Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate council to vote on removing chairman

SISSETON, S.D. (AP) — The tribal council on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation is voting on whether to remove its chairman following accusations that his move to drug test all tribal government employees violated policy.

Former South Dakota U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson says his client, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Chairman Bruce Renville, is scheduled to go before the council at 10 a.m.

Johnson says he believes Renville did the right thing by ordering all tribal employees to be drug tested in August. He says the tribe hasn't been following mandatory drug testing policies.

Five of the seven council members must vote to remove Renville.

Johnson says the proceedings are closed to the public.

The Lake Traverse reservation is in five counties in South Dakota and two in North Dakota.