Tribal council says it will remove St Marks again

If Ken Blatt St. Marks is again sworn in as chair of the Chippewa Creek Tribe, the tribal council will again promptly remove him from office.

And then, council will file criminal charges against him, according to a press release signed by interim chair Richard Morsette and the seven other tribal council members.

The council oversees operations at Rocky Boy’ Indian Reservation.

The release charged St. Marks with orchestrating a “political circus.”

“We have an ethical responsibility as leaders to protect community members and abide by federal and tribal law,” the statement said.

The tribe’s election committee invalidated the results of the election in which St. Marks finished first of five candidates, citing possible illegal voting procedures.

Tribal Judge Donna Running Wolf overturned the election committee’s decision, clearing the way for St. Marks’ swearing in.

Election Board members said they will decide whether to appeal once Running Wolf’s decision is formally filed.

When St. Marks was removed from office earlier this year, he was given eight reasons by the tribal council. They range from intimidation of tribal employees to sexual harassment to illegal use of tribal equipments.The council said those reasons are still legitimate cause for removal today.

St. Marks and his supporters have strongly denied the allegations. They insist that the reason for the continued efforts to get St. Marks out of office is that he is working with federal officials to expose corruption on the reservation.

Nine people have been charged in the U.S. attorney’s probe, One of the nine, John “Chance” Houle, has had the charges dismissed. After the dismissal, Houle was reinstated to the tribal council. He signed the statement vowing to remove St. Marks.

St. Marks was elected tribal chair last year, and removed early this year. He tried to run to fill his own vacancy, but the election committee ruled him off the ballot. Running Wolf put his name back on the ballot.

After winning the special election, the election committee overturned the results, and the matter was back in Running Wolf’s hands.

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I and my colleagues however will not stand for the political circus Mr. Ken Blatt St. Marks will continue to orchestrate if the written order is favorable toward him.

e have an ethical responsibility as leaders to protect community members and abide by federal and tribal law. IF MR. ST. MARKS IS APPOINTED INTO OFFICE WE WILL PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENT BY EXERCISING REMOVAL AUTHORITY UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.