Turmoil at Hopi continues
Did officials resign? No, they say they just 'stepped down'

By Kathy Helms
Staff writer

KYKOTSMOVI, Ariz. — Hopi Tribal Vice Chairman Todd Honyaoma Sr. said Tuesday during a session of the Tribal Council that he was “stepping down,” but according to some Council representatives, that does not mean he has resigned, as indicated in a news release from the Office of Chairman Ben Nuvamsa.

The news release issued Tuesday stated that Honyaoma made the announcement before a packed crowd of Hopi and Tewa citizens in response to public outcries demanding that he step down or be removed, then gathered his things and left the Council Chambers.

The news release stated that three Council representatives, Alene Garcia and Henry Seweyestewa from the village of Upper Moenkopi, and Davis Pecusa from the village of Bacavi, each announced their resignations and left the Council Chambers.

No resignation letter
Hopi Tribal Treasurer Russell Mockta also announced that he was resigning, effective upon appointment of his replacement.

But according to Kykotsmovi Rep. Caleb Johnson, that is not the case.

“Todd just said he stepped down. In other words, he just left the chambers. People got disgusted so they said they would step down and they left the chamber. That doesn’t mean anything.

“In order for the vice chairman to resign he has to submit a resignation letter to the Tribal Council. The Tribal Council has to either concur with it or disapprove it, depending on what they feel. And until that happens, he’s still in office,” Johnson said Thursday.

Honyaoma reportedly was in Albuquerque Thursday and unavailable for comment.

No computers
In Honyaoma’s absence, Johnson said, Chairman Ben Nuvamsa issued a directive to the Finance Department, Personnel Department and MIS, “and the MIS came by about 3 p.m., yesterday and took all their computers out. I guess this morning when the staff wanted to go to work, their office was locked.”

“The chairman has no authority over the vice chairman’s office or his equipment. They’re separate and independent offices. Nuvamsa had no authority to do those things because the vice chairman is still in office. As far as the Tribal Council is concerned, that is an illegal directive by Nuvamsa. Todd hasn’t resigned,” Johnson said, and neither have the village representatives.

“For a representative to resign, who is elected, you have to submit your letter to the board of directors of that village and if the village wants to approve that or disapprove it, it’s up to the village board to concur. If they concur, then you’re officially off the Tribal Council. Those people that stepped down are elected officials, so in no way can you say they resigned,” he said.

On Monday, the Tribal Council passed Hopi Tribal Action Item 003-2008, authored by Honyaoma, which would have transferred all of the authorities delegated to Nuvamsa over to the vice chairman, however, the language was changed to return the chairman’s authority to the Tribal Council, according to the news release.

Two other action items — to legitimize the payment for the personal legal defense of the Honyaoma and Tribal Secretary Mary Felter, and another to suspend the Appellate Court — also were passed by Council.

No satisfaction
On Tuesday, a loud crowd gathered outside the legislative building to protest Council’s actions taken the previous day. After Nuvamsa addressed the crowd, they demanded that Honyaoma come out so they could hear from him.

“When he finally did step out to meet the crowd he was almost mercilessly bombarded by the people’s expressions of their anger and dissatisfaction with his performance. Many demanded that he step down from his office,” according to Nuvamsa’s news release.

One spectator, who asked for anonymity, said there were approximately 30 to 40 people gathered outside, who said they were a “voice for the people.”

“I think the one thing that stood out was the people yelling. Todd was standing 2 feet from some of these women and they were screaming at him at the top of their lungs. I was thinking, ‘I don’t think the man is deaf. Why are they yelling?’

“Not everyone has to yell to get their point across. There’s a proper way to do things,” she said. “Right now, no one is really saying anything because we’re right in the middle of our ceremonies. It’s real disturbing because we’re trying to concentrate on something and we’re being distracted. It’s best just not to get involved at this point. I think after the ceremonies are over, then maybe people will want to voice their opinion.”

According to the news release, an overflow crowd of protesters took their issues into the chamber, where Council allowed them to express their concerns. “Many of the people who spoke demanded that the vice chairman, tribal secretary and Council representatives (Phillip) Quochytewa and (Caleb) Johnson step down or be removed,” it stated.

Immediately following the public comments, Bureau of Indian Affairs Superintendent Wendell Honanie addressed the council, the release states, “informing them that the actions taken by council on Monday sent a red flag to the federal government that the tribal government was broken.

If the BIA determines that the Hopi government is dysfunctional and federally funded programs and services are at risk, the federal government, through the BIA, would take over the operation of programs.”

“That’s not what he said,” Johnson stated. “The superintendent was there when those representatives were stepping down and leaving the chamber and he was asked to say a few words. He simply said, ‘It appears that you’re headed in the direction where you might not have a quorum and if that should happen, then the federal government will be supervising the 638 contracts of the tribe.’ That’s basically what he said.

“The government has done that before. They assume responsibility and accountability for the 638 programs because those are federally funded programs. That’s a natural course of action that the federal government would do in the event that the tribal council has no quorum, but that hasn’t happened yet,” Johnson said.