Most tribal offices reopen after SBC standoff

LANDER — A leadership clash expected to be resolved in tribal court shuttered offices at the Eastern Shoshone Tribe this week, after a petitioned general council meeting removed and replaced the tribe's entire elected business council and allegations that flaws in the petition process invalidated the overhaul.

But the closure was short lived. 

On Tuesday, the lion's share of tribal offices contacted were back in business. Tribal workers pointed to a directive to reopen that came from the newly elected Eastern Shoshone Business Council. 

Whether those new officials or the ousted SBC are truly in charge has been the subject of fierce debate, and is expected to be heard in tribal court.

The petition

Organizers circulated a petition to hold a special general council meeting over the last several weeks, and on Dec. 30, at the request of election judges Helen Grace Ward and Antonia Hill-His Law, the tribe posted a meeting notice and agenda online.

The petition met the threshold for signatures, and its agenda was a whopper: Recalling the entire elected SBC, rescinding an ordinance that gives the SBC complete authority over tribal business. The agenda also included provisions to reveal financial information on the Shoshone Rose Casino after concerns the tribe had failed to make payments on its loan from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

But then, just four days before the scheduled Jan. 10 general council meeting, the original SBC drafted a statement alleging the petition process was flawed and the meeting invalid. 

The statement asserted that a "meeting request form" from each circulator had not been provided; the original petition was not returned to the enrollment office for signature verification; and a general council meeting could only be held if the SBC itself sets the agenda.

"Because the [SBC] has not received a meeting request form from each circulator of the petition, it is unable to schedule, or set an agenda for, a general council meeting for Jan. 10, 2026," the SBC wrote, adding, "The [SBC] respects the rights of tribal members to submit petitions and therefore encourages the circulators of the petition to submit their meeting requests forms as soon as possible so that tribal law related to holding general council meetings can be followed."

That announcement was met with scorn from general council organizers, who insisted the petition process had been followed and the SBC was attempting to use rules related to SBC-initiated general council meetings.

"Every step was followed as outlined in the petition process," wrote Louise J. Tillman, who led the petition efforts. "The AG and Enrollment [Office] received the originals as well as Phoebe at SBC. The actual SBC members do not need to see signatures. They are vindictive and I will protect the signers. The meeting is still happening."

The meeting was held on Saturday, despite the claims made by the original SBC members. 

The 75-member voting quorum threshold was met, and attendees voted to remove all six current business council members (Wayland Large, Stanford Ware, Latonna Snyder, Clinton Glick, Western Thayer and Gloria St. Clair).

The general council then held elections from the floor, replacing the business council with Chairman Wade W. LeBeau, Co-Chairman Larry McAdams, Sgt. At Arms Bobbi Shongutsie, and councillors Mike Garvin, Sokaiheechee Mills and Alison Durgin.

That night, the Eastern Shoshone Facebook page posted a PDF statement on official business council letterhead, proclaiming that the SBC was shutting down tribal offices starting Monday "until the non-sanctioned Eastern Shoshone [General] Council meeting actions are resolved through tribal court …

“All finances and business will be at a standstill due to the council's approval process,” the post continued. “We apologize for any financial inconvenience this may cause you at this time. We value you as tribal employees and the services that you provide. We want to reassure you that we are working diligently to resolve these matters in a timely manner."

The newly elected SBC countered with a statement of its own, announcing that the transition to the new council will not disrupt any tribal services or functions, and directing all departments and employees to continue operations without interruption. 

"There is NO shutdown, no vacancy, and no lapse in authority," the statement said. "This is a LAWFUL transition of leadership."

By midmorning Tuesday, the tribe's Department of Family Services, Tribal Health, Food Distribution and Cultural Center were all open, while the housing and roads departments did not answer or return a phone call. One open office worker pointed to the newly installed SBC's memo calling for departments to reopen.

The new SBC members took their oaths of office on Tuesday morning, livecasting the ceremony online.

This story was published on Jan. 14, 2026.