Turtle Talk

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. —Today, during a summit of Michigan’s tribal leaders, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Directive 2019-17. The executive directive reaffirms and extends Michigan’s commitment to recognize the sovereignty and right of self-governance of Michigan’s federally-recognized Indian tribes and orders each state department and agency to adhere to these principles.

“As Michiganders, we must ensure that our tribalcommunitiesare treated with dignity and respect,” said Governor Whitmer.“It’s important to me that each tribe has aseat at the table in my administration to contribute their perspectives, and I’m committed to working closely with our tribal leaders to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their communities.”

Executive Directive 2019-17 also details a process of tribal consultation designed to ensure meaningful and mutually beneficial communication and collaboration between these tribes and the departments and agencies on all matters of shared concern. It’s also the firstexecutivedirectivein Michigan history to require training on tribal-state relations for all state department employees who work on matters that have direct implications for tribes.

Governor Whitmer has shown a deep commitment to ensuring members of Michigan’s federally recognized tribes have a seat at the table in state government. She appointed Wenona Singel, a citizen of Little Traverse Bay Bands, as her advisor on tribal-state affairs, the first tribal citizen to hold this position in Michigan history.

Tribal members that Governor Whitmer has appointed to Michigan state boards and commissions include Chris Swartz on the UP Energy Task Force, General Counsel Whitney Gravelle on the Michigan Women’s Commission, Natural Resources Department Director Evelyn Ravindran on the Committee on Michigan’s Mining Future, and Councilor Emily Proctor on the Census Complete Count Committee.

MSU Press Publishes “After the Bloodbath Is Healing Possible in the Wake of Rampage Shootings?” by James Diamond

October 31, 2019Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here. The blurb:

As violence in the United States seems to become increasingly more commonplace, the question of how communities reset after unprecedented violence also grows in significance. After the Bloodbath examines this quandary, producing insights linking rampage shootings and communal responses in the United States. Diamond, who was a leading attorney in the community where the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy occurred, focuses on three well-known shootings and a fourth shooting that occurred on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota. The book looks to the roots of Indigenous approaches to crime, identifying an institutional weakness in the Anglo judicial model, and explores adapting Indigenous practices that contribute to healing following heinous criminal behavior. Emerging from the history of Indigenous dispute resolution is a spotlight turned on to restorative justice, a subject no author has discussed to date in the context of mass shootings. Diamond ultimately leads the reader to a positive road forward focusing on insightful steps people can take after a rampage shooting to help their wounded communities heal.

BIA Notice on Proposed Updates to American Indian Probate Regulations

October 31, 2019October 31, 2019Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here.

Federal Court Allows FTCA Claim Arising under 638 Contract to Proceed [Mississippi Choctaw]

October 31, 2019Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the materials in Chipmon v. United States (S.D. Miss.):

1-complaint-5.pdf

16-us-mtd.pdf

18-us-mtd-tribe-cross-claims.pdf

24-tribe-response.pdf

28-plaintiff-joinder-to-tribe-response.pdf

30-us-reply.pdf

37-dct-order.pdf

National Indian Law Library Bulletin (10/30/2019)

October 31, 2019Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

We have scoured the web. Here are some of the latest materials related to Indian Law. Find all of the latest updates at narf.org/nill/bulletins/index.html

State Courts Bulletin
https://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/state/2019.html
Cayuga Nation v. Campbell (Tribal Leadership)

U.S. Legislation – 116th Congress Bulletin
https://narf.org/nill/bulletins/legislation/116_uslegislation.html

S.2696 – A bill to amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to expand supportive services for Native American aging programs, and for other purposes.
H.R.4908 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the collection of a health care copayment by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from a veteran who is a member of an Indian tribe.

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin (contact us if you need help finding a copy of an article)
https://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/lawreviews/2019.html

Decolonizing reservation economies: Returning to private enterprise and trade.
Answering constitutional challenges to the tribal VAWA provisions.
Beyond constitutional frontiers: Tribal rights, resources, and reform.

News Bulletin
https://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/news/currentnews.html
This week, in brief:

Indian Country Today joins the Associated Press
Consulting with Native American tribes on energy and infrastructure development: Strategies for reducing project risk
‘This is our time’: National Congress of American Indians elects new leadership
The fix for Alaska’s public safety crisis? Recognize tribal powers
New Mexico Native American tribe building solar farms amid state’s renewable transition
‘We are closely related to fire. Fire takes care of us and we take care of fire.’
Niijii Radio rises ‘out of the ashes’ to serve White Earth Nation, nearby communities