Tribal Council Passes Ethics Ordinance

On June 12th, Tribal Council successfully passed the Ethics Ordinance, a document that has been in the works for years. The purpose of the Ethics Ordinance is to establish an Ethics Commission and the basic standards for it, strengthen tribal members confidence in the tribe’s government and administration, require accountability, and to enact as law the guiding principle that public office is a trust, and the officers and officials of the government are trustees. This ordinance pertains to all appointed officials, employees, and agents of the tribe.

The Ethics Commission must be established within six months of the passing of this ordinance. The Ethics Commission will be comprised of seven (7) commissioners each serving a four (4) year term. Initial appointments will go as follows:

Tribal Elders shall appoint one (1) Commissioner for a three-year term, and one (1) Commissioner for a four-year term.

The General Body shall elect one (1) Commissioner to a two-year term, one (1) Commissioner to a three-year term, and one (1) Commissioner to a four-year term. The

Tribal Council shall appoint one (1) Commissioner toa two-year term and one (1) Commissioner to a 4-year term.

After the initial appointments all terms will be four years.

The establishment of the Ethics Ordinance and Ethics Commission is an attempt to better promote the peace, morals, political integrity, public trust, economic security and general welfare of the Tribe. It sets lists of standards, categorized as: Personal Integrity, Compliance with the Law, Financial Responsibility, Confidentiality, Conflicts of Interest, and Sexual Harassment, that must be adhered to. The Ordinance also enables all employees to raise ethical concerns or questions without fear of retaliation.

For more information and to read the full Ethics Ordinance, please visit the member portal of the tribes website.