Appeals court bars Roger Yankton as Spirit Lake Nation chair

Thursday, July 18, 2013  

Roger Yankton was sworn in as chairman of the Spirit Lake Nation of North Dakota on Wednesday but a ruling from a tribal court of appeals blocked him from office.

Yankton was ousted at a general council meeting last month. He returned to power yesterday morning after a tribal judge ruled that the petition against him was defective.

But the Northern Plains Intertribal Court of Appeals put a halt to that ruling about an hour later. That means Leander "Russ" McDonald, who was elected chair at the general council meeting, should be able to take office.

The Northern Plains Intertribal Court had been handling cases from Spirit Lake until Yankton let the contract lapse. The contract was reinstated before he took office yesterday morning, allowing the tribal council to file an appeal.

Get the Story:
At Spirit Lake, a confusing round of elections, petitions and court decisions (The Grand Forks Herald 7/18)
Spirit Lake leadership uncertain (WDAZ 7/17)

Roger Yankton wins reinstatement as Spirit Lake Nation chair (7/17)
New chair of Spirit Lake Nation discusses social service woes (07/03)
Spirit Lake Nation chooses Russ McDonald as new chairman (7/2)
Spirit Lake Nation voters remove Roger Yankton as chairman (7/1)