Coverage of Final Day of Wisconsin Chippewa Tribes Night Deer Hunting Trial

Ruling is expected before November.

Wisconsin Public Radio story here.

Minneapolis Star Tribune story here.

Day one coverage is here and day two coverage is here.

Coverage of Day Two of Wisconsin Chippewa Tribes Night Deer Hunting Trial

Wisconsin Public Radio story is here.

Coverage of day one is here.

Coverage of Day One of Wisconsin Chippewa Tribes Night Deer Hunting Trial

Story is here. The trial is scheduled to last a week.

Previous coverage (and links to other related material) is here.

Cherokee Nation Tribal Court Grants Custody to Father’s Wife and Father’s Parents in Baby Veronica Matter

Tulsa World article here.

A Historic Assertion of Water Rights by the Klamath Tribes

An excerpt from the Oregonian

In March, after 38 years of work, the state found that the tribes’ water rights dated to “time immemorial,” making them by far the most senior. That means the tribes will get water to protect fish in traditional fishing grounds, including two species of suckers on the endangered species list.

Farmers irrigating through the federal government’s 1905 Klamath Reclamation Project, covering roughly 200,000 acres that draw from the lake, will also get water, though they’ll face restrictions, too.

But “off-project” irrigators on about 150,000 acres above the lake generally have junior water rights to reclamation-project irrigators. They’ll have to tap wells if they can or see their water supplies reduced or shut off.

The AP story is here.

The administrative law decision and other materials can be found here.

Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde RFP for Code Development

The Tribal Nation of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, located in Northwest Oregon, is seeking Requests for Proposals from interested individuals, legal service providers, agencies or law firms to develop new Tribal ordinances, revise current ordinances, develop self-help packets, and develop local rules for the Court.  For questions contact Angela Fasana, Tribal Court Administrator, at angela.fasana@grandronde.org.  Proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m. on June 28, 2013.

RFP CTGR Code Development

Judge Richard G. Kopf – Deconstructing the Mythology of the Standing Bear Case

Here.

I agree with Judge Kopf that there is a mythology surrounding  Standing Bear v. Crook case and believe it was perpetuated by those who were “bent on publicizing the Indian cause.” I am particularly interested in how this mythology played into Elk v. Wilkins. While there is little written or known about John Elk, there was sentiment that the legal team involved in Standing Bear sought out Elk to continue the pursuit of this cause. A couple years ago, I found an article written in  “Seen & Heard” (1904) and think about it whenever I hear about either of these cases. The whole piece on both cases starts at page 4753, but the excerpt starts on page 4762 and describes what happened after Standing Bear.

After Judge Dundy’s decision, Bishop Clarkson, of Nebraska, and James Cook urged Mr. Tibbles to continue the fight. He did so with vigor, and for the next five years lectured on Indian reforms all over the United States. To push the matter still further, one Presidential election day Mr. Tibbles went to Omaha and induced John Elk, a full blooded Indian, to go to the polls and vote.

NPR Story on Affordable Care Act Providing More Money for Indian Health Service

Here.

Today in History – Improvements in Indian Law

Thirty years ago today (according to this site) Senator Mark Andrews introduced Senate Resolution 127 to make the Select Committee on Indian Affairs a permanent committee.

Today is also Professor Matthew L.M. Fletcher’s birthday.  Happy Birthday, Matthew!

State of Washington City and Tribal Leaders Form Coalition Against Coal Trains

AP Story here.

Early this month, the Sierra Club and other conservation groups sent a 60-day notice of intent to sue to coal companies. The groups intend to file in federal court against the companies for violating the Clean Water Act. Stories on the notice are here and here.

The most recent previous post on this subject is here.