BIA plans transition period for joint Wind River business council

Thursday, October 9, 2014  

The flag of the Northern Arapaho Tribe. Photo from Facebook

The Northern Arapaho Tribe is moving forward with its removal from the joint business council on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming despite opposition from the Eastern Shoshone Tribe.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs won't contest the Northern Arapaho Tribe's withdrawal. Existing contracts will continue during a transition period that will end March 31, 2015, when a new era will begin.

“With the BIA recognition of our sovereign right to reform management of our cooperative programs, it is time for tribal leaders to focus on cooperative programs in a way that provides the best services for members of each tribe,” Northern Arapaho Chairman Darrell O’Neal Sr. said in a press release.

The Eastern Shoshone Tribe, however, said the joint business council remains in place. The Shoshones will let the Arapahos determine how to work with the management body.

"We will take all necessary steps to preserve our sovereignty, treaty rights, investments, options and structures," Eastern Shoshone Chairman Darwin St. Clari said in a press release.

The Wind River Reservation was created through a treaty signed by Eastern Shoshone leaders at Fort Bridger in 1868.

Northern Arapaho leaders also had treaties to guarantee their land base in Wyoming but were left without a homeland after the 1868 treaty at Fort Laramie. The tribe was trying to negotiate a new agreement for a reservation when it was placed at Wind River in 1878.

Get the Story:
Bureau of Indian Affairs confirms dissolution of reservation council (The Casper Star-Tribune 10/9)
BIA signs off on authority of Northern Arapaho to withdraw from Joint Business Council (County 10 10/8)
Eastern Shoshone to maintain joint council (AP 10/4)
Eastern Shoshone protest Arapaho withdrawal from Joint Business Council (WyoFile 10/2)

Relevant Documents:
Letter to Northern Arapaho Tribal Members | FAQ for Northern Arapaho Tribal Members

Northern Arapaho Tribe withdraws from joint Wind River council (09/11)