Some members of the Tuscarora Nation of New York say their tribal leaders held a secret council meeting without telling the clan mothers about it.

Neil Patterson Sr., Neil Patterson Jr. and clerk Leo Henry reportedly held the meeting with non-Indian attorney Kendra Winkelstein. Clan mothers who tried to representatives said the meeting ended up being conducted in whispers so that no one could hear.

"We don't even know who is paying Kendra Winkelstein, the Pattersons or the Nation as a whole," Ed Farnham, a representative the Bear Clan, told The Niagara Falls Reporter. "And nobody has a clue as to how much she's being paid."

The Pattersons recently negotiated a $100 million settlement with the state Power Authority. Tribal members said they were never told the size of the deal until they read about it in the Reporter.

Get the Story:
SECRET MEETING CONFOUNDS TUSCARORA RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT SETTLEMENT MONEY (The Niagara Falls Reporter 6/28)

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Editorial: Trouble within the leadership of Tuscarora Nation (6/6)
Ross Johnson: Tuscarora Nation in need of new leaders (5/31)
Some Tuscarora Nation members shocked by $100M deal (5/24)
Tuscarora Nation leadership dispute goes back decades (5/16)