A view of the Passamaquoddy Reservation at Pleasant Point in Maine. Photo by Ken Gallagher / Wikipedia
The leader of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point of Maine has been suspended indefinitely without pay, The Quoddy Tides reports. The council took action against Chief Fred Moore III after he suspended Vice Chief Vera Francis last month. He had accused her of acting improperly by trying to prevent the arrest of a tribal member on drunken driving charges. Francis is now facing misdemeanor charges but the council overlooked the incident and reinstated her last week. She also was appointed acting chief, meaning she can carry out Moore's duties while he is on leave. Moore, though, said the council's action was illegal. He was not present at the meeting where he was removed but there doesn't appear to be much he can do since the tribe lacks a formal dispute resolution process. Moore and Francis were targeted for removal earlier this year by a former council member who was arrested for allegedly forging signatures on a recall petition. Mary Creighton, 72, was jailed and removed from her post. No charges, however, were ever filed against her. The Portland Press Herald last year ran a 29-chapter series titled Unsettled that detailed the political and legal struggles on the reservation. The tribe has never adopted a constitution and critics believe the lack of a document undermines governance and reform efforts. Get the Story:
Sipayik council suspends chief from his duties (The Quoddy Tides 10/9)
Chief suspends vice chief at Pleasant Point (The Quoddy Tides 9/25)
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