Little Shell Elections

Tools

By Lindsey Scheetz

Story Published: Mar 6, 2010 at 5:10 PM MDT

Story Updated: Mar 6, 2010 at 7:13 PM MDT

BILLINGS - Montana's Little Shell Tribe held an election Saturday in attempt to select a new tribal council.

The election was held by an opposition group and has been met with some controversy by the current administration. Members of the opposition say they have waited for more than a year to elect the new council. The landless tribe has been split politically over current council practices- and recently made headlines when they failed to receive federal tribal recognition.

Candidate for Vice-chairman Gerald Gray Junior said the election is long-overdue. "This is a special election because we're trying to take back the tribe. It's been kind of in shambles and a mess as people have been reading throughout the press and we need to get things straight. And have an open accountability and communication with all tribal members."

The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians includes about 4300 members who live throughout the state. They expect to have results by next Saturday.

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

curious law man said on Wednesday, May 12 at 10:16 PM

is True TM Chippewa Jesse Peltier?

Indian rights man said on Saturday, Apr 10 at 10:57 PM

I heard the real brain of trueTMChippewa is a sioux from pine ridge, who is also a felon. dealing Drugs, steeling from our elderly. Why did these guys land association close down?I hurd this cree guy turned these crooks in and stopped the funding. This cree guy did the right thing. He's also a sober and honest person. A real warrior for our people..

Wondering Mitchef said on Saturday, Apr 10 at 10:49 PM

I'm wondering if trueTMChippewa is the former TMAA chairperson who has a criminal record and possibly a warrant in Crookston MN. for feloneous assault on a little mexican migrant worker, plus for not paying thousands of dollars in child support. Is he the same person who rolled his suv last winter while drunk?

TM member said on Saturday, Apr 10 at 3:20 PM

Why is this drunk allowed to go around lying about our tribe and the treaty judgement. He should quit lying and sober up.

True TM Chippewa said on Saturday, Apr 10 at 9:34 AM

There was an elder left in DC by Delvin and Patrick Blue. She paid for the new tires and gas etc. And NARF had to get her a room and a plane ticket home, now the Tribe owes NARF $1700 because Delvin got the free ride to DC so he can lie about our TRibe and claim him self as a Ceiftain to our Tribe.

True TMetis'-Chippewa said on Saturday, Apr 3 at 5:14 PM

We "Squatters" and we drink alot ourselves. We marry each other relatives. we're proud of that. anyone like us are proad becuz we are wanna beez and free loaders

TM Metis said on Saturday, Apr 3 at 5:08 PM

I'm intested in the Washington thing. An elder was left in D.C? That's funny, because people who were not there shouldn't say things like that. Beside's I heard the so-called elder was on a free ride to D.C. and had her expenses paid by the tribe. It's interesting how us Metis' people like to spread gossip. How intelligent.

True TMChippewa said on Saturday, Apr 3 at 1:30 PM

Only drunk self proclaimed cheiftains should have to prove where their from. We real TM Chippewas don't lie in the papers or leave elders in washington DC.

Curious Pembina said on Saturday, Apr 3 at 9:05 AM

TrueTMChippewa It's nice knowing I have a ancestrial background instead of having none. Alot people at Turtle Mountain can't prove their lineage - so then, they will say, they are Metis' haha. Got proof of where you came from?haha

Curious Pembina said on Friday, Apr 2 at 6:36 PM

To TrueTMChippewa, Let's talk about criminal records, warrants, and misappropriation of funding.

TrueTMChippewa said on Friday, Apr 2 at 4:51 PM

Delvin cree has found his cheiftainship in a bottle again, and is trying to start a Indian war with our brother Tribe Little Shell and embarrassining our Tribe TM membership.

Delvin Cree, Dunseith No. Dak said on Tuesday, Mar 9 at 11:41 PM

I'm wondering why Mr. St.Clair Chairman of the Little Shell Tribe has been avoiding our request to meet with him? The Cree family of Dunseith North Dakota have in our possession the chieftainship documents that say we have the recogniton to have chieftainship status. In my opinion St.Clair and his group might think that we might be a threat to his organization. We are the bloodline of Little Shell and I wonder if St. Clair holds such descendantcy. I've seen St. Clair and wonder if he is even Indian. I went to Washington D.C. on Maerch 1st. to meet with Senator Dorgan and his staff from the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to discuss the Little Shell documentation and other tribal business. I think if we wanted to, we could take control of the Little Shell Tribe. This should solve a lot of the controversy. It interesting the Great Falls Tribune has ignored our information also. I guess maybe St.Clair has control of that newspaper.

Long Standing Bear Chief said on Saturday, Mar 6 at 11:57 PM

Mr. Gray is correct in saying what he has, although the TV staff person commits a couple of factual errors. One there is NOT a sitting tribal Council because the last council allowed its term of office to expire without calling for an election after the December 31, 2008 deadline that made them all dead ducks. Secondly the Little Shell Tribe is NOT LANDLESS. The State of Montana donated land to the cause of their recognition as a tribe. These kind of "errors" in mainstream reporting are what contribute to the "controversy".

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KULR-8 News, Sports, Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Your Weather Authority

Icon
Current Temp 51.0 °F
Partly Cloudy
Wind : Southwest at
3.5 mph
Humidity : 89 %
Pressure : 29.68 in
More Weather

Sky Cam

More Weather

AP Video

On Demand

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Cast Your Vote

Do you agree with President Obama's decision to end combat operations in Iraq?

  • Yes
  • No

Links We Like