Opinion ID: 2669630
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Tribal Election Dispute

Text: Healy Lake Village, also known as the Mendas Cha~Ag Tribe, is a federally recognized Indian tribe with a tribal constitution adopted in 1997.1 The tribal constitution provides for the periodic election of a traditional council to serve as the governing body of the Tribe, with the First Chief serving as the presiding officer. A tribal election ordinance was adopted in 1998. Two separate groups each currently contend that they are the properly elected and legitimate traditional council. The 1 Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible To Receive Services From the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 77 Fed. Reg. 47868, 47872 (Aug. 10, 2012) (providing a current list of federally recognized tribes). -2- 6890 appellant group is led by Robert “Ray” Fifer, and the appellee group is led by JoAnn Polston. Both the Fifer Group and the Polston Group argue that the election that seated the competing group failed to comply with tribal law and regulations. The Fifer Group alleges a series of actions on the part of JoAnn Polston, beginning as far back as 2007, that it claims violated the tribal constitution. In the Fifer Group’s version of events, JoAnn Polston was elected to the tribal council sometime prior to 2007. She then “removed” the former First Chief, installed herself, and had de facto control of the Tribe between 2007 and 2012. According to the Fifer Group, between 2007 and 2012 no tribal elections were held, despite the constitutional provision that calls for tribal council elections to be held the last week of March.2 The tribal constitution does not state whether elections must be held each year;3 however, it does specify that the term of office for traditional council members is two years.4 The record does not contain documentary evidence of elections between 2007 and 2012, nor does the Polston Group claim that elections took place during that period. The tribal constitution provides for the possibility of tribal courts, but the Tribe has not established one. The tribal council does have the power to establish tribal 2 Traditional Constitution of the Mendas Cha~Ag Tribe, art. 8, § 3: Section 3. Traditional Council Elections. Elections for Traditional Council positions shall be held the last week in March in Healy Lake. The Council shall set the date and shall give at least two (2) weeks notice of such elections. Notice shall be posted in public places in Healy Lake prior to such elections. 3 Id. 4 Id. art. 4, § 6. -3- 6890 courts or other judicial bodies,5 and the council is given authority to regulate matters such as child custody, domestic relations, and inheritance.6 The Fifer Group states that there is no tribal court, and the Polston Group does not dispute this fact. The tribal constitution provides for the recall of any member of the tribal council and a special election upon receipt of a “[a] valid petition requesting such recall signed by at least 50% of the qualified voters . . . . If the Council fails to call a special election to consider the recall, the tribal membership may hold a tribal membership meeting to conduct such business.”7 The Mendas Cha~Ag Tribal Election Ordinance also provides a procedure for challenging election results: Section 12. Challenging Election Results As specified in the Constitution, tribal members may challenge election results if the terms of the Mendas Cha~Ag Traditional Constitution or the tribal Election Ordinance are violated. Such challenge may be done through a petition and election process. A petition must be circulated and signed by at least 50% of qualified tribal voters. The petition shall state the violation of the Mendas Cha~Ag Constitution or Election Ordinance. Once presented to the Council, the Council shall hold a new election following the procedures outlined in the Mendas Cha~Ag Constitution and the tribal Election Ordinance. If the Tribal Council fails to hold such an election within 30 days after receiving the petition, the tribal membership may meet to conduct a new election. At such a meeting, 50% of qualified voters shall constitute a quorum. In 2011 the Fifer Group circulated a petition calling for new elections, which the Fifer Group claims was signed by over 50% of the tribal membership in 5 Id. art. 9, § 3(j). 6 Id. art. 9, § 3(m)-(o). 7 Id. art. 7, § 2. -4­ 6890 compliance with the constitutional and election ordinance provisions. The Fifer Group alleges that the tribal council, led by Polston, took no action on the petition, and that on April 28, 2012, the tribal membership conducted a tribal election with the assistance and under the observation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs [BIA] Fairbanks Agency Superintendent, Kathy Cline, and Tribal Operations staff from the Tanana Chiefs Conference. The Fifer Group was elected as the tribal council at the April 28 election. The Polston Group alleges various irregularities in the April 28 election and disputes the Fifer Group’s leadership claim. In her affidavit, JoAnn Polston claims that the Fifer Group failed to provide notice of the election to many tribal members and to follow constitutional requirements for recalling a sitting council. She asserts that the election dispute is “solely a matter for my Tribe’s resolution” and describes an attempt to resolve the dispute at a tribal “Talking Circle.” She asserts that the Fifer Group’s claim to majority support rests on a disputed definition of tribal membership: “[the Fifer Group] disputes the membership of many lineal descendants of original Tribal enrollees. Its count of Tribal members is much smaller than actual Tribal membership.” On May 14, 2012, JoAnn Polston issued a notice of elections to be held on July 14, 2012, in Fairbanks. The record contains a certificate and report from a tribal election committee certifying that an election was held on July 14 and that JoAnn Polston was elected as First Chief. The certificate form contains spaces to insert the number of undisputed adult tribal members that were present at the election; these spaces are left blank. The Fifer Group alleges a variety of irregularities and tribal constitutional violations in the July 14 election, including disputed issues of tribal membership. On August 23, 2012, the United States Department of Transportation renewed a federal transportation funding agreement with the Tribe, and JoAnn Polston signed on behalf of the Tribe after informing the Department of the internal dispute. -5- 6890