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Allegations Listed: The alleged violations listed for which Henson is being asked to resign include but are not limited to:

1. Attempting to set aside a council resolution regarding the creation of the UKB police force.
2. Refusing to sign resolutions that have been voted on and approved by the UKB council
3. Refusing to comply with council resolutions instructing Henson to furnish the council with information on credit cards.
4. Opening and maintaining secret bank accounts without the required council resolution.
5. Signing a contract committing UKB Motor Fuels Tax funds for the purchase of land without council knowledge, approval or consent and without a proper council resolution.
6. Setting aside a unanimous council resolution directing that tribal attorney Truman Carter be consulted concerning all investments made with housing funds, arranging instead to have a real-estate appraiser act as an investment counselor.
7. Having a tribal attorney work to create the Keetoowah Industrial Act without council knowledge, approval or consent and without council resolution.
8. Giving consent to and participating in UKB gaming board meetings that have not been duly called and noticed, nullifying the council resolution that approved the appointment of a gaming board to conduct the tribal gaming business.
9. Taking numerous days each month away from his job as chief without council knowledge, approval or consent while still receiving full salary.
10. On several occasions violating federal labor laws by harassing certain employees, attempting to withhold their checks or delaying payment for work completed.
11. Misappropriating UKB funds to pay for signs to benefit certain candidates for UKB political office.
12. Violating HUD regulations and UKB laws by refusing to call UKB Housing Authority Board meetings, setting aside the council resolution that created and approved the appointment of a housing authority board to conduct the business of the Housing Authority.
13. Violating HUD regulations and UKB laws by assisting the UKB Housing Authority executive director to circumvent the authority of the council
14. appointed board, allowing her, in direct conflict with council resolution, to become the sole authority over the Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE).
    
15. Violating UKB constitution and by-laws by personally appointing councilman Mose Killer to act as assistant chief in his absence, without council knowledge, approval or consent and without council resolution.
16. Violating the UKB constitution and by-laws by usurping the official duties of the tribal secretary, generating unofficial agendas and presenting them at the council meetings.
17. Canceling the regular meeting of the UKB council on Oct. 7. The UKB Constitution and By laws require the regular council meeting be set by resolution of the council and the chief has no power to set aside council resolutions.

With just a few weeks away from the election for Keetoowah chief, council members of the United Keetoowah Band (UKB) are asking for the resignation of its present chief, Jim Henson of Sallisaw, for violations of several constitutional acts.

In a meeting Wednesday night, the council's vote was split evenly on a motion "requiring the immediate resignation" of Henson for alleged violations of council resolutions (which are UKB law), violations of federal law, and violations of the UKB constitution and by-laws, a motion read at the meeting reports.

Council members in support of Henson's resignation were Frank Swimmer, who made the motion, Bill McKee Council representative and the Delaware District and a candidate for chief, Charlie Deason of Stillwell, Henry Dreadfulwater, Sequoyah Count councilman, Jimmie Lou Whitekiller, a Sallisaw resident and secretary of the UKB, and Susan Adair, who represents Illinois District.

Council members opposed to the Henson's resignation were Austin Ketcher, treasurer of the UKB, Jim Lambert of the Cooweescoowee District, Mose Killer of Tahlequah District, Roberta Smoke of Saline District Vice Chief Bill Rice and Allogan Slagle of Canadian District.

Henson, who succeeded John Ross, will not seek a second term as chief in the Nov. 6 Keetoowah election. Henson served as vice chief of the United Keetoowah Band from 1990 to 1998 before being appointed to chief when Ross was also forced to resign by the council.

"I look at these allegations and I respect their desire to express their opinions and wishes regarding things they feel are important, Henson said.

"I commend the council for the work they have done to establish a financial foundation from which programs can begin to provide services for the Keetoowah people."

Says Allegations Untrue Henson said the allegations which are being made are untrue and he plans to finish out his term as chief and not seek re-election.

"However, if the council wants me to resign and they vote on it, I will respect their wishes and step down. I have always honored what the council has wanted," Henson said.

"We have three good candidates running for chief, a former chief with experience, a young man who desires the office who is a full-blood Keetoowah, and another who just joined recently wanting to be chief. We have three good people running of good character and my prayers are with them."

Henson said he will always be in support of the cause of the Keetoowahs and made comments about his predecessor John Ross.

"John Ross left a legacy behind. We can look around and see some of the good things he started taking place. Contrary to how some of the council feels about Ross, I think he's a good person and he contributed a lot to the United Keetoowah Band," Henson said.

"I will complete the work I started and if the majority of the council feels I need to go the house, I won't go against their wishes because the council is the supreme authority of the UKB.