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Reminder: the Secretarial Election is a federal election

While the Sault Tribe’s upcoming secretarial election affects the way the tribe is governed, it is important that tribal citizens note this is a federally administered election conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

These special elections are led by a secretarial election board with a BIA-appointed chairman. Sault Tribe citizens are asked to direct questions regarding the election to Secretarial Election Chairman Nicholas VanAlstine. Mr. VanAlstine may be reached at 906‑632‑6809.

With tabulation night and the deadline to submit ballots set for Nov. 19, the Sault Tribe encourages all registered voters to return their ballots ASAP to ensure their vote counts. For more information on the secretarial election, including the proposed amended constitution as well as the current Sault Tribe constitution, please visit https://saulttribe.com/government/secretarial-election.

 

Sault Tribe Secretarial Election ballots mailed out

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians’ secretarial election enters its final month, with ballots scheduled to be mailed to registered voters by Oct. 26 and election results expected Nov. 19.

Tribal citizens will vote “yes” or “no” on proposed constitutional amendments that would establish three separate, co-equal branches of tribal government: legislative, executive and judicial.

The federally administered election is overseen by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and a Secretarial Election Board. Voter registration closed Oct. 19, and only eligible tribal citizens who registered for this election will receive ballots.

Important upcoming election dates include:

• Oct. 23: Final registered voters List to be posted
• Oct. 26: Ballot packets mailed to registered voters
• Nov. 19: Deadline for ballots to be received 3 p.m. EST. Ballot counting begins at 4 p.m.
• Nov. 24: Deadline to submit written challenges to election results by 4:30 p.m. EST.

Registered voters may return completed ballots through the U.S. Postal Service or hand deliver them on Nov. 19 only, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST, at DreamMakers Theater at Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie.

Ballot packets will include instructions for completing and returning ballots. Ballots will be opened and counted beginning at 4 p.m. on Nov. 19 at DreamMakers Theater, with results expected to be posted that evening.

If approved and certified by the Secretary of the Interior, the amended constitution would take effect.

To prepare for a potential transition, the Sault Tribe Board of Directors approved a Constitution Implementation Plan on Sept. 22. The plan establishes an 18-month timeline for updating tribal laws and codes while maintaining government operations, programs and services.

Tribal citizens can find additional information about the secretarial election, voting procedures, important deadlines and the proposed changes to tribal government on the secretarial election landing page.

Read the Proposed Amended Sault Tribe Constitution here.

 

Sault Tribe Binogii Placement Agency Foster Care Services

Details
Category: Child Placement

The Sault Tribe Binogii Placement Agency is licensed by the state of Michigan to provide foster care services. As a licensed agency, the Sault Tribe Binogii Placement Agency is required to comply with all the rules and regulations established by the state of Michigan. When providing foster care and adoption services through a Purchase of Service (POS) contract, Binogii is acting as an agent of the Department of Human Services (DHS). When cases are referred to the DHS via a court order, they monitor the cases in which the Sault Tribe Binogii Placement Agency provides primary services. Title IV-E funds are accessed for eligible children as Binogii is considered a private contractor. DHS is the gatekeeper of IV-E funds and they determine eligibility. All Sault Tribe children within the seven eastern counties of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (Tribal Service Area) under the jurisdiction of either tribal or state court and in out-of-home placement due to substantiated abuse or neglect are generally referred to the Sault Tribe Binogii Placement Agency for services.

The agency has an annual licensing review by the Bureau of Child and Adult Licensing. This review ensures that the agency provides services in accordance with the Michigan licensing rules for child placing agencies. The agency also has an annual quality assurance and contract compliance review that is conducted by the DHS Office of Contract Compliance. This review ensures that the agency is providing services in compliance with the Michigan Department of Human Services Foster Care Policy.

Tribal children in out-of-home placement and their families, residing in the seven-county service area, receive services through the Sault Tribe Binogii Placement Agency and other program components of ACFS. It is the goal of these services to reunify the family as soon as is feasible and appropriate. Services are provided within the parameters of the permanency planning guidelines of reunification within one year after removal. The following service components are incorporated into the overall services as warranted:

  • Mental health counseling for both child and parent, family counseling, psychological evaluation*
  • Substance abuse counseling or referral for inpatient treatment*
  • Family Support Services (intensive home-based services)*
  • Parenting skills education*
  • Direct services, which include Emergency Assistance, NEW (Native Employment Works), Title IV-B, Child Care Assistance Monies, Domestic Violence Funds, USDA food distribution services
  • Referral to other appropriate community services

* Priority given to children at risk of or in out-of-home placement and their families.

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Photo by Ken Bosma / CC BY