Northern Cheyenne Tribe voters to elect council members

A contentious year for the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, which included arrests of elected officials who were unseated and then allowed to return to power by court order, will move forward with a tribal election to fill five open seats on the council.

Tribal voters will determine council seats in the Ashland, Busby and Lame Deer districts. 

Election officials made a last minute polling location change for Lame Deer voters, who have six candidates to choose for three seats. They will now vote in the Wellness Center on Cheyenne Avenue due to safety concerns at The Little Wolf Capitol Building. 

Northern Cheyenne Tribe election officials said the capitol building is still inoperable after former tribal president Gene Small was removed from office on Sept. 30. Small was caught on surveillance video damaging the tribal building, and his access to it remains unclear. Small has publicly called the Nov. 3 election unconstitutional and has staged protests against it. A special primary election to nominate his replacement is set for Nov. 24.

Ryhal Rowland, a spokesperson for the council, told Buffalo’s Fire that election officials are monitoring Small’s activity. She said any person who obstructs or interferes with the lawful conduct of an election may be subject to prosecution under Northern Cheyenne law and order code.

Small did not return a request for comment from Buffalo’s Fire.

The six candidates competing for Lame Deer District council seats are Alan Joe Blackwolf, Dana Eaglefeathers, Sven Limpy, Melissa Lonebear, Henry Speelman and Corey Spotted Elk.

Vying for the open council seat in the Ashland District are Donna Fisher and Eugene Little Coyote. Torrey Davie runs unopposed in his re-election bid to represent the Busby District.

Polling locations will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.