In a recent emergency session, the Oklahoma-based Muscogee (Creek) Nation tribal council voted 12-0 to send Chief George Tiger a letter asking him to resign. “The Office of Principal Chief carries with it a high standard of conduct, ethics and transparency. During your term in office, these valued characteristics have not been demonstrated. The National Council respectfully requests that you resign your position as Principal Chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation,” the letter stated.
The council’s resolution is symbolic, but a group of tribal members recently officially filed paperwork with the tribal election board launching an effort to remove Tiger from office. The group has 60 days to gather at least 3,290 signatures from tribal members, 20 percent of the registered tribal voters. Shelly Harjo-Brandy said the group hopes to collect at least 4,000 signatures. If the minimum number of signatures is gathered, the National Council will review the petition and determine whether to proceed with impeachment proceedings against Tiger. A vote of 12 of the 16 National Council members is required to remove the chief.
The actions come amid Tulsa World revelations that in 2009 Tiger signed a consulting contract with Shane Rolls, who planned to develop a competing casino in Broken Arrow for the Kialegee Tribal Town. Despite Tiger’s protests, records indicate he signed the contract after he was elected to the tribe’s National Council in 2009 and accepted more than $30,000 in payments from Rolls. After being elected chief in November 2011, Tiger came out against the Kialegee casino—two months after receiving a final check from the developers.
Tiger wrote in a letter to Creek tribal members, “While still a private citizen in 2009, I embraced an opportunity to serve in a consulting capacity to an initiative that aspired to improve the economic development and potential for jobs. In so doing, I understand now that my services and intentions may be misinterpreted. My consulting business agreement for the Kialegee project terminated when I took the oath of office for National Council member January 2, 2010. I did not take project fees after that date. Former business associates did provide campaign donations,” he said.
Tiger continued, “I can state categorically that I have acted at all times in accordance with our constitution and the best interests of ALL Creek citizens. I have every confidence that this matter will be resolved when cooler heads prevail.” He blamed the controversy on political opponents and the media, and said the Muscogee National Council and the tribe’s attorney general knew about his deal with the Wetumka-based Kialegee Tribal Town.
The 400-member tribe wanted to build a controversial casino on an Indian allotment near Tulsa. The state of Oklahoma sued to stop the project, and although the order was later overturned, the Kialegees have announced they will build the casino a new, undisclosed location.
Under the contract, Tiger would have received 5 percent of the revenues from the Red Clay Casino, up to $200,000 in bonus payments for securing land agreements and $5,000 per month once the casino opened. The Kialegee operation would have diverted up to $40 million annually from the Creek Nation’s River Spirit casino in Tulsa, only 11 miles from the Muscogee Nation’s River Spirit Casino.
Tiger said he disclosed the contract to the tribal council twice. “My business agreement with a Kialegee business client was never a secret. The agreement was brought to the attention of National Council members in 2010 and in 2012 upon being elected chief, and at both times the National Council did not consider it an issue or concern. It was agreed that it was a private business agreement,” his statement said. However, in a recent World interview, Tiger said he did not disclose his contract with Rolls even though he vetoed a council resolution opposing the Broken Arrow casino.
Council member James Jennings, who has served on the council since 2006, said, “At no time did I know of Tiger having a contract with anyone.” He added, hearing about Tiger’s contract with Rolls “would have mattered to me. I would like to have known.”
In addition, according to the World story, Tiger denied that he testified on March 3, 2011 in Tulsa District Court on behalf of supporters of the Kialegee casino. The court transcript reads, “We have a member, Mr. George Tiger, of the council of the Creek Nation that would, I believe, state that it is the position of the Creek Nation that their sister tribe has shared jurisdiction of that property,” stated Marcella Giles, an attorney representing herself and her sister as owners of the proposed casino property. The judge asked Tiger if he was aware of then-Chief A.D. Ellis’
opinion opposing the proposed casino, the transcript states. “Sir, I differ from it,” Tiger replied. Recently he said “I came to the proceedings to observe.”
