Blackfeet Tribal Court

Federal Court Enforces Tribal Court Order re: Foreclosure of Indian Property

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Here are the materials in Citizens Bank v. Wellman (D. Mont.):

Wellman Motion for Summary Judgment

Citizens Motion for Summary Judgment

Citizens DCT Order

Interesting procedural history, though not pretty:

On March 9, 2000, Citizens instituted a mortgage foreclosure proceeding against Wellman in the Blackfeet Tribal Court. Judgment was entered in favor of Plaintiffs on December 31, 2001. Sale of the mortgaged property, War Bonnet Inn, was ordered. Wellman appeal. On March 16, 2005, the Blackfeet Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment and ordered foreclosure sale to proceed without further delay. Sale was carried out on May 31, 2005. Citizens purchased the property.

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Article on Tribal Court Authority to Subpoena BIA Officers

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the The Glacier Reporter:

A new system of law enforcement introduced, includes prevention

By John McGill
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 10:26 AM MST

The fact that Bureau of Indian Affairs police officers serving in Blackfeet Country cannot be compelled to appear in Blackfeet Tribal Court by tribal judges, according to a recent U.S. Solicitor General’s opinion, was one of the more interesting tidbits garnered at Monday’s law and order meeting held at Tribal Headquarters. Steve Juneau of Lamar Associates emceed the meeting, which outlined plans adopted by the Blackfeet Tribe for reassuming control of law enforcement and creating a Department of Public Safety that would “provide leadership separate from political changes in tribal government,” Juneau said.

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