News

GRAND RAPIDS — A federal judge Wednesday said he could decide within 30 days whether to allow Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette to halt a proposed Lansing casino.

U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker announced the timeline after attorneys from the state and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians argued in a Grand Rapids courtroom about whether Schuette’s six-count lawsuit, filed in September, should be dismissed.

Earlier coverage here.

IPR: Michigan Tribes Get Behind Effort to Repeal Wolf Hunt Law

January 24, 2013Matthew L.M. Fletcher2 Comments

Here.

Rep. Tom Cole Calls Redskins Name “Very Offensive”

January 18, 2013January 18, 2013Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here.

Article says he’s a Cowboys fan.

NPR on Slow Pace of Criminal Justice Reform in Indian Country

January 17, 2013Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Here. Via the excellent North Dakota Supreme Court site.

An excerpt:

The Hopi of northern Arizona were among the first in the nation to increase criminal sentences under the law. The tribe spent 18 months updating criminal codes to create a new class of felonies that could result in more jail time for convicted offenders.

Few tribes have put together all the pieces required to boost jail time, but progress is being made on other fronts. The Southern Utes in Colorado are now contracting with the federal government to hold detainees. On South Dakota’s Rosebud Sioux reservation, tribal officials worked with the U.S. attorney’s office to create a diversion program to keep juveniles out of trouble.

In Montana, special teams made up of tribal and federal officials were established last summer to investigate sexual assault cases.

Ken Salazar Leaving Interior in March

January 16, 2013Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Here.

And here.

More Yellow Snow Pics at Arizona Snowbowl

January 15, 2013Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

The NYTs has a few good ones here.

We posted one here last month.

Gross.

Mary Pavel Announced as Staff Director of Senate Indian Affairs Committee under Sen. Cantwell

January 14, 2013Matthew L.M. Fletcher

CANTWELL ANNOUNCES NEW STAFF DIRECTOR OF INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Incoming U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced Friday that Mary J. Pavel will serve as Staff Director for the committee in the 113^th Congress.

Pavel, a member of the Skokomish Tribe of the state of Washington, is an expert on Tribal law and policy. A graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Washington School of Law, Pavel became one of the first Native American women to be made a partner in a National Indian Law Firm. She joined Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Endreson & Perry in 1992 and became a partner in January 1999.

Pavel is the Founding President of the Native American Bar Association of Washington, D.C., and is a member of both the Washington State Bar Association and the District of Columbia Bar Association.

“Mary is well-known as one of the best and sharpest policy experts in Native American and Alaska Native policy and law,” Cantwell said. “Mary grew up in Washington state and understands the diverse issues facing Tribes in the Pacific Northwest and across the country. I look forward to working with Mary to improve economic opportunity, strengthen education and increase access to health care for all of Indian Country. With Mary on board, I am confident that the Senate Indian Affairs Committee is ready to tackle tough issues and make significant progress for Tribes.”