Charles Kader: Taxation decision affects all of Indian Country

The recent legal decision in the case of King Mountain Tobacco versus the State of Washington has become quite the topic in reservation business conversation. A regressive trend has developed across Turtle Island, if one also includes the announcement of the lawsuit filed by the State of New York versus Grand River Enterprises (GRE) and Native Wholesale Supply (NWS), as well as other state actions against HCI Distribution, a business owned by the Winnebago Tribe. This pattern sees the systemic restriction of native-owned business who engaged in commerce on Turtle Island involving one of the continent’s indigenous crops, as well as one of the four original sacred medicines, tobacco.

While the legal implications for the officers and principals of these named businesses are unavoidable points to consider, the bird’s eye view of the larger picture at hand is more inclusive of all Onkwehonweh (Original People). The sake of Indian country as we know it today is intrinsically affected.