Vondall-Rieke New Native Media Center Director

The Native Media Center (NMC) suffered a terrible loss early last spring with the untimely death of its director, Paul V. Boswell.   The Center continued to operate and the search for a new director began in May 2006.   Monique Vondall-Rieke was hired as the new director and she began in August.   Monique has long been a supporter of the Native Media Center and at one time was a student writer for its publication Native Directions.   "We feel very blessed to have such a bright and talented woman as our new director," added Holly Annis, NMC Assistant Director.

Here is some background information about Monique:

Monique Vondall-Rieke, J.D. is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in Belcourt, North Dakota, where she was born and raised.

Monique has a J.D. from the University of North Dakota School of Law (2004), a B.A. in English from the University of North Dakota (2001), and an Associate of Arts from the Turtle Mountain Community College (1999).

Monique has been the Project Supervisor for the AmeriCorps VISTA Rural/Reservation: Community Partners Project since August 2004 at UND's College of Business and Public Administration.   She is also serving a four-year appointment to the Turtle Mountain Tribal Court of Appeals (November 2004).   She is a former Program Assistant for the Native Media Center at UND as well.   In addition to her local experience, Monique has over 20 year's of experience in working with American Indian communities.

Monique has a combined 13 years of media experience, including 10 years in journalism as a volunteer reporter, intern reporter, and a reporter for both small and medium market newspapers, including the Grand Forks Herald and the Turtle Mountain Star .   In addition to reporting, Monique has also worked in public radio and in medium market radio for Lite Rock 105, KLTA-FM in Fargo, North Dakota.

Monique has also been a freelance reporter for Indian Country Today and the High Plains Reader .   She has been a resident of Grand Forks for the past eight years and has two children who attend the Grand Forks Public Schools and one son who is in college in Texas. Her husband, Stuart, is a graduate student in the English program at UND.

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Elections:
94 Candidates File Intent For Turtle Mountain's Upcoming Tribal Elections

by Debbie "Chook" Keplin
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa

The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (TMBCI) have set Tuesday, October 24 as their primary election.   This election will determine who will be in the run-off for the general election along with judicial positions to be featured on Tuesday, November 7 election ballot.

According to Dorene Bruce, Chairman of the Election Board, 94 candidates filed their intent for the elections by the September 22nd deadline. She said approximately six tribal members intend to vie for the Chairman position. Bruce also stated once background checks of each candidate are complete, an official list will be available and an official ballot will be ready for anyone wanting to vote absentee.

In the October 24 th Primary Election, two top vote getters will advance in the chairman race, and the three candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the district races will advance to the General Election in November where two candidates will be chosen for each district.   The races for tribal council representatives, including the Chairman race are for two-year terms of office.

The November 7th General Election ballot will not only feature candidates who advance from the Primary Election, it will also feature candidates seeking the offices of Chief Judge (one position for a 4-year term), Associate Judge (one position for a two year term) and members of the Judicial Board. Positions on the Judicial Board include the Chairman of the board and a representative from each of the four districts. The candidates for the Judicial Board chairman race is an at large race while those running for a seat as the district representative is restricted to eligible voters of each district.

Voting for Tribal Council representatives, the Tribal Chairman, Chief Judge, Associate Judge and Chairman of the Judicial Board are at large during both the Primary and General election.

An eligible voter who cannot make it to the polls on election day can request an absentee ballot by either stopping at the tribal offices of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in Belcourt, ND, or requesting a ballot by mail.   Those eligible to cast an absentee ballot include enrolled tribal members age 18 and over serving in the military branch of service (an address is required), members attending school or college (class schedules must be provided), someone who cannot get to the polls because of hospitalization (requires a form with the date of admittance to the hospital), members who reside off the reservation because of seasonal work (the mailing address of the employer must be submitted), and anyone who is physically handicapped or mentally disabled (requires directions to your place of residence).

Election Board Chairman Dorene Bruce said absentee ballots should be printed by Saturday, September 30 th , and will be available thereafter.   She said this would depend on the completion of background checks on all candidates seeking tribal political office. The absentee ballots must be returned on or before the date of the primary election. All eligible voters are enrolled members of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, who

are eighteen (18) years of age or over. Eligible resident voters should register in the district of their residence as provided by tribal ordinance and all eligible nonresident voters need to register with the district of their former residence or affiliation.

The TMBCI General Election in November coincides with county, state and national elections.

Polling sites for the upcoming tribal election have been tentatively set for the Belcourt Fitness Center where District 1 voters will cast their ballots, the KC Hall for District II, the Fiddlers Hall for District III and the Old Dunseith Day School-Fitness Center for District IV residents.

For those interested in hearing what the candidates have to say, you can tune to 88.5 FM, KEYA public radio. Jarle Kvale, Program Director at the station serving the Turtle Mountain region said candidate platform statements would begin airing on October 16. He said the station would also feature public forums of candidates running for the tribal governing body and tribal judicial office.

Questions regarding the tribal election should be directed to the Election Board Chairperson, Dorene Bruce at 244-5997. Information on absentee ballots can be obtained by calling Carla Jean Wilkie at 477-2616.