Tribal Council elects new chairman

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council selected Michael Dolson (Hot Springs District) as the new Tribal Chairman Jan. 5. He takes the helm from Tom McDonald (At-Large District), who will serve as vice chairman.

Martin Charlo (Pablo District) will continue in to serve as secretary; and James Steele Jr. (St. Ignatius District) was elected treasurer.

Deliberation by the newly seated Tribal Council, and internal voting for the executive leadership, came after the swearing in of recently elected council members, with terms through 2028. In addition to Dolson, Charlo and Steele, those include James “Bing” Matt (At-Large District) and Danielle Matt (Dixon District).

These recently elected members join incumbents, whose terms end in 2026, including McDonald, Jim Malatare (Arlee District), Jennifer Finley (Polson District), Len Twoteeth (Elmo District) and Carole Lankford (Ronan District).

Dolson was born and raised in the Hot Springs Valley on a ranch that’s been in his family since the 1880s. A longtime instructor at Salish Kootenai College, he earned his Master’s in Business Administration from Gonzaga University and a law degree from the University of Montana after graduating from Thomas Aquinas College in California.

Dolson’s second term on the council continues through 2028, although leaders are elected every two years, following general elections.