All articles tagged with #tribal sovereignty
The Oglala Sioux Tribe alleges ICE illegally detained four tribal members during Minneapolis raids, stating that tribal citizens are not aliens and refusing to sign any agreement allowing ICE onto tribal lands; the tribe plans legal action and says other tribes may join in solidarity.
Two Native American–owned firms canceled ICE contracts after tribal leadership and community pressure: Oneida ESC Group's subsidiary ended a $3.8 million contract for engineering and inspection of federal facilities, and Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation scrapped a $29.9 million planning/design contract, arguing the projects conflict with tribal laws and values. The move highlights tensions around federal contracting, tribal sovereignty, and the 8(a) program’s role in enabling Indigenous-owned businesses, with experts noting how tribal corporate structures can affect accountability and ethics in government work.
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of Native American tribes, requiring the federal government to cover millions in overhead costs for tribes running their own health care programs. This decision supports tribal sovereignty and aims to address funding gaps, despite dissenting opinions that such financial decisions should be left to Congress.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has been banned from the Rosebud Indian Reservation, making it the fourth Lakota tribe to bar her from its lands in recent months. The ban was issued due to inflammatory statements made by Noem, including claims of tribal leaders collaborating with Mexican drug cartels, as well as strained relations stemming from issues such as the Keystone XL pipeline and funding disputes. The tribe will only acknowledge Noem if she apologizes and presents a plan of action for supporting the Lakota through policy and legislation, while Noem's spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Oglala Sioux tribe has banned South Dakota governor Kristi Noem from their reservation after she made comments about sending razor wire and security personnel to the US-Mexico border. The tribe president accused Noem of using the border issue for political gain and disrespecting their sovereignty. Noem responded, expressing her focus on solving border problems and willingness to work with Native American tribes. This comes amid tensions over crime and law enforcement funding on the Pine Ridge reservation.
The Oglala Sioux Tribe has banned South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem from the Pine Ridge Reservation after she made remarks about sending razor wire and security personnel to the US-Mexico border and claimed that cartels are infiltrating the state’s reservations. The tribe's president accused Noem of politicizing the border issue and disrespecting the tribe's sacred ceremonies. Noem responded by expressing her focus on solving federal law enforcement failures at the border and on tribal lands, and stated her readiness to work with Native American tribes. This ban comes amid ongoing tensions between the tribe and the state government over issues such as crime and law enforcement funding on the reservation.
The Oglala Sioux Tribe has banned South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem from the Pine Ridge Reservation after she made remarks about sending razor wire and security personnel to the US-Mexico border and claimed that cartels are infiltrating the state’s reservations. The tribe's president accused Noem of using the border issue for political gain and disrespecting the tribe's sacred ceremonies. Noem responded, expressing her focus on solving federal law enforcement issues at the border and on tribal lands. The ban comes amid tensions over crime on the reservation and the federal government's treaty duty to support law enforcement there.
The Oglala Sioux Tribe has banned South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem from the Pine Ridge Reservation after she made remarks about sending razor wire and security personnel to the US-Mexico border and suggested that cartels are infiltrating the state's reservations. The tribe's president accused Noem of using the border issue for political gain and disrespecting the tribe's sacred ceremonies. Noem responded, expressing her focus on solving federal law enforcement issues at the border and on tribal lands, and offering to work with Native American tribes. This ban comes amid ongoing tensions between the tribe and the state government over law enforcement funding on the reservation.
President Joe Biden signed an executive order at a tribal summit, aiming to make it easier for Indigenous peoples to access federal funding and have more autonomy over its use. He also expressed support for the Haudenosaunee Confederacy to compete under its own flag in the 2028 Olympics. Biden acknowledged the historical wrongs committed against Native Americans and emphasized the importance of tribal sovereignty. The order establishes a clearinghouse for tribes to access grants and grants them more authority over spending. The administration also announced agreements allowing tribes to manage federal lands and a study on Native American history. However, some leaders expressed concerns about the consultation process and the need for early engagement in decision-making.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will vote on whether to legalize recreational marijuana on their reservation in western North Carolina, potentially becoming the only place in the state to allow its recreational use. While the possession of marijuana is still criminalized in the state, the sovereign tribal nation has the authority to regulate cannabis on their reservation. The referendum asks tribal members if they support legalizing possession and use of marijuana for individuals aged 21 and over, and if passed, the Tribal Council plans to abide by the results. The tribe has already decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis and legalized medicinal marijuana, with plans to open a tribal-owned dispensary. However, there is pushback from some, including U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, who introduced a bill to withhold federal funds from tribal nations that legalize recreational marijuana.
President Biden and his administration have been touting their efforts to protect Native American interests, including designating a million acres of public lands as the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni — Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. However, earlier this year, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland finalized a ban on fossil fuel leasing near the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, which has caused economic devastation for tribes who rely on leasing the land for income. Navajo leaders argue that the federal government failed to properly consult them on the action and are considering pursuing litigation. Other tribes dependent on oil, gas, and coal production have also criticized the Biden administration's policies targeting fossil fuel production on Native American lands.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt's feud with Native American tribes over revenue agreements, known as compacts, has escalated to the point where fellow Republicans in the Legislature and the state's attorney general are considering sidelining him from tribal negotiations. The compacts, which divide revenue from gambling, vehicle tags, and the sale of tobacco and motor fuel on tribal land, have been a major source of income for both the state and tribes. Stitt's contentious relationship with tribal leaders has strained the long-standing rapport between the state and tribes, with Republican leaders expressing concern over the financial and diplomatic consequences. The dispute has now spilled into the Republican-controlled Legislature, which plans to override Stitt's vetoes of bills extending tribal compacts. The governor's office historically handles compact negotiations, but the Legislature and Attorney General Gentner Drummond are critical of Stitt's approach and may assume control.
A federal appeals court ruled last summer that Wisconsin can’t force tribal landowners to pay property taxes on reservation lands, which has resulted in tribal members with property on reservation lands in close to a dozen northern Wisconsin towns being taken off the tax rolls. The decision is a victory for tribal sovereignty, but it also means fewer residents are paying property taxes in those communities, leading to skyrocketing taxes for nontribal residents and local governments seeking state aid to make up the lost revenue.
The US Supreme Court has upheld the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, which gives preference to Native American families in foster care and adoption cases involving Native children. However, the decision does not address whether the law violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution, leaving the door open to future challenges. Supporters say the law is critical to ensuring Native children are bound to their traditions and customs while reversing decades of forced removal from their homes. The challenge against the act was led by a white evangelical Christian couple from Texas who sought to adopt a Native child.
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the Indian Child Welfare Act, a law that protects Native American children from being removed from their families and tribes. The court overturned a Texas federal court's decision that the act was unconstitutional and rejected claims that it placed undue burdens on states and was race-based. The law has been hailed as the "gold standard" in child welfare practice for its role in supporting children's rights to be connected to their families and tribal communities. The decision is a major victory for Native tribes, children, and the future of their culture and heritage.