cultural resources

Judge Approves Ramah Class Action Settlement

Sarah M Donnelly1 Comment

Ramah Final Approval Order Feb 24 2016

Ramah Final Approval Opinion Feb 24 2016

Dear Respected Tribal Leaders:

Earlier today, Judge Parker issued a final order approving the $940,000,000 Ramah class action settlement against the BIA.  We have attached the Order and Opinion. 

Congratulations to all of Indian Country!  It has been an honor and a privilege to be part of the team representing you and we look forward to implementing the settlement as quickly as possible.

As always, please feel free to contact us with any questions. 

Respectfully,

Lloyd, Don, and Lia

Crowdsourcing of archaeological sites

Ann Tweedy

I hope the project described in this NPR story doesn’t lead to more intrusions into Native burial sites and sacred sites. http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/02/17/467104127/space-archaeologist-wants-your-help-to-find-ancient-sites

Amicus Briefs in Pro-Football v. Blackhorse (4th Cir.)

Sarah M Donnelly

59 Brief of Amici Curiae Native American Organizations in Support of Appellees

60 Brief of the Navajo Nation as Amicus Curiae in Support of Defendants-Appellees

61 Brief of Amici Curiae Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality, National Native American Bar Association, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Native Hawaiian Bar Association, and California Indian Law Association in Support of Defendants-Appellees and Affirmance

Link to previous postings in the trademark case here.

News Release From the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians in Support of the Burns Paiute Tribe

Sarah M Donnelly

Link to press release here.

Ramah Fairness Hearing Minutes

Sarah M Donnelly

Hearing on Final Approval of Final Settlement Agreement (Doc. No. 1334) and on Application for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs (Doc. Nos. 1313 and 1335)

Things heat up on page 10 when attorneys call as a witness Professor Brian Fitzpatrick of Vanderbilt Law School to convince the court that 8.5% in attorney’s fees is fair when the Lodestar method would have awarded slightly less.  Ramah Class was awarded $940 million so that means $79 million will be fees.  Since class counsel spent just under 20,000 hours on the case the rate comes out to just under $4k/hour.  The court didn’t conduct its own Lodestar check.

SCOTUS Denies Cert in NAGPRA Petition

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Here is the order list.

Here is the petition in White v. Regents of the University of California.

Village of Whiteboro to Change Village Seal

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Here is the report from the NYTs. 

Thank you Daily Show!

Militants bulldoze through Native American archeological site, share video rifling through artifacts

Teresa Walrod1 Comment

From Daily Kos:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed Thursday that not only is the road built last week by the occupiers new, but it is also within an archaeological site important to the Burns Paiute Tribe.

Story HERE.

Previous articles HERE and HERE.

 

4,000 artifacts stored at Oregon refuge held by armed group

Teresa Walrod2 Comments

From the AP:

“Thousands of archaeological artifacts — and maps detailing where more can be found — are kept inside the national wildlife refuge buildings currently being held by an armed group of protestors angry over federal land policy.”

Article is HERE.

 

Village of Whiteboro to Keep Seal

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is “Whitesboro residents vote to keep ‘offensive’ seal.”