Research

Donna Loring Lecture and Panel on the Report on Maine’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous, and Tribal Populations

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

The report (“One Nation, Under Fraud”) can be accessed here.

Harvard Native Alums Letter on the Harvard Steering Committee on Human Remains in University Museum Collections Report

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

Harvard Letter 2022-10-12.pdfDownload

The report is here.

What would the ancestors say?

Minnesota Tri-Bar Event: The Shifting Jurisdictional Landscape in Indian Country: SCOTUS’s Decision in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Register here.

Oklahoma Tax Commission Reverses Administrative Law Judge, Holds McGirt Doesn’t Offer Tax Immunities to Tribal Members because of Castro-Huerta (kinda)

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the opinion:

2022-10-04-14.pdfDownload

Prior opinion here.

The tax man has spoken

Spirit Lake Nation sues Benson County North Dakota over its redistricting plan

Matthew Campbell

The Spirit Lake Nation and two tribal members sued Benson County North Dakota, alleging that the county’s at-large redistricting plan: (1) discriminates against Native American voters by unlawfully diluting their voting strength in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act; and (2) violates a 2000 consent decree in which the county was prohibited from ever implementing an at-large method of election.  Here is the Complaint:

complaint-spirit-lake-v.-benson-countyDownload

More information on the case here.

Ninth Circuit Materials in Tribal Challenge to Seattle’s Dams

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the briefs in Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe v. City of Seattle:

Opening Brief.pdfDownload
Answer Brief.pdfDownload
Reply.pdfDownload
Appellant Supplemental Brief.pdfDownload
Appellee Supplemental Brief.pdfDownload

Lower court materials here.

Decision in Western Native Voice et al. v. Jacobsen (voting rights)

Matthew Campbell

After a two week trial, on September 30, 2022, a Montana court struck down as unconstitutional two state laws that hinder Native participation in the state’s electoral process. HB 176 eliminated Election Day registration, which reservation voters disproportionately rely upon to cast votes in Montana. HB 530 prohibited paid third-party ballot assistance, a service that aids Native voters living on reservations. The court ruled that the laws violate provisions of the Montana Constitution, including the right to vote, equal protection, free speech, and due process.

The 199 page order is here:

20220930wnv-v-jacobsen-orderDownload

More background and information on the case can be seen here.

Penn Law/Field Center Session on the Origins and History of the Indian Child Welfare Act

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

Next session is December 1: