Caddo Nation News Archives - August 2005

Attempt to hold election thwarted by Agency (25 August 2005)

On 20 August 2005, Carol Ross, claiming to be the Secretary of the "Caddo Court-Appointed Election Board", sent a request to Superintendent of the Anadarko Agency, Betty Tippeconnie, to use the conference room for the election that she and Carol Swindell are trying to hold. Their attempts to hold a tribal election are illegal and unauthorized, and they are not members of the Caddo Nation's Election Board, as they have been removed - with cause - from their positions of the board. The Superintendent's response is as follows:
United States Department of the Interior
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Anadarko Agency
P.O. Box 309
Anadarko, OK 73005
Tribal Government Services                                    August 22, 2005

Ms. Carol Ross
P.O. Box 324
Gracemont, OK 73042

Dear Ms. Ross:

This is in response to your letter dated August 20, 2005, requesting the use of the
Anadarko Agency Conference Room. We regret to inform you the Anadarko Agency
does not recognize you as a Caddo Nation Election Board Member, and, therefore, cannot
grant your request.

Sincerely,
[signed, Betty B. Tippeconnie]
Superintendent

Enclosed with the Superintendent's letter was a list of elected tribal officials (as of August 2005). For the Caddo Nation, the Agency officially recognizes the following people as members of the Tribal Council: LaRue Parker, Chairperson; Joyce Hendrix-Hinse, Vice-Chairperson; Marilyn Threlkeld, Secretary; Mary Lou Davis, Treasurer; Anna Donaghey, Anadarko Representative; Brenda Edwards, Binger Representative; Mary Pat Clark, Fort Cobb Representative; Jeraldine Redcorn, Oklahoma City Representative.

A message from Chairperson Parker (19 August 2005)

To the Great Caddo Nation

Once again I humbly come before you with thanks.

I thank you for standing by me all these years especially the last two years when we were at our lowest, we always had hope and determination.

I thank you for being here when we called for you. You came from all over Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado. You called me vowing your support and offering your prayers.

I thank you for not believing all the negative information about me but rather you still support the dreams I had when I first came in as your Chairperson.

You have elected a new council that is already hard working and energetic in their efforts. All staff, who were fired, are back at work, we are advertising for a Business Manager, Finance Director, and Tax Director.

We have hired an ICW worker and museum curator and administration assistant. We have contracted back our Aid to Tribal Government, Bison and Firefighters programs.

Soon we will contract back our Social Services and Education programs. We have passed a resolution to draw down our burial fund. We are enrolling people again and the Tag Office is catching up. We have passed resolutions to bring back our Transportation and Housing programs.

We are working on prosecuting the people who took over $17,000.00 from our treasury with out receipts or proper procedure. We know some of the money went to people who said they were the Court Appointed Election Board; there is no such entity. They are impostors and not recognized by anyone. They are wasting the tribe's money and may have to pay it back.

May God continue to pour his blessings on this Nation, that we may thrive, heal our wounds and lift us up to heights that we all belong.

I will not let you down, I owe you so much, I love our people, and our culture. I believe that God has a special plan for this Nation and I am proud to be a part of it. I hope you will also be proud.

Thank you,

[signed, LaRue Martin Parker]
LaRue Martin Parker
Chairperson of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma

Alleged expenses by the Council 5 called into question (18 August 2005)

Members of the so-called "Council 5" continue to refuse to provide information to the Caddo tribal government, the Finance Department, or the Caddo people regarding the $17,000 they illegally withdrew from tribal banking accounts. These funds were withdrawn from tribal accounts without any regard for the tribe's established financial policy and procedure and therefore lack the level of accountability required for auditing purposes.

The following letter was sent to the Caddo Nation Tribal Council by Sandy Ludgate, Director of the Environmental Program and manager of the Bison Valley Ranch. To date, no response has been received from Marilyn Threlkeld, Ann Donaghey, or Mary Pat Francis Clark.

August 16, 1005

LaRue Parker
Mary Lou Davis
Brenda Edwards
Jeri Redcorn
Marilyn Threlkeld
Anne Donaghey
Mary Pat Francis Clark

Dear Council Women

I wanted to clarify an issue that has been brought to  my attention. The Caddo Nation Tribal Council has been dealing with the issue of funding been drawn out of  the one of the bank accounts by Marilyn Threlkeld and Anne Donaghey. It has been stated several times by different sources that one of the reasons that the money was taken out of the bank account was to "feed the bison". I want it to be understood that the Bison Management Program never received food, money or any type of gift from any of the Caddo Nation Tribal Council members, past or presents. We were never approached by anyone about donations of feed, hay or money. Nothing was ever taken to the bison themselves. I have locks on my gates, and only my department has keys to them. No one could have gotten into the pastures to feed them without the staff or myself being made aware of it.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at 405-656-2388.

Thank you for your time,

[signed]
Sandy Ludgate
Caddo Nation Environmental Director

Notice regarding the Election Board and its members (18 August 2005)

The legitimate, BIA-recognized Caddo Nation Election successfully concluded the June 2005 election, and the winners of the election were sworn into office after all challenges and protests were heard and resolved. However, past members of the Caddo Nation Election Board, namely Carol Swindell and Carol Ross, continue to push ahead with their attempts to hold their own ILLEGAL election in September. Swindell and Ross are not on the Caddo Nation Election Board nor do they represent the Caddo Nation in any capacity. Their attempts to hold a separate tribal election are futile, without legal backing or validity, and should be ignored.

A notice similar to to the following appeared in the Anadarko Daily News:

NOTICE: The Caddo Nation of Oklahoma is not responsible for any debts or obligations incurred by Carol Edge Swindell or Carol Williams Ross, DBA, Caddo Election Board or any variation of this name such as the Caddo General Election Board, the Court Appointed Election Board, or Caddo Nation General Election Board, in accordance with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.


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