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MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2002

The first ever Sovereignty Run ends today in Washington, D.C., with a tribal leader's rally at the steps of the Supreme Court.

National Congress of American Indians President Tex Hall and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) will complete the last leg of the 2,800 mile journey that began on September 11 on the Quinault Reservation in Washington. They will be joined by other runners, including a core group who made the cross-country trip.

That group, made up primarily of Quinault and Tulalip tribal members, entered the District of Columbia yesterday evening after concerns over an at-large sniper who fatally shot several people in the area led NCAI to change routes. The runners will pick up at 8:30 a.m. this morning at the National Cathedral.

As the runners finish the relay, a group will march towards the Supreme Court. They will depart from the Union Station subway stop at approximately 9:45 a.m.

The rally begins at 10 a.m. Featured speakers include Navajo Nation President Kelsey Begaye. The tribe's landmark $600 million breach of trust case is being challenged by the Bush administration. Oral arguments will be heard some time in December.

The Court holds its first day or hearings today. Legal writers and observers expect this term to be "blockbuster" but mostly because they are banking on cases that might be appealed and accepted.

Get the Story:
As Justices Reconvene, Key Issues Are Awaiting (The Washington Post 10/6)
High Court Opens Session With Busy Agenda (The Washington Post 10/7)
The Court: Same Time Next Year. And Next Year (The New York Times 10/6)
Crucial Issues Wait in Wings for the Justices (The New York Times 10/7)
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Relevant Links:
Sovereignty Run - http://www.sovrun.org
Sovereignty Protection Initiative - http://www.ncai.org/main/pages/issues/governance/
supreme_court.asp

Related Stories:
Supreme Court beginning new term (10/1)
Historic sovereignty run starts today (9/11)
'It's going to change Indian Country' (8/14)
Tribes seek to overturn Supreme Court (2/27)
Inouye challenges tribes on sovereignty (2/26)