"Phyliss J. Anderson, the first woman elected chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, appealed for unity among tribal members during her inauguration on Tuesday.

"We face great challenges but we face them arm in arm," she said.

Challenge is an understatement. Anderson, 57, who calls herself "chief," rather than the Choctaw language equivalent, "miko," as her predecessor preferred, inherits some truly daunting prospects.

As The Clarion-Ledger reported, while she was running against the incumbent, Beasley Denson, on July 12, FBI agents raided the Pearl River Casino & Resort, seizing documents and hard drives.

Two days later, Moody's downgraded to junk bond status $200 million in securities borrowed by the Choctaw Resort Development Enterprise.

Then, after serving the tribe for more than a decade, Price Waterhouse Coopers resigned as outside auditor."

Get the Story:
Editorial: New chief: Choctaw unity a plus (The Jackson Clarion-Ledger 10/6)

Also Today:
Anderson takes oath as Chief (The Neshoba Democrat 10/5)

Related Stories:
Phyliss Anderson inaugurated as new Mississippi Choctaw chief (10/5)
Phyliss Anderson prepares for Mississippi Choctaw inauguration (9/22)
New Mississippi Choctaw chief to be inaugurated on October 4 (9/14)
Editorial: New Mississippi Choctaw chief faces difficult issues (9/12)
Incoming Mississippi Choctaw chief looks for financial stability (9/8)
Phyliss J. Anderson wins election as Mississippi Choctaw chief (9/7)
Mississippi Choctaws headed to polls for another chief election (9/5)
Mississippi Choctaws head into final stretch of chief campaign (9/1)
Mississippi Choctaw council won't reverse order for new election (7/22)
Phyliss Anderson: Mississippi Choctaws deserve new leadership (7/15)
Beasley Denson: Mississippi Choctaw election tainted by others (7/15)
Editorial: Democracy tested with Mississippi Choctaw election (7/14)
Mississippi Choctaw council orders new election for chief's post (7/11)
Editorial: Mississippi Choctaws make history with woman leader (7/8)
First woman to lead Mississippi Choctaws wants to be called chief (7/7)
Mississippi Choctaws pick Phyliss Anderson as first woman chief (7/6)
Mississippi Choctaw chief and top rival head to run-off in July (6/16)
Unofficial results from election for Mississippi Choctaw chief (6/15)
Another candidate enters Mississippi Choctaw chief race (4/21)
Candidate for Mississippi Choctaw chief challenges incumbent (3/22)