UKB chief ousted

By the narrowest margin, the Tribal Council of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma voted Tuesday to remove George Wickliffe as principal chief.

The council voted 7-4 to oust Wickliffe and imposed a lifetime ban against him again holding tribal office by election or appointment.

Joyce Hawk, UKB secretary, polled the council, and cast the deciding vote. After hesitating for a couple of minutes, she skipped her turn to call the other councilors. She then hesitated again for a few minutes, occasionally wiping a tear from her cheek, before voting “yes.”

http://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/news/ukb-chief-ousted/article_8ffeef0c-2293-11e6-80f5-ef860b208c3e.html