Northern Cheyenne holds Tribal Council Election – again

LAME DEER, Mont. – On Thursday, October 30, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe held an election to fill eight Tribal Council seats. This election was called and apparently conducted by traditional Chiefs who in September ousted eight members of the Tribal Council who were elected in November, 2024 for 4-year terms; the Tribal Secretary and Treasurer (appointed positions) and one tribal employee. What prompted that has been explained in previous articles: the trouble is money especially how some 90 million of COVID-related funds were spent.

As one elder disagreed with the actions: “No matter if you like them or not. They were legally elected under majority vote of the people. We put them in and only we can take them out.”

On Monday, November 3, 2025 winners of the October 30th election were sworn into office. Very quick.

The newly elected members include: Ashland District: Waylon Rogers (22 votes); Jason Standing Elk (37 votes); Birney District: Llevando “Cowboy” Fisher (24 votes); Busby District Rueben Roundstone (42 votes); and Lame Deer District: Robert Simpson (125 votes); Cory Spotted Elk (80 votes); Josey Wade Redhat (42 votes) and Muddy District Lynwood Ewing that vote total not posted on Facebook, which is the primary, maybe only source of information as the constitutional required legal notices have not been provided to the community. Normally the votes run into the hundreds.

The new Council are all men, carrying mixed bags of experience. Most are new comers but “Cowboy” has years, representing the Birney District for decades and then serving 2 terms as Tribal President. Lynwood Ewing also served on the Tribal Council and was Tribal Treasurer for many years. They both confided to NSNT that they are against prohibitions against women. Mayhap, they will be the voice of reason among the “young bloods.”

Who are the young bloods? Jason Standing Elk, descendant of a Chief is a reasonable and educated man, having recently retired from the Colstrip energy complex; Waylon Rogers is also reasonable, educated and articulate. They call him the “marijuana” man because he has advocated for the legal sale of that on the Reservation (pretty soon that will happen, forestalling the current tribal charges/fines/incarceration against possession, smoking, and so forth, now a small crime for the cops are preoccupied with murders, gang activity and so forth); Torie Davis is a very reasonable, yet loud spoken man, making it his business to learn the tribal constitution. He runs a junkyard up Kirby way. Rueben Roundstone comes from a very respectable family, a young man who made a name for himself as a “cage” fighter and until now, the head of President Small’s personal security team; Robert Simpson is known as a community-oriented guy, a cowboy who has dedicated much time to promoting healing for youth through horsemanship. Wade Red Hat was recently released from prison as was Cory Standing Elk, a violent offender, still quite aggressive and loud spoken. However, in the whole scheme of things, maybe there is a little hope for the next three years. At first it was promoted as a “one-year only” term to get things straightened out. That has now changed.

It is estimated that there was a 7-10% voter turnout. There seem to be many reasons for this: many voters were not clear on the election dates and other questioned the legitimacy of the election. It was unprecedented. On one hand, under the current IRA constitution, amended in 1996, election procedures are clearly spelled out. First the Council enacts a resolution for the procedures which must be approved or disapproved by the Tribal President and forwarded to the BIA for approval within 10 days; the BIA must respond in 10 days and then things can proceed. All-in-all under normal and previous elections it takes about three months to conduct a primary and then general election, costing a lot of money which the Tribe is now short. Customarily there is a transition time, while newly elected officials have the opportunity to become familiar with the Tribal Constitution, primary ordinances and their duties. In the past, they were elected in the fall and took office in January. The Cheyenne electorate is somewhat familiar with the process, is somewhat startled about this last election.

The traditional Chiefs, with President Gene Small’s encouragement and approval have been in charge since taking the unheard of and hereto for move of ousting the Tribal Council. They cite their authority under the 1936 Tribal Constitution. Many try to remind them that this is not 1936, rather 2025. To no avail.

It is now difficult, or impossible to contact these leaders for comment. This reporter made 7 calls and none were returned.

In this election, the Chiefs apparently decided the constitutional election process was too cumbersome. Not all agreed, but majority vote rules. Therefore, in two weeks, they declared an election date; forbid women from running for office; called for and had an election. Under the Constitution, legal posting of such dates is required. They did not get around to that, although President Small regularly posted on Facebook. Trouble is: not everyone on the reservation has access to social media.

In the meantime, they made decisions which disturb many on the Reservation. Such declarations included:
• Women cannot stand for office;
• Women and children cannot attend tribal council meetings or speak in public; and;
• If a Cheyenne woman marries a “white” man, she is no longer a member of the Tribe.

Some worry that this may lead to disenrollment of themselves and offspring or maybe banishment from the Tribe.

As one Cheyenne woman, this writer feels that things are getting a little dangerous for Cheyenne women, unless content to cook. Especially a blabbermouth like this writer. Like it or not: Indian Country; the world and maybe worse, Trump are keeping up with this.

During all of these events, the BIA has been absent due to the government shutdown, not available for response or action.

In the meantime, the Tribal Constitution provides for a Constitutional Court, appointed by the Tribal Council composed of three lawyers. Currently, two of those are very successful tribal members who practice Indian law and one is a non-Cheyenne, acknowledged as an expert in tribal law. We understand that the ousted Council is appealing to that venue – which they should. The irony is that while the Constitutional Court can hear cases and make decision, that finding must be forwarded first to the Tribal Council for approval; next the BIA; and if the Constitutional Court really stick to their guns the U.S. Solicitor will have to deal with the issue. This process can drag on for years. For example, one Tribal President who felt he was unduly ousted by the Tribal Council did that. When the final decision of the Department of Interior was finally issued in his favor, the Tribe had already had another election. Too much, too late. And he was one of the best and brightest, Eugene Littlecoyote.

In closing, this writer, a member of the Tribe reminds our readers about a prophecy that Sweet Medicine gave many, many years ago. He brought law and order to our people, divinely inspired. He said: “You will fall away from our ways; take up the way of the white man. Then you will become like dogs fighting over scraps.” Are we there now?

(Contact Clara Caufield at acheyennereview@gmail.com.)

The post Northern Cheyenne holds Tribal Council Election – again first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

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