BLT: DOJ Promises Increased Crime-Fighting in Indian Country

From BLT:

The Justice Department announced today a renewed effort to improve law enforcement on tribal land through a partnership among Native American leaders and the federal government.

Associate Attorney General Thomas Perrelli, addressing more than 500 attendees at the National Congress on American Indians in New York, said the department later this year will convene a Tribal Nationals Listening Conference to address public safety concerns on tribal land. Click here for a copy of Perrelli’s prepared remarks, provided by the Justice Department.

The listening conference and a planned series of regional summits are expected to address, among other topics, federal prosecution in Indian country, development of tribal courts, domestic violence, substance abuse, civil rights and litigation involving tribes. The initiative, Perrelli says, is “tremendously important.”

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GTB Seeks to Remove Dams from the Boardman River

From Indianz:

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians is seeking $7.5 million in federal stimulus funds to remove dams on the Boardman River in Michigan.

The tribe wants to remove three dams and modify a fourth. The money for the project would come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The dams are in city and county hands but local officials have already been discussing ways to remove them. The tribe decided to take action to meet a deadline to apply for stimulus funds.

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GT Band seeks grant to help remove dams (The Traverse City Record-Eagle 4/17)