"October 3, 2006 is an important date on the calendar of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, but Tuesday, November 7 looms even larger.

After two years of strife, turmoil, finger pointing, unethical behavior, vicious politicking from one of the most �do nothing� tribal councils in the history of the tribe, petitions are now taken out by the candidates hoping to win the Primary Election on Oct. 3 and move on to the General Election of Nov. 7.

Hopefully some candidates fed up with the hypocrisy and lethargy of the present tribal council will prevail and bring some semblance of order back to a once proud tribal council. At a time when the Lakota people of the Oglala Sioux Tribe needed, nay demanded, strong, honest and decent leadership, this council became so enamored of its own power that it threw out all of the rules of good conduct and sank into a mud puddle of indecision and a viciousness unseen since the 1970s.

By first suspending and then impeaching the first woman ever elected to serve as President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Cecilia Fire Thunder, and doing these dirty deeds while she was not even present or was never given the opportunity to face her accusers, this tribal council has brought great shame upon itself and tarnished those members of this same council that did not go along with its shameful acts of self-indulgence."

Get the Story:
Tim Giago: Where have all the leaders gone? (The Native American Times 8/28)

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