Leaders of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska have ordered an audit of Ho-Chunk Inc., the tribe's development corporation.
The tribal council says it wants to know who is benefiting from HCI. The company saw $113 million in revenues in 2006, up from $22.9 million in 2000. Assets have grown to $42 million from $8 million.
But some within the tribe don't think enough profits are going back to the community. “It’s not that the tribal council doesn’t support what (Ho-Chunk is) doing, they just want information,” Ramona Wolfe, a council member told the Associated Press.
Lance Morgan, a tribal member who runs HCI, was briefly suspended in August by the company's board.
Tribal members subsequently removed the board.
HCI owns Indianz.Com and its sister e-commerce site http://www.allnative.com.
Get the Story:Nebraska's Winnebago tribe feuding over $100 million business (AP 11/12) Relevant Links:
Ho-Chunk Inc - http://www.hochunkinc.com
Winnebago Tribe - http://www.winnebagotribe.com Related Stories:
Winnebago firm to receive top Small Business award (10/22)
Winnebago firm wins top State Department award (10/09)
Winnebago Tribe recalls Ho-Chunk Inc board (10/4)
Suspensions of Ho-Chunk Inc executives lifted (8/17)
Suspension angers many on Winnebago Reservation (8/10)
Ho-Chunk Inc CEO Lance Morgan suspended (8/9)
