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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2002

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is accusing members of the Kickapoo Tribe of Texas of not having things written down in their constitution.

A group of Kickapoos, dissatisfied with their leadership, went to Washington, D.C., to ask for help. According to those who attended a meeting with unnamed BIA officials, they were told to solve their dispute in a traditional way.

So the majority of tribal members did just that. They stood out in front of the tribal headquarters on Monday and voted out the existing council and elected a new one.

But that's not good enough for the BIA, a spokesperson told The San Antonio Express-News. "It appears to be a misunderstanding," Dan DuBray said. "When our representatives asked them if they had this provision, they meant written down in their constitution."

"They never said it had to be in the constitution," tribal lawyer Gloria Hernandez said. "We did exactly what we were told would be acceptable to the BIA. There was no misunderstanding."

Get the Story:
Kickapoo ouster lacks fed OK (The San Antonio Express-News 10/30)

Related Stories:
Tribal members kick out council (10/29)