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A representative of a council of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians said this week that the council plans to re-open an office in Great Falls soon, with an open house planned for June 4.
"We will be making and distributing new tribal identification cards requested by members and also looking into tribal enrollment once all of the records are updated and completed, " Francis Flesch said in an announcement emailed to the Havre Daily News.
Flesch said people wanting more information about the tribal identification cards and enrollment should send their requests and information to P. O. Box 6373, Great Falls, MT 59406. The telephones are in the process of being connected at the Great Falls office, but people can contact the office manager at (406) 761-3377, or via email at [email protected], Flesch added.
The council chaired by John Gilbert moved into the office, at 1626 6th Ave. N., earlier this month.
John Sinclair, the chair of the tribal council elected in 2009, has said he is looking into legal action for Gilbert's council taking over the office.
Sinclair moved the tribal operations and records out of the Great Falls office in 2010 after state funding was withheld, saying the tribe could no longer pay personnel to staff the office.
Gilbert's council was elected in 2010 after tribal members said they believed the 2009 election was invalid. Sinclair has maintained that his council is the duly elected leadership of the tribe.
Sinclair announced a meeting set for Saturday in the Fireside Room of the District IV Human Resources Development Council Building at 2229 5th Ave. in Havre. Topics at that meeting include discussion of Sinclair's testimony at a U. S. Senate Hearing on Sen. Jon Tester's bill that would grant federal recognition of the tribe, negotiations in the Pembina judgment and discussion of forming a tribal court committee.
Buffalo meat also will be distributed to tribal elders and people in need at the meeting, set to start at 1:30 p. m.
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