SO WHAT WILL IT BE FRED PAQUIN?
The word is out! Fred Paquin has filed to run for the Board but is telling everyone he isn't. Predicitable Paquin will probably endorse one of his two allies in Unit 3 Jim Dekeyser or Lenny Adams. Mr. Adams was involved in the tree scam Tony Grondin revealed.
Unit III - Leonard V. Adams, James M. DeKeyser, Robert J. Lambert, Patrick D. Rickley, and Frederick J. Paquin.Assault charge against ex-Soo police chief dropped By Indianz.Com(Indianz.Com) Prosecutors in Michigan dropped a misdemeanor assault charge against the former police chief of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Fred Paquin was accused of assaulting a woman in August 2007. ...Indianz.Com News - http://www.indianz.com
Lynol White ran an ad in the Tribal Paper trashing Fred Paquin, and now the word is he is no longer qualified to run. That leaves Pat Rickley and Rob Lambert left.
Mr. Rickley has no Board experience or Education and was said to be politically appointed to the Conservation Committee by Aaron Payment.
So we have Director Lambert. The last two years of Director Lambert's time on the Board were to say the least cumbersome. Once Aaron Payment arrived into Office Director Lambert seemed to lose hope in the future of the Tribe. His first two years were phenomenal. He instituted eliminating the former quarter blood requirement, to allow a more qualified contingency of candidates to run for office. It was a historical resolution.
Just recently in Grand Rapids. Aaron Payment told the people there that Rob Lambert did nothing for the Tribe. He stood to be corrected by Tribal Elder Bob Bowman that Aaron Payment was being untruthful.
If Rob Lambert is allowed to be a Board Member and do the work of the people, then he could be a very valuable asset to the Tribes future. Dictators like Bouschor and Payment have never allowed Board Members to be Board Members. The micromanagement of the Chairman/CEO has ruined the Tribe.
Don't fall for the false hope in the other Candidates in Unit 3. Vote for someone that knows and follows the Constitution.
Bring Rob Lambert back to the Tribal Board.
WHAT WAS THE DEAL WITH THE GREEKTOWN SALE?
The Greektown Casino Scam?
The Chairman of the Sault Tribe fails to inform the Membership. In the past few months a person named Diana Knowles surfaced. According to her she is the daughter of Sault Tribe Elder Barry Adams from Naubinway, MI. More on Barry Adams at the following link http://hli-wrc.com/mba/ .
She operates a company called American Heritage Employment Services, LLC - White Lake, Michigan MI American Heritage Employment Services, LLC - White Lake, Michigan (MI) company profile information. Find contact info, company address, company history, qualify leads...www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_06bv7x .
A below communication to the STFB indicated the following. "Knowles operates American Heritage Employment Services, LLC. The resident agent which is her has the address of 2008 Drury Lane, White Lake, MI 48386. The company was formed on 5/2/2006. It has no officers other than the CEO. Guess who that is?" On July 27, 2007, the company took the alias of American Heritage Dream Catchers and now does business under that name. And now is able to broker billion dollar deals." End of communication.
INTERESTING TO SAY THE LEAST?
In emails distributed widely it appears Diana Knowles and her Sister Lori Hall played a huge role of the attempted sale of Greektown Casino. Apparently Ms. Knowles has the ability to broker billion dollar deals.
She claims to have specifics of the alleged deal. Her Sister Lori Hall had said she held the Wells Fargo Bank Statement in her hand in front of the Sault Tribe Directors. What Board of Directors would this be? The entire Board?
On April 13th Lori Hall produced a document that did not have Wells Fargo on it. There were obviously alterations to the document or perhaps the document was the wrong one sent by Lori Hall. Below is the context of the email sent by Lori Hall on April 13th.
Lori Hall wrote:
Attn: John Peterson April 13, 2008
Regional director of the NIGC
190 East Fifth St Suite 170 St. Paul MN 55101
1-651-290-4004
It has come to my attention that the current Board members of the Greektown Holdings LLC have been involved in negotiations involving the equity sale of 33% ownership of the Greektown Casino in Detroit Michigan.
Corporate and Tribal due diligence is an absolute requirement involving the terms and conditions for the sale of Greektown Casino, LLC. to the protection of the members of the Sault St. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
Violations of due diligence have occurred within the negotiations of said sale and equity sale of the Greektown Casino, LLC.
1. Monroe Partners, Kewadin Greektown Casino and Greektown Holdings entered into an Equity sale that totally devalues our membership’s ownership and position by agreeing to a letter of intent without signatures from the Sault St. Marie Tribe Board of directors I’ve included a copy of a letter dated April 8, 2008 reflecting the current condition.
