From Diverse: Issues in Higher Education:
Melissa Velky, a third-year law student at Michigan State University’s College of Law, is not waiting until graduation to immerse herself in a serious legal confrontation. With the livelihood of her native tribe at stake, Velky, daughter of Schaghticoke Nation Chief Richard Velky, is working now to help restore [...]
The House Resources Committee last week approved H.R. 1575 (Stupak): To reaffirm and clarify the Federal relationship of the Burt Band as a distinct federally recognized Indian Tribe, and for other purposes. “Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Reaffirmation Act.”
The 2008 list of federally recognized tribes is here: Federal Register Notice
From the Connecticut Post:
WASHINGTON — As far as Melissa Velky is concerned, she is Native American, tried and true.
The 24-year-old daughter of Richard Velky, chief of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, Melissa spent many a childhood day on the tribe’s 300-acre state reservation in Kent, Conn. As convinced as she is of her heritage, the federal [...]
Strange little case involving the Lost Cherokee of Arkansas and Missouri, Inc. — here is the opinion, which will be published in the Southwest Reporter. From the majority opinion:
This appeal arises from a petition to clarify a will filed by First State Bank in which it asked the court to clarify several issues, including whether [...]
From cnn.com:
Shoutout
AZUZ: Time for the Shoutout! From which Native American tribe was the leader Geronimo? If you think you know it, shout it out! Was it: A) Apache, B) Blackfoot, C) Cherokee or D) Dakota? You’ve got three seconds — GO! Geronimo was an Apache leader known for his courage and determination.
Saying Sorry
LLOYD: All of [...]
The D.C. Circuit affirmed the decision of the Secretary of Interior declining to approve the California Miwok Tribe’s constitution on the grounds that only a small number of tribal members participated in its formation, to the exclusion of most others.
CA DC Opinion
New York successfully defended a judgment in its favor from last November (noted here) from a Rule 59 motion to modify the judgment. Also, the district court issued a permanent injunction against the Shinnecock Indian Nation, preventing them from opening a gaming operation under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Here are the materials:
DCT Order Issuing Permanent Injunction
The non-federally recognized Indian tribe Western Mohegan tribe sought to avoid county taxes on its land, and a resulting foreclosure for failure to pay.
Here are the materials:
Motion for Reconsideration
From the NYTs:
Landless Tribe Waits Federal Recognition
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 5, 2008
GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) — Long after the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa was stripped of its land and scores of its people had been moved to Canada, the 4,300 surviving members are fighting to reclaim the shards of their past.
