The ongoing turmoil in the tribal government at Sipayik is continuing, with the four tribal councillors who had suspended Chief Fred Moore from his administrative duties now also acting to suspend the administrative authority of Vice Chief Vera Francis. The four councillors -- Madonna Soctomah, John Dana, Marla Dana and Philip Farrell Jr. -- recently issued a directive to all of the program directors in the tribal government that Chief Moore and Vice Chief Francis are no longer their supervisors and do not have any administrative authority. Instead, Tribal Manager Ken Poynter is the supervisor, according to their letter.
     Also, a citizen initiative petition to reduce the terms of office for the tribal chief and vice chief from four years to two was submitted to the tribal clerk on June 15. The petition was signed by 151 tribal members, with 99 signatures needed to have a referendum vote on the petition request, which seeks to amend the Sipayik Constitution. In order for the amendment to the constitution to be adopted, a resolution to place the measure on the ballot of a general or special election must be approved by 75% of the council, and the amendment needs to be approved by 75% of the voters.
     Tribal councillor Soctomah says that the people are concerned that tribal business is not being conducted in the best interests of the tribe but rather is based on personal agendas and that there has been a lack of communication from the tribal government.
     The petition states that the citizens "are dissatisfied with the abuses of power and the general lack of professionalism displayed by the tribal chief and vice chief" and have lost confidence in them. A statement with the petition says, "Since October 1, 2014, the Pleasant Point community has undergone tremendous internal political and social strife and a wide range of abuse of power by the chief administrator, such as: uncontrolled spending of tribal and federal funds, improper purchases and expenditures, enrichment of the chief administrator, improper hiring, firing, promotion, demotion and transfer of tribal employees and contractors, and manipulation of programs and services."
     In October 2015 four councillors voted to suspend Chief Moore and to appoint Vice Chief Francis as the administrator. "However, the council is no longer satisfied with the actions and inactions of the vice chief as the chief administrator," the statement continues. "Since the fall of 2015 the Pleasant Point tribal government administration has been unable to conduct business properly. Common-sense actions to safeguard the tribe at Pleasant Point are needed to ensure the abuses of the past do not happen again."
     According to the petition's statement, "The people are not looking forward to continuing the same failed tribal leadership for another two and a half years. We believe the four-year terms are too long."
     Soctomah states, "With the experiences I've encountered in the year I've been on the tribal council, I most certainly support two-year terms." After she was elected in April 2015, she believes the council met only twice under Chief Moore. She says she wasn't allowed to speak at council meetings and her votes were "discounted by the chair," since she didn't support a tribal budget that contained only two pages of information. Since Vera Francis assumed the administrative duties, the council's last meeting was in March, and only one agenda item was taken up before the meeting was recessed. "Three months later we haven't taken up the recessed agenda," Soctomah says. "It's very confusing for the general population." She says concerns of tribal members have not been addressed in either an appropriate or timely manner. "There's been no communication going to the people."
     Soctomah says the tribal council is liable for any abuse of tribal resources by the chief or vice chief. "It's very unnerving to have people acting as administrators when the council put them on leave and expending resources that the council is liable for." She adds, "There have to be laws to protect that kind of fraudulent abuse. The process of tribal government has been clogged up by inaction, because the tribe has not had regular council meetings purposefully by those elected officials who have personal agendas instead of concern for the welfare of the tribe."