Rating:

1.0 (2 votes)

Disgruntled members of the Little Shell Tribe spent part of Saturday counting ballots in an election to gain new leadership.

The group, which calls itself the Little Shell Alliance, held its contentious election today.

Members say the election represents the will of the entire tribe.

A major reason the election was held was so that the tribe could finally gain access to $600,000 in federal stimulus funds that the state is holding due to concerns with the tribe's accounting practices.

James Parker Shield, Little Shell Alliance member, said, "Now that we've had an election the state should be able to release that money to the new tribal council."

The results of the election are as follows:

John Gilbert got the most votes for the Chairman seat; Gerald Gray got the most votes for Vice Chair; Second Vice Chair was Leona Kienenberger; for Secretary/Treasurer it was Robert Rudeseal; and Richard Paranteau, Alvina Allen, and Clarence Sivertsen had the most votes for the three tribal council seats.

Current Little Shell Tribe leadership has failed to recognize the election as valid and has even called the Alliance's actions illegal.

Parker Shield says it will be up to the state to sign new contracts with either current leadership or leadership appointed in today's election.

The opening of the ballots and the public counting was witnessed by local legislator Jesse O’Hara and former legislator Joe Tropila, both of whom served as independent observers in the election process.