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The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Court Building remained locked and under police guard this afternoon, as the dispute between the Tribe’s two judged and the ruling Tribal Council continued. Chief Judge Bradley Dakota and Associate Judge Violet Friisvall Ayres were suspended without pay Monday, after Ayres declined to withdraw a temporary restraining order she had issued putting the results of a Tribal referendum on hold.
The August 2nd referendum had approved the Tribe’s purchase of the Baraga Lakeside Inn and marina by a margin of 134-36. Former Tribal Council President Fred Dakota had challenged the legitimacy of the vote. In a letter published in the August 13th L’Anse Sentinel, Dakota charged that some voters did not cast votes, because of fear that the Tribal Council would effect reprisals against them or their family members.
Tribal Ogimaa Donald Shalifoe has said that the suspensions are a result of breaking Tribal laws against interfering with elections. Tribal member Jeff Loman has been appointed interim judge. Probate hearings scheduled for today were moved to the conference room at the Ojibwa Casino Motel. Those were heard by an administrative law judge, not by Loman. The Tribal Council is scheduled to meet with Judges Dakota and Friisvall-Ayres Thursday morning to discuss the suspensions.
