By Steven Bullcoming Haworth
Collaborator: Corry Bullcoming Haworth
Truth in Focus | October 2026
LAME DEER, Mont. — The Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council has approved a contract with Trustland Consultants LLC for legal, accounting and administrative work. Buffalo’s Fire reported that the agreement was approved Oct. 5 and that interim President Ernest Littlemouth Sr. was given authority to approve spending under the contract.
The public record shows that Trustland owner Steve Kelly has a long history in tribal legal, consulting and business work. A 1999 Montana Supreme Court opinion identifies Steven Kelly as an attorney representing the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in a youth-in-need-of-care case involving the Indian Child Welfare Act. Court and news records from the period also show Kelly participating in other Northern Cheyenne legal matters.
In testimony before the U.S. Senate Budget Committee on July 8, 2010, Kelly identified himself as the manager and owner of both Trustland Oilfield Services LLC and Trustland Consultants LLC in New Town, North Dakota. He told the committee that Trustland Oilfield Services provided trucking and roustabout services to oil companies, while Trustland Consultants provided mineral and land-related services. Kelly said the businesses developed during Bakken activity on the Fort Berthold Reservation and in western North Dakota.
Three Affiliated Tribes records also place Kelly and the Trustland name in tribal-government business. Certified council minutes from Aug. 13, 2009 discuss a 50/50 arrangement involving Steve Kelly and Trust Land Oil Services and separately refer to permit amendments involving Kelly and increased water requirements for commercial or industrial use.
Additional public records show Trustland activity in later years. A 2016 Three Affiliated Tribes council agenda includes a closed-session item titled “Sale of 15 Trustland furnished 3-Bedroom Homes – Steve Kelly.” The public minutes do not disclose the transaction’s terms, buyer or final outcome, so Truth in Focus is treating that record as a lead rather than drawing conclusions from it.
Kelly told Buffalo’s Fire this week that Trustland Consultants is separate from Trustland Oil and that he uses the consulting company for legal work, advocacy and consulting. Those statements are consistent with the companies being distinct entities under common ownership.
Kelly has also been visible in the current Northern Cheyenne governmental dispute. Buffalo’s Fire reported that he acted as an advocate for council members during litigation and later led questioning during Sept. 30 proceedings involving then-President Gene Small.
Those records do not establish misconduct. They do show that the contractor now working with Northern Cheyenne has a documented professional history spanning tribal law, mineral consulting, oilfield services and tribal-government matters.
Truth in Focus has not yet obtained the complete executed Trustland Consultants contract. Without it, the public cannot independently review the agreement’s total cost, payment terms, duration, detailed scope of work, reporting requirements or procurement provisions. Those are ordinary public-interest questions whenever government funds are involved.
Truth in Focus sought comment from Trustland before publication. Initial outreach using historical company contact information was returned as undeliverable. A later request was sent through another historical Trustland contact channel. Any substantive response or documentation will be reviewed and, where appropriate, incorporated into an update.
The next step is straightforward: obtain the contract, authorizing resolution, procurement records, payment terms and related public documents. Readers can then evaluate the agreement against the record for themselves.
Sources & Record
Buffalo’s Fire, Oct. 6, 2026. “Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council wields its power after members return to office.” Source.
Montana Supreme Court, 1999 MT 78. In re M.P.M. and A.R.M., identifying Steven Kelly as counsel for the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. Source.
U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget, July 8, 2010. Field-hearing testimony of Steve Kelly concerning Trustland Oilfield Services LLC and Trustland Consultants LLC. Source.
Three Affiliated Tribes Tribal Business Council, Aug. 13, 2009. Certified meeting minutes discussing Steve Kelly and Trust Land Oil Services. Source.
Three Affiliated Tribes Tribal Business Council, Aug. 3, 2016. Certified meeting minutes containing the Trustland furnished-homes agenda item. Source.
Buffalo’s Fire, Oct. 1, 2026. Reporting on the Sept. 30 Northern Cheyenne proceedings and Kelly’s role in questioning. Source.
Byline: Steven Bullcoming Haworth
Collaborator: Corry Bullcoming Haworth
Copyright © 2026 Steven Bullcoming Haworth & Corry Bullcoming Haworth. All rights reserved.