Two tribal judges in the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, located in Baraga, Michigan, recently were suspended from their jobs via text message. Chief Judge Brad Dakota and associate Judge Violet Ayres received formal documents from Tribal President Don Shalifoe, stating they were suspended “for unlawful interference with the operation of tribal affairs as approved by tribal council.”
The two were about to hear testimony in a civil lawsuit brought by former tribal President Fred Dakota, Brad Dakota’s father, against Shalifoe. The issue revolves around the Baraga Lakeside Inn which the tribal council voted to purchase for $2.75 million to build a new Ojibwa Casino at the site. Dakota alleges the referendum was illegal.
Shalifoe texted the judges, “From this minute, you and your associate judge are suspended without pay, and I will have the tribal police deliver papers as per tribal council.” Shalifoe also had utilities and electricity shut off at the courthouse building when Dakota and Ayres refused to leave.
Brad Dakota said, “I don’t believe that the executive branch of our government has the authority to tell me that I have to leave. We’re elected by the people of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. All I want is my day before the entire tribal council, and if after that, the majority of people on tribal council still want me to step down, I’ll step down.”
Shalifoe later said, “The whole incident started with a member who would not go to council to air his concerns and created a lawsuit instead. It could have all been ended simply by coming to the Keweenaw Bay Tribal Council. We waited until yesterday for the implementation of it and for a possible decision to either dismiss it or back down, and it wasn’t. Therefore, I phone-polled Tribal Council and got their support to suspend them.”
Dakota and Ayres could meet before the 12-member tribal council this week.
Shalifoe said tribal executives still have to discuss a budget for the construction of the new casino to present to the tribal council. If it is approved, a referendum will be held among tribal members.
