April 7, 2026 Video of Meeting.
The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board of Directors held a regular meeting April 7, 2026, beginning 5 p.m. at Sault Kewadin Casino Whitefish Point Room, in person or via Zoom, https://zoom.us/j/83640619761.
“Membership Participation” was held at 5 p.m. in person or by virtual attendance. The link is available at the Sault Tribe website saulttribe.com under membership assistance for the meeting link and Membership Form that must be completed. The deadline to submit a form is 1 p.m. on meeting day. The link is https://zoom.us/j/83640619761. Those who have already registered for Zoom meetings need not register again unless they have a matter for the board.
To attend the scheduled workshop, except for closed session or items, go to https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84149623333. Those who have already registered to Zoom Board of Directors meetings need not register for workshops.
Those who have already registered for Zoom meetings need not register again.
On the agenda under Resolutions was:
FY25 Year End Reconciliations/Modifications.
FY25 ARPA Budgets.
FY26 ARPA Budgets.
Establish FY26 Aquatic Invasive Species Budget.
Establish FY26 BIA Forestry Budget.
Establish FY26 GLRI Coastal Initiative Budget.
Establish FY26 2022 Tribal Victim Services Budget.
Accept Grant/Est. FY26 2025 Victim Services Budget.
Legal FY26 Budget Modification.
Contract with Loyola University - Manoomin.
2026 National Coastal Resilience Application.
Accept Cybersecurity Grant Award.
Accept AP Wireless Devices Grant Award.
Health - Re-appropriate 3rd Party Revenue.
Governmental Emergency Conditions Policy.
Housing Adopt Governmental Wage Grid.
Moratorium Prohibiting AI Data Centers.
The Resolution to dismiss the Sault Tribe Judge appears to have been added without notice given to Members.
Details for the justification of this action was not shared with Members prior to the Vote. However Facebook Posts state that a Tribal Member's Rights were upheld by the Judge so instead of providing the court ordered information to the Tribal Member the board fired the judge.
The Sault Tribe News Team has requested that the Board of Directors provide a list of Case Numbers for the decisions made by Judge Palmer that lead to this action.
The statement below regarding this action was posted on the tribe's website on April 8 -
"The Board of Directors voted at its meeting on April 7, 2026, to terminate the employment agreement with Tribal Court Chief Judge Charles Palmer, effective immediately.
This decision was the result of unacceptable conduct from the bench and a series of court decisions that were contrary to the tribe’s sovereignty and could have diminished the tribe’s ability to properly defend its sovereign status going forward. The board determined that this conduct was in violation of the employment agreement entered between the tribe and Judge Palmer.
The board authorized the tribal chairman to execute necessary contracts, subject to board review, to find judges to handle the Tribal Court cases while they initiate a search for a new chief judge. The Board of Directors staff will work with Tribal Court staff to ensure there is as limited disruption to court services as possible.
Under New Business, the board considered Dis-enrollment, Reaffirming 2024-118 – Protection of First Families. Board Concerns was in a session that was not conducted in front of members.
Cover Photo Credit - Mackinac Island Facebook Page 2022.
