Eugene Little Coyote

Eugene Little Coyote was the president of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation from 2004 to 2007. He was elected in November 2004, defeating the incumbent president, Geri Small. However, after a conflict with reservation vice president Rick Wolfname that began in July 2007 escalated, Northern Cheyenne tribal council declared it is ousting Little Coyote as tribe's president. Little Coyote was forcibly removed from office and arrested for trespass of tribal office building in December 28, 2007. It is worth noting that move by tribal council to remove Little Coyote from office was deemed unconstitutional and void by Northern Cheyenne Constitutional Court, it was however overruled by Bureau of Indian Affairs' regional director Ed Parisian, and later the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Carl J. Artman. It is a historical precedence of BIA directly ingering in tribal governments.

Little Coyote was also a write-in candidate for April 2008 election (and is now confirmed candidate for September 30, 2008 primary election).

On August 14th, 2008 jury trial Little Coyote was found not guilty on charges of criminal mischief based on events from December 28, 2007. The jury verdict was unanimous.

References

* [http://www.billingsgazette.com/newdex.php?display=rednews/2004/11/16/build/state/25-tribal-prez.inc Eugene Little Coyote takes over as Northern Cheyenne tribal president]
* [http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/12/30/news/state/30-standoff.txt Tribal standoff ends with arrest]