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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.

Details: Category: Culture; Published: 05 July 2011

Naadin Eshpendaagwak (to get back what is sacred)

Repatriation & Historic Preservation is responsible for representing our tribe on issues concerning the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), which includes the return of Ancestral remains as well as sacred items and items of cultural patrimony removed from our homelands, past and present. The department also deals with present day inadvertent discovery of Ancestral remains and sacred or traditional cultural properties taken from the tribe during construction projects.

Repatriation & Historic Preservation handles other applicable laws as well, such as the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the Archaeological Resource Protection Act (ARPA), the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), and other lesser known applicable laws. Additionally, this department addresses the tribe’s policy concerning gravesites and their protection, working with all branches of government: tribal, federal, state and local.

The Repatriation & Historic Preservation Department includes the Repatriation & Historic Preservation Specialist and the Niigaanagiizhik Maintenance Technician. Additionally, there is an Elder Advisor for all NAGPRA related matters.

For NAPGRA and cultural resources management concerns contact Emma Donmyer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 906‑635‑6510, ext. 26479.

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Contact:

Emma Donmyer
Repatriation & Historic Preservation Specialist
Phone: 906‑635‑6510, ext. 26479
Cell: 906‑203‑2171
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Joe Ailing
Niigaanagiizhik Maintenance Technician
Cell: 906‑203‑5521
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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