WATERSMEET — It has been a politically charged few weeks for the Lac Vieux Desert Tribe but things turned criminal on Wednesday.
All nine members of the tribal council were held in contempt of court after refusing to swear in the new chairman and treasurer and are now sitting in jail.
Judge Bradley Dakota’s ruling said the council must remain in jail until a majority agrees to swear in the new members.
Ruth Antone is an elder within the tribe and has lived on Lac Vieux Desert land all of her life.
She supports swearing in the new council but given the fact that two of her grandchildren are on the current council and are now in jail it’s been a difficult situation.
“I was at the hospital last night because my blood pressure was high and that’s because all that’s been going on,” she said. “I want it over with, I’m glad it’s over with soon I hope.”
The jailed council members released a statement through their attorney saying:
“We are being criminally punished for upholding the Constitution.”
Patricia Pete organized a protest Thursday in support of the jailed council members. She said it is unconstitutional for a judge to order the council to swear in new members.
“I am against incarcerating our government because they’re trying to uphold our constitution and do things that are right even though there were things that were wrong with the election,” she said.
The situation started when the current council refused to swear in seven new council members in July because of alleged election fraud.
Third party Judge Bradley Dakota ruled there would be new elections for the five general council positions but the new chairman and treasurer must be sworn in.
The council members decided not to obey the judge’s orders and are now sitting in jail.
Turtle Talk 