The enrollment forms are ready to send out, so if you need them or know of someone who needs them please let them know… you can email me and I’ll send you the forms. Thanks Gerald…. ggray@gng.net

LST council meeting at the Black Eagle Moose Lodge which will start at 10:30 on Jan 7th, followed by a potluck dinner at 12:00 to 2:00. Bring your favorite dish and join in on the festivities. Also, please spread the word to others who may not have a home computer. Thank you and will see you all on Jan 7th

Judges Panel Makes Decision

In a unanimous decision, a panel of three tribal judges has ruled that John Gilbert is the Tribal Chairman of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe, and his council the rightful tribal government.

In a ruling dated Dec. 12 and announced today, the tribal judges found that John Sinclair and his council’s term of office had ended as of midnight on Dec. 31, 2008, and that all actions, including purporteddisenrollments of tribal members, taken after that date were ruled invalid.
The tribal judges ordered that former Chairman John Sinclair and his council are to immediately transfer all property and financial records to John Gilbert and his council.
Tribal Chairman John Gilbert held a brief conference call with fellow council members Saturday morning to discuss their immediate priorities.
“Our Tribal Council is elated at this news and we feel we have been vindicated. Now it is time to get to work on matters important to our tribal members, including federal recognition, enrollments and provision of services, Gilbert said. “We will be setting up our Tribal office in Great Falls shortly, and scheduling a general Tribal Council meeting and celebration event”.

The dispute stems from a May 2009 election, which dissenters claim was wrongfully postponed and candidates were removed from teh ballot without cause.

In that election, Sinclair of Havre was voted in as chairman. However, members of the tribe who felt the election was unfair, held their own election in March 2010, creating the Little Shell Allicance and voting Gilbert of Great Ffalls as chairman.

A three-judge panel of tribal law experts met Dec. 12 in Great Falls to hear arguments in the case.

Little Shell Chippewa Tribe
Office of the Chief of Staff
P.O. Box 6373
Great Falls, Montana 59406
(406) 761-3377

Press Release

September 2, 2011

For Immediate Release
Contact: James Parker Shield
406-590-1745

Little Shell lose attorneys over lack of election

Today the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe received disturbing new from the attorneys, who have been representing the tribe’s federal recognition effort.

The Washington D.C. firm of Patton Boggs notified tribal leaders on Friday that it will no longer be able to represent the tribe.

Co-Counsel, Heather Sibbison stated that “my very great hope that you will somehow find a way to heal the many wounds so evident from the written and electronic correspondence that has crossed my desk over the last many months”.

The other Co-Counsel, Arlinda Locklear stated that “the prospects for activity on the recognition bill will be clarified once the agreed upon election takes place, so that there are no lingering leadership issues”.

In response, Tribal Chairman John Gilbert commended the two attorneys and Patton Boggs stating “we appreciate all the hard work and selfless dedication of these two fine ladies and the support by Patton Boggs”. Gilbert added, “We feel that Patton Boggs has become as frustrated as we are with Mr. Sinclair’s obvious attempts, through made-up excuses, to avoid taking part in an election that would end this tribal government dispute that has now cost us our attorneys”.

Little Shell Tribal Council’s Agreement
june 25, 2011

The two opposing Little Shell Chippewa Tribal Councils, lead respectively by John Sinclair and John Gilbert participated in a mediation session sponsored by the Native American Rights Fund, in Fort Benton, Montana, on june 25, 2011, and have agreed to the following:

1. That a new tribal council election will be held within 90 days and will be conducted through the auspices of NARF or its designee.

2. That John Sinclair and John Gilbert will engage in joint leadership, with John Sinclair serving as primary contact relative to pending Federal Recognition and Pembina judgment Claims in consultation with John Gilbert who will be the tribes secondary contact for the above matters.

This agreement, which takes effect upon signing, will be provided to the Native American Rights Fund, Patton Boggs Attorneys, and media, State of Montana Indian Tribes and posted on the Little Shell Web-sites.

Signed into, and agreed upon this 25th day of June 2011.

John Sinclair                        John Gilbert

Ken Erickson                        Gerald Gray

Jesse Azure                           Betty Hofeldt

Brian Brough                        Richard Parenteau

Alvina Allen

See Actual Signed Document:
Tribal Councils Agreement

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