Turtle Talk

Months of simmering controversy have erupted into full turmoil within one of the nation’s wealthiest Native American tribes, tribal members said Wednesday.

Two executive officers for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe have resigned, and Tribal Chairman Matthew Box reportedly will resign before week’s end.

“We have some major issues we have to overcome with our tribal government,” said Ray C. Frost, a tribal elder.

Frost was among more than 50 tribal members and one Tribal Council member who gathered Wednesday night to discuss several jarring leadership and personnel changes made in recent weeks within the tribe’s government and businesses.

A resignation letter from Executive Officer Johnny Valdez was circulated at the meeting. Valdez resigned Wednesday.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce my leaving the Executive Officer position as of midnight tonight,” Valdez’s letter said.

The letter did not give a reason for his sudden departure.

The tribe’s co-executive officer, Andrew Frost, resigned last week. Tribal officials in the executive and tribal information offices declined to comment or provide The Durango Herald with information about that resignation.

And a spokesperson for one Tribal Council member at the meeting Wednesday said the council requested Box’s resignation Monday. He is expected to tender his resignation by Friday.

Several other key leaders in tribal government and businesses also were terminated, suspended or have resigned in recent weeks and months.

Meanwhile, claims of mismanagement of tribal government and business affairs, misappropriation of funds, secrecy and violations of the tribe’s constitution, governmental and personnel policies have continued to surface.

“It’s put a black mark on this tribe across Indian Country,” Ray Frost said.

Tribal Councilor Al Cloud, who has been hospitalized for the last two weeks and was released only hours before the meeting, said tribal leaders and members need answers.

“The way I see things going up there is not good,” Cloud said, gesturing toward the tribe’s administration office buildings. “There are things going on behind closed doors, and it’s sad when tribal members can’t get answers, when council members can’t get answers.”

The tribal members at the meeting concurred and said they’re prepared to set aside differences that have kept the membership divided. They said they will unite for the sake of the tribe’s future.

“It’s sad we have to go through this, but it’s kind of a blessing because we can get our tribe back now,” said tribal member Nita Ray. “This is for our future, for our kids.”

The group is calling for an audit of the tribe’s business, governmental and financial affairs. And an oversight committee was formed during the meeting to ensure claims made in recent months are investigated and any official actions that result are conducted properly.