Interesting election times on Northern Cheyenne Reservation

Socrates: When does the decline of society begin? When the stupid are louder than the wise; when the lazy have more than the honest; when the unscrupulous are respected more than the honest; when those have none, preach morality; when character counts less than reputation; when children are no longer allowed to be children; when perpetrators are more protected than the victims; when madness is glorified as ‘normal’; when politicians live not for the people, but off the people. Said some 2,400 years ago, but still valid today.

This quote was suggested as an introduction to this article by Mina Seminole, Northern Cheyenne elder. (Thank you for the excellent suggest, my sister).

The Northern Cheyenne Tribe now has two new governments, largely as a result of President Smalls call for accountability when he was elected in 2024, specifically a forensic audit of some 90 million in COVID related funds which led to great intra-tribal conflict.  

One of the governments is the ‘traditional Chiefs’ Council, established in the fall of 2025 after forcibly ousting eight members of the Council elected in 2024 under the IRA constitution, previously unheard of in Cheyenne politics. Shortly thereafter, another election was held, largely seating members of the traditional faction. The other is the IRA Council, on hold for about a year, but recently re-instated by tribal court order.

The IRA Council dubbed ‘the eight’ reassumed authority in the past month. Their first actions were to establish operations in another building, on the basis it was too ‘dangerous’ for them to be in the tribal office, a claim Small refutes. “They were never denied access and as a matter of fact didn’t even try once the BIA Law Enforcement declined to help them. Are they afraid of their own people”?

The first actions of the IRA Council were to again impeach Tribal President Gene Small, removing his signature authority; appoint Vice-President Ernest Little Mouth as Tribal President; grant themselves a years back pay (reportedly about $40,000 stone-cold cash to each one); confiscate the Tribal internet, finance records, including the audit results and MIP, finance tracking system; terminate 10 tribal employees, including the entire Land Authority; the Human Resources Department and two tribal finance employees, all of whom were Small’s staunch supporters and then call for an election, scheduled on November 3^, 2026.

This is based upon information from Small, as this reporter has had not one response for interview request” from them for comment. Part of that problem is they do not have a readily available phone number. Another problem, as Cheyenne we are all “sided up.”

As he told NSNT in a recent personal interview, Small has not accepted his removal, because Tribal resolutions do not go into effect until the BIA approves. So far, that federal agency has been sitting on tribal council resolutions for nearly a year, binding up the conduct of tribal business, more critically withholding federal funds which is seriously impacting many tribal services.

“As far as the BIA is concerned, I am still Tribal President,” Small explained. “I just can’t sign checks, now have no internet, not even a tribal computer and have my hands mostly tied. I am not getting paid and whether those who are still working for my Administration will get paid is also up in the air.”

Thus, on Wednesday, October 21, Small announced via Facebook that his Tribal Council will also hold an election on November 3, 2026.  Prior to the re-instatement, the tribe had been working on a primary election, as required by the IRA constitution, soliciting candidates who must pay a $200 filing fee to be on the ballot. However, due to ensuing chaos and the ‘eight’ controlling the check book, that election was not held.

Nonetheless, the Small faction will also hold an election on November 3, and are continuing to serve without compensation. There are two slates of candidates.  The IRA Council has made it clear that the candidates on the opposing side will not be listed on their ballot and has since been busy gathering absentee ballots, a procedure which has been criticized and questioned many times over the years by tribal members. Standard practice, for example, is to go to Billings where there are many voters, including a large contingent of homeless Cheyenne, provide a feed, small gifts, even cash for a fast food meal or other things and get a completed ballot, conveniently accompanied by a notary public. By the way, they get tribal travel expenses to do that.

The process for other voters to obtain an absentee ballot is quite complicated. First, an enrolled voter must in writing request a form to apply for an absentee ballot; return it and prove that they can vote by providing tribal ID, have that document notarized; then hopefully receive the absentee ballot by return mail on a timely basis (it takes about a month to dot that). Complete and mail it in a timely manner; also certified by notary public and return the ballot prior to the election by certified mail. Many tribal members have found that system to be to burdensome and thus do not vote.

Small, on the other hand will list all candidates, even those from the opposition, on his ballot. “They paid their fees and deserve to be considered,” he said.

However, at the date this article is written, neither one of the ballots has been readily made available to the public. “We are wondering what is going on,” said Mina Seminole, tribal elder, also direct descendant of Dull Knife, one who is knowledgeable about proper Cheyenne etiquette. “I wish our people could get back to treating each other right”.

In the meantime, tribal votes are somewhat confused. “Can we vote in both elections? Will write-ins be allowed? Which one counts?” These are some of the common questions, not yet answered to anyone’s entire satisfaction.  Small himself among them. “This has never happened before,” he admitted. “It is new ground and ultimately the BIA will have to decide”.

Small is also taking another new step.  “We are using an outside independent firm to conduct our election,” he explained. “They will bring in machines, so that the ballots cannot be questioned. This firm already conducts elections for other tribes such as Crow and they have no personal interest in the results. Except to get paid (he chuckled).”

“A lot of our members suspect election fraud,” he said. “Sorry, but in our election, there will be no absentee voting. You have to come and vote in person.”

The Northern Cheyenne IRA constitution is very clear on election procedures, re-enforced by an Election Ordinance. However, due to the confusing circumstances, both sides are setting aside several of the critical provisions of both of those tribal laws, such as a Primary election. At this point, the answer will ultimately be decided by the BIA, which does not have a good track record of making critical decision for the Northern Cheyenne Tribe over the past year.

“I am hoping they will approve our election,” Small concluded. “But you never know. At some point, this foolishness has to stop. We are destroying ourselves and, in the meantime, the Cheyenne people are suffering. As I’ve said, over and over, tribal monies do not belong to the Tribal Council. They belong to the People.”

(Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennereview@gmail.com)

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