UKB Council eliminates Tribal Administrator position; AG opinion says employee remains on payroll
Giduwa Cherokee News | Staff Reports
The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma Tribal Council voted 6–5 on Jan. 3, 2026, to eliminate the Tribal Administrator position and formally dissolve the role — then ended the same meeting with a Council member announcing articles of impeachment against the tribal treasurer.
Six days after the vote, an Attorney General opinion concluded the employee who held the position remains employed by the Tribe, without a job title, without defined duties, and at the same salary she earned before the Council acted. A media inquiry submitted to tribal leadership three days after the vote went unanswered. As of Jan. 18, 2026, no public record shows further Council action.
Sequoyah District Representative Donald Adair made the motion orally during the meeting at the Wellness Center in Tahlequah. “We want to do away with the position — not the person holding that position, but the position,” Adair said. Assistant Chief Amos Ketcher seconded. Chief Jeff Wacoche asked how the eliminated position’s work would be handled. Ketcher proposed an executive team of the four officers — Chief, Assistant Chief, Secretary, and Treasurer — along with an adviser. Illinois District Representative Janelle Adair said the elimination was taking away someone’s job and asked Donald Adair for his reasons. No reason was given. The motion passed 6–5. Jennifer Cole-Robinson, who held the Tribal Administrator position, left the meeting after the vote.
At the close of the meeting, after a vote failed to take members into executive session, Janelle Adair said she wanted to make a few comments.
“People come in with things they need changed,” she said. “We as a council are set up to protect the tribe; it’s not about what we think or feel. We should be taking care of people the right way. We need to work together. There are too many behind-the-door meetings that cause a disturbance. And I’m tired of hearing and seeing that.”
Janelle Adair then announced articles of impeachment against Treasurer Sonya Gourd. “Sonya, this is your fifth year here. I hope you do the right thing for our people. I just wanted to let you know face-to-face that the process has started,” she said. Tribal Prosecutor Victoria Holland said the impeachment will require a formal process and nothing will happen until that process is complete.
A.G. Opinion No. 2026-01, signed Jan. 9 by UKB Attorney General Klint Cowan, concludes Cole-Robinson remains employed because Adair’s motion explicitly did not terminate her. The opinion notes the motion was oral, portions were inaudible, and Adair appeared to read from a document he did not share with the rest of Council. After the meeting, Assistant Chief Ketcher emailed Cowan text purporting to be the written motion. Cowan states in the opinion he relied only on what was said aloud, because that is what Council voted on. Based on that record, the opinion concludes Cole-Robinson remains employed at her previous salary and benefits until the Council takes further action.
The opinion cites the UKB Tribal Justice Department Act of 1991 as its authority. The Tribe adopted a newer Tribal Justice Department Act in 2022. The opinion does not explain whether the 1991 law remains in effect or was superseded. The 1991 law is not immediately available for public review. Under the 2022 Act, Section 7, the Attorney General gives opinions “when required by the Council.” The opinion states it was requested by Delaware District Representative Tishaleta Guevara, acting alone. No public record shows the full Council authorized that request.
The Tribal Justice Department Act of 2022, Section 9(a), states AG opinions remain in effect unless the Attorney General withdraws the opinion, a tribal court vacates it, or the Council rescinds it. No public record shows any of those actions has occurred. The Council has not produced a written resolution from the Jan. 3 meeting. No public record shows a post-Jan. 3 Council vote on reinstatement, reassignment, or creation of a new position.
On Jan. 6, 2026, this reporter submitted a media inquiry by email to the UKB Tribal Council, Chief Wacoche, and Secretary Caleb Grimmett, with Attorney General Cowan copied. The inquiry asked under what authority access to the former Tribal Administrator’s office was being granted, whether records and materials were being secured and under what policy, and whether any resolution had been introduced to address the elimination of the position and Cole-Robinson’s employment status. None of the four recipients responded.
The Council had not publicly announced its next scheduled meeting as of Jan. 18, 2026.
