Q&A re: Ernie Stensgar ouster

Ernie Stensgar, then chairman of the tribe, talked at a press conference in 2003 before the the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s annual disbursement of tribal profits to local schools.

Question, from Jane Q. Citizen : An interesting difference in two stories reported this morning in the Press and SR. The Press says Ernie Stensgar failed to be re-elected to the chairmanship of the tribe on a 4-3 vote. Has quotes about him being surprised that his peers didn’t want him to continue. The SR story says that Stensgar “stepped down” and mentions nothing about a vote of the tribal council. Wonder which one is pr/spin from the tribe.

DFO : The Press got this one right here , while we were victims of new tribal chairman Chief Allan’s spin. Ernie was blind-sided by the vote. Dunno the politics of Indian Country, but I’m not impressed with the way Ernie was ousted. With all the tribe’s accomplishments during his nearly 20-year reign, Ernie deserved better than this.