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Indian Council Votes to Retain President

Eva Nichols, militant president of the Black Hills Council of American Indians, last night faced charges for impeachment brought by a group of council members, and walked out of the meeting still champion.

When the dust had settled in the Rapid City fire hall where she had defended her alleged unorthodox actions before the board of trustees and about 50 assembled members and visitors, the president was given a nearly unanimous vote of approval to remain as head of the city Indian group.

The charges against her were presented by members of the board of trustees, Arthur Rouse, chairman, Russell McGaa, and Stanley McCloskey, and secretary Mrs. Mary Goings.

Among the charges listed in a petition were mismanagement of council funds, misuse of office, embroiling the council in quarrels, attacks on a member of the council, making statements and taking individual actions not authorized by the council, and withholding records and pertinent information concerning the council from its members.

The charges were presented in a special hearing which began at 9 p.m. by Secretary Mrs. Goings. She explained the impeachment action was being undertaken by the board of trustees "for the best interest of the organization, which serves the welfare and needs of Indians of the community."

The split of opinion between two factions, one led by the president, came to a head during the recent blizzard relief program for city Indians. In answering the charges, Eva Nichols leveled her attacks at the method in which the relief was handled, defending her actions on grounds that the program should have been handled through the Indian council.