Tribal council recall petition sent
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Editor,
The Petition for CSKT Constitutional Amendment of Article V: Vacancies and Removal from Office, a recall petition containing more than 1,400 Tribal members’ signatures, is now on the desk of the Director of the BIA at the Portland office.
This vital change to our constitution was never more needed than now with the most recent episode of Councilman Ron Trahan’s conduct at the Quarterly Council Meeting on July 5. His outburst of cursing, calling some of the membership “greedy,” and abruptly leaving the meeting to go to the Pow Wow while Tribal member Thomas Lozeau Jr. was addressing the entire Council was completely unacceptable by any standards. Lozeau presented a letter to the Council on July 9 requesting the removal of Councilman Trahan. Lozeau felt Councilman Trahan was guilty of “improper conduct or gross neglect of duty,” under Article V, Section 2 of the CSKT Constitution. Lozeau further states his civil rights were violated under Article VII, Bill of Rights, Section 3, which includes that “all members may enjoy without hindrance freedom of speech.” Resolution No. 06-48, Updated Code of Conduct for Tribal Elected Officials, Section I states that “the tribal membership is entitled to accountability, loyalty and integrity from their tribal officials and employees.”
In Chairman Durglo’s letter of response to Lozeau on July 11, he states, “Your allegation that Councilman Trahan’s exit from the Quarterly meeting deprived you of your Tribal Constitutional Rights is unfounded.” And “simply being unhappy or even offended at a Councilmember’s reaction to the statements of a Tribal member does not rise to a violation of the Tribal Constitution,” and “no further action on this claim is required.”
Membership, although our Tribal Constitution gives us rights, the way it is written now the Tribal Council has sole authority deciding if these rights are being violated. They are the only authority to judge misconduct or recall issues. The membership is at the mercy of all of their decisions with no recourse.
If we can recall them by a membership vote as the petition is requesting, we may curb some of what seems to be an abuse of power by our Tribal government.
Peoples’ Voice Media
Donna Orr, St. Ignatius
Joyce Mitchell, Ronan
Joelene Frey, Polson