2. The Michigan Gaming Commission needs to know that there is a valid and substantiated offer to purchase before the end of April deadline…My understanding is that they were told there was no valid offer of sale so they are attempting to renegotiate current obligations to the state.
3. An investor group has an offer of 800 million cash! They provided a letter of credit for 800 million, that cost them 700,000.000 to provide to the Greektown Board as proof of their ability to perform. On the table right now….not a deal that looks like money in the future but payable now.
4. An offer from Tom Celani in January or Febuary 2008 was received from Tom Celani. His offer to purchase 20% would have seriously devalued the existing stock of the Greektown Casino.
I understand I am just a member of this Tribe, my life is very small in comparison to these big business transactions. But they affect all of us small and large. You have laws and the power to demand they comply with the laws and regulations you have in place now! Today! Before it is too late and another crime is committed against a small member of this Tribe.
Please, all we are asking is that you appoint an independent investigator to do an audit and make sure that all the laws of our Tribe are being followed and that current board members are not being paid off as we have heard in the amount of $25,000.00 per vote.
I feel the Casino should be sold in the best interest of all Tribal members to pay off the considerable debt that is currently owed. The Tribe has set in motion closing medical center’s and Hessel Casino to meet budget cutbacks because they are already 16 million in the hole.
The Board allowed a loan that they call an investment wherein the CFO Vic Matson of Greektown took 10 million dollars of the Elders Land Claims moneys to make payments in Detroit. It’s my understanding that they are Bankrupt and that their credit score is a B- or lower by now and that they cannot get any money to finish anything down there anyway.
I’ve attached a copy of the letter of credit and the letter about the equity sale excluding some board members from being able to perform due diligence for our interests.
Thank You,
Lori Hall 810-724-3551
NOT THE FIRST TIME
Lori Hall must think she is the only one to ever contact the Federal Government. There have been many requests by the Members of the Sault Tribe that were ignored by these agencies. Most of those requests were ignored by those Representatives we elected to our Federal Government. To include Aaron Payments good friends Bart Stupak and Debbie Stabenow.
SO WHAT IS THE CONNECTION HERE?
It as been established the Diana Knowles and Lori Hall are Sisters. Who is Bruce Hall? The below communication was sent to the STFB.
"What gives her the right to run the Sault & Mack tribe? Is she is in it for herself & her nephew Bruce Hall, call Bruce and tell him your are a investor and you want in. He is looking to open a plant in Port Huron and in Kincheloe both by military airports to fly the parts in and out of, it is a 700 million dollar project building parts for the military. I do not think Aaron knows about this." End of communication
More communication sent to STFB. "Aunt Diane and Grandpa Barry & Mega multi million dollar Grants 700 Million ....Bruce Hall. Investors please call to find out more." End of Communication.
Could it be that these Sault Tribe Members are looking to line their own pockets with some type of commission from a transaction that involves the Members of the Sault Tribe?
GOOD OLD CROOKED ARROW BOB LAPOINT
Director LaPoint seems to be the deal maker here. He recently brought forth an offer at a Board Meeting in Sault Ste. Marie. There were at least 15 people who witnessed Director LaPoint suspending the rules and bringing forth a resolution to sell Greektown to those that it appears Diana Knowles and Lori Hall are representing. It died for lack of support. An Attorney specifically stated that Bob LaPoint was not allowed to participate in any transactions involving Greektown. All and all Director Bob Lapoint violated the order.
GOOD OLD CROOKED ARROW LAPOINT
Seems like it was just yesterday the St. Ignace Casino was being built. Who did most of the concrete there Director LaPoint? Was it IMC? Who owns IMC Director LaPoint? Is that one of your relatives? Was the job cost plus? They got all the extras. So I can imagine they just named the price as you were one of the overlookers of the job on behalf of the Board. Director LaPoint complains about Bouschor and cronyism, when he himself practices it.
STRING OF EMAILS
The below consists of emails sent to STFB
Lori Hall wrote:
My question to all is thus....Do you feel the Tribes best interest's are being represented by only some of the director's having knowledge of the equity offer?
Feel all of your grief and betrayal these last couple of years of just listening to your post's through e-mail's and blogs.
Each director is supposed to be accountable to each member of their unit correct?I don't have a unit do I?
I am a member without a voice, correct?
Greektown is a Tribal Owned corporate business located in an unrepresented part of Michigan, correct? Again I say Tribal Owned, correct?
Located in a part of the State of Michigan that I have no representation, correct?
Check out the news article in our Sault Tribe news about Greektown http://www.saulttribe.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=959&Itemid=1
He states right in the article that the Tribe has been looking for an equity partner.
