inland consent decree ready for referendum

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI (September 18) - The Sault Tribe board of directors received notification the inland consent decree is now complete and ready to be mailed out with the referendum ballots.

On August 14, the board of directors approved to conduct a referendum to decide whether or not the Sault Tribe should enter into a permanent agreement with the state and federal government regarding tribal members’ treaty rights related to inland fishing, hunting, and gathering.

The decision to conduct the referendum was contingent upon the completion of the consent decree and creation of the ballot language.

The board approved the ballot language for the upcoming referendum on September 17 during a special meeting.

The referendum will ask members: “Do you approve or disapprove of resolution: Authorization to Ratify the Inland Consent Decree?”

Tribal officials have been working to create an “inland consent decree,” which is an agreement between five Northern Michigan tribes, the State of Michigan, and the federal government that defines and details the specific treaty rights of tribal members.

An “agreement in principle” was signed by all parties last summer, which committed all those involved to work together to formulate an agreement or settlement.

The referendum ballot is currently being printed and prepared for mailing.

Members should expect to receive their referendum packets in the mail soon.

The inland consent decree, agreement in principl, and an inland fishing, hunting and gathering rights summary will be provided to tribal members along with the referendum ballot.

“This issue has languished for well over a year. Unnecessary opposition from select board members has delayed the inevitable. Fortunately, in the end, good government won out. Seven board members voted to hold a referendum to let the people decide. No more action is necessary, the people of the Sault Tribe will vote on whether or not to ratify our permanent treaty rights in the U.S. v. Michigan Consent Decree,” said Chairperson Aaron Payment.

“I want to thank those board members who voted to respect the will of the people: Todd Gravelle, Dennis McKelvie (both Unit 1), Bob LaPoint (Unit 2), Keith Massaway (Unit 3), Denise Chase, Tom Miller (both Unit 4), and Shirley Petosky (Unit 5),” Payment added.

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