Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Tribal Board Meeting Wrap Up July 26, 2022.
The Board passed Resolutions to hire a Michigan Based Organization to investigate DJ Hoffman's actions for various undisclosed reasons. Of course, the fact that he was suspended by the Board as Chairman and refuses to stop coming to work may be one of the obvious reasons. It appeared that a Whistle Blowers came forward and made allegations to the Board or to the Tribal Prosecutor. Instead of being willing to protect a Whistle Blower Lana Causley wanted the the accusations in writing and made public therefore eliminating protections that normally are provided to Whistle Blowers.
If DJ Hoffman cared about the Tribe, he would not put the Tribe through the expense of an independent investigation. He would just resign.
*Below is the letter posted as a Notice on the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Website - 7/28/22
MICHAEL T. EDWARDS ATTORNEY AT LAW, P.C. ___________________________________________________________________________ July 22, 2022* -
Re: Proposed Resolution: Investigating Accusations Against DJ Hoffman Board of Directors:
I am in receipt of a proposed resolution regarding investigating DJ Hoffman for harassment and intimidation towards Sault Tribe members, Sault Tribe employees, JKL Staff, and contracted vendors working on projects for the Sault Tribe. The proposed resolution states in the third “WHEREAS” clause, the following: “a complaint was recently submitted to the Sault Tribe Prosecutor and the Sault Tribe Election Committee Attorney alleging that DJ Hoffman interfered in the investigation into Election Code violations by attempting to purchase evidence to be used against a Sault Tribe member; and” Please be advised that I am unaware of any election complaint being received by myself or submitted to the Election Committee alleging that Mr. Hoffman has or has attempted to interfere with an Election Committee investigation. There are times that the Election Committee or myself receive communications from persons (sometimes anonymous) expressing their opinion about a particular candidate. However, such opinions do not rise to the level of a compliant as defined by the Election Ordinance, and as a result do not warrant an investigation. The Election Committee does not concern itself with partisan bickering. Instead, its task is to enforce the Election Ordinance as written to ensure the integrity of the election process. More importantly, the Election Committee takes abundant precautions to assure that all information it receives and considers during an investigation from an Election Ordinance violation compliant is legitimate and will withstand judicial scrutiny. Please reach out to the Election Committee Chair should there be any additional concerns.
Very truly yours, ___________________________
Michael T. Edwards Election Committee Attorney
The Law Office of Michael T. Edwards, P.C.
1029 Gornick Avenue * Suite 102 * Gaylord, MI 49735
BUS. (989) 732-5500
mike@edwardsatlaw.com
July - 12, 2022 Announcement
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. —At its July 12 special meeting, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board of Directors passed a resolution, "Vote of No Confidence in DJ Hoffman Serving as Chairperson of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and Suspension of Duties Effective Immediately and Until Further Notice."
The resolution (see below) suspends DJ Hoffman of any and all duties assigned by resolution, ordinance, motion, or any other action of the board of directors in his previous role as vice chairperson and his current role as chairperson including all internal and external committees and communications, not including consent decree negotiations, until further notice, temporarily assigning the duties to Vice Chairperson Austin Lowes.
Hoffman was appointed chairperson June 27 by the Sault Tribe Board of Directors, covering the remainder of the chairperson term until the next election in 2024. Former Chairperson Aaron Payment resigned May 10.
"Resolution 2022-201:
Vote of No Confidence in DJ Hoffman Serving as Chairperson of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and Suspension of Duties Effective Immediately and Until Further Notice
WHEREAS, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (the “Tribe”) is organized pursuant to the Constitution of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians;
WHEREAS, elected officials on the Tribe’s Board of Directors serve at the will of the membership, and the Chairperson’s duties have historically been delegated by the Board of Directors;
WHEREAS, DJ Hoffman was defeated in his 2022 primary race for his Board seat by a sizable margin;
WHEREAS, DJ Hoffman was appointed by the outgoing Board of Directors to be the Tribe’s Chairperson on 06/27/2022, which was eight-days before six of their four-year terms expired due to also being defeated in their Board elections;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors considers this appointment to be political entrenchment, which The Yale Law Journal (November, 2015) views as illegitimate since “governments are not allowed to bind future governments, and a present majority cannot bind the hands of future decision makers (Levinson, D., & Sachs, B.I.);”
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Board of Directors of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, at a duly called special meeting held on July 12, 2022, hereby issues a vote of NO CONFIDENCE in DJ Hoffman as Tribal Chairperson;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Tribal Board of Directors hereby suspends DJ Hoffman of any and all duties assigned by resolution, ordinance, motion, or any other action of the Board of Directors in his previous role as Vice Chairperson and his current role as Chairperson including all internal and external committees and communications, not including consent decree negotiations, until further notice; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Vice Chairperson shall be temporarily assigned any and all duties previously assigned to the Chairperson position by resolution, ordinance, or motion until further notice." *
* Public Information posted on the Tribe's Website as of 7/29/22.
