Another schism has developed between the rival groups saying they are the leadership of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians, this time over use of an office space in Great Falls.
John Gilbert, chair of the council elected in 2010, said this morning his group has taken over and is in the process of re-opening the tribal office at 1626 6th Ave. N. in Great Falls.
“It’s a shame to have it empty when it belongs to the Little Shell people, and we can use it, ” he said.
John Sinclair, chair of the tribal council elected in 2009, said Thursday evening that the entry into the tribally owned building was illegal.
Citing financial concerns, the Sinclair-led faction shut down the building last year and moved their records to an office in Havre.
Gilbert said the title is in the name of the tribe, and belongs to all members.
"They abandoned the building, ” he said. “It was locked up. It belongs to the Little Shell people. We are the duly elected council, and we are going to use it. We have a lot of business to conduct. ”
Sinclair said he contacted the Great Falls Police Department, but that department would not take action.
The complaint was being researched by the Great Falls Police Department for the Havre Daily News this morning, but information was not available by deadline.
The ongoing leadership dispute comes in the middle of another struggle, to receive federal recognition.
The tribe has been seeking recognition since the 1800s, with its latest request, filed in 1978, denied by the U. S. Department of the Interior.
Each of the councils says it is the official government of the tribe. After the scheduled election in November 2008 was delayed until early 2009, other problems with the government arose.
Those included the state withholding grant money from the tribe after officials said questions about accounting practices were not adequately answered by Sinclair. Although no abuse was alleged, problems in the accounting system had created the potential for financial abuse, audits by the state departments of Commerce and Public Health and Human Services found.
A group then formed saying John Sinclair’s council had violated tribal laws and its constitution by delaying the 2008 election. The group held another election in 2010, and the council elected then said it is the rightful leadership.
Sinclair has said the delay was legal and required, and that the newer council is the invalid one.
Gilbert said his group is in the process of cleaning up the building and paying past-due bills while getting utilities switched over.
He said his council hopes to have it ready for a grand opening in time for the council meeting Saturday, June 18.
He said the first major work planned in the building will be making and distributing tribal identification cards requested by members, with the next looking into tribal enrollment once all of the records are updated and completed.
