Lloyd “Luff” Goings
PINE RIDGE, SOUTH DAKOTA –– Lloyd “Luff” Goings was infuriated by the John Steele’s Administration’s selection for the position of Tribal Treasurer. On September 13 he filed a complaint with the Oglala Sioux Tribe's Election Commission to dispute the decision. His complaint is based on alleged violation of the tribe’s constitution and its ordinances. In 2010, the Two Bulls/Brewer administration nominated officers to set up the Election Commission who would be responsible to administer the election for 2010-2012. The Election Commission was chaired by Mr. Francis Pumpkin Seed, who set up the election process according to law. Thus, candidates at large had an opportunity to submit petitions for council and executive officer positions within the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The deadline to submit petitions was originally set at Oct. 29, 2009. Mason Big Crow, who is the tribes currently elected treasurer, submitted his petition for Treasurer and met the deadline. However, the Election Commission sent Mason a letter indicating that he was ineligible because he was not an Oglala Sioux Tribal member. This letter sparked off a frenzy of activity within the Two Bulls/Brewer tribal council where it was rumored that several Tribal Council individuals immediately got involved, approached and disputed the Election Commissioners decision. Those same Tribal Council individuals also allegedly went to the Tribe’s Enrollment office and its Enrollment Commissioners to get Mason re-enrolled immediately. The sole purpose for these actions was to give Mason a chance to run for treasurer, this sort of smells like election fraud, according to Goings. Then the new Tribal Council was seated under the Steele/Poor Bear administration and the alleged manipulation continued where the nominations for the tribe’s officers were reopened just to benefit one individual. The Election Commission was forced to set a new deadline for submitting petitions for the Tribe’s Treasurer which was extended to Jan. 13, 2011. This move would give Mason ample time to get his re-enrollment in order and to be eligible for the Tribe’s officer position by the new date. But as it turned out, Mason missed the second deadline as well and was placed on the ineligible list again. The folks who were eligible to run for the treasurer officer position were Pamela Giago, David Pourier, Gerald “Jump” Big Crow, Kim Clausen, Crystal Eagle Elk, Lloyd “Luff” Goings and Fred Brown. The last three on this list were heavily qualified, according to Goings. The person listed as ineligible was Mason Big Crow. On Feb. 15, 2010 the Tribal Council nominated and selected Mason as the Tribe’s new Treasurer. This selection was supposed to be based on the list of eligible candidates from the Oct. 28 deadline. Since Mason was on the ineligible list there is strong evidence that suggests election fraud. A day later, the issue of Mason’s non-membership surfaced on the Tribal Council floor and through a vote of 11-8, Mason was removed as Treasurer. “Our constitution specifies that applicants must be tribal members. The Tribal Council members who voted against our Tribal Constitution to retain Mason were; Craig Dillon, Ella “John” Carlow, Ruth Brown, Scott Weston, Kevin Steele, Austin Watkins, Irv Provost and Kathy Janis,” Goings said. “Mason perjured himself during his first and second interview for the treasurer position. He fully knew that he was disqualified to run for the tribe’s officer position of treasurer. He was officially notified of his disqualification via letter from the Election Commission Chair, Mr. Francis Pumpkin Seed. Yet Mason still chose to lie to the Tribal Council and through those lies, he was able to secure a very important position within the Oglala Sioux Tribe,” Goings said. It was broadcast on KILI radio and is recorded in the minutes of the council meeting where during Mason’s second interview for the position of treasurer, Councilwoman Debra Rooks Cook (now deceased) disputed Mason’s untimely enrollment and asked if he was a tribal member during the first interview. Mason responded by saying “yes” then Mrs. Cook very flatly said; “you are lying” and asked Mason the same question. Mason then responded by saying “no, I was not a tribal member.” Mason apparently voluntarily dis-enrolled from the Oglala Sioux Tribe to enroll in the Northern Arapaho Tribe. Special consideration was given to Mason by the Tribal Council to get him re-enrolled. Ordinance 10-26 which addresses the enrollment of tribal members where in Sec. 16.10.104 states in part: "Once the relinquishment of enrollment is approved for an individual who is eighteen (18) years or older the individual shall not be eligible for enrollment with the Oglala Sioux Tribe at any time in the future …. " Because Ord. 10-26 prohibited Mason from re-enrolling the Tribal Council passed an amendment and in Ord. 10-39 changed the enrollment procedures and allowed Mason to re-enroll under “extenuating circumstances.” This angered the folks who applied and who were sitting on the list for years waiting to be enrolled because Mason dis-enrolled to go receive a per capita payment from another tribe, then was given special consideration to re-enroll at Pine Ridge. According to the Lloyd Goings complaint, Mason should never have been allowed to run for the treasurer position because he missed both filing deadlines and was not a tribal member at either of those deadlines. And the Tribal Council selected Mason as the Tribes Treasurer from the list of disqualified individuals. The constitution specifically states one must be a tribal member to run for any council or officer position. Goings said, “Simply put, Mason is not educationally qualified to hold the position of Oglala Sioux Tribal Treasurer. He admittedly only has two college accounting classes. He may have gained some experience by now but still, there is the question of his honesty and integrity. If he lied during his interviews, we should be looking at his character and his ethical standards.” “The Tribe does not have qualifications set for the treasurer position. They only have a requirement that applicants must be tribal member. They should look at what other tribes are doing, develop and pass an ordinance specifying a set of educational qualifications for this position. For instance Google the White Mountain Apache’s web site and look at their treasurer requirements, it is excellent. I would suggest at a minimum for the Oglala’s to include some provision where treasurer applicants have a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or in Business. If the Tribe doesn’t set official qualifications and follow them, then they will just keep getting questionable applicants,” Goings continued. Several Council members believe that “Luff’s” tough stand on accountability and financial responsibility is hard to swallow for the present Council members. Luff is 8 hours short of his Master’s in Business Administration, he spent two (2) tours in Vietnam and had his helicopter shot down during the second tour. He is a successful businessman, commercial airlines pilot, he has been involved in corporate finance and is a disabled veteran. Luff has the education, experience and ability to “just say no” to frivolous financial requests and has the ability to get the tribe moving back into the black according to his many supporters. Goings said, “The Oglala Nation did not need or want someone who barely has a high school diploma and two (2) accounting classes to be our treasurer. The nomination and selection of someone of this small caliber is a slap in the face to the entire Oglala Nation. Every other candidate for the treasurer position was more qualified than Mason, even his uncle, Mr. Gerald “Jump” Big Crow was more qualified, yet he was passed up as well.” The Lloyd Goings complaint has already gone to the Election Commission. They have to either approve or disapprove the complaint. If they approve, then it goes to the Tribal Supreme Court for a ruling. Goings is making several requests for relief including the immediate removal of Mason Big Crow as the Tribe’s Treasurer. His longtime friend and supporter, retired newspaper publisher Tim Giago said, “Lloyd is a no-nonsense kind of guy. He is not afraid of controversy and he definitely is not afraid of taking members of the Tribal Council by the scruff of their necks if they continue to violate the rules and regulations of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. What’s more, he is painfully honest and that may count against him.” (Contact Jeffrey Whalen at jeffrey.whalen2@gmail.com)
Join the Conversation
