The White Earth Reservation Business Council is not commenting on the Honor the Earth lawsuit involving sexual harassment specifically but Chairman Michael Fairbanks says the current conversations highlight the need for the Band to implement an Ethics Code.
Honor the Earth was founded in 1993 by White Earth band member and climate activist Winona LaDuke, and the case was filed in 2019 by Margaret Campbell.
In late March, a Becker County District Court ruled in favor of Campbell, awarding $750,000, finding evidence that “Honor the Earth acted with deliberate disregard for the rights or safety of others,” and retaliated against Campbell for opposing sexual harassment.
The White Earth Band says they plan to draft then implement an Ethics Code to uplift Anishinaabe values, and will not support individuals or organizations if their demonstrated conduct is contrary to the values and goals of the Band or the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
