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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (March 26, 2009)
r News from Indian Country Tribe marches against decision P R O V ID E N C E , R .I. (AP) — More than 150 sup porters o f the Narragansett In d ia n T rib e c h an te d , drum m ed and m arched to the Statehouse on Saturday, protesting a recent U.S. Su prem e C ourt decision that limits the tribe's ability to gov e rn its land free from state and local laws. The march and rally at a nearby park targeted a Feb ruary court decision that pre vented the federal govern m ent from placing tribal land in trust for tribes such as the Narragansetts that were fed erally recognized after Con gress passed the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act. “The decision cannot be allowed to remain standing,” said Randy Noka, a member o f the N arragansett Tribal Council. “We're prepared to go where we have to go to correct the injustice.” The case began in 1991, when the tribe purchased a 31-acre lot in Charlestown for econom ic developm ent and to build elderly housing and applied to place it under federal trust, w hich w ould largely free the parcel from state and local laws. Gov. D on Carcieri and other sta te o fficials w o rrie d th e N arragansetts w ould create a tax-free zone undercutting local businesses o r build a casino, banned under state law. Lawyers for the state argued the tribe cannot rem ove its land from state control using the Indian Reorganization Act because the Narragansett tribe was n ot rec ognized by the U.S. government w hen the act passed 75 years ago. Saturday's march began with a ceremony at Roger Williams Park, where the crowd gathered in a circle and some smoked a peace pipe. The marchers then traveled to the Statehouse be fore moving to an area park to hear several speeches. M any carried signs, som e read in g “R etu rn o u r N ativ e Rights” or “Recognize and Re spect Your Neighbors.” N arragansett C hief Sachem Matthew Thomas said the tribe would push Congress to change laws governing tribal lands and would work to elect sympathetic leaders. T rib al eld er P au lla D ove Jennings said the Narragansetts have w elcom ed all people to Rhode Island, beginning with the earliest setders, but have n o t received th e same re spect. ‘W e have been damaged by the people in this state,” she said. “Many o f you have felt the same thing, but this is our land, and we welcomed all o f you here.” The rally was organized by United for Justice, an advo cacy g ro u p th a t in clu d es other American Indian tribes and community organizations in Rhode Island. It hopes to expand into work with other minority groups. ‘W e didn't just want to fo cus, on our oppression,” said Bella N oka, Randy N oka's wife and co-chairwoman o f U nited for Justice. “T here are many people feeling our same pain.” I t rem ains unclear how . far-reaching th e Suprem e Court ruling will prove. Law yers for the Native Ameri can Rights Fund, which pro vides legal representation to tribes, have said that dozens o f tribes could be affected, while lawyers for Rhode Is land argued the num ber was potentially in the hundreds. Conference on Media-American Indian BRO O KIN GS, S.D. (AP) _ The relationship between Ameri can Indians and the media is the su b je c t o f th e 17th an n u al American Conference on Indian Histories and Culture at South Dakota State University. The event is scheduled for March 30-April 1. Charles Trimble, an Oglala Sioux tribal mem ber and princi pal founder o f the American In d ian P ress A sso ciatio n , is scheduled to deliver the keynote ad d ress M arch 31. Jo s e p h Brewer, one o f the conference co-coordinators, says the confer ence includes indigenous schol ars who have each used or en gaged the media in their own way and on their own terms. State-tribal collaboration bill passes SANTA FE (AP) £ Law makers have sent Gov. Bill Richardson a m easure de signed to prom ote coopera tion between state govern m ent and Indian tribes. It requires every cabinet- level state agency to designate a tribal liaison w ho w ould report directly to the head o f the agency. It also orders state agencies to develop policies prom oting better communication and cul turally appropriate delivery o f services. A nd it mandates an annual state-tribal summit between the New Mexico governor and In dian leaders. Tribal officials urged the Legislature to endorse the bill when they came to the Capi tol last m onth for a joint ses sion o f the House and Sen ate. T h e H o u se p assed it u n an im o u sly o n Sunday, sending it to the governor. T h e Senate had passed it unanimously earlier. Senate agrees to lift ban on Indian development W A SH IN G TO N (AP) _ The Senate has voted to lift a 43-year-old ban on devel o p m en t on about 700,000 acres in Arizona's Black Mesa region that was disputed by Navajo and H opi tribes for decades. T he Senate unanimously approved a bill by Arizona sena tors John McCain and Jo n Kyi Thursday night to lift a ban on developm ent in the “B ennett freeze zone.” The ban had pre vented about 8,000 people who live th e re fro m m aking im provements to their homes. Action by the House is still required, but no opposition is expected. The ban was imposed in 1966. by form er Bureau o f Indian Affairs administrator Robert Bennett as the two' tribes argued over rights to the land. The dispute was resolved in 2005. Page 9 Spilyay Tytnoo Mgi-cb 26, 2009 Gov. supports recognition of tribes R ICHM ON D, Va. (AP) — Gov. Tim othy K aine said last week that the federal govern m ent should give six Virginia Indian tribes the recognition th ey have b een seeking fo r years. K aine testified b efo re the H ouse Comm ittee on N atural R esources in W ashington on behalf o f legislation sponsored by Rep. Jim M oran, a D em o crat from northern Virginia, and supported by other members o f the state's congressional delega tion. The bill would grant recog n itio n of th e E a s te rn Chickahominy, Chickahominy, U pper M attaponi (M AT'-ah- puh-N Y 1), Rappahannock, Mo nacan and N ansem ond tribes. They have been seeking the rec ognition s,ince the 1990s. I t w ould allow the tribes' 3,000 members to receive fed eral money for housing, educa tion and senior care. More than 560 other tribes nationwide áre federally recognized. Kaine and Moran also noted that the legislation would ban the tribes from operating gambling casin o s, a c o n cern th a t has blocked previous attem pts at federal recognition. K aine said the tribes were integral in the success o f the British settlement o f Jamestown in 1607, and hence the found ing o f the United States. Virginia tribes entered into peace trea ties with the English well before the nation's existence, and since the Civil War their m em bers have served in the U.S. military, often earning high honors, Kaine said. Kaine also noted that rec ognition has been difficult to obtain because tribe members' identities were stripped away by Virginia's Racial Integrity Act, a state law in effect from 1924 to 1967. Small Farmer's Journal , Horsedrawn A uction & Swap Meet Small Farm Trade Fair A pril 17,18,19,2009 Fairgrounds, Madras FAMILY FUN! For sale, privately & a t public auction, thousands o f items including: D raft Horses, Mules, Buggy Horses, W orking Ponies plus buggies, carriages, sleighs, wag ons, sleigh bells, harness, horsedrawn farm imple ments, blacksmithing tools, and A N T IQ U E S. 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