New Fort Hall Business Council sworn in, Boyer elected Chairman
The 2020 Fort Hall Business Council members from left, member Donna Thompson; Treasurer Elma Thompson; Vice Chariman Marlene Skunkcap; Chairman Devon Boyer; Secretary Ladd Edmo; Sergeant at Arms Lee Juan Tyler; member Nathan Small.
By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Devon Boyer was sworn in and elected Chairman of the Fort Hall Business Council (FHBC) on Wednesday, September 9. Marlene Skunkcap and Elma Thompson also took the oath of office by Acting BIA Fort Hall Agency Superintendent Preston Smith.
Other FHBC council officers are Vice Chairman Marlene Skunkcap, Treasurer Elma Thompson, Secretary Ladd Edmo, Sergeant at Arms Lee Juan Tyler and council members are Nathan Small and Donna Thompson.
District representatives for Gibson are Devon Boyer and Elma Thompson, for Fort Hall Nathan Small and Donna Thompson, for Bannock Creek Marlene Skunkcap, for Ross Fork Ladd Edmo, for Lincoln Creek Lee Juan Tyler.
Before the ceremony, a prayer was offered by tribal elder Doyle Punkin. Anthony Pete Broncho and Franklin Devinney smudged the newly elected council members and the limited people in attendance. Due to COVID-19 the event was streamed Live on the Tribes Facebook page.
Acting BIA Fort Hall Agency Superintendent Preston Smith reads the oath of office to newly elected
officials Marlene Skunkcap, Elma Thompson and Devon Boyer.
Spring creek drum singers sang a flag, victory, and honor song and veterans Roland Marshall and Marci Dawes Flores posted the colors.
Skunkcap said it’s been a long election and a lot has happened in that time. One of the things she’s heard is the people want accountability, which she will be. She said they will need to work together and has experience serving on council before with the others.
Thompson thanked everyone and was grateful for the strong prayer and songs. She is looking forward to working with everyone and the council members. She’s hoping for a united front and to be strong together to overcome. Thompson said to keep in mind they will work hard for the people and will do their best to represent and have the transparency the people are wanting.
Chairman Boyer said he’s honored to the hold the position and will do the very best he can with the rest of the council who've been elected.
“We’ve got to get together, make plans, organize, strategize, everything that we can do to improve our Shoshone-Bannock Tribes – and that does include everyone. Nobody’s left out in this picture,” he said.
The new council emmbers use beaded pens to sign their oath of office.
He said they look forward to doing that in a collaborative way to make things better for tomorrow. Adding they’re all on the line and there with prayers, which they have to uphold, as well as the constitution.
Chairman Boyer thanked all his supporters and said it took a lot to move forward with all the things that were going on.
