Proposed Petitions

Why this petition

The Council committed more than $115 million to off-reservation Las Vegas lots with virtually no input from the membership, no clear plan showing how they benefit our people, and — for the largest purchase — no record on the Nation's website. Given the Council's history of costly investments, members want these funds recovered and returned to the Tribe.

What it proposes

• Immediately list and sell the Las Vegas properties for no less than the purchase price, as soon as possible.
• Covers the ~8.68-acre lot ($12M, 2020), the ~13.26-acre lot ($92.8M, 2022), and the ~1.1-acre White Sands lot ($10.25M) being acquired.
• Use the sale proceeds first to pay off any loans taken out to buy the properties.
• Deposit the net proceeds (total sale price minus any amounts financed) into the Tribe's General Fund.

Why this petition

Right now, members hesitate to enforce our own Constitution and Bylaws because of the heavy cost of hiring a lawyer — even when the Council withholds financial information or skips mandatory audits. This removes that financial barrier so the People can hold the government accountable without shouldering the legal bill alone.

What it proposes

• Reimburse the reasonable, documented attorney's fees and costs of a plaintiff who successfully obtains equitable relief (declaratory judgment, injunction, mandamus, or prohibition) to enforce tribal law.
• Who qualifies: any tribal member, group of members, or member-owned business.
• “Successful” means the Tribal Court issues an order — temporary or permanent — that materially grants the relief sought or compels compliance.
• Payment is due within 30 days of a written, documented claim.
• Waives sovereign immunity for suits to enforce this resolution — and covers the fees of that enforcement suit too.

Why this petition

Officials and employees control the records, budgets, and personnel that could expose wrongdoing — which can let them conceal crimes until the normal deadline to prosecute runs out. This stops the statute of limitations from becoming a shield for corruption, so no one is above the law simply because they held office long enough.

What it proposes

• Pauses the criminal statute of limitations for “covered offenses” while the person who committed, aided, or concealed them still holds the connected tribal office, employment, or authority.
• Allows prosecution while the person is still in office, within 5 years after they leave, or within any longer period tribal law allows — whichever is longest.
• For concealed crimes (falsified or missing records, or wrongdoing hidden by the person's position), the clock doesn't start until an untainted investigator discovers it — or reasonably should have.
• Covers office-related offenses: theft, fraud, embezzlement, misuse of funds or property, bribery, extortion, conflicts of interest, falsifying or concealing records, obstruction, retaliation, and election offenses.
• Applies going forward — and to past offenses only if they were not already time-barred when this takes effect.

Why this petition

Bringing a petition is a real financial burden — legal fees, mailing, copying, travel, signature-gathering, and countless hours of labor. Members who shoulder that work are doing it for everyone. This makes sure they aren't left carrying the cost alone once their petition succeeds.

What it proposes

• Reimburse all reasonable, documented costs of successfully bringing a petition — legal fees, mileage and per diem, labor and contract costs, mailing, copying, and signature-gathering costs.
• Who qualifies: any tribal member or group of members.
• “Successful” means: for a referendum, once the Council calls the referendum vote; for a Secretarial Election, once the Secretary of the Interior calls the election.
• Payment is due within 30 days of a written, documented claim.
• Applies to petitions brought in 2026 and forward.

Why this petition

Our natural-resource wealth is finite. Dedicating a guaranteed share to the People's Fund — and protecting it as principal that cannot be moved or pledged — builds a lasting revenue base for today's members and future generations, with full transparency.

What it proposes

• Deposit at least 25% of all gross natural-resource trust income (oil & gas royalties and bonuses, grazing, farm/pasture leases, right-of-way fees, water sales, and resource-related settlements) into the People's Fund — as a first priority, before any other spending.
• Treat those deposits as principal (corpus): they cannot be moved, spent, or pledged as collateral unless a future amendment — which may require a referendum — allows it.
• 25% is a floor, not a ceiling — the Tribe may deposit up to 100%, and any existing higher requirement stays in place.
• Deposits are due within 30 days of receipt, with separate accounting and a written annual report to the Council and the membership.
• Only money barred by federal law, binding trust restrictions, court order, or settlement terms is exempt.

Why this petition

Under our Constitution, members living off-reservation cannot vote by mail — they must travel back to their segment's polling place on election day. That travel is a real financial burden. This puts off-reservation voters on equal footing with those who live on the Reservation.

What it proposes

• Reimburse mileage at the current IRS rate for any enrolled member living outside the reservation who travels home to vote.
• Pay a flat per diem based on one-way distance: $200 (up to 500 mi), $400 (501–1,000 mi), $600 (over 1,000 mi).
• Fully reimburse documented additional travel costs for voters with a disability or illness.
• Applies to the 2026 primary and general elections and all future primary, general, special, and referendum elections.
• Sunsets 30 days after a Secretarial Election approves mail-in or alternative off-reservation voting — but 2026 reimbursements are protected either way.

Why this petition

The Council approved a Letter of Intent to build and operate a data center on Fort Berthold with eClave LLC — without a vote of the People. A data center would draw heavily on our land, natural gas, electricity, and water. This petition puts the decision back in the hands of the People and stops any data center project from moving forward unless we approve it.

What it proposes

• Rescind Resolution No. 25-197-FWF and cancel the eClave LLC Letter of Intent for a data center on the Reservation.
• Officially declare that the People do not want a data center on Fort Berthold.
• Direct all tribal officials and entities to stop implementing or relying on the Letter of Intent, and to notify eClave LLC in writing that it is rescinded.
• Bar the use of any tribal land, gas, electricity, water, right-of-way, or resource for a data center unless first approved by a referendum vote.
• Require any future data center agreement to be submitted to and approved by the People in a referendum before the Council can act.
• Take effect immediately upon approval, overriding any inconsistent resolution or action.