Reply Brief of Plaintiff-Appellant Oneida Nation

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Reply Brief of Plaintiff-Appellant Oneida Nation Case: 19-1981 Document: 45 Filed: 12/09/2019 Pages: 54 No. 19-1981 In the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ONEIDA NATION, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. VILLAGE OF HOBART, WISCONSIN, Defendant-Appellee. _______________________________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, No. 1:16-cv-01217-WCG. The Honorable William C. Griesbach, Judge Presiding. REPLY BRIEF OF PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT ONEIDA NATION ARLINDA F. LOCKLEAR (Counsel of Record) PAUL R. JACQUART 4113 Jenifer Street, NW JESSICA C. MEDERSON Washington, DC 20015 HANSEN REYNOLDS LLC (202) 237-0933 301 North Broadway, Suite 400 Milwaukee, WI 53202 JAMES R. BITTORF (414) 455-7676 KELLY M. MCANDREWS ONEIDA LAW OFFICE VANYA S. HOGEN N7210 Seminary Road WILLIAM A. SZOTKOWSKI P.O. Box 109 HOGEN ADAMS PLLC Oneida, WI 54155 1935 West County Rd. B2, Suite 460 (920) 869-4327 St. Paul, MN 55113 (651) 842-9100 Counsel for Plaintiff-Appellant COUNSEL PRESS ∙ (866) 703-9373 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER Case: 19-1981 Document: 45 Filed: 12/09/2019 Pages: 54 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page TABLE OF AUTHORITIES ........................................................................................................ iii ARGUMENT ..................................................................................................................................1 I. The Supreme Court has explicitly rejected the Village’s diminishment theory ......1 A. The Supreme Court has repeatedly construed the Dawes Act, and allotment of reservations thereunder, as leaving reservations intact............3 B. The Supreme Court has construed the Indian country statute to reject the Village’s distinction between non-Indian fee patents acquired from allottees and those acquired under a surplus lands act ............................................................................................................................9 C. The Supreme Court’s most recent case on reservation diminishment rejected the Village’s “extreme allotment” diminishment theory ...............12 II. The Village fails to identify an unequivocal, widely held view that the 1906 Oneida provision was intended to diminish the Reservation ..................................15 A. The Village cannot avoid the necessity of a clearly expressed congressional intent to diminish the Reservation. .........................................16 B. There is no indication in the 1906 Oneida Provision, much less a clear expression, of a congressional intent to diminish the Reservation ..............18 1. There is no statutory language evidencing an intent to diminish ....................................................................................................18 2. There is no widely-held, contemporaneous understanding of the 1906 Oneida Provision as intended to diminish ................................20 III. The Village’s revisionist history of the subsequent treatment of the Oneida Reservation cannot and does not support diminishment of the Reservation ........23 i Case: 19-1981 Document: 45 Filed: 12/09/2019 Pages: 54 A. Given the absence of a statutory basis for diminishment, the Court need not consider the subsequent history and United States’ treatment of the Reservation ...............................................................................................23 B. The historical record of subsequent treatment of the Reservation does not support the Village’s diminishment theory .............................................25 IV. The Village cannot raise its issue preclusion and exceptional circumstances claims in the absence of a cross-appeal and neither provides a basis to modify the judgment below ........................................................................................................31 A. The Village cannot seek affirmance on either issue preclusion or exceptional circumstances in the absence of a cross-appeal .........................32 B. There is no basis for affirming the judgment below based on the preclusive effect of the Stevens judgment or on claimed exceptional circumstances .......................................................................................................36 1. The Village failed to establish the elements of issue preclusion ......36 a. There is no identity of parties or interests ...............................36 b. There is no identity in issues .....................................................38 c. The issue here was not necessary to the Stevens judgment ......................................................................................39 d. Discretion counsels against issue preclusion ..........................40 2. The Village has not demonstrated the presence of exceptional circumstances ...........................................................................................42 CONCLUSION ..........................................................................................................................44 ii Case: 19-1981 Document: 45 Filed: 12/09/2019 Pages: 54 TABLE OF AUTHORITIES Page(s) Cases: 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, Inc. v. United States Dep’t of Transportation, 860 F.3d 480 (7th Cir. 2017) ................................................................................................... 33 Apache Survival Coalition v. United States, 21 F.3d 895 (9th Cir. 1994) ..................................................................................................... 38 Beardslee v. United States, 387 F.2d 280 (8th Cir. 1967) ..................................................................................................... 