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Blackfeet Tribal Council Fractured Over Ouster

By Beacon Staff

GREAT FALLS – Ten Blackfeet tribal members are claiming they have seats on the nine-member Tribal Business Council after a council member was removed, replaced and then voted with four others to return himself to the board.

Councilman Bill OldChief told the Great Falls Tribune that a group of five council members voted Monday to return Jay St. Goddard to his post. St. Goddard had argued he was illegally removed from office last month after two other council members made up false charges against him.

Councilman Willie Sharp Jr. says the votes that restored St. Goddard to the council, removed Sharp as chairman and replaced him with OldChief violated the tribe’s constitution.

OldChief and four council members met in the tribal council conference room Tuesday while Sharp and the other four met at a tribal casino.