Red Lake chair says he will not step down from elected position

In a statement issued by Red Lake Nation Tribal Council on Monday, chair Darrell Seki Sr. said that he will not retire or step down from his position as the tribal nation’s elected chairman.

“Our Nation is going through a difficult time and our members are looking for steady leadership; we owe you, our membership, a Council that stands united in purpose,” Seki wrote, stating he has informed the Red Lake Tribal Council in formal writing that he will continue to carry out his duties.

Seki's statement comes after Red Lake Nation announced on Friday that the tribal council “engaged in a difficult but necessary discussion” and Seki agreed to step down from his position in two weeks. The Friday statement was shared on Red Lake’s Facebook account and website but has since been deleted.

Rumors of Seki’s resignation circulated late last week after the Department of Interior released an 11-page document describing the legal justification for the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Sept. 10 takeover of the tribe’s family and children’s services program.

The “reassumption notice” accused the tribe’s child welfare program, Ombimindwaa Gidinawemaaganinaadog, of a pattern of inaction while children were “neglected, abused and malnourished.”

In his Monday statement, Seki wrote that he would continue working for Red Lake and called for unity.

“I look forward to continuing to work together for the good of the Red Lake Nation. We are strong, and we must stand as one,” Seki said.

Chandra Colvin covers Native American communities in Minnesota for MPR News via Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues and communities.  

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