Ute Mountain Ute tribal members are seeking an investigation into the tribe’s finances and are calling for more government transparency.
They are circulating a petition for a referendum that calls for an independent investigation about whether there has been “misuse of funds at the tribal finance department.” The referendum also calls for “tribal members and officials involved in financial corruption be removed from office.” It demands that “a complete accountability and report of the tribal financial expenditure be subject to public inspection and review.”
Two-thirds of the petition’s needed-signatures have been obtained, according to a tribal member who spoke on condition of anonymity. However, they have not been verified by the tribe’s election board.
The petition for the referendum is pursuant to the tribe’s laws, the tribal member said. Under those regulations, the petition must obtain valid signatures from 25 percent of voters, or about 300.
According to tribal government rules, if the petition for referendum is deemed valid, the referendum goes to a vote of the wider tribe electorate. It began circulating in October, after witnesses reported that several staff members of the finance department were escorted out of the tribal government complex by security officers.
“There are rumors of misuse of funds, but there is no communication about it to the people from the Tribal Council and chairman who were elected by the people,” said the tribal member. “The signatures are evidence that the people want change.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Department of Justice have jurisdiction over felony crimes committed on Native American reservations.
U.S. Attorney spokesman Jeff Dorschner would not “confirm or deny” any investigation into the tribe’s finances. He said there have been no arrests or charges filed.
