Kalle Benallie
ICT
Native Vote 22 starts on tribal land.
Tribes across the country have been holding elections in 2022 in a highly competitive national midterm year.
One of the more recent tribal elections was former Navajo vice presidential candidate Buu Nygren winning the Navajo Nation presidential election on Nov. 8, defeating current Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.
Here are some tribal council elections that have taken place this year, that have elected new or re-elected tribal leadership, and some key election dates in the coming months. If we missed any, email kalle@ictnews.org.
Six Ojibwe bands part of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe
Their primary and general elections occur every two years.
The Bois Forte Band on June 14 elected Tara Geshick as secretary treasurer, Shane G. Drift as district I representative and Robert H. Moyer Jr. as district II representative.
The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa elected April McCormick as secretary treasurer, Toby Stephens as committee person at large I and Agatha Armstrong as committee person at large II.
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe elected Harry Richard Davis as District III representative.
Fond Du Lac Band elected Robert Abramowski as secretary treasurer and Brad (Raff) Blacketter as committee person for district 2.
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe elected Leonard M. Fineday as secretary treasurer. Kyle Fairbanks was elected as committee person for district 1 and Steve White was re-elected as committee person for district 2. They will serve four-year terms.
The White Earth Band elected Michael “Mike” LaRoque as secretary treasurer, Henry George Fox was elected as committee person for district 1 and Eugene Sommers was elected as committee person for district 2.
Seneca Nation
Rickey Armstrong, Sr. was elected as president on Nov. 1. He was a two-time former Seneca Nation President and current Seneca Nation Treasurer. He will serve a two-year term. Matthew Pagels, the current Seneca Nation President, was elected as Seneca
Nation treasurer and Bethany Johnson was elected as Seneca Nation Clerk. Each will serve a two-year term.
Eight people were elected to the 16-person Seneca Nation Council. They will serve four-year terms.
Tina Abrams and Josh Jimerson were re-elected to the council. Former Seneca Nation President Maurice John, Sr., and Odie Porter were elected from the Allegany Territory. Jeff Gill and Geraldine “Bird” Huff were elected from the Cattaraugus Territory. Current Seneca Nation Clerk Marta Kettle and J.C. Seneca were also elected to the council.
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
The tribe in South Dakota certified its final general election results on Nov. 18.
Ryman LeBeau was elected as chairman, Kevin C. Keckler was elected as treasurer.
Daniel James Marshall was elected as district 1 council representative, Kenric Dupris was elected as district 3 council representative, Thad Rose was elected as district 4 council representative, Joseph J. Brings Plenty Sr., was elected as district 5 council representative, Tuffy Thompson was elected as district 6 council representative.
San Carlos Apache Tribe
The tribe in Arizona announced on Nov. 10 that their chairman Terry Rambler will continue his position. It will be his fourth consecutive term since 2010. Each term is four years.
Tao Etpison was re-elected for a third consecutive term as vice chairman. Council member Simon Harold Hooke won his third consecutive term for the Gilson Wash District. Ned Anderson, Jr. won for the Bylas District, Valerie Key Cheney won a second consecutive term for the Peridot District and Ina Sue Salter won the vacant 7-Mile District Council seat.
Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
The tribe in South Dakota announced its unofficial general election results on Nov. 16. J. Garret Renville was elected as tribal chairperson, Lexie Fancher-Lincoln was elected as tribal vice-chairperson and Curtis Bissonette was elected as tribal secretary.
Seven people were elected as district council persons to their respective districts. They include: A. Lydia Amos for Big Coulee, Kenneth Johnson Sr. for Buffalo Lake, Dallas Owen for Enemy Swim, Janell Cook for Long Hollow, Joan White for Lake Traverse, Brandon Gypsy Wanna for Heipa and Brandon Adams for Old Agency.
Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians
The tribe in Michigan and I announced its election results on Aug. 15. Gary Morseau Sr. was elected vice chair, Alex Wesaw was elected as treasurer, and Rhonda Keene and Mark Parrish were elected to member at large positions. They will join the 11-member council and serve staggered, three-year terms.
Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe
The tribe in New York certified its election results on June 4. Beverly Cook was re-elected as chief, Derrick King was elected as sub-chief, Carrie Garrow was re-elected as chief judge and Lois Terrance was re-elected as traffic court judge No. 1. All will serve a three-year term.
The tribe also had certified their Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Election Board special elections from Oct. 29. Crystal Gayle Stehlin won residency board member three-year term, Charlan Thompson and Wahiahawi Fitch won for residency board members one-year term, Cheynne Lazore and Diane Boots won for residency board members two-year term and Larri-Lee Skidders won for board alternate one-year term.
Hualapai Tribe
The tribe in Arizona had their general election for four tribal council seats on June 25. Pete Imus, Cheyenne Majenty and Charles Vaughn, Sr. were elected to the tribal council while Blake Watahomigie was re-elected.The tribe conducts general elections in June for even-numbered years.
Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe
The tribe in New York certified its election results on June 4. Beverly Cook was re-elected as chief, Derrick King was elected as sub-chief, Carrie Garrow was re-elected as chief judge and Lois Terrance was re-elected as traffic court judge No. 1. All will serve a three-year term.
Puyallup Tribe of Indians
The tribe in Washington re-elected Bill Sterud as chairman and Annette Bryan to tribal council on June 4. They will serve a three-year term and be part of the seven-person governing body.
White Mountain Apache Tribe
The tribe in eastern Arizona certified its election results in April for Kasey Velasquez to hold office as chairman.
Cowlitz Indian Tribe
The tribe in Washington elected six people to its tribal council in June. Cassandra Sellards Reck, Maverick Ryan, and Cheryl Bell were re-elected to their positions. Kristopher Kitz, Larry Kestner and Vanessa Robertson were newly elected. They will serve three-year terms and join the 22-member council.
Blackfeet Tribal Nation
The tribe in Montana elected five tribal business council members in June. Lyle Rutherford was elected for position two, Browning; Shelly Hall was elected for position three, Browning; Patrick Armstrong was elected for position four, Heart Butte; Everett Armstrong was elected for position six, Seville and Illif “Scott” Kipp Sr. was re-elected for position eight, Old Agency. They will serve four-year terms that are staggered.
Every even number year in June is election season.
In July the council voted for the executive council positions including: Lauren Monroe Jr. was elected as vice-chair.
San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
The California tribe re-elected Lynn ‘Nay’ Valbuena as chairman on April 12. It will be her fifth term. She was first elected in 1994.
Laurena Bolden was elected to her first term on the tribal council as a member-at-large. Latisha Casas was re-elected to her fifth term as treasurer for the tribe. Elected officials will serve two-year staggered terms.
Red Lake Nation of Chippewa Indians
The tribe in Minnesota had their run-off elections in July. Darrell G. Seki Sr. was re-elected as chairman, Harlow Spears was elected as the Little Rock representative, Eugene StandingCloud was elected as the Ponemah representative, Robert May was elected as the Red Lake representative and Harold E. Graves, Jr. was elected as the Redby representative.
The council consists of 11 members, three of which are officers elected at large. The other eight members are two from each of the four communities that governs the Red Lake Band.
Pueblo of Zuni
The tribe in New Mexico has their election for governor and lieutenant governor on Aug. 15. Their primary election results confirmed Arden L. Kucate was elected as tribal governor and Cordelia Hooee as lieutenant governor.
Delaware Tribe of Indians
The tribe in Oklahoma had its tribal Council and trust board elections on Nov. 5.
Tonya Anna, Bonnie Jo Griffith and Bruce Martin won the three tribal council seats. They will serve a four-year term.
Evelyn Kay Anderson ran unopposed and won a seat on the trust board. The term will be for four years.
Brad Killscrow won re-election for chief. He will serve a four-year term. He was first elected in 2018.
Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma
The tribe in Oklahoma conducted their annual elections and re-elected Craig Harper for chief on March 5. He has been chief since March 2018.
