Snoqualmie Indian Tribe Issues Statement Regarding the Snoqualmie Tribal Government

SNOQUALMIE, Wash.--(Business Wire)--
The following is a statement from the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe
regarding the Snoqualmie Tribal Government:

The honorary, non-elected Chief of the Snoqualmie people, Jerry
Enick, along with a small faction of loyalists, has overthrown the
Constitutionally elected Snoqualmie Indian tribal government. The
Snoqualmie Indian Tribe is a federally recognized Indian tribe with
637 enrolled members as of December 31, 2006.

After months of attempting to reach an internal resolution of this
tribal government crisis, the Chairman of the Tribe, Bill T Sweet, is
speaking out. "For the good of the Tribe and our elders, I am taking
this issue public," said Chairman Sweet. "We cannot stand idly by and
let the Tribe's future be hijacked by a handful of people and their
non-Indian supporters."

The dispute has been ongoing since last fall, but only recently
came to a head. Chairman Sweet has been barred from Tribal Council
meetings since August 16, 2007, when the honorary Chief issued a
decree suspending the Chairman and certain members of the Tribal
Council elected at the Tribe's May 12, 2007 general meeting. In
September 2007, the honorary Chief called for new elections and, at a
disputed meeting, seated new tribal council members.

The Tribe's Constitution only allows for May elections and vests
no power in the honorary Chief to control the government. The Chairman
has not been lawfully removed from office, but has been precluded from
conducting the duties of his office. Enick's move is nothing less than
a coup.

The dispute boiled over last month when the Enick faction issued
disenrollment letters to 40-60 tribal members, including the elected
members of the Tribal Council and their families. Earlier this week,
Enick's faction provided notice of an April 27, 2008 meeting where
they will seek to "banish" dissenters from the Tribe's land. Enick is
operating outside the law, but it unclear whether - or how - he can be
stopped.

"We tried for months to resolve this dispute internally or through
mediation," said Chairman Sweet. "Enick's group refused to meet. He
had the locks changed on the Tribal offices and threatened tribal
members that supported the elected government. The disenrollments and
banishments go too far. The situation is deteriorating rapidly."

The Tribe does not have a court system. So, the Chairman and the
other elected members of the Tribal Council turned to the U.S. Bureau
of Indian Affairs for help. However, the Bureau has refused to step
in.

"The BIA Regional Director told me as recently as April 14th that
I am still the Chairman," said Sweet, "but he won't put those words in
writing. Then the BIA Superintendent in Everett takes actions to
support the unlawful Enick group. The situation is unacceptable."

The Tribe's Casino is set to open later this fall. Chairman Sweet
believes the Enick group's power grab is related to the Casino. "This
is all about Casino dollars and who gets to control them." The
Chairman is worried that Enick group's actions will threaten the
Tribe's ability to open the Casino on time. His fears appear
well-founded.

At a meeting with the Bureau in Portland, Oregon in March 2008,
the Chairman learned that although he has been precluded from
attending meetings, Enick's faction has been using his name to obtain
Federal funding. "When we met with the Bureau last month, they showed
me a grant agreement signed by the Tribal Administrator 'on behalf of
Bill T Sweet as Tribal Chairman' on February 15, 2008," recounted
Chairman Sweet. "I couldn't believe it - I haven't been allowed to
attend or lead meetings since August 2007, yet they are using my name
without my knowledge or permission to obtain Federal dollars. Enick's
shadow government is trying to have it both ways."

Despite the documents indicating irregularities to obtain Federal
monies, the Bureau has not taken any action to stop the Enick faction.
"The Bureau is turning a blind-eye to us," said Chairman Sweet.
Without a tribal court to hold people accountable and with no action
from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Enick's group realizes it can act
without fear of any consequences. Chairman Sweet describes the
situation as "outrageous."

"We are trying to reclaim the Snoqualmie tribal government in a
manner that best meets the needs of the Snoqualmie people and to run
it according to its Constitution," said Chairman Sweet. "We have no
choice but to take this issue public. We have no other way to reach
out to the Snoqualmie people."

Snoqualmie Indian Tribe
Tribal Chairman
Bill T Sweet, 425-271-6142
or
Tribal Vice-Chairwoman
Carolyn Lubenau, 425-432-6088
or
Ater Wynne LLP
Rob Roy Smith, 206-623-4711

Copyright Business Wire 2008