The Bureau of Indian Affairs says it won't decide who leads the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.

BIA deputy regional director Bob Ecoffey said it will be up to the tribe to figure out who is in charge. Only if the dispute starts to affect federal services will the agency get involved, he said.

The National Indian Gaming Commission is staying out for now too. But NIGC Chairman Phil Hogen said regulators could close the tribe's casino if the leadership issue remains muddied.

Both Ecoffey and Hogen are Oglala Sioux tribal members.

Tribal employees are having a harder time figuring out what to do. They don't know if they should listen to Alex White Plume, who has called for new elections, or John Yellow Bird Steele, who won the recent election.

"That�s a choice you�ll have to make yourself," White Plume said at a meeting with security support services, The Rapid City Journal reported.

Meanwhile, a new election was held in the Wakpamni District. It was called due to a ballot misprint in the November 7 election.

Get the Story:
BIA neutral in tribal fight (The Rapid City Journal 12/7)
OST staff doesn�t know which president to follow (The Rapid City Journal 12/7)
Wakpamni representatives picked in disputed election (The Rapid City Journal 12/7)

Relevant Links:
Oglala Sioux Tribe - http://www.lakotamall.com/oglalasiouxtribe

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