Meeting for Wasco Cheiftainship Process set

An Agency District meeting is set for Monday evening, May 22, to discuss the Chieftainship selection process. The meeting will be at the Agency Longhouse, dinner at 6 p.m. and the meeting at 7. The meeting is to move the process forward in choosing the next Chief of the Wasco Tribe on Tribal Council.

As reported by the Spilyay Tymoo: The Chieftainship has been vacant since September 26 of 2022, following the passing of the late Wasco Chief Alfred ‘JR’ Smith, who had served as Chief for 10 years, since 2012. A point of discussion now is the process for naming a new Wasco Chief to the Tribal Council, a lifetime position on Council. In November of 2012, the late Chief Smith took office following an election process, after which the Tribal Council recognized the election results and confirmed Chief Smith to Council. Chief Smith did not believe the election was appropriate or necessary, saying the election was not a “customary” process, as required in the tribal Council.

A similar issue is being discussed regarding the current Chieftainship vacancy and may be a point of discussion during the May 22 Agency District meeting.