Chairman of the Yakama Nation

Chairman of the Yakama Nation
Post	Chairman
Body	the Yakama Nation
Seat	Toppenish
Appointer	General Council
Termlength	Four years
Constituting instrument	Constitution and Bylaws of the Yakama Nation
Formation	1944
First	W. William Yallup

Chairman of the Yakama Nation is the elected executive leader of the Yakama Nation, a federally recognized tribe whose reservation is located in Washington state. The office was established by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Yakama Nation, ratified in 1944 under the Indian Reorganization Act. The Chairman presides over the Tribal Council and serves as the primary representative of the tribe in dealings with the federal government, state governments, and other entities.

Role and responsibilities

The Chairman serves as the chief executive officer of the Yakama Nation, responsible for implementing the laws and policies set by the Tribal Council. Key duties include overseeing the administration of tribal programs, managing the Tribal Police force, and representing the tribe in negotiations with agencies like the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Chairman also plays a crucial role in protecting treaty rights secured under the Treaty of 1855, particularly regarding fishing rights, hunting rights, and water rights in the Columbia River basin. Furthermore, the office is central to economic development initiatives, including the management of the Yakama Nation Legends Casino and agricultural enterprises on the Yakama Indian Reservation.

Election and term of office

The Chairman is elected by the General Council, which consists of all enrolled adult members of the Yakama Nation. Elections are held every four years, as stipulated by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Yakama Nation. Candidates must be enrolled members of the tribe, at least twenty-five years of age, and must have resided on the Yakama Indian Reservation for a continuous period prior to the election. The electoral process is administered by the Yakama Nation Election Board, and the Chairman may serve an unlimited number of terms, though consecutive terms are common. The inauguration ceremony typically takes place in Toppenish, the administrative hub of the reservation.

List of chairmen

Since the adoption of the constitution, several individuals have held the office of Chairman. The first Chairman was W. William Yallup, who served following the ratification of the governing documents. Other notable chairmen have included Robert T. Jim, who served multiple terms and was instrumental in the Boldt Decision litigation, and Lavinia F. Shields. More recent leaders include Gerald L. Lewis and JoDe L. Goudy, who led during significant periods of legal assertion of treaty rights and economic development. The current Chairman, elected in [year], continues to address contemporary challenges facing the nation.

Powers and authority

The Chairman's powers are derived from and limited by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Yakama Nation. The Chairman has the authority to appoint directors of tribal departments, subject to confirmation by the Tribal Council, and to prepare the annual budget for council approval. The Chairman can issue executive orders for the administration of tribal government and is the principal signatory for contracts and agreements with external entities like the United States Department of the Interior. However, significant actions, such as entering into major land leases or initiating litigation to defend treaty rights, require the explicit authorization of the Tribal Council.

Relationship with Tribal Council

The Chairman works in conjunction with the fourteen-member Tribal Council, which is the legislative governing body of the nation. The Chairman presides over council meetings but retains a vote only in the case of a tie. While the Chairman executes council directives, the council holds the power to override a Chairman's veto, approve all budgets, and confirm key appointments. This structure, established to prevent the concentration of power, often requires extensive negotiation, as seen during debates over resource management in the Cascade Range or negotiations with the Bonneville Power Administration.

Historical development of the office

The creation of the Chairman's office marked a significant political transformation for the Yakama Nation, moving from a traditional chieftain system to a constitutional government under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. The modern office emerged from the 1944 constitution, which consolidated the executive function previously dispersed among band leaders. The role has evolved considerably, particularly following the 1974 Boldt Decision, which affirmed tribal fishing rights and vastly expanded the Chairman's role as a legal advocate. Subsequent decades saw the office grow in administrative complexity to manage enterprises like the Yakama Nation Forest Products and to engage in high-stakes negotiations on issues such as Hanford Site cleanup and salmon restoration in the Yakima River.

Category:Yakama Nation Category:Native American tribal government officials Category:Chairs of indigenous organizations