In one of his first actions as chairman of the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribe of Michigan, Aaron Payment banished his predecessor from the reservation.

Payment said the order was necessary because he accused former chairman Bernard Bouschor of stealing from the tribe. He promised an investigation into $2.66 million in severance payments Bouschor awarded top aides after losing the election last month.

Payment narrowly beat Bouschor by a vote of 4,190 to 4,028.

Get the Story:
Payment bans Bouschor from Sault Tribe lands (The Soo Evening News 7/12)
New Sault chairman sworn in as bitterness continues to divide (AP 7/11)
Chippewa Indian tribe installs new chairman (The Detroit Free Press 7/12)
Payment to be installed as new Sault Tribe chairman (The Soo Evening News 7/9)

Relevant Links:
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe - http://www.sootribe.org

Related Stories:
Controversies continue after Soo Tribe election (07/01)
Michigan paper blasted for endorsing tribal chair (06/11)
Sault Tribe chairman blamed for 'gay' mailing (06/08)