Michigan ICWA Bill (MIFPA) Passes State House of Representatives–Will Likely Become Law

Some good news in this legislative session–the Michigan Indian Family Preservation Act just passed in the House and, having already passed in the Senate, is heading to the Governor’s office for him to sign. Bill status and versions are available here.

Michigan Public Radio Environment Report — Two Stories

Here.

This morning The Environment Report covered NAGPRA and a road project in Oscoda County where workers uncovered remains. The Department of Transportation is working with the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe.

Also, the Report covered potential invasive species in the Great Lakes and an online resource developed by NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab to identify the species (including killer shrimp. Huh.).

 

Job Posting: Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Prosecutor

ETA: The website does not allow a direct link to the posting. Go to http://www.sagchip.org. Click on “General” under employment in the bottom left corner of the page. The job was posted on 11/28/2012 and the ID number is 1002595. The keyword search does not seem to bring it up, but we were able to click through the list of job postings to find it.

Iowa SCT Dismisses Disciplinary Complaint Against Sac and Fox Attorney–Take Two

First opinion.

Opinion here.

Legal Profession Blog Post.

Washington County v. Passamaquoddy Tribe — Tax Claim

Notice for Removal and Complaint here.

Press coverage here.

Northern Arapaho Tribe v. Ashe — Eagle Take Permits

The Court rejects the argument that the record rule applies to Plaintiffs’ RFRA claims because RFRA and the APA provide two distinct causes of action with different standards of review. Plaintiffs lack standing to pursue a declaratory judgment that the FWS violated RFRA by delaying issuance of Plaintiffs’ eagle take permit for two and a half years and injunctive relief ordering the FWS to process Plaintiffs’ future eagle take permit applications within three months of submission because Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate that they are likely to suffer similar delays in the future. Plaintiffs have standing to seek a declaratory judgment that FWS’s refusal to allow eagle take within Plaintiffs’ Reservation violates RFRA and an injunction ordering the FWS to modify Plaintiffs’ current eagle take permit because Plaintiffs have established injury, causation, and redressability. The Court assumes (without deciding) that the FWS’s refusal to allow Plaintiffs to take eagles within their Reservation places a substantial burden on Plaintiffs’ religious exercise, and it concludes that the FWS did not violate RFRA because it advanced and balanced its compelling interests via the least restrictive means. It is therefore
ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment is DENIED.

N Arapaho Motion for Summary Judgment

E Shoshone Amicus Brief

Order

N Arapaho Motion to Amend DCT Order

Final Regulation on Leasing Approval Process

The regulation is part of the implementation of the HEARTH Act and updates regulations originally established in 1961.

Press Release here.

Final Rule here.

Fact Sheet here.

St. Regis Mohawk Press Release and Briefs on Land Claim Litigation

Here.

Both the United States and the Mohawk plaintiffs make these arguments in briefs filed last Friday, November 16.  The United States stating, “In other New York land claims…dismissed by the Second Circuit, it was inarguable that the lands at issue had become heavily populated and developed by non-Indians in the years since New York unlawfully acquired the lands….That is not true here….the Mohawks… never departed the region and have remained a powerful enduring presence both as a government and as a population in the region and within the specific claim areas.”

As for the claim to the islands, the United States and the Mohawks have presented a unique argument that has never been considered in any other land claim because of the particular facts of the case.   “The Department of Justice Attorneys and the Department of Interior met with tribal leadership recently and listened to our concerns.  They responded with the filing of a strong brief that supports the Tribe’s efforts and their own interests, as owners of the underlying title to some of the islands that make up the Power Project.” said Chief Randy Hart.

St. Regis Mohawk Brief

Akwesasne Mohawk Brief

United States Brief

Defendants’ Brief

Previous coverage here.

Student Research Showcase on Native Themes at Michigan State, November 30th

Victoria Sweet, MSU Law ’13,  will be one of the students presenting at this event: