On the Record | Truth in Focus
By Steven Bullcoming Haworth
Who checks the Tribal Council? This question goes beyond any one dispute. The Northern Cheyenne amended Constitution establishes powers and limits for government, including rules on public spending, procedures for removal from office, and separate branches of government.
Authority and accountability
Article IV, Section 1(f), requires spending of Council-controlled tribal funds to be approved by resolution during a legal session and makes amounts expended a matter of public record. Article VII addresses removal proceedings. Article XI establishes separation of powers. These rules matter regardless of who holds office.
Citizens can ask to see an adopted resolution, the underlying law, public expenditure amounts, and applicable hearing procedures. An official vote, a political allegation, and a judicial decision are different kinds of evidence. Claims about whether rules were followed require examination of the actual record.
Traditional leadership and constitutional government
Northern Cheyenne traditions of leadership and responsibility predate modern constitutional government. The relationship between those traditions and contemporary governing structures deserves a respectful discussion led by Cheyenne citizens. This article does not decide the outcome of a contested proceeding.
Our questions remain: What authority was used? What was decided? Where is the public record? How can decisions be reviewed?
Truth in Focus welcomes public documents, responses, and corrections. This explainer uses public sources only and does not include confidential communications or private research.
Public sources: Northern Cheyenne Constitution and Bylaws; Native Nations Institute, Northern Cheyenne Constitutional Reform.
Copyright 2026 Truth in Focus. Steven Bullcoming Haworth and Corry Bullcoming Haworth.