CROW AGENCY — A power struggle has emerged between two men who claim to be the leader of Montana’s Crow Tribe after a disputed recall election earlier this month.
The tribe’s vice-chairman, Carlson “Duke” Goes Ahead says he’s the legitimate chairman after the Jan. 19 recall election ousted Chairman Alvin “A.J.” Not Afraid and tribal secretary R. Knute Old Crow from office.
The Billings Gazette reports that Not Afraid maintains the election is invalid.
The tribe’s legislative branch is recognizing Goes Ahead as the new chairman, and a swearing-in ceremony was recently held. Not Afraid says tribal lawmakers had no authority to do so.
The dispute came to a head Tuesday when Goes Ahead supporters drove off in pickup trucks full of financial documents from a tribal office after initially being blocked construction equipment operated by Not Afraid’s backers.