By Tanya H. Lee October 23, 2013 Justice systems are never easy to come by, as the U.S. vertical hierarchy of courts, jury options and appeals processes attest. In American Indian law, with its need to integrate the principles of 567 nations (counting the U.S.), tribal law, state law, federal law, the inherent and reserved … Read more
By Dot Scott October 13, 2013 The recent cases of Baby Veronica and Baby Desaray make me fear for young adoptive children, especially those of color. The similarities of these two cases, including the same adoption agency attorney in both, demand a closer look into these children’s civil rights. As an African-American mother, it disturbs … Read more
UCLA AASC: Professor Keith Camacho, Senior Editor of Amerasia Journal Dear Alums and Friends, The UCLA Asian American Studies Center is very pleased to announce that Professor Keith Camacho will become the senior editor of Amerasia Journal, effective 1 January 2014. Professor Camacho is an award-winning scholar, teacher and active member of the UCLA community. … Read more
By KEN BELSON Published: October 5, 2013 The long-simmering debate over the Washington Redskins’ name took a new turn when President Obama said that he would consider changing it if he were the team’s owner. Obama’s comments are likely to stoke the dispute, which has forced the team, the N.F.L. and politicians on both sides … Read more
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