KBIC General Election Tomorrow

Tomorrow, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community will hold its annual general election. Registered voters in the L’Anse District will vote at the Zeba Community Center. Registered voters in the Baraga District will vote at the Ojibwa Senior Citizens Center. Voters in the Baraga District will be asked to choose no more than two of these Tribal Council candidates: incumbent Robert “R.D.” Curtis, Doreen Blaker, Fred Dakota, and Elizabeth “Popcorn” Mayo. Voters in the Baraga District will be asked to choose no more than two of these Tribal Council candidates: incumbents Elizabeth “Chiz” Matthews and Jean Jokinen, as well as Randy Haataja, and Toni Minton. Voters will also be asked if the Tribe should recognize same-sex marriages and if possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use should be legalized on the reservation. Also on the ballot is the purchase of the Baraga Lakeside Inn. An earlier approval of this purchase was negated when the proposed deal fell through, and the hotel was foreclosed. A new deal has been agreed to with the foreclosing bank. The purchase is the first step in the proposed construction of a new casino adjacent to the hotel.