Lawsuit draws back curtain on bitter tribal government power struggle in Wyoming

Accusations of nepotism and corruption and an ouster that is disputed are at the heart of the Eastern Shoshone Business Council conflict. An Eastern Shoshone woman who instigated a petition that destabilized the tribal government’s leadership this winter filed a lawsuit in late February asking a federal court to rule on the matter. U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl dismissed it the following day, citing lack of jurisdiction.

The question of who lawfully sits on the Eastern Shoshone Business Council is at the center of the dispute. One side claims that the old guard, which held power as of late last year, was lawfully removed by the general council in January and replaced. The other says that effort was unsanctioned and that the old guard remains rightfully in charge.

As of late December, the business council included Chairman Wayland Large, along with Clinton Glick, Gloria St. Clair, Gus Thayer, Stanford Ware and Latonna Snyder. Tillman and fellow organizers submitted a petition that month asking for a special general council meeting to remove all six. The meeting took place Jan. 10 with the necessary quorum met, and the group voted to oust the council before installing a new council consisting of Wade LeBeau, Larry McAdams, Bobbi Shongutsie, Mike Garvin, Sokaiheechee Mills and Alison Durgin.

The former council disputed the validity of the meeting, calling it unsanctioned and citing a failure of petitioners to submit legitimate documentation. Tillman’s lawsuit details allegations of corruption and nepotism that instigated the petition, including claims that two casino employees fired under her tenure were friends of council members, who then reprimanded her before amending the gaming code and removing her from her position.

For now, the matter will be hashed out in Wind River Tribal Court. A hearing scheduled to take place Friday was postponed. In the meantime, disagreement among members of the Wind River Reservation tribe continues over who should helm their governing council.