8 Blonder-Tongue Laboratories, Inc. v. University of Ill. Foundation, 402 U.S. 313 (1971) .................................................................................................................. 36 Bobby v. Bies, 556 U.S. 825 (2009) .................................................................................................................. 40 California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, 480 U.S. 202 (1987) ............................................................................................................ 35, 42 Chicago Truck Drivers, Helpers and Warehouse Union (Independent) Pension Fund v. Century Motor Freight, Inc. 125 F.3d 526 (7th Cir. 1997) ............................................................................................. 40, 41 Crot v. Byrne, 957 F.2d 394 (7th Cir. 1992) ................................................................................................... 39 DeCoteau v. District Cty. Court for the Tenth Judicial Dist., 420 U.S. 425 (1975) .................................................................................................................... 7 Dexia Credit Local v. Rogan, 629 F.3d 612 (7th Cir. 2010) ................................................................................................... 37 Eells v. Ross, 64 F. 417 (9th Cir. 1894) ........................................................................................................... 4 Ellis v. Page, 351 F.2d 250 (10th Cir. 1965) ................................................................................................... 8 Goudy v. Meath, 203 U.S. 146 (1906) ............................................................................................................ 27, 39 Greenlaw v. United States, 554 U.S. 237 (2008) .................................................................................................................. 33 iii Case: 19-1981 Document: 45 Filed: 12/09/2019 Pages: 54 Hagen v. Utah, 510 U.S. 399 (1994) ........................................................................................................... passim Highway J Citizens Group v. United States Dept. of Transportation, 656 F. Supp. 2d 868 (E.D. Wis. 2009) ................................................................................... 37 In re Seymour v. Schneckloth, 55 Wash. 2d 109 (Wash. S. Ct. 1959) ...................................................................................... 6 Kairys v. Immigration and Naturalization Service, 981 F.2d 937 (7th Cir. 1992) ................................................................................................... 40 Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of America, 511 U.S. 375 (1994) .................................................................................................................. 40 Leech Lake Band of Chippewa Indians v. Herbst, 334 F. Supp. 1001 (D. Minn. 1971) ........................................................................................ 22 Mattz v. Arnette, 412 U.S. 481 (1973) .................................................................................................................... 7 Montana v. United States, 450 U.S. 544 (1981) .......................................................................................................... 8, 9, 45 Morley Co. v. Md. Casualty Co., 300 U.S. 185 (1937) .................................................................................................................. 32 Nebraska v. Parker, 136 S. Ct. 1072 (2016) ....................................................................................................... passim New Mexico v. Mescalero Apache Tribe, 462 U.S. 324 (1983) .................................................................................................................. 42 Parklane Hosiery Co. v. Shore, 439 U.S. 322 (1979) ...........................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • The Legacy of Solem V. Bartlett: How Courts Have Used Demographics to Bypass Congress and Erode the Basic Principles of Indian Law
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by UW Law Digital Commons (University of Washington) Washington Law Review Volume 84 Number 4 11-1-2009 The Legacy of Solem v. Bartlett: How Courts Have Used Demographics to Bypass Congress and Erode the Basic Principles of Indian Law Charlene Koski Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.uw.edu/wlr Part of the Indian and Aboriginal Law Commons Recommended Citation Charlene Koski, Comment, The Legacy of Solem v. Bartlett: How Courts Have Used Demographics to Bypass Congress and Erode the Basic Principles of Indian Law, 84 Wash. L. Rev. 723 (2009). Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.uw.edu/wlr/vol84/iss4/5 This Comment is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Reviews and Journals at UW Law Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Washington Law Review by an authorized editor of UW Law Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Koski_DTPed[1].docx (Do Not Delete) 11/23/2009 12:52 PM Copyright © 2009 by Washington Law Review Association THE LEGACY OF SOLEM V. BARTLETT: HOW COURTS HAVE USED DEMOGRAPHICS TO BYPASS CONGRESS AND ERODE THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF INDIAN LAW Charlene Koski Abstract: Only Congress has authority to change a reservation’s boundaries, so when disputes arise over whether land is part of a reservation, courts turn to congressional intent. The challenge is that in many cases, Congress expressed its intent to diminish or disestablish a reservation as long as one hundred years ago through a series of “surplus land acts.”1 To help courts with their task, the Supreme Court in Solem v.
