Press Release - Banishment
2/26/2015 2:00:00 PM - Public Relations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: February 25, 2015

CONTACT:  MARCELLA HADDEN, Public Relations Manager

                       Call 989-775-4059 with any questions.

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribal Council has taken a bold and proactive position today to assert Tribal sovereignty on their War on Drugs.  Unanimous votes were cast today during a work session of the Tribal Council for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe to exclude or banish two non-member Native American’s for their involvement in drug trafficking within the boundaries of the Isabella Federal Reservation.

“Today our people have shown that we are no longer going to tolerate people who peddle unhealthy and life destroying substances onto the reservation. Today we took necessary steps to protect and uphold our members and their families against this plague called addiction”, stated Tribal Chief Steve Pego. 

A routine traffic stop in Mt. Pleasant late Tuesday night, February 17, 2015, ended in a drug bust and the arrest of one woman on charges of possession of heroin and intent to deliver and another woman for carrying concealed weapons.  “These are not the type of people we want in our community”, stated Tribal Sub Chief, Lorna Kahgegab Call. 

Tribal Council under Ordinance No.3 of the Tribal Code can exclude individuals from their territories for specific reasons.  “The choice to exclude these individuals before conviction is our way of sending the message that this will not be tolerated in our community”, stated Tribal Police Captain Jim Cates.   

Please contact Marcella Hadden, Public Relations Manager, at (989) 775-4059 or at mahadden@sagchip.org  for more information on the announcement.