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| Kickapoo People... |
| Kickapoo |
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TRIBE NAME: The name Kickapoo is derived from Kiwigapawa which means "he moves about, standing now here, now there." The tribe has also been known as the "Mexican Kickapoo" and "Texas Kickapoo."
LANGUAGE: The Kickapoo Tribe belongs to the Algonquian linguistic family. They have a close ethnic tie to the Sac and Fox and Shawnee tribes. |
HISTORY: A Catholic missionary found the tribe living in southern Wisconsin around 1667. After the French and Indian War (and the resulting breakup of the Illinois tribe), the Kickapoo moved into what is now southern Illinois. Treaty relations with the U.S. began with the Treaty of Greenville in 1795. A treaty in 1819 ceded all Kickapoo lands in Illinois (nearly half that state) and assigned them a reservation in Missouri at which point part of the tribe moved to Texas.
In 1835, a new treaty replaced the Missouri land with a 12-square-mile reservation in what is now northeastern Kansas. Part of this was later reduced and opened to white settlement, another part went to allotments for tribe members. In 1883, a rich 100,000-acre reservation at the center of Indian Territory was given them; in 1891, it was ceded and allotments were provided to tribal members although two-thirds of the tribe refused to acknowledge the agreement. In 1895, their reservation was organized as part of Oklahoma Territory and surplus lands were opened to white settlement by a run.
CULTURE: The Kickapoo have always been independent and clannish, especially in retaining their tribal religious beliefs and ceremonies. They lived in their traditional bark-covered houses, which were arranged in villages, up to the last years the reservation existed. They were mainly farming people, but went to hunt buffalo in the West and so they became one of the first tribes from the Illinois country to learn about horses.
Current tribal roll: 2,700 | |
| Who we are... |
Kickapoo people are often described as "innocent". We "live" our tradition and culture everyday. The majority of the elders speak only the Kickapoo language and most younger tribal members are bi-lingual. Many have managed to stay out of mainstream society, by choice. This makes us strong in our "traditional ways" but, it has us at a disadvantage. Many, because of our inability to read, write, and speak the English language, depend on "so-called" elected leaders of the tribe. We believe in them, because it's our nature.
I once heard an elder say "indian's are not meant to be rich", and I believe this wholeheartedly. Money changes people, and when the casino came to the Kickapoo people, we began to see more changes. Perhaps the casino, under the management of "outsiders" could benefit our tribe, but at this present time, all we see is it breeding corruption. It saddens us deeply, to see what greed has done to us. It has split not only the tribe but families and clans, as well. People are suffering under the current administration. Elders and families are being denied services (entitlements), people are afraid to speak out because of threats of termination of employment, and more..
Many of us, decided to take a stand against this corrupton and we began by recalling the Chairman, Tony Montoya Salazar. This eventually ended up in tribal court. We felt the system failed us and decided we had no other choice but to take matters into our own hands, no matter what the cost and...
we will continue the fight for the future of our people, for our children, and grandchildren to come...
Traditional homes
This is dedicated to all who supported, and continue to support us in our ongoing struggle to protect the future of the Kickapoo People. ...AND TO ALL WHO STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN.... Your words of encouragement and prayers are greatly appreciated!
A Che Tha Coa*Eagle Clan*AUCHEE WAHPEPAH
Pe Ka Ko Di Coa*Berry Clan*ZELMA GARZA
A Pa Ke Coa*Eagle Clan*VALENTINA JIMENEZ
A No Ska Mo Cua*Warrior Clan*JUANITA PRADO
I Pen E A Ko Ah Mo Coa*Thunder Clan*GLENDA DEER
A Wa No The Cua* Bear Clan* Peggy Garza
(coa=quah)
and the many others.....
Pah Ma Cua
We especially thank our elders and clan leaders, who continue to support us...
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| Auchee, Juanita, Zelma, Valentina, and Glenda... |
March 22nd UPDATE!
We have suffered a setback..the Tribal Supreme court has ruled in favor of the Election Board. and has put TONY MONTOYA SALAZAR back in as Chairman. We are very surprized at this decision as the Constitution and By-laws state that 20% of the total membership (votes) apply ONLY in an initiative OR referendum election. NOT IN GENERAL OR RECALL ELECTION!
WE WILL NOT GIVE UP!
WE WILL APPEAL TO NEXT LEVEL, WHICH IS FEDERAL COURT...but that will take $$...legal help needed! We are working on asking the Supreme Court to reconsider their decision. As their ruling changes the tribe's Constitution and by-laws. They DO NOT have the power to do this. Only the general Council has this power and at that time, IT WILL TAKE 20% of the total tribal member ship!
Kickapoo Tribe's head reinstated2004-03-20
By Ann Kelley
The Oklahoman
A tribal court ruling reinstated Tony Salazar on Friday as chairman of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma.
Tribal member Glenda Deer said the ruling from the tribe's Supreme Court brought many of their members to tears.
"It's true, a lot of people are disheartened," Deer said. "We're trying not to see it as a loss, just another hurdle we have to jump."
The tribal supreme court has given tribal members the option of organizing another recall election for Salazar.
Deer said another choice is to take the case to U.S. District Court and seek a court injunction to keep Salazar from acting as chairman until the case is decided there.
Salazar was ousted on Dec. 24 after the tribe's election board was ordered by the Kickapoo District Court to certify the results of a Dec. 10 recall election. Salazar lost the election, 168-150.
