ByLaws

Bylaws

Métis Eastern Tribal Indian Society of Maine

Article 1. Membership Qualifications:

Members must have indigenous North American Indian ancestry. Applicants are required to show a genealogical lineage to an American Indian ancestry. Because of blocked or lost information a person’s genealogical paper trail can stop. Due to this lack of information, a person’s handed-down oral family history and traditions can be presented to the Grand Council for decision in providing temporary associate status to the band. This associate status shall be until one has proven through genealogy their Indian bloodline for a full band membership. Temporary associate status excludes one from voting and due process of band government.

Article 2. Grand Council of Elders:

Grand Council of Elders will be an elected body of five members for a term of five years. A Head Elder shall be elected from their own membership for a term of one year. The Grand Council of Elders shall be the final arbitrators and mediators of all disputes or of any situation which cannot be resolved by the Grand Council. Two alternates will also be elected to fill in for a council member if that one is unavailable for a Grand Council meeting. Alternate will be notified in advance by the Head Elder. In a decision, the majority rules.

Article 3. Grand Council;

Grand Council will be an elected body of five members for a term of two years. A Head Council shall be elected from their own membership for a term of one year. The Grand Council shall be the arbitrators and mediators of all disputes or of any situation that occur within the band. In the event that such matters cannot be resolved, such matters will be presented to the Grand Council of Elders for final decision. Two alternates shall also be elected for two years to fill in for a council member if that one is unavailable for a council meeting. Alternate will be notified in advance by the Head Council.

Article 4. Grand Chief;

Grand Chief shall be elected by the people for a term of two years. The Grand Chief shall preside over all meetings, elections and to be the primary spokes person of the band, political and otherwise. As a leader he exercises delegated mandates, authority, responsibilities and duties and has a sacred political trust to comply in every respect with the direction of the band.

Article 5. First Chief;

First Chief shall be elected by the people for a term of two years. The First Chief shall assume all duties of the Grand Chief when he/she is not present. He/She also will be in charge or all committees, all committees will report directly to the First Chief.

Article 6; Secretary;

The Secretary shall be elected for a term of one year. The secretary will keep the minutes of all band meetings and report them at the next meeting. The Secretary shall keep and organize a current list of all members and their addresses and issue notices of all meetings. Secretary shall receive and answer all correspondences as directed by council and chiefs. Copies of all genealogies of members are to be retained and kept on file by secretary.

Article 7; Treasurer;

The Treasurer shall be elected for a term of one year. The treasurer shall keep a proper accounting system and report on a regular basis the financial condition of the Métis Eastern Tribal Indian Society of Maine. The financial report will be read at all band meetings and recorded in the minutes of the meetings. The Treasurer will be accountable to the Grand Council, the Grand Chief and the First Chief. The treasurer will be responsible for the writing and depositing of all checks and money into the account of the Métis Eastern Tribal Indian Society of Maine. The treasurer will be responsible for paying all financial debts Incurred by the Band from the bank account of the Métis Eastern Tribal Indian Society of Maine upon approval of the Grand Council, the Grand Chief or the First Chief or as approved at a general Band meeting.

Article 8; Committees;

Committees for various functions, such as raising money, gatherings, Pow-wows or any other function shall be voluntary or appointed and will report to The First Chief and then at a general meeting of the Band.

Article 9; Meetings;

There will be four general meetings a year, with the first meeting of the year set for the second Sunday of January, following three meetings dates to be set for each consecutive meeting at this time. Special meetings can be called for upon notification to the Band. This is subject to change as the Band grows.

Article 10; Election of Office;

Election of Offices will be held at the general meeting on the second Sunday of January. Offices will be by nomination and voting will be by show of hands unless a secret ballot is requested. Majority rules (Majority means the majority of members present at a meeting and not total members of the Band.)

Article 11; Removal of Elected Officials;

If any elected official is found to abuse powers of office, abuse alcohol or drugs, misuse Band funds or in any immoral manner goes against the Bylaws of the Band will be brought before the Grand Council for review and may constitute removal from office. An elected official may appeal any decision of removal to the Grand Council of Elders for a final decision.

Article 12; Amendments to Bylaws;

Amendments to the Bylaws may be proposed by any member of the Band with a three months advance notice of proposed amendment. A vote of two thirds of the total membership of the Band in this case constitutes a majority vote to approve amendment change. All members of the Band will be notified by the Secretary in writing three months in advance of the meeting for the voting of proposed amendment.

Article 13; Expenses;

The expenses of traveling for a delegated official to and from a meeting with other Tribes, Nations, States or other tribal business will not be borne by that person, but will be paid for by the Band. All receipts will be kept by that person and turned over to the treasurer for reimbursement or if given a certain amount of money in advance for travel expenses, will upon return, return all money not spent along with receipts of expenses. If there is a loss of wages by person sent as a delegated official, that person should be compensated for such loss.

Article 14; Spouses who are not of Indigenous North American Indian ancestry (Métis);

Spouses who are not Métis’ are welcome to attend functions of Métis Eastern Tribal Indian Society of Maine and are welcome to participate in many if not all of our activities, but have no voting rights and cannot become members. Spouses can participate on most committees along with regular members. We are family oriented and enjoy family participation.

Article 15; Resignation of Elected Official;

Any Elected Official can resign his/her position by presenting a written resignation thirty days in advance prior to termination. A new election will take place to fill that vacancy for the remainder of that person’s term.

Article 16; Definition of majority rules;

A majority rules constitutes a majority of the members at a meeting and not a majority of total membership of the Band, with exception of Article 12 on amendments of bylaws.

Article 17; Fee for Issuing Membership Card;

A Fee for issuing a membership card at this time will be $10.00 and can be changed at a later time by a majority vote at a general meeting. If a person loses their card, wants a change of a picture or change of address, a new card can be issued for half of the present fee being charged at that time. Fees charged are for cost of material and processing of card.

Article 18; Signing of Important Documents;

The Grand Chief will sign all important documents and will sign all membership cards except his own. The Head Chairperson of the Grand Council of Elders, The First Chief or The Head Chairperson of the Grand Council will be the signer of documents or membership card when a conflict of interest is present.

Article 19; Dissolution of property and monies should The Métis Eastern Tribal Indian Society of Maine have cause to disband;

The dissolution of Society monies and property shall be as follows: The Grand Chief shall (with the advice and council of the Society’s Grand Council, First Chief and Treasurer) see that all outstanding debts and obligations of the Society are satisfied and the disposition of the Society’s remaining funds or treasury along with any property of same are disposed according to the wishes of the majority of the Society’s membership.

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