Dale Kildee, of Michigan’s 5th District, is to retire. He has done an enormous amount of good work for Michigan Indian people and tribes, and we owe him an enormous debt of gratitude.
We invite comments from readers on Rep. Kildee.
Legislation
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Hearing on Violence against Indian Women Written Testimony
Here:
Panel # 1
Mr. Tom Perrelli
Associate Attorney General, Ll.S.
Department of Justice, Washington, DC
Dr. Rose Weahkee
PH.D.
Division of Behavioral Health, Indian Health Service, Ll.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC
Panel # 2
The Honorable Donald W. Rodgers
Chief
Catawba Indian Nation, Rock Hill,SC
written testimony
Ms. Carmen O’Leary
Director
Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains, Timber Lake, SD
Tom Perrelli’s Written Testimony in the SCIA Today
House Resources Committee Hearing on Carcieri Fix
Here:
SUBCOMMITTEE ON INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE AFFAIRS
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
11:00 a.m.
LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON:
- H.R. 1291 (Cole) to amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to reaffirm the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for Indian tribes, and for other purposes;
- H.R. 1234 (Kildee) to amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to reaffirm the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for Indian tribes; and
- H.R. 1421 (Boren) to amend the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 to clarify the role of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma with regard to the maintenance of the W.D. Mayo Lock and Dam in Oklahoma.
OPENING STATEMENT:
Representative Don Young
Chairman
WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:
Oregon Legislature passes bill approving greater powers for tribal police officers
Here’s the news story, and here’s the bill.
House Bill to Ban NLRB from Tribal Business Introduced
The bill “To clarify the rights of Indians and Indian tribes on Indian lands under the National Labor Relations Act” was introduced last week and the text of the bill became available today.
H.R. 2335 (text)
Here’s a link to other information about the bill.
Finally, a story on the bill from The Daily Republic:
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., introduced legislation Thursday to clarify that the National Labor Relations Board does not have jurisdiction over tribally owned businesses on reservation land as a matter tribal sovereignty.
In 2004 the National Labor Relations Board, which is the federal agency of the U.S. government charged with conducting elections for labor union representation and other labor-related duties, determined that the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) applies to activities on reservation lands. This bill would reverse that decision. The legislation stands to defend tribal sovereignty and promote economic opportunities on reservations lands by eliminating ambiguity in existing federal law. Continue reading
Repeal of Canadian Human Rights Act s. 67 – Good For Individual Aboriginals ~ Very Bad For First Nations
John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, announced on Friday that s. 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act would be repealed, as of June 18th. This was done to “ensure First Nations people have the same protection of their human rights as other Canadians.” Therefore, as of Saturday, any decisions made or actions taken by band councils and the federal government, made under or pursuant to the Indian Act, will be fully subject to the Canadian Human Rights Act.
SCIA Witness List with Links to Prepared Testimony
Panel I
MR. DONALD “DEL” LAVERDURE, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC
Panel II
MR. ROBERT T. COULTER, Executive Director, Indian Law Resource Center, Helena, MT
MR. JAMES ANAYA, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, United Nations, Tucson, AZ
MR. LINDSAY G. ROBERTSON, Professor of Law / Faculty Director of the American Indian Law and Policy Center / Judge Haskell A. Holloman Professor / and Sam K. Viersen Presidential Professor, University of Oklahoma College of Law, Norman, Oklahoma
MR. RYAN RED CORN, Filmmaker / Member, 1491s, Pawhuska, OK
Panel III
THE HONORABLE FAWN SHARP, President, Quinault Indian Nation, Taholah, WA
MR. FRANK ETTAWAGESHIK, Executive Director, United Tribes of Michigan, Harbor Springs, MI
MR. DUANE YAZZIE, Chairperson, Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission, Window Rock, AZ
MS. MELANIE KNIGHT, Secretary of State, Cherokee Nation, Tahlequah, OK
Senate hearing on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is opportunity to work for major changes in federal policy and law
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will be holding an oversight hearing:
Setting the Standard: Domestic Policy Implications of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
| Date:Time:
Location: |
June 9, 20112:15 pm (EST)
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 628 Washington, D.C |
|
| The hearing will be webcast live at www.indian.senate.gov.For resources about the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples visit www.indianlaw.org | ||
Washington ICWA Passes
WASHINGTON INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT PASSED
After a multi-year tribal effort to make this Act a reality, Governor Chris Gregoire has signed the Washington State Indian Child Welfare Act (WICWA) into law. AAIA has worked closely with Washington state tribes on Indian child welfare issues for many years and we believe this is an important step forward in the ongoing efforts to promote the safety and well-being of Indian children and families.
WICWA has two main purposes. First, it codifies in Washington law the main provisions of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). This helps to make sure that state courts, attorneys and others involved with the state legal system incorporate ICWA protections for Indian children, families and tribes into their everyday practice. AAIA has long been involved in Indian child welfare advocacy. Studies and efforts by the AAIA were the catalyst for the enactment of the ICWA in 1978.
Second, WICWA clarifies how the federal law should be implemented and expands upon its protections. Among the most meaningful additions are provisions which define important legal terms, such as “active efforts,” “best interests,” and “qualified expert witnesses,” modify the placement preferences and improve procedures for identifying Indian children, including recognizing tribal decisions on membership as conclusive.
AAIA provided technical legal assistance to Washington tribal leaders and attorneys drafting and advocating for WICWA. WICWA builds upon previous tribal efforts to implement ICWA in Washington State which AAIA has assisted, including negotiation of a landmark tribal-state Indian child welfare agreement with the state, incorporation of provisions in the agreement into state practices and procedures, and legislation requiring the state to recognize tribally-licensed foster homes.
WICWA will help to advance the central goals of ICWA – namely to keep Indian families together and to ensure placement with extended family or tribal members whenever possible.
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