LAME DEER, Mont. — A set of Northern Cheyenne records reviewed by Truth in Focus shows several official actions converging as Monday begins: a removal hearing scheduled in a Sept. 11 Council resolution, a Sept. 23 court-related transition order summarized in a Council release, and a Sept. 27 Council statement addressing employee-job rumors.
The documents answer some questions, but they do not resolve every public dispute now circulating. Truth in Focus has asked officials for clarification and is continuing to distinguish signed records, court-related documents and attributed claims from rumor.
What the Sept. 11 Council packet says
The 33-page Sept. 11 Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council packet contains five signed actions from that day’s meeting. They cover voter-committee appointments, supervision of the Tribal Secretary and Treasurer, authorized financial signatories, temporary oversight of Finance, Northern Cheyenne Investigation Services and the Tribal Prosecution Office, and procedures for a removal hearing concerning President Gene Small.
Resolution DOI-009 sets the removal hearing for Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in the Tribal Council Chambers at the Little Wolf Capitol Building. It names Jeromena Beartusk as hearing officer, says the hearing is ordinarily closed to the public unless the Council changes that procedure, and says removal would require at least eight affirmative Council votes.
The same Sept. 11 packet includes a separate interim-oversight resolution. That measure says the temporary arrangement is not itself a suspension or a predetermined removal and says President Small retains the right to a fair hearing on the complaint.
The packet also contains a sworn complaint. The allegations in that complaint remain allegations unless and until supported by evidence and acted upon through the applicable process; they are not, by themselves, judicial findings.
What the Sept. 23 court-related release says
A Sept. 23 Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council release summarizing an order in Cause No. CC 2026-079.A says the Tribal Court confirmed that the Council members who brought the case remained in office without interruption and that the Oct. 30, 2025 election used to replace them was void.
The release says the Nov. 3, 2026 general election is to proceed. It says the Oct. 1 primary date was vacated without a replacement date being set, and that the Nov. 16 swearing-in date was also vacated. The release further says the Court ordered the transfer of access to the Little Wolf Capitol Building, Tribal property, records, computers, phones, servers and election materials within three days.
What the Sept. 27 employee-jobs release says
On Sept. 27, the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council issued another release saying it has no plan to terminate Tribal employees Monday. The release says the Council approved general-fund budgets for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 and plans to meet with program directors as it works through spending and operating-budget questions.
The release attributes a contrary employee-job claim to President Small. Truth in Focus has not independently verified the underlying statement, recording or notice that the Council says it is responding to. That distinction matters: the Council’s characterization is an attributed claim unless the underlying source is produced and reviewed.
What remains unclear
The Sept. 11 signed resolution reviewed by Truth in Focus still identifies Monday, Sept. 28 at 9:00 a.m. as the hearing date. Truth in Focus has heard reports that the matter may have been moved, but as of early Monday morning we had not located a later signed resolution or comparable official record confirming a different date.
Truth in Focus emailed President Gene Small and Council member Melissa Lonebear seeking clarification. As of early Monday morning, no email response had been received. Council member Melissa Fisher has also been contacted through Facebook.
Why Truth in Focus is publishing the records
Information surrounding the Northern Cheyenne government dispute has appeared in court orders, Council resolutions, administrative letters, press releases and social-media posts. That makes it difficult for residents to reconstruct the record from any one source.
Truth in Focus will continue posting and organizing primary documents when they can be authenticated so readers can see what was actually signed, what was ordered, what remains disputed and what has not yet been verified.
This is a developing report. It will be updated when additional signed records or on-the-record responses are received.
Sources & Record
Sept. 11, 2026 Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council meeting/resolutions packet, obtained by Truth in Focus.
Sept. 23, 2026 Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council release, obtained by Truth in Focus.
Sept. 27, 2026 Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council release, obtained by Truth in Focus.
https://www.buffalosfire.com/the-daily-spark/northern-cheyenne-court-gives-officials-three-days-to-avert-lawlessness-return-government-authority-to-original-council-members
Truth in Focus email outreach to President Gene Small and Melissa Lonebear; no reply received as of early Sept. 28, 2026.