Ousted Hopi chairman awaits tribal court ruling

Council members for the Hopi Tribe of Arizona met on Monday to consider the fate of ousted chairman Ben Nuvamsa but decided to leave the matter to the courts.

On March 27, the council removed Nuvamsa after less than a month in office. The majority said he failed to meet the tribe's residency requirements.

Nuvamsa subsequently filed suit in tribal court. He hopes to prove the council acted out of its authority. He is seeking money damages.

About 20 to 25 Nuvamsa supporters protested the council's actions at the meeting on Monday but were removed by tribal and Bureau of Indian Affairs police, The Gallup Independent reported.

Get the Story:
Hopi leader awaits ruling (The Gallup Independent 5/3)

Relevant Links:
Hopi Tribe - http://www.hopi.nsn.us

Related Stories:
Ouster of Hopi chairman stirs heated debate (04/13)
Ousted Hopi chairman seeks damages from council (4/12)
Ousted Hopi chairman sues council to regain post (4/11)
Ousted Hopi chairman to challenge removal (4/5)
Hopi chairman ousted after less than a month (3/30)
Disputed Hopi chairman wants to get to work (02/20)
Group seeks new election for Hopi chairman (2/15)
Hopi Tribe elects chairman in special election (2/9)
Candidate for Hopi chair faces residency challenge (2/2)
Hopi Tribe narrows candidates for new chairman (1/31)
Hopi Tribe holds special election for chairman (1/25)
Hopi chairman's race draws eleven candidates (01/04)
Hopi chairman booted out of office over alcohol flap (10/19)
Hopi chairman suspended after alcohol incident (09/07)
Hopi chairman 'embarrassed' about alcohol incident (08/11)
Hopi chairman investigated for alcohol incident (8/9)
Hopi chair cites political attack over alcohol incident (7/31)
Hopi chair cites medical issue in drinking incident (7/28)
Police found Hopi chairman 'intoxicated' at hotel (7/24)
Hopi Tribe election a landslide for chair, vice chair (11/18)
Hopi chair to face challenge from former chair (11/04)
Hopi Tribe prepares for upcoming elections (09/29)
Hopi Chair: Ski area plan will destroy our culture (09/23)
McCain prods tribes, government on tribal land dispute (07/22)
Hopi Foundation a finalist for Ford Foundation award (07/13)
Hopi Tribe joins lawsuit over snowmaking in peaks (07/08)
Hopi Tribe to protest against snowmaking plan (03/19)
Supreme Court takes action on Indian law cases (01/11)
Peabody takes coal lease dispute to high court (12/01)
Hopi Tribe opposing snowmaking in sacred peaks (11/20)
New Hopi vice-chairman surprised by election (07/18)
Hopi woman in running for vice-chair post (06/27)
Hopi Tribe holds special election for vice chair (6/20)
Hopi council ousts vice chairman for 'neglect' (03/13)