TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA The Cherokee Nation released the following statement on the transfer of custody of Veronica Brown, who was taken from her Cherokee biological father and family on Monday evening. Statement from the Cherokee Nation Statement from Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker: There is no word for goodbye in the Cherokee language. We … Read more
By Suzette Brewer September 24, 2013 In the end, it came down to one simple strategy: Waiting. As Dusten Brown faced the Damocles Sword of jail time and a felony warrant, Matt and Melanie Capobianco only had to wait. Last week, as the clock was running down on the stay that the Oklahoma Supreme Court … Read more
The Department of Justice today announced the awarding of 192 grants to 110 American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, tribal consortia and tribal designated non-profits. The grants will provide more than $90 million to enhance law enforcement practices and sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts in nine purpose areas including public safety and community policing; … Read more
GENEVA (10 September 2013) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, today called on the relevant state, federal and tribal authorities in the United States of America to take all necessary measures to ensure the wellbeing and human rights of ‘Veronica,’ an almost four year old Cherokee child … Read more
Since it was established in 2001, the National Congress of American Indians and the Native American Rights Fund have jointly coordinated the work of the Tribal Supreme Court Project. The Project was established by tribal leaders in response to a series of devastating losses for Indian tribes before the Supreme Court of the United States. … Read more
ATLANTA — Fifty years after to the date and time of day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, people across America are asked to ring bells and American Indian drums are asked to sound on to “let … Read more
UCLA School of Law’s annual review of the Supreme Court’s most recent term and its implications for lawyers, academics and citizens. Cases include Fisher, Shelby, Windsor, Perry, and Baby Veronica. Tuesday, August 27, 2013 UCLA School of Law Featuring: Kimberlé W Crenshaw, Distinguished Professor of Law, UCLA School of Law Cheryl I. Harris, Rosalinde and Arthur … Read more
WASHINGTON, D.C. The Department of the Interior today announced the launch of a new, comprehensive resource for Indian landowners and tribal governments seeking information about the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program). The website, http://www.doi.gov/buybackprogram, will serve as a one-stop-shop for visitors interested in timely and regularly updated information about the Buy-Back Program. As … Read more
Ramah Navajo Chapter v. Jewell Resolves Historic Contract Support Cost Lawsuit with Tribes WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of the Interior (Interior) today announced a $940 million proposed settlement with a nationwide class of Native American Tribes and tribal entities that, if approved by the federal district court, would resolve … Read more
From the Native Voices at the Autry In Memoriam Robert Owens-Greygrass (1954–2013) Robert Owens-Greygrass performed professionally for more than twenty years as a storyteller and actor. His body of work included Lakota and other tribal stories, poetry, short stories, theatre, film, and standup comedy. He performed in countless venues, including the National Museum of the … Read more