Chickasaw Nation
In August the tribe in Oklahoma conducted their primary elections for four legislative seats and one seat on the supreme court.
Charles Marris of Marietta was elected as Pickens District legislator, Seat 3. Beth Alexander of Colbert was re-elected as Panola District legislator, Seat 1. Derrick Priddy of Sulphur was re-elected as Tishomingo District legislator, Seat 2. Lisa J. Billy of Lindsay was re-elected as Pontotoc District legislator, Seat 5.
Mark H. Colbert of Ardmore was re-elected as supreme court justice, Seat 1.
They will take the oath of office on Oct. 3. Their terms of office are three years.
Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians
The tribe in northeastern Oregon announced their tribal election results in April. Brad Kneaper won for position 2, Teresa Spangler won for position 4 and Doug Barrett was re-elected for position 6. They will serve a four-year term.
Elections for council positions 1, 3 and 5 will be next year.
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
The Colville Business Council announced their general election results in June.
Cindy Marchand was elected for the Inchelium district, position 1 and Cody Peone for position 2; Joseph Somday was re-elected for the Keller District, position 1; Andrew Joseph Jr. was re-elected for the Nespelem District for position 1 and Sharlene Zacherle was re-elected for position 2; Virgil Marchand was re-elected for the Omak District for position 1 and Dustin Best was re-elected for position 2.
The council is made up of 14 members.
Southern Ute Indian Tribe
The tribe in southwestern Colorado had its general election for two tribal council seats on Nov. 4.
Marvin J. Pinnecoose and Marjorie D. Barry were elected to the tribal council. The swearing in ceremony will be Dec. 6.
Samish Indian Nation
The tribe in Washington announced its election results in June. Tim King was unopposed to win the vice chairman seat. Tamara Rogers also went unopposed to win the treasurer seat. Gary Hatch was elected for a council position.
Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas
Millie Thompson Williams was confirmed to be the tribe’s second chief elect on Sept. 22. She will be the first woman to serve as a chief in the history of the tribe.
The second chief is known within the tribe as the Mikko Istimatokla. Williams and Principal Chief (Mikko Choba Elect) Kanicu Donnis Battise will serve for a lifetime. They will officially be inaugurated on Jan. 1.
Kaw Nation
The tribe in Oklahoma had their election day on Sept. 11. Kim Jenkins was elected as chair, Little Carol Clark was elected as tribal council secretary, Wesley Glen Pappan was elected as tribal council member seat 1 and Debbie Lewman was elected as tribal council member seat 3.
Salt River
The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona held its primary earlier this year and its general election on Sept. 6. President Martin Harvier was reelected. Additionally, a seat for vice president, three positions for council members for district I, Salt River and one position for district II, Lehi are up for grabs.
Oglala Sioux Tribe
The tribe held its general elections on Nov. 8. Frank Star Comes Out was elected president.
Wendell Youngman Jr. and Tyler YellowBoy were elected to the Oglala District tribal council. Wesley Hawkins and Jim Meeks were elected to the Eagle Nest District tribal council. Anna Halverson and James Cross were elected to the Pass Creek District tribal council. Garfield Steele and John Steele Sr. were elected to the Wounded Knee District tribal council. Jacqueline Siers, Sonia LittleHawk-Weston and Donroy “Cubby” Ghost Bear were elected to the Wakpamni District tribal council. George Dreamer Jr., Robin L. Tapio and Ella “John” Carlow were elected to the Pine Ridge Village District tribal council. Tyler Lunderman and David Pourier were elected to the Porcupine District tribal council. Howard Rooks and Austin Watkins Sr. were elected to the Medicine Root District tribal council. Cora White Horse and Craig Dillon were elected to the LaCreek District tribal council.
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah
It was confirmed on Nov. 21 that Cheryl Andrews-Maltais was re-elected for a fifth term as chairwoman.
Nefititi Jette was elected to the vacated secretary position. Linda Coombs, Kristina Hook and Camille Madison were elected as tribal council members at large.
*Correction: Navajo Nation presidential candidate is a former president running mate.
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