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Gover speaks out
As Kevin Gover reaches the end of his tour of duty as
head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, he appeared once
again on the nationally broadcast radio program Native
America Calling this week. The event is probably the
last time he will make on the show as BIA head man.
But true to form, Gover spoke on a wide variety of issues
facing Indian Country today: federal recognition, law enforcement,
crime, blood quantum, and gaming.
Most important were his comments on the future of all tribes
in relation to the current controversy over the Pequot
tribes of Connecticut. "Over time, more and more tribes
will have their descendancy...challenged. Its a threat
we're all going to have to deal with eventually,"
said Gover.
As for the future of Kevin Gover, we don't know where he's
headed but you can bet we'll hear from him soon.
Get the Story:
Gover fields
questions (The Talking Circle 6/14)
Gover in the
Spotlight (The Talking Circle 6/12)
Violence in
Indian Country (The Talking Circle 6/15)
Peltier loses out
Once again, imprisoned activist Leonard Peltier lost out
on his bid for parole. Currently serving two life sentences
for the murders of two FBI agents during the turbulent
times of Wounded Knee '75, Peltier was denied parole
during a hearing in Leavenworth, Kansas.
You can bet
FBI agents across the country were happy with the decision
as Peltier supporters hope and pray for a Presidential pardon.
As Clinton's term draws to a close, no doubt efforts to
seek clemency for Peltier will step up.
Get the Story:
Peltier
denied parole (The Talking Circle 6/13)
Peltier
seeks parole (The Talking Circle 6/12)
Pequots get bold
There's always something interesting happening in Connecticut
involving Indian issues and this week was no exception. First,
a Mashantucket Pequot tribal member who wondered
why his tribe was offered the sale of an Indian newspaper if
his tribe is not really Indian?
One thing we know for sure is that The New London Day is
not an Indian newspaper. An editorial this week urged
Connecticut's Congressional delegation to launch an investigation
into the 1983 Mashantucket Pequot Settlement Act. Apparently,
they don't think Rep. Sam Gejdenson can do the job. He's also
calling for an probe, even though he says Congress did
nothing wrong.
Finally, the Paucatuck Eastern Pequot tribe decided to write
their own letter in response to the spam campaign of three
Connecticut towns, who are eagerly awaiting the outcome of
a ruling on the annexation of 165 acres to the Mashantucket
reservation.
Let's just hope the town of Kent, who will be holding
their own tribal forum to discuss issues involving their Schaghticoke
neighbors, doesn't follow their lead. But if they saw how much
money they might get from gaming, they might want to ally with
the tribe right now.
Will the saga ever end?
Get the Story:
Not
Indian enough for Giago (The Talking Circle 6/12)
The
Pequot Letters (The Talking Circle 6/12)
EDITORIAL:
More Pequot action needed (The Talking Circle 6/13)
Pequot
investigation urged (Tribal Law 6/15)
Paucatucks
respond to towns' challenge (Tribal Law 6/14)
Towns
optimistic about Pequot suit (Tribal Law 6/15)
Town
to hold forum (The Talking Circle 6/16)
State:
Towns deserve more casino money (Money Matters 6/15)
Foxwoods:
$64 million in slots (Money Matters 6/16)
State suits up
Tribal leaders have been witholding what they consider
an illegal tax on their gaming operations and the state
of New Mexico finally called them on it this week as
Attorney General Patricia Madrid filed suit against
the 12 gaming tribes in the state, hoping to shut
them down or make them pay, whichever comes first.
Its too early to predict an outcome, but according to
many, a tough battle lies ahead for the state. The Department
of Interior has long said the 16 percent sharing agreement
might be illegal under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).
Whatever the arguments, the tribes are ready and willing
to fight all the way to the Supreme Court to protect their
rights to economic development.
Get the Story:
State
sues tribes (Money Matters 6/14)
Tribes
ready to fight (Tribal Law 6/15)
Lawsuit
may affect non-Indian gaming (Tribal Law 6/16)
more top stories
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