The move stems from two front-page articles in the Tulsa World outlining Tiger’s involvement in an attempt by a developer and the Kialegee Tribal Town to open a casino in Broken Arrow.

OKMULGEE, Okla. – An old contract may cost an Oklahoma chief his job.

Meeting in executive session Tuesday night, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council voted to issue a written request for Principal Chief George Tiger to resign. The move stems from two front-page articles in the Tulsa World outlining Tiger’s involvement in an attempt by a developer and the Kialegee Tribal Town to open a casino in Broken Arrow.

Tiger was hired as a consultant two months after he was elected to the National Council in 2009 and would have received a share of the casino’s revenue. According to documents obtained by the Tulsa World, Tiger received payments related to the project after he was elected chief in 2011.           

“We received calls from constituents who were concerned about the article,” MCNNC Speaker Thomas Yahola said. “We felt that the National Council needed to take action.”

In addition to sending over a letter Wednesday, Yahola confirmed that the National Council will be meeting later this month to consider a resolution of no confidence in the Tiger administration.

Despite the label of “executive session,” Tuesday night’s emergency meeting was open to tribal citizens as the council walked through its constitutional options to respond to the outcry.

Under the Creek Nation’s constitution, removal proceedings can not be initiated by the National Council. Instead, at least 20 percent of registered Creek voters must sign a recall petition first. After the petition is filed and verified to have sufficient signatures, at least 75 percent of the National Council must vote for removal.

Due to his participation in the National Center for American Indian Economic Development’s national summit in Las Vegas, Principal Chief Tiger did not attend Tuesday night’s National Council meeting. When reached for comment Wednesday morning, a spokeswoman for Tiger’s office said a statement would be made “at the appropriate time.”

Elected chief in 2011 by a wide margin, Tiger’s term ends later this year. He is eligible for re-election and the filing period for the September primary is July 20-22.