AP Article here features a quote from Cherie Dominic, who is pictured below today (on her birthday!) with the newly married couple. Congratulations to Mr. Barfield and Mr. LaCroix!
tribal constitutions
NBC News Coverage of Little Traverse Same-Sex Marriage Ceremony
Here.
LTBB Chair Dexter McNamara Will Sign Same-Sex Marriage Ordinance on March 15, 2013
From his email to the tribal employees and news outlets:
Our constitution under ARTICLE II ” INDIVIDUAL RIGHT ” reads, The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, in exercising powers of self governance, shall NOT deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of its laws or deprive any person of liberty or property without due process of law.
Also in our Constitution under ARTICLE VI. ORGANIZATION OF THE GOVERNMENT A. PURPOSE, FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS. We, the Little Traverese Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, speak through this document to assert that we are a distinct nation of Anishinaabek of North America that possess the right to : self-determination; freely determine our political status; freely pursue our economic, social, religious and cultural development, and determine our membership, without external interference. These same rights and principles the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians acknowledge to be inherent among other peoples, nations and governments throughout the world. We recognize their sovereignty and pledge to maintain relations with those peoples, nations and governments who acknowledge those same fundamental human rights and principles, and who recognize the sovereighty of the Little Traverese Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.
As the Chairman of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians I will sign the Same Sex Marriage Statute on Friday March 15, 2013 @ 10:00 A.M. in the Chairmans office.
I believe that Tribal Citizens who wish to choose same sex marriage should be treated and just as importantly as any other Tribal Citizen who are Man and Woman. This is about people being happy. This is a real Issue. We are private people and we need to recognize on how we wish to live our lives. I have heard from Tribal Citizens, and not once have I heard that this could bring injury to our Nation, and that was the biggest issue that I had concerns of. There should not be a dividing line and we should all be able to seek a good life.
Migwech…
The Chairman at Little Traverse Has Indicated that He’ll Sign the Marriage Amendment
Chairman McNamara has said he intends to sign the bill approving same-sex marriage. This information is from an email forwarded to me by a tribal member.
The previous post is here.
Cherokee Nation Redistricting Challenge — Tribal Court Materials — UPDATED
Here are the materials in Anglen v. Cherokee Nation Council:
NYTs “Disunion” Series Profiles Cherokee Nation after the Civil War
Here.
Fascinating. My favorite part:
By 1862, Ross had become disillusioned with the Confederate government. The first major military engagements in Indian Territory proved disastrous for both the Confederacy and the Cherokees. Retreating from Indian Territory, the Confederacy left the Cherokees open to Union advances and without supplies for Cherokee troops and destitute civilians. Although Ross believed the Confederacy was shirking its treaty promises, the Confederate colonel Douglas H. Cooper called upon Ross to fulfill his obligations by ordering all Cherokee men of fighting age to “take up arms to repel invasion.”
Union Capt. Harris S. Greeno was aware of Ross’s dissatisfaction with the Confederacy, and he ordered the arrest of Ross and his family at their plantation home, Rose Cottage, in present-day eastern Oklahoma. They were quickly paroled and escorted to Union territory, and they retreated to his wife’s family home in Philadelphia. Ross would spend the remainder of the war attempting to convince the Lincoln administration of the Cherokee’s loyalty and commitment to the Union cause.
White Earth Nation Seeks Constitutional Reform Project Manager
White Earth Nation Seeks Constitutional Reform Project Manager, application deadline is expected to be extended.
See posting attached and at: http://whiteearth.com/programs/?program_id=15
Information Request on Tribal Same-Sex Marriage Laws and Proposals
I’m researching tribal laws and legislative proposals related to same-sex marriage. If you are interested in helping and have information on actual tribal laws or proposed laws relating to same-sex marriage (either allowing it or prohibiting it), please email me at atweedy01@hamline.edu. I’m interested in proposals that failed as well as those that passed. Any non-confidential information, such as the text of the laws or proposals, legislative history, or anecdotal information on how the process worked or how it was initiated would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Cherokee Nation En Banc Petition in Vann v. Salazar
Here:
2013-01-28 Appellee Cherokee Nation Petition for Rehearing (without attachments)
Panel materials here.
The D.C. Circuit has had few, if any, en banc hearings in the last few years because the court is severely understaffed. There have been, however, a rash of dissents from denial of en banc petitions which serve as a sort of marker for later review. Worth it to see if anything happens here.
News Coverage of White Earth Chippewa Constitution Vote
Here.
Turtle Talk 
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