Will the real leader of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma stand up? Elected chief Ken Chambers claims power. Photo AP.
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Seminole leadership up in air
Who is the principal chief of the Seminole Nation of
Oklahoma? The Bureau of Indian Affairs says
Jerry Haney. So does Jerry Haney.
But Ken Chamber and his supporters
say otherwise, claiming to be the truly
elected leaders of the tribe.
They remain holed up in the tribe's
headquarters as Haney sets up shop
elsewhere.
The involvement of a few judges
hasn't helped resolved a long-running
dispute over the control of tribal
programs, tribal business and tribal funds.
Get the Story: Seminole's
Chief Haney restored to power (5/7) Court
decision rocks Seminole Nation (5/8) Haney
opponents locked in (5/8) Haney
opponents still locked in (5/9) Seminole dispute continues
(5/10)
Trust fund progress questioned
Secretary of Interior Gale Norton released
her department's most recent trust fund update
to continued scrutiny by court officials whose
investigations into reform have broadened
in recent weeks.
A recent report
by court monitor Joseph S. Kieffer was so critical
that the Department of Justice has asked
him to rescind it or back up his allegations.
Among them, said a government attorney, was
a charge that Norton lied in a recent
memo.
Meanwhile, special master Alan Balaran's probe
into records management and information
technology security targets several
high-level officials.
One, Deputy Commissioner Sharon Blackwell,
told Bureau of Indian Affairs offices
they could move trust fund records despite
a court order against it.
Get the Story: No one jumps
into trust fund hot seats (5/6) Halt to trust
records move extended (5/6) Navajo
royalty owners get IOUs (5/6) Deadline
nears on accounting plan (5/7) McCaleb
facing court deposition (5/7) BIA memo
contradicts court order (5/9) Norton deflects misconduct charges
(5/10) Attack on court monitor decried
(5/10)
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