St. Croix Chippewa members have decried council secrecy for years

HERTEL - The way the St. Croix Chippewa Tribal Council operates in secrecy has gone largely unnoticed by federal watchdogs, but not by tribal members who have complained loudly about the practice for decades.

In election after election, reform candidates have called for more openness from the Tribal Council, including opening council meetings to the general membership and making the northwestern Wisconsin tribe’s financial and deliberation records available for inspection.

Reformers occasionally oust a longtime council member but, so far, have not won enough seats on the five-member council to push through transparency reforms. One reformer, given a top job by the tribe, is now declining to comment, and a second, also back on the tribe’s payroll, could not be reached for comment.

http://www.wcregisteronline.com/content/st-croix-chippewa-members-have-decried-council-secrecy-years