    [Show full text]
  • Southern Division Little Traverse Bay Bands Of
    Case 1:15-cv-00850-PLM-PJG ECF No. 610 filed 04/29/19 PageID.11737 Page 1 of 66 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN – SOUTHERN DIVISION LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY BANDS OF ODAWA INDIANS, a federally recognized Indian tribe, Plaintiff, v. Court File No.15-cv-850 Hon. Paul L. Maloney Gretchen WHITMER, Governor of the State of Michigan, et al., Defendants. Tribe’s Response in Opposition to Municipal Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment William A. Szotkowski James A. Bransky Jessica Intermill 9393 Lake Leelanau Dr. Andrew Adams III Traverse City, MI 49684 Hogen Adams PLLC Phone: (231) 946-5241 1935 W. County Rd. B2, Ste. 460 E-mail: [email protected] St. Paul, MN 55113 Phone: (651) 842-9100 Donna Budnick E-mail: [email protected] 7500 Odawa Cir. [email protected] Harbor Springs, MI 49740 [email protected] Phone: (231) 242-1424 [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Counsel for Plaintiff Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Case 1:15-cv-00850-PLM-PJG ECF No. 610 filed 04/29/19 PageID.11738 Page 2 of 66 Table of Contents I. Factual Background .................................................................................................. 1 A. The Land .......................................................................................................................1 B. The Treaties ..................................................................................................................5 1. March 28, 1836: The Treaty of Washington ..........................................................
    [Show full text]
  • PETITION Ror,RECOGNITION of the FLORIDA TRIBE Or EASTERN CREEK INDIANS
    'l PETITION rOR,RECOGNITION OF THE FLORIDA TRIBE or EASTERN CREEK INDIANS TH;: FLORIDA TRIBE OF EASTERN CREEK INDIANS and the Administra­ tive Council, THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA CREEK INDIAN COUNCIL brings this, thew petition to the DEPARTMENT Or THE INTERIOR OF THE FEDERAL GOVERN- MENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and prays this honorable nation will honor their petition, which is a petition for recognition by this great nation that THE FLORIDA TRIBE OF EASTERN CREEK INDIANS is an Indian Tribe. In support of this plea for recognition THE FLORIDA TRIBE OF EASTERN CREEK INDIANS herewith avers: (1) THE FLORIDA TRIBE OF EASTERN CREEK INDIANS nor any of its members, is the subject of Congressional legislation which has expressly terminated or forbidden the Federal relationship sought. (2) The membership of THE FLORIDA TRIBE OF EASTERN CREEK INDIANS is composed principally of persons who are not members of any other North American Indian tribe. (3) A list of all known current members of THE FLORIDA TRIBE OF EASTERN CREEK INDIANS, based on the tribes acceptance of these members and the tribes own defined membership criteria is attached to this petition and made a part of it. SEE APPENDIX----- A The membership consists of individuals who are descendants of the CREEK NATION which existed in aboriginal times, using and occuping this present georgraphical location alone, and in conjunction with other people since that time. - l - MNF-PFD-V001-D0002 Page 1of4 (4) Attached herewith and made a part of this petition is the present governing Constitution of THE FLORIDA TRIBE OF EASTERN CREEKS INDIANS.
    [Show full text]
  • Resolving Native American Land Claims and the Eleventh Amendment: Changing the Balance of Power
    Volume 39 Issue 3 Article 1 1994 Resolving Native American Land Claims and the Eleventh Amendment: Changing the Balance of Power Katharine F. Nelson Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/vlr Part of the Constitutional Law Commons Recommended Citation Katharine F. Nelson, Resolving Native American Land Claims and the Eleventh Amendment: Changing the Balance of Power, 39 Vill. L. Rev. 525 (1994). Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/vlr/vol39/iss3/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Villanova Law Review by an authorized editor of Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Digital Repository. Nelson: Resolving Native American Land Claims and the Eleventh Amendment: VILLANOVA LAW REVIEW VOLUME 39 1994 NUMBER 3 RESOLVING NATIVE AMERICAN LAND CLAIMS AND THE ELEVENTH AMENDMENT: CHANGING THE BALANCE OF POWER KATHARINE F. NELSON* TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ........................................... 526 II. INDIAN TITLE AND THE NONINTERCOURSE ACT ........... 530 III. THE HISTORY OF TRIBAL ACCESS TO THE FEDERAL COURTS ................................................... 533 A. Before Oneida