Tejas Tribal Investigators look in to Apache Stand off
BIA steps in for Apache in Oklahoma

In early September, 2008, the Council of the Apache met and voted to recall the chair and vice-chair of the tribal nation. They passed a vote of no confidence and locked out the Executive office and installed under Guardianship, Tribal Citizens to act as security. The stand off has been taking place all week and it is an Internal affair of the Apache Nation, yet the Tribal Nations Juges were contacted to get information of how to deal with jurisdiction.

The Chair and Vice chair took by force, September 9, with armed security forces, who were not Tribal Citizens, this group acted as a militia and hand cuffed and held captive those placed in charge by the Tribal Elders and Council. The Sheriff did contact the office of the Chief of Justice of the Tribal Nation and was notified that He nor did the Chief of Police of Anadarko have such jurisdiction, on Indian owned land. He was also instructed to contact the US Attorney to file criminal charges against the Security officers which stormed the complex, Currently BIA police are on the seen and have no comment. We attempted to contact the Chief of police and that of the Apache council, currently there has been no response.

Mark Goodbird Reporting Oklahoma/ Intertribal Desk