Big Pine tribe reports more turmoil

Tribal council states ‘shadow council’ causing disruptions

In a release this week from the Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley, the tribe reported that On Sunday, Jan. 28, individuals claiming to be leaders of an alleged “illegally formed government,” known as “the shadow council,” disrupted a meeting of the constitutionally elected Tribal Council of the Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley.

“The Tribal Council is saddened by the continuing (alleged) violence perpetrated by the shadow council and its followers, and condemns the violence inflicted on innocent individuals, according to the Tribal Council.

According to the council, during the meeting, Heather Torres and Doree Richards reportedly continued to disrupt the meeting until they were asked to leave.

“When they refused to leave, the Tribe’s security officers escorted them from the building,” the Tribal Council stated.

According to the Tribal Council, the alleged “violent interactions and disruptions” of the tribe’s business “are unacceptable and they are an assault on the tribe’s values and principles.

The Tribal Council called the Jan. 28 meeting to discuss reported incidents related to the “shadow council” and about 20 of its supporters that involved the tribe’s offices, officials and staff, which occurred Jan. 7.

According to the Tribal Council, council members attempted to share security video that recorded some of the events of Jan. 7 but were interrupted by “members of the shadow council and their supporters.”

The Tribal Council is investigating both incidents.

“Individuals involved will be held accountable in

accordance with California law and by the Big Pine Paiute community.,” the Tribal Council stated.

According to the release, the Tribal Council has distributed surveys to the tribal community to gauge penalties for anyone who participated in or helped plan the Jan. 7 incident.

“A range of penalties are being considered, including loss of eligibility to hold elected offices and committee positions,” the Tribal Council stated.

According to the release, there will be an open General Council meeting at the end of February for a final review of “the evidence and penalties, with a vote to decide the penalties approximately 10 days later.”

Big Pine Paiute Tribal members 18 years and older are eligible to vote on the penalties, according to the relase..

“Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our citizens, the integrity of our Constitution, and the customs and traditions that uphold our nation,” Big Pine Paiute Chairwoman Cheyenne Stone stated in the release. “We call upon all Big Pine Paiute citizens to join us in promoting respect, peaceful engagement, facing violence head on, and holding offenders accountable. Above all, we invite you to seek justice for those who have been harmed.

We wish to send a clear message to everyone on the Big Pine Paiute Reservation that violence and insurrection will not be tolerated and those who engage in such acts will be punished.”

The Tribal Council the expresses its appreciation and gratitude to Big Pine Tribal Security, which “led by our very own tribal members, the security team conducted themselves professionally and provided a safe environment for our citizens to organize without the threat of harassment and violence.”

For more information, contact The Big Pine Paiute Tribe of The

Owens Valley, (760) 9382003 or email info@bigpinepaiute.org.