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Chippewa Cree Tribal Chairman Ken St. Marks will return to his office after a tribal judge Tuesday afternoon lifted an injunction.
Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown
Chippewa Cree Tribal Chairman Kenneth St. Marks addresses supporters outside the courthouse at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation. St. Marks is free to resume hi s duties — at least until Monday.
Justice Duane Gopher Friday ordered St. Marks to stay away from his office and have nothing to do with tribal council members. The council Friday suspended Marks and set a heading for 9 a.m. Monday, March 25 on whether he should be removed from office.
But Tuesday, after meeting privately with St. Marks, his attorney, Joe McKay, council members and their representatives, lifted the injunction.
About 30 supporters cheered when St. Marks made the announcement after the closed-door meeting with the judge and attorneys at the court office at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation. The 30 had been waiting for a hearing to begin.
St. Marks said he would return to office, but declined to say when he would go back to office.
"I don't want to start any trouble," he said.
He said the victory will be short-lived.
He said he was certain the council will remove him from office Monday.
"They tried, convicted and executed me," he said. "Now they are going to give me hearing."
But he said he would challenge his dismissal in federal court.
St. Marks said he would pursue other angles.
His supporters contend that St. Marks is covered by federal Whistleblower legislation. St. Marks said he was in contact with people at federal Department of Justice's inspector general's office, who are investigating whether he is entitled to get his job back under those laws.
St. Marks alleges he was fired because he is cooperating with the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office in an investigation into corruption at the reservation.
Tribal council members issued a statement vigorously denying the St. Marks' allegations. They said St. Marks was guilty of a long line of misdeeds, and their action had nothing to do with the "alleged investigation."
Tensions were high on the reservation after St. Marks' dismissal. Cement blocks were placed on the roads to the tribal office and police officers were stationed there.
St. Marks was reluctant to blame the police department, saying officers feared there would be violence.
St. Marks backers broke into laughter at the suggestion they might become violent.
More in Wednesday's Havre Daily News:
• Marks likely to be removed on Monday.
• Council members strongly defend their action.
• Letter from the tribal council.
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