cultural resources

Briefs (Complete) in Montana SCT Case Involving Transfer of Bison Herd to Fort Peck Reservation

Matthew L.M. Fletcher3 Comments

Here are the materials in Citizens for Balanced Use v. Maurier:

Environmental Appellant Brief

State Appellant Brief

Fort Peck Amicus Brief

Appellee Brief

Environmental Reply Brief

State Reply Brief

Update on the Maya’s Struggle Against Unauthorized Drilling on Their Lands in Belize

Ann Tweedy

Here’s a news article detailing recent developments.

The original post is here.

ICT Article on Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s Fight against Eagle Mine

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here.

Via Pechanga.

UCLA Indian Studies Director Angela Riley Open Letter to No Doubt

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Here:

Open Letter No Doubt

An excerpt:

We commend No Doubt, Interscope, and Supersonic for making the decision to pull the “Looking Hot” video immediately from the Internet upon learning of the overwhelming response from the Native community. We also want to make clear that, while No Doubt’s apology claimed to have consulted “Native American studies experts at the University of California,” to our knowledge, no such person from UCLA was consulted about the video prior to its release. Nevertheless, in furtherance of our educational and collaborative mission, we extend to you an invitation to engage with the American Indian Studies Center and the Los Angeles Indian community, as we see this unfortunate incident as presenting an opportunity for growth and mutual understanding.

Lots of screen shots from this video here.

A sampling:

Univ. of Michigan Law School NAPGRA Panel — Updated

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is yesterday’s panel — student organizer Katherine Carlton, me, Eric Hemenway, Karen O’Brien, and Laura Ramos (thanks to JS for the pic):

Here are some Spartans representing:

And John Petoskey:

The crowd filing in, armed with pizza:

More pics from Katherine. Eric Hemenway in action!

Famous and soon to be famous people in audience — Forrest and Hunter, Simermeyer, Donnelly, Meg Noori, and John.

Talk at Michigan Law School Tomorrow @ Noon — Skull Wars: Returning Native American Remains

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Announcement here.

The Cultural Heritage Law Society is sponsoring this lecture in conjunction with U of M Law’s Native American Law Student Association.The panel will be held in Room 218 of Hutchins Hall at the University of Michigan Law School on Tuesday, October 30th. It will be a lunch lecture, so it will begin at 12:00 and end at 1:15 with lunch provided. It will be open to all of the University community.

Speakers include Matthew Fletcher, Eric Hemenway, Laura Ramos, and Karen O’Brien.

Challenge to Repatriation of “La Jolla Skeletons” Dismissed

Matthew L.M. Fletcher2 Comments

Here are the materials in White v. Regents of the University of California (N.D. Cal.):

Corrected UCSD Brief and Motion to Dismiss

KCRC Motion to Dismiss

White Opposition

University Reply

KCRC Reply

DCT Order Granting Motion to Dismiss

Our prior post on this case is here.

Wall Street Journal article on protections for Mount Taylor in NM

Ann Tweedy

The article describes struggles between the Acoma Pueblo, Pueblo of Laguna, Zuni, and Navajo and ranchers regarding whether Mt. Taylor should be protected from mining because of its sacred character.

WaPo Article on Justice Department’s Eagle Feathers Policy

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Here. h/t PropertyProf Blog.

An excerpt:

Doug Craven, the natural resources director for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Michigan, said tribal members there frequently encounter feathers from around 25 bald eagle nesting sites on their reservation. But it wasn’t always clear to them whether they could keep the feathers for ceremonial use or if they’d have to send them off to a repository.

“They feel that’s been gifted to them and they have a responsibility for that feather,” said Craven, who was part of a group consulting with the Justice Department on the eagle feather policy. “This policy supports that.”

Yay! It’s nice no longer being a crook.

DOJ Issues New Eagle Feather Policy re: Tribal Members

Matthew L.M. Fletcher2 Comments

Here. The full policy is here.

From the press release:

The policy provides that, consistent with the Department of Justice’s traditional exercise of its discretion, a member of a federally recognized tribe engaged only in the following types of conduct will not be subject to prosecution:

·          Possessing, using, wearing or carrying federally protected birds, bird feathers or other bird parts (federally protected bird parts);

·          Traveling domestically with federally protected bird parts or, if tribal members obtain and comply with necessary permits, traveling internationally with such items;

·          Picking up naturally molted or fallen feathers found in the wild, without molesting or disturbing federally protected birds or their nests;

·          Giving or loaning federally protected bird parts to other members of federally recognized tribes, without compensation of any kind;

·          Exchanging federally protected bird parts for federally protected bird parts with other members of federally recognized tribes, without compensation of any kind;

·          Providing the feathers or other parts of federally protected birds to craftspersons who are members of federally recognized tribes to be fashioned into objects for eventual use in tribal religious or cultural activities.