Indian Law, Court Decisions, Indian Policy

Law in Indian Country

Like the miner’s canary, the Indian marks the shift from fresh air to poison gas in our political atmosphere; and our treatment of Indians, even more than our treatment of other minorities, reflects the rise and fall in our democratic faith.
-- Felix S. Cohen, 1953

Elizabeth Cook-Lynn: An Indian man walks into court and asks a judge to do the right thing
It was an astonishing day for Chase Iron Eyes as he went before a white-man judge in North Dakota.

Fired police officer won't go to trial for death of Native man until next year
The Native community is demanding justice for the death of Zachary Bearheels at the hands of police officers in Omaha, Nebraska.

Cronkite News: Former sheriff pardoned by Trump seeks to clear conviction
A controversial former sheriff who targeted Native people and other minorities is trying to clear his record.

Cronkite News: Supreme Court strikes down law linked to violent crime
The Supreme Court ruled that a federal law allowing deportation of immigrants who commit 'crimes of violence' was unconstitutionally vague, a decision hailed by Arizona immigration lawyers as promising.

Tribes hail historic Supreme Court hire as justices hear treaty rights case
With the U.S. Supreme Court taking up its third Indian law case of the term, tribes and their advocates are welcoming a historic development.

Native Sun News Today: Tribes continue fight to protect grizzly bears
Referring to tribes’ lawsuit to protect the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem’s grizzly bears, Crow Creek Sioux Chairman Brandon Sazue noted that a top lawmaker is on their side.

#NativeLivesMatter

Native Americans are more likely to be killed by law enforcement than any other racial or ethnic group, according to the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice.

House committee sets markup on bill to protect Alaska Native artists
A bill to protect Alaska Native artists from being punished for practicing their traditions is taking a step forward on Capitol Hill.

Native Sun News Today: Non-Native mother accused of abducting her child from reservation
A non-Native mother walked into a first grade class and took her biological child against the custody terms issued through the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

Tribal lenders worried about 'mixed signals' from Trump administration
Tribal lenders cheered when the Trump administration started taking the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in a new direction but an appeal is generating some concerns.

Navajo Nation joins parade of tribal lawsuits targeting opioid industry
What started off as a single lawsuit has turned into a full-blown movement in Indian Country against the opioid industry.

Tribes confront unique problems in battle against domestic violence
The Pascua Yaqui Tribe and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have had particularly interesting experiences as they hold non-Indians accountable for domestic violence.

Native people are more likely to be shot and killed by police in Canada
Native people accounted for nearly 15 percent of fatal police shootings in Canada between 2000 and 2017, far higher than their percentage of the entire population.

Albert Bender: Oil continues to flow through 'genocidal' Dakota Access Pipeline
Oil continues to flow, money continues to be made hand over fist by the corporate magnates of big oil, and the genocide continues to rake in casualties.

Native Sun News Today: A 'great day' as Keepseagle settlement funds due for release
Though no firm date is available, final Keepseagle settlement payments are expected before the end of the year.

Young Santee Sioux man shot by police officer while being dragged on ground
Micah Taylor was on his way to pick up his spiritual adviser to go to a sweat lodge when he was stopped by police officers in Omaha, Nebraska.

Native Sun News Today: Pine Ridge mother pleads guilty to murder of son
The death of 2 year-old Kylen Shangreaux sent shockwaves through the Pine Ridge Reservation, also bringing national attention to the toddler’s community and family.

Tribes denied federal recognition see mixed decisions in court system
Being denied federal recognition by the Buerau of Indian Affairs is usually the kiss of death, as many petitioning groups have found over the years.

Trump administration sides with industry in reservation boundary case
The Trump administration is siding with industry interests in a closely-watched reservation boundary case pending at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Native Sun News Today: Oglala Sioux Tribe slams 'DAPL-type' project
Concerns about pollution and damage to sacred sites prompted the Oglala Sioux Tribe to demand consultation on fracking activities in treaty territory.

Indian students win round in bid to hold government accountable
Indian students who are seeking a better education have won an early round in their historic lawsuit against the federal government.

Cronkite News: Tribes assert authority in domestic violence cases
A five-year-old law that let Native American tribes prosecute non-Natives in domestic violence cases 'has fundamentally changed the landscape of tribal criminal jurisdiction in the modern era,' according to a new report.

All eyes on Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe in contentious patent case
A closely-watched patent dispute involving the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is moving into the federal court system.

Gas pipeline stays in place on Indian land despite court decision
A natural gas pipeline continues to operate illegally on Indian land in Oklahoma, a year after a federal judge ordered it to be removed.

Albert Bender: Too many Native Americans are already in prison
Native Americans are incarcerated at a rate of 38 percent higher than the national average.

Navajo Nation claims victory over Trump in federal funding fight
Leaders of the Navajo Nation are rejoicing after a federal judge rebuked the Trump administration for reducing the tribe's Head Start funds.

'Creepy' Eastern Cherokee bail bondsman pleads guilty for abuse
An Eastern Cherokee bail bondsman who victimized women on the reservation is facing prison time.

Miccosukee Tribe ties child welfare case to violence against women
The Miccosukee Tribe is defending its handling of a child welfare case that has drawn national attention.

Native Sun News Today: Uranium mining near Pine Ridge Reservation halted
Ensnared in legal action with the Oglala Sioux Tribe over uranium mining and milling on sacred unceded treaty land near the Pine Ridge Reservation, Crow Butte Resources, will halt production here this year.

Congress clears bill to bring AMBER Alert funds to Indian Country
A bill that was born out of tragedy in Indian Country has cleared its final hurdle in the 115th Congress.

Keepseagle checks finally coming to Indian farmers and ranchers
It's official -- the long-running legal fight over the remaining funds in the $760 million Keepseagle settlement is finally over.

Tribes prepare court challenge after FCC adopts contentious policy
Tribes are ready to fight after the Federal Communications Commission approved a new policy that they say will make it harder to protect sacred sites and ancestral territories.

Santa Ana Pueblo responded to youth soccer game plagued by racial tensions
Police officers from the Pueblo of Santa Ana responded to a girl's soccer game after a racially-tinged brawl broke out among players and parents.

Miccosukee Tribe accused of 'kidnap' after baby taken at hospital
The Miccosukee Tribe is under fire after taking a newborn from her parents due to allegations of abuse.

Trump administration blames tribes for delay in new Dakota Access study
The Trump administration is blaming tribes as it delays a highly-anticipated study of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Supreme Court hears second Indian law case during a busy term
The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments in its second Indian law case of what has turned out to be an unusually busy term.

Chickasaw citizen Kevin Washburn named dean of law school in Iowa
Kevin Washburn, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, is making history once again in academic circles.