The election board appealed the decision to the tribe's Supreme Court, arguing that the election results should not be recognized because 20 percent of the tribe's 2,700 members did not vote, as required by the Kickapoo constitution.
The tribe's supreme court justices sided with the election board's argument, according to documents filed Friday in tribal court.
The effort to have Salazar stripped of his chairmanship is spearheaded by a grassroots group of tribal members calling themselves Kickapoos for Honest Government. The faction organized the recall movement and headed several court actions filed against Salazar.
Members Auchee Wahpepah, Valentina Jimenez and Deer are facing criminal trespassing charges in tribal court for their two-week occupation of the tribe's administration building in December. The occupation was to protest Salazar's remaining in office after the recall election and an effort to get federal authorities to investigate the tribe's finances.
Tribal members who have sided with Kickapoos for Honest Government are concerned about their family members and themselves losing their tribal jobs and benefits as punishment from Salazar's administration, Deer said.
"We've already seen some of the repercussions," she said. "Tribal members have been denied transportation assistance to spring ceremonies down south and others have been intimidated at their jobs."
Salazar could not be reached for comment.
SALAZAR COULD NOT BE REACHED FOR COMMENT, AS HE GAVE ALL TRIBAL EMPLOYEES THE DAY OFF WITH PAY!...TRIBAL OFFICE WERE CLOSED!
RUMOR HAS IT "CHAIRMAN" SALAZAR IS PUSHING TRIBAL COURT TO GIVE US THE MAXIMUM 2 MONTHS IN JAIL... |
| FILED TODAY: MARCH 26,2004 @4:20pm |
This was filed by us, today in Kickapoo Tribal Court
MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION
Comes now said plaintiff and, for cause of action against the defendant, alleges and states:
I wish to file a motion to the Supreme Court of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, to reconsider their decision, dated March 19, 2004.
The current decision made by our Supreme Court will change our Constitution and By-laws. Any changes made to our Constitution and By-laws must be done by Referendum procedure. There is no provision for the requirement of 20 % participation in a referendum vote. It will also change the tribal election ordinance which now states that majority rules. According to Article XXII, Amendments can only be approved by the general council.
The drafters of the tribal constitution did not place a twenty percent requirement on a referendum election. The court is not infallible and it too, makes mistakes. Such as, "However, section I, Article IX, incorporates the twenty percent requirement in the same sentence as the requirement for fifty signatures". (page 3,2nd paragraph, see attached) This has nothing to do with recall. Section II, Article IX pertains to recall elections.
Given the demographics of the tribe, it is more reasonable to assume the difficulty of collecting fifty signatures would be the threshold. It would be more logical to surmise that given the distance and time needed for tribal members to come and vote, that 20% would never come and vote, in the history of the tribe in all the past elections 20% have never come and voted.
Here are a few examples of percentages of past elections. The election in 1998, whereby only 89 tribal members voted to install a tribal officer! In 1999 only 151 voted! In 1991, the tribal secretary was recalled with less than 100 voters participating! Even in 2003, only 310 voted! If an officer can be installed by an extremely small number, why not be removed by the same?
As to the stability of the tribe, the constitution provides for continual functioning of the tribe. There is a provision for automatic succession and for filling of vacancies created. The past recall of Brian K. Woods, Tribal Secretary in 1991 and the removal of three other officers at different times had never destabilized the tribe. The knowledge of being susceptible to recall was always a good incentive for the tribal officers to act in the tribe’s best interest.
The downside to the Supreme Court’s decision in requiring a 20% vote to recall, is that a tribal officer may never be recalled. For example, the officer in question would have to do nothing but urge his supporters not to vote, knowing the 20% could never be achieved.
It is good that the Supreme Court judges are not tribal members, so that they can take an objective look, it is helpful to know the circumstances of the tribe and the Tribal Constitution. Honorable Charles Tripp based his decision on his knowledge of the Constitution and By-Laws, Election Ordinance, and past history of the tribe. His ruling is consistent with Election Ordinance, and does away with any question of the interpretation of the tribe’s Constitution.
When the constitution was drafted and even revised, the tribe was larger. A portion of the tribe was located in Eagle Pass, Texas and in Old Mexico and Douglas, Arizona. The drafters of the constitution knew this, and would not have set an impossible task of requiring 20% to come and vote in general and recall elections. The time and distance played a key part in their consideration.
The Tribal enrollment has not been certified since 2001. The dead and the relinquished are still being counted as part of the General Council. A current certified roll is needed to accurately determine the 20% requirement. Although, the deceased have been known to sign petitions and to vote in the past.
Therefore, the Supreme Court decision is flawed and should be rejected and Honorable Judge Tripp’s decision should be upheld. The Election Board has been partial to Mr. Salazar in accommodating him by attempting to invalidate the recall petition and delaying the certification of the recall election results to allow Tony Salazar’s time to protest. Furthermore, the Election Board accepted Tony Salazar’s protest, when there is no provision in the Election Ordinance for a protest in a recall.
Your reconsideration on this matter is crucial. More findings will be submitted.
Respectfully submitted, |
| NEW! GUEST BOOK... |
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK..(LEFT SIDE) THANK YOU!
THIS SITE is being worked on... comments, and articles are being added several times during the day...SO COME BACK!
Comments are welcome! email: kickapoofive@yahoo.com
CONTACT NUMBERS:
Auchee Wahpepah (405) 399-2873
Glenda Deer (405) 273-2226 (405) 412-4661
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