LOWER BRULE, S.D. (AP) – A tribal court judge has ordered the Lower Brule Sioux tribal council to gather in March following months of disagreements among council members and a lack of mandatory meetings.

Lower Brule Sioux Tribe’s council members were elected in September but have since been split, three re-elected members against three freshmen, the Daily Republic reported. Their differences mean they have held no meetings despite a mandate on the tribe’s constitution requiring monthly gatherings.

“The tribe is being harmed by all this,’’ said Judge B.J. Jones. “You have a constitutional duty to govern your people. Am I to understand you’ve had no council meeting since you were elected?’’

All council members answered in the affirmative.

Jones said council members who refuse to participate in a council meeting will be held in contempt of court and arrested.

“The court could also order a recall of everybody on the council, but we’re not at that point because I’m confident this council can meet,’’ Jones said.

Kevin Wright, one of three new members, said the council has attempted to hold meetings since the election, but that re-elected tribal council chairman Michael Jandreau and councilmen Orville “Red’’ Langdeau and John McCauley would show up then walk out.

The tribal council oversees almost $35 million of tribal and federal resources annually.

The tribe has recently being in the spotlight after the international group Human Rights Watch issued a report outlining numerous instances in which millions of dollars in federal funding appear to have been misdirected by tribal leaders including Jandreau – the longest serving council member – and others.

Jandreau has condemned the report as baseless, inaccurate and merely a rehash of previous misstatements by political dissenters.

Wright and the two other new council members have said they want transparency in tribal government and have asked to see the tribe’s financial records.

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Information from: The Daily Republic, http://www.mitchellrepublic.com