From the Spokesmen Review:
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – In the four hours it took Alaska state troopers to arrive at the village, a man choked and raped his 13-year-old stepdaughter in front of three younger children. He had already beaten his wife with a shotgun and pistol-whipped a friend after an evening spent drinking home-brew in Nunam Iqua.
From the The Glacier Reporter:
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.
http://www.businessnorth.com/kuws.asp?RID=2068
News From 91.3 KUWS
New law gives tribal deputies off-reservation power
| Story posted Wed. 11:48 a.m.
11/14/2007 |
In what’s being hailed as equality between state and tribal law officers, Governor Jim Doyle signed a bill that would equalize the power of law enforcement officers. Mike Simonson reports.
The new law gives deputies and wardens of the Great Lakes Indian and Wildlife Commission the same rights as other Wisconsin law enforcement officers. GLIFWC Director Jim Zorn says his officers are often first responders in emergencies, even off the reservation in the ceded territories of northern Wisconsin.
“The Chai Vang incident was one instance where our officers happened to be one of the first officers to arrive. There’ve been other situations where we’ve come across traffic accidents or helped take drunk drivers off the road or similar circumstances.” Zorn says the bill is proof that the state and tribes have come a long way since violence over treaty rights in the late 1980’s.
“The boat landings when tribal members were attempting to exercise their fishing rights. This bill is just one more step in the state of Wisconsin moving forward between the state and the tribes in the treaty rights arena. It’s an important recognition that GLIFWC’s officers are just as important as any other officers in the state.” Zorn says tribal officers have the same training requirements as off-reservation peace officers.
From the Petoskey News Review:
Allied EMS emergency medical technician
Chris Heckman (left) and paramedic Erik Slifka are shown with an ambulance and heart monitor purchased with assistance from the Emmet County Local Revenue Sharing Board.
Revenue-sharing grants have helped Allied acquire seven ambulances as well as assorted equipment for the vehicles through the years. “They’ve been very instrumental in helping us keep our operation going,” said Allied chief executive officer Dave Slifka. (Ryan Bentley/News-Review)
Deciding how the community will share in Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians casino proceeds is not a game of chance.
Under its gaming compact with Michigan, the Odawa tribe is required to provide 2 percent of electronic gaming receipts from its Petoskey casino to nearby communities. The Local Revenue Sharing Board, a three-member appointed panel, is responsible for choosing specifically what projects and resources will receive support, reviewing grant applications twice yearly to decide which requests merit awards.
“We’re servants of the public,” said revenue board chairman Les Atchison. “We’re trying to do the best we can in our judgment to see that the money is put to best use. Frankly, we welcome the suggestions of those who appoint us.”
From its inception in 2000 through the end of 2006, the board awarded about $6 million in grants funded with casino proceeds. Since the tribe’s casino site is in federal trust status and not subject to property taxes, the board paid an additional $540,000 to local governments during those years to make up for tax revenue they would have received if the property was on the tax rolls.
Turtle Talk 