Trio who won Chukchansi council seats told they can't serve

Friday, March 30, 2012  

Three people who won election to the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians of California have been told they can't join the tribal council.

Morris Reid, Dora Jones and Dixie Jackson were elected in December. But they allegedly violated the tribe's non-violence ordinance so they aren't being allowed to take office.

Reggie Lewis, who was ousted in December but won a disputed election and has since rejoined the council, signed the letter that said the trio can't serve office, The Sierra Star reported. At issue is a violent clash at the tribal headquarters that took place in late February.

"They are blaming us for the mess that happened to the tribal building," Jones told the paper. "I didn't do it."

Reid, Jones and Jackson vowed to put a stop to disenrollments within the tribe. The Bureau of Indian Affairs says it won't get involved.

Get the Story:
Chukchansi tribal council seats still vacant (The Sierra Star 3/29)

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