Terri Henry serves as chairwoman of the tribal council of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina. Photo by Indianz.Com
Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina are upset over pay raises for the tribal council. The council approved a budget last October that includes a $10,000 raise. The decision was retroactive to 2010 so all current and former leaders are eligible for the increase. “At a time when vital tribal programs in the areas of health, elder services, families and children continue to be underfunded, such exploitation of public office for personal gain is simply unconscionable,” a group called the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for Justice and Accountability said in a letter to the council, the Associated Press reported. The group plans to file a lawsuit in tribal court if the council doesn't rescind the pay raise. The increase is expected to cost the tribe an additional $500,000, according to the AP. The council has 12 members, all of whom are up for election this fall. The tribe will also choose a principal chief and vice chief, whose salaries apparently were not affected by the new budget. Get the Story:
North Carolina Cherokees challenge Tribal Council pay raises (AP 4/24)
Cherokee Pay Raise Concerns (WLOS 4/22)
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