The Corporate Tribe consists of 12 directors and a chairman....all representing Unit 1, 2,3,4 & 5
How has due diligence from our Board been followed if certain directors have been excluded from the negotiations?
In my book of life I call that for what I see...No due diligence..I would like to see an independent investigation of the Board and their actions in regard' s to the appropriation of Greektown....How can you trust this when only half of the board knows whats going on?Greektown is a valuable asset if used properly that will wipe out the entire Debt plus put money in the Tribes pocket for the future.
Mike Doud keeps asking whats' in it for me?
Guess I just don't get what you are asking me Mike.....What's in what for me......
You are not referring to my being able to voice my opinion online are you?
I suppose I should ask you What's in it for you? Maybe your answer will give me a clear idea of what you're actually asking.You'll probably take my request the wrong way, but I assure you I am always being told by my close circle that I am too naive about people and that I always take the high road.....But I have also had alot of death in my life lately which has made me question my personal existence.
I try to take Mother Earth, the Creator, the Grandfathers road...What's in it for Them.....They are the reason we are here.....We only take care of their Gifts....The Entire reason for my being is in their hands....I cannot take a breath without their being with me.....My life has no meaning without them. The only yardstick to measure yourself by is theirs. Of course this is just my opinion as it applies to my life now.
I would answer your question as to what's in it for me?
A servant for our Creator and Mother Earth.
Lori
End of email.
DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT ANYONE WITH A HALF A BRAIN BELIEVES THAT?
Sister Diana Knowles wrote:
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:47:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Aaron PaymentTo:
What do you think the membership would say about Aaron possible selling out Greektown to the Greeks for nothing? As we all know, Greektown has almost gotten us into bankruptcy and we are in a critical position to call out to our members today! The board is currently in a workshop and one huge issue is the sale of Greektown!
There are a few investors here today with offers on the table for Greektown. One offer consist of 800 million CASH and a 10% revenue back to the tribe. This offer has the money on the table right in the faces of our board of directors. CASH TODAY IF THEY TAKE THIS OFFER! This pays the debts with 150 million left to work towards Romulas.
The other offer Aaron seems to be looking towards is selling out to the Greeks with the original backdoor deals that took place years ago that has caused these debts we currently face. Their offer is to take over complete management with nothing down and while they lease Greektown back to the Greeks in this offer, that is the way the tribe will pay back the debt owed to them. This deal is totally crazy! This does not pay the current debts and no money is being put on the table.
The board is holding an open meeting to the membership at 6 p.m. here in the Sault. We need to reach our members to have them contact their unit reps to provide their insite on what del is better to our membership.
Can you help reach members through email? We need to help our members to get the word out what is happening today! We have a great opportunity financialy to get our debts paid with money back into our membership.
Please help our members to know what is going on right now.
Thanks Diana
WHAT ABOUT THE MEMBERS VOICE? DO YOU THINK YOU REPRESENT THE ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SAULT TRIBE?
PAYMENT IS THE JUDGE TOO?
Now comes the less than honorable Aaron Payment. He actually thinks he is now a Judge. Embarrassed now because he used a referendum versus a Secretarial Election. Payment boldly attempts to blatantly break the Sault Tribe Constitution.
Professor Kronk graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication. She received her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, where she also served on the Michigan Law Review. Professor Kronk is a member of the District of Columbia, State of Michigan and State of Montana bar associations. She is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana.Professor Kronk is a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan.
Payment when given an unfavorable legal opinion attacks those responsible for rendering their opinion based on the Constitution. In other words Payment takes the oath of Office to uphold the Tribal Constitution and in turn tries to violate it.
Who is this Mike Winnick person? Is he one of the Non-Native Attorneys that Payment and Gravelle pushed through to be a Tribal Judge? Non-Native, Non Tribal Law Schooled and interpreting Tribal Law. Good thing he resigned. Saves the Members time of getting rid of another puppet.
HOW COULD FOUR TRIBAL MEMBER JUDGES BE WRONG AND ONE NON-TRIBAL MEMBER JUDGE BE CORRECT?OUR MEMBERS NEED TO BE JUDGED BY THEIR OWN.
Sponsored by: Aaron Payment
Received on 04-03-08 at 2:48 p.m.
Posted on www.saulttribe.com on 04-03-08 at 4:50 p.m.
RESOLUTION NO: _______________
CALLING FOR INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION, UNDUE INFLUENCE OF AN APPELLATE DECISION AND JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT RELATED TO THE RECENT APPELLATE COURT DECISION TO QUALIFY BERNARD BOUSCHOR TO RUN FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE
WHEREAS, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians is a federally recognized Indian Tribe organized under the provisions of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934; and
WHEREAS, the Tribal Constitution reads:ARTICLE VII – POWERS (of the Tribal Board of Directors) Section 1. The board of directors shall exercise the following powers, subject to any limitations imposed by the laws of the United States and subject further to all express restrictions upon such powers contained in this constitution and bylaws: (g) To promulgate and enforce ordinances governing the conduct of persons within the jurisdiction of the tribe, to establish a reservation court and define its duties and powers;(n) To establish and delegate to subordinate boards, organizations, cooperative associations, tribal officers, committees, delegates or other tribal groups, any of the foregoing powers, reserving the right to review any action taken by virtue of such delegated power or to cancel any delegation. ; andWHEREAS, An Appeal was filed with the Tribal Appellate Court on Tuesday – March 18, 2008 seeking to qualify Bernard Bouschor to run for Tribal elective office; andWHEREAS, just weeks prior, the Tribal Appellate Court ruled that Bernard Bouschor was not eligible to run for Tribal Elective Office; andWHEREAS, the five (5) justices appointed to serve as Tribal Appellate justices included Chief Judge Winnick, Judge Justin, Judge Nolan, Judge Gable, and Judge Harper;WHEREAS, Judge Kronk was not duly sworn in to serve until Monday – March 25, 2008. This was the very standard met by the seated judges before they were permitted to hear cases; andWHEREAS, on Thursday – March 20, 2008, Ms. Kronk, not yet sworn in as judge, filed a judicial order supposedly as “Chief Appellate Judge” introducing the argument of “Bill or Attainder” which was not part of the Appellate Petitioner’s original filing but which was the very subject of the final decision allowing Bernard Bouschor to run for Tribal Elective Office; andWHEREAS, On Thursday – March 20, 2008, Chief Judge Winnick sent communication to the Tribal Court that it was improper for Ms. Kronk to have access to pleadings in this case given she was not duly sworn in to hear such matters and that she was not in fact “Chief Appellate Judge” as her bogus order suggested; andWHEREAS, On Tuesday – March 26, 2008 Chief Judge Winnick resigned his position from the Tribal Appellate Court given the manner in which this case was corrupted, andWHEREAS, after Judge Winnick issued his dissenting option on the judicial findings, and after he resigned from the Court, the remaining judges changed his dissenting option –presumably to censor from the Membership Judge Winnick’s legal opinion;WHEREAS, the Tribal Legal Department issued a communication to the Tribal Board of Directors on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 stating:
Received on 04-03-08 at 2:48 p.m.
Posted on www.saulttribe.com on 04-03-08 at 4:50 p.m.
…Judge Winnick has stated that the Bouschor II decision was a politically driven finding, and not a legal exercise, as a judicial deliberation should be.WHEREAS, the importance of a fair and impartial judicial proceeding demands that the Tribal Board of Directors vacate the Tribal Appellate Court’s order qualifying Bouschor to run and schedule a new hearing;NOW, THEREFORE, that the Board of Directors hereby vacates the current order and immediately schedules an Appeal Hearing, with new judges to hear this case; andBE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the issue of Bernard Bouschor’s eligibility to run for office be held in abeyance in until such time that a fair and impartial judicial proceeding resolves this matter;BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that an independent investigation be done to address allegations of corruption, undue influence of an appellate decision and judicial misconduct.
C E R T I F I C A T I O N
We, the undersigned, as Chairperson and Secretary of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, hereby certify that the Board of Directors is composed of 13 members, of whom _____ members constituting a quorum were present at a meeting thereof duly called, noticed, convened, and held on the _____ day of ______________ 2007; that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted at said meeting by an affirmative vote of _____ members for, _____ members against, _____ members abstaining, and that said resolution has not been rescinded or amended in any way.
__________________________Aaron Payment, Tribal Chairperson__________________________Lana Causley, Secretary
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Chippewa Indians
The Hierarchy Was Established
Payment was Vice Chairman and helped orchestrate the highest paying jobs in the Tribe. It is time for real change.
December 12, 2001
Sault Chippewa tribal leadership stifles dissent
Tribe's Board curbs critics, closes forums, defends record in ads.
By Melvin Claxton and Mark Puls / The Detroit News
SAULT STE. MARIE -- Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa tribal leaders, in response to a Nov. 11 Detroit News series of stories about their shortcomings, have begun a media campaign to defend their record and have taken steps to stifle dissent.
The campaign -- which includes a series of meetings with constituents, media interviews and half-page newspaper display ads -- followed revelations in The News that the tribe's 12-member governing board and its chairman hid million-dollar deals from tribal members, gave themselves large retroactive salary increases and created high-paying second jobs in the tribe for fellow board members.
Tribal Chairman Bernard Bouschor has hosted meetings in each of the tribe's five voting districts. He has barred the media from these meetings and limited tribal members to three written questions. He has refused to take follow-up questions or allow any discussion, according to several tribal members.
Sault member Patty Chambers said when she demanded that Bouschor answer her question about recent pay raises for himself and the tribe's governing board, the chairman threatened to have her arrested and removed from the meeting. She said a tribal police officer tried to escort her out of the building but backed down when several other members present said he would have to remove them, too.
"My civil rights were clearly violated," Chambers said. "That building is on tribal land and Bouschor makes all the rules."
Tribal spokesman John Hatch declined to comment on events at the closed meetings.
The New's series showed how the power granted the 52-year-old Bouschor as the head of a tribal government far exceed that of most elected officials.
With no independent court, police, auditors or justice department within the tribe to answer to, he has amassed substantial economic and political clout over all tribal operations, including the tribe's six casinos that generated $175 million in revenues last year.
Bouschor has used this unfettered power to keep tribal members in the dark about his financial dealings, co-opted fellow board members and compensated himself well.
Tribal leaders have cemented their hold on power by passing restrictive laws that prevent more than two-thirds of the tribe's membership from running for office.
They also gave themselves a 33-percent annual raise in 2000 at the same time they were considering a cost-cutting package that included layoffs at the tribe's businesses. The raises were retroactive going back five years.
Closed Meetings
Sault Chippewa leaders blocked the media and all but tribal members from attending their recent community forums. Scott Brand, a reporter for the Sault Ste. Marie Evening News, attempted to cover the meeting but wasn't allowed.
He reported on the incident in the Evening News: "In an ironic twist, the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board of Directors unanimously chose to shut out the general public in a special open forum, billed as a "community gathering" Tuesday evening, as the body attempts to rebuild credibility in the wake of a Nov. 11 series of articles in The Detroit News," Brand wrote in a newspaper article.
"The meeting, which had originally been billed as open to the public, was set to address these allegations."
In making his introductory comments, Chairman Bernard Bouschor said he would entertain a motion to exclude anyone in the audience who was not either a member of Unit I or a staff member with the Sault Tribe. Trustee Fred Paquin immediately made the motion which was promptly seconded by Trustee Martha Miller. The unanimous vote -- instituting the new exclusionary criteria -- effectively excluded a handful of people in attendance, including a reporter from The Evening News who had been assigned to cover the "community meeting."
Newspaper Ads
Tribal leaders have responded to the articles by placing half-page ads in at least four Michigan newspapers, including The Detroit News. The ad campaign, with a tab of about $30,000 so far, isn't costing board members or Bouschor a penny of their own money. Sault Chippewa leaders are paying for the ads from the tribe's coffers, Hatch confirmed.
That has angered tribal member Terry Barr, who criticized Bouschor for using tribal funds to pay for ads to defend his record.
"It doesn't seem right," Barr said. "If he has caused problems for himself, he should pay for the ads. That's not what the tribal money is meant for. But this is typical of the way he handles the tribe's money."
Sault Chippewa leaders say their intention is to get the truth out about their record and accomplishments. But some tribal members say the ads are a continuation of an effort by tribal leaders to mask problems with the way they run the tribe.
"This is exactly what we have been telling people for years" said tribal member Tom Bruning. "Bouschor and board members use any means, including propaganda and misrepresentations, to stay in power. What The Detroit News wrote was the truth, but these guys can't handle it because they have always had control over the press."
The ads and media campaign are not the first attempt by tribal leaders to blunt the impact of the newspaper's report. Even before the articles were published, Bouschor attempted to head off potential criticism of his leadership by using the tribe-owned newspaper to attack the then unpublished stories.
LAPOINT SPEARHEADS EFFORT
At tonight's Tribal Meeting Bob LaPoint added to the agenda the sale of Greektown Casino.
According to the Michigan Gaming Control Board rules, if you do not sit on the Board you are not authorized to engage in any financial transactions involving Gaming.
This is a removable offense from the Sault Tribe Board.
Whoever is on the Board that allows this to occur is guilty just like Director LaPoint.
Director LaPoint says the offer is 800 million and 200 million more in 5 years.
The Sault Tribe Membership will have nothing to say about this.
No background checks or financial investigations into the potential owners.
Director LaPoint is operating recklessly and has Tribal Members downstate involved in the negotiations.
TIME THAT DIRECTOR LAPOINT IS REMOVED!
