By By Adrienne McKenzie
Buford L. Rolin was re-elected as Poarch Band of Creek Indians Tribal chairman at a special called council meeting held on the Reservation earlier this month.
Rolin now begins his second term as chairman.
Rolin has been on the Tribal Council for more than 40 years and has also served as secretary and vice chairman.
Arthur Mothershed was reelected as the Tribal Council's treasurer, and Garvis Sells replaced former councilmember Eddie Tullis.
Rolin, Mothershed and Sells were voted in as council members during the June 7 election and were sworn in as PCI council members by Judge Ben Brown during the Thursday meeting.
Mothershed was pleased and thankful to be reinstated as the council's treasurer.
This is Mothershed's second term as treasurer. He also serves as Creek Indian Enterprises chief financial officer.
It was an emotional moment when Tullis stepped away from the council tables for the first time since 1964 and Sells stepped in to take his place.
Tullis has served as a Poarch Tribal Council member continuously since 1964, he said.
Sells said he is pleased to serve as Tribal Council member and wants to be a part of unifying the Tribe.
Sells is also the vice chairman of the Tribal Employment Rights Office, which promotes Tribal member employment and advancement.
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians has headquarters located on Jack Springs Road just outside Atmore.
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is the only federally recognized Indian Tribe in the state of Alabama, operating as a sovereign nation with its own system of government and bylaws.
The Tribe operates a variety of economic enterprises, which employ hundreds of area residents.
Elections for tribal seats are held on a rotating basis.
Council members vote to determine who will serve as tribal chairman.