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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.

 

Prevention

Details
Category: Child Placement

The ACFS Prevention Program is considered to be the most important means to promote the well being of Sault Tribe children and their families within our community. Ongoing reviews of client contact through Protective Services, Prevention and Family Continuity programs indicate that the majority of clients have multiple needs affecting their ability to parent and provide their children safe and stable environments. This is a home-based program with a mandated minimum monthly face-to-face contact with the family.

Prevention activities are implemented so children can continue to remain safely in their own homes. Prevention services may be short- or long-term based upon each individual family’s needs. A family need not be in a crisis situation to access Prevention services. Based on an assessment of risk to the child, and the needs of the family, services may include:

  • Intensive home based services
  • Referrals to substance abuse and mental health counseling/therapy services
  • Referrals to and assistance with processing applications for financial assistance, job assistance, or other assistance with financial planning
  • Referrals to other Tribal programs or community agencies
  • Parenting education

Support to the family to address needs identified by client and family such as school issues, legal issues, housing issues, medical issues or any issue identified as a need by the family.

 

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Photo by Ken Bosma / CC BY