BIA backs Northern Cheyenne council's vote to remove president
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is supporting the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council's decision earlier this month to remove the tribe's president, who still maintains the controversial vote violated a tribal court decision.
In a letter to the council, the BIA's Northern Cheyenne Reservation Superintendent, Michael Addy, officially recognized the council's 9-1 vote to remove former President Jace Killsback on Oct. 5.
It’s unclear how much weight the BIA’s position will ultimately lend to the dispute. Killsback has vowed to continue fighting what he considers an “illegal” removal hearing in the tribe’s court system. A BIA spokeswoman provided a copy of Addy’s letter Tuesday, but did not respond to emailed questions.
The latest letter comes a week after he informed the council he had not received the required paperwork to determine whether the vote conformed to the tribe's constitution. In response, the council provided a “legal opinion” to the BIA on Friday, Addy wrote, which outlined the council’s authority to remove Killsback.
Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/bia-backs-northern-cheyenne-council-s-vote-to-remove-president/article%E2%80%9416f1fcb5-c35c-514f-89e1-280416d97fb5.html
Cross-posted in the Montana Group.