LAC DU FLAMBEAU - Some tribal council leaders of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa told media in a press conference Thursday they want to ensure people their community is safe.

This, after tribal members locked themselves in the tribal center for more than 14 hours yesterday. Meanwhile, some of those 14 tribal members who were arrested voiced their concerns to the Midwest Bureau of Indian Affairs today.


Midwest Bureau of Indian Affairs Regional Director, Terry Virden says, "I'm here to get facts and to listen."

Midwest Bureau of Indian Affairs Regional Director Terry Virden and a deputy regional director sat down with some of the 14 people arrested in Wednesdays takeover of the tribal center in Lac du Flambeau. They say the focus is to hear their concerns and come up with a resolution.

Virden says, "Set up some type of mediation the council and this group and see if we can come to some resolution of some of the problems that are evident."

Virden says one of the issues that may be looked at surrounds the misuse of funds among the tribal council.

Lac du Flambeau Tribal Council Vice Presidnet Dee Mayo says, "There's not any misappropriations of funds I am aware of or have been flagged by any of our auditing agencies."

Mayo says an audit is done ever year but Virden says part of a resolution may include another round of auditing. Virden says he hopes these concerns will be addressed within a couple weeks.

Virden says, "Several people have mentioned I wish they'd take us serious the fact I'm here at the request of the assistant secretary shows the BIA is serious and wants to help."

Mayo says, "Ensure to the whole community statewide, national wide, that our community to people feeling safe coming here."