Hopi Council reseats 2 members who were removed

By Stan Bindell
For the Independent

POLACCA, Ariz. — In a precedent-setting move, the Hopi Tribal Council Monday reseated Diana Shebala and Cliff Qotsaquahu to the Council.

The pair were removed from the Council Dec. 1 when Chairman Ben Nuvamsa did not recognize them after Bacavi Village Gov. Marlene Sekaquaptewa asked that their representatives be removed because of alleged gross neglect of duty and violation of code of ethics.

The Hopi Tribal Council voted 8-4 with one abstention to reseat Shebala and Qotsaquahu after hearing tribal advocate Muriel Scott argue that the two had been removed unconstitutionally.

Scott said the Hopi Constitution does not give the villages the right to remove the Council representatives. She said the villages, according to the Hopi Constitution, only have the right to appoint. She said if the villages want a Council representative removed that they must file a complaint with the Hopi Tribal Council and then the Council can decide whether or not to remove the representatives.

Scott said her clients, Shebala and Qotsaquahu, were also never given due process because they were never given a chance to hear the charges of wrongdoing against them and to defend themselves before the tribal Council.

The Hopi Tribal Council initially removed Davis Pecusa, Shebala and Qotsaquahu in August after receiving a letter from Bacavi Gov. Sekequaptewa and Lt. Gov. Ruth Kewanimptewa.

Hopi Chairman Nuvamsa did not return calls by deadline seeking comment on this issue.

Hopi Vice Chairman Todd Honyaoma Sr. said he agreed with the majority Council's decision to reseat the Bacavi representatives. He said if the village leaders have a problem with the representatives that they need to file a complaint with the tribal Council — and he said they never did that.