Tribal history made once more as seven new Council members sworn in
12/4/2015 5:00:00 PM - Council

Tribal history made once more as seven new Council members sworn in

By Joseph V. Sowmick, Photojournalist

Tribal history was made once more at the Dec. 1 General Council Meeting as seven new Council members was sworn in at the Eagles Nest Tribal Gym.  It was the first time a Tribal Council took their office before a packed gym as SCIT Tribal Court Judge Patrick Shannon administered the Oath of Office to each Tribal Council member and then opened the floor for nominations for Tribal Chief.

Five Council members (Ron Nelson, Timothy Davis, Frank Cloutier, Kenneth Sprague and Diana Quigno-Grundahl) were nominated during the 12 vote Council election as Frank Cloutier received five votes and will serve as the newly elected Chief of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.  It is also the first time in Tribal history that an At-Large Tribal Council representative was elected as Tribal Chief.

“It is truly an honor to be selected to serve as Tribal Chief for my Anishinaabe Tribal community,” Chief Cloutier said.  “I will do everything in my power to ensure we all collectively work for what is in the best interest of the Tribe.”

Chief Cloutier presided over the rest of the Council electoral process as secret ballots were cast for the following positions: Sub-Chief Brent Jackson; Council Treasurer Gayle Ruhl and Council Secretary Michelle Colwell. These individuals make up the four positions of Executive Tribal Council. Ronald Ekdahl was elected as the Sergeant-At-Arms and Diana Quigno-Grundahl was elected as Chaplain. Candace Benzinger, Tim Davis, Lindy Hunt, Amanda Oldman, Ron Nelson (District II Representative) and Kenny Sprague are the other elected Tribal Council members.   

Interim Public Relations Director Erik Rodriguez confirms this was also the first time a Tribal drum (Mino Ode Singers) was present to offer an honor song for the departing Council members and the newly seated Council.

“It was also the first time where the Tribal Council entertained a motion right after the elections for office was completed,” Rodriguez said.  “The two motions that they did address focused on internal procedures of the Tribal Council governance.”

There were two motions obtained by the Tribal Observer that passed with an 11-0 unanimous vote.

Public Relations Manager Marcella Hadden and her company Niibing Giizis Photography is making arrangements for the official Tribal Council photo and she welcomed the change of venue from the seniors’ room to the Eagles Nest.

“We had so many people who wanted to be a part of the swearing in ceremony and it worked so well having it in the Tribal gym,” Hadden said.  “I was not surprised that we were able to have a standing room only for the first swearing in held in the community gym.  I have a feeling this will be something that we will consider doing again because everyone enjoyed it so much and commented about it on Facebook.” 

Watch the live inauguration of the 2015 Tribal Council Tuesday, December 31st at 9AM EST.

This event is only available to Tribal Members!

 Tribal Members Click HERE to watch the video!