The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma will be able to receive money for its self-determination contracts thanks to a ruling from the Interior Board of Indian Appeals.

The tribe has been mired in a leadership dispute between Gov. Janice Prairie-Chief Boswell and Lt. Gov. Leslie Wandrie-Harjo. The Bureau of Indian Affairs appears to be siding with Boswell and sought the release of money for several tribal contracts.

The IBIA agreed to allow Boswell to draw down the money. "The IBIA decision means we can resume provision of education support services including provision of adult education, tribal court services, Indian child welfare services, vital statistics, enrollment services, roads and provision of essential school supplies, educational fees, extracurricular programs and tutoring," Boswell said in a press release.

A bank in Oklahoma has frozen accounts belonging to the tribe due to the dispute.

Get the Story:
Appeals board approves C&A government contract funds (The Native American Times 9/9)

Related Stories:
Bank wants to close accounts for Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes (8/29)
Judge asserts control of Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes bank account (6/26)
Judge hears dispute on Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes bank account (6/12)
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes want funds at bank unfrozen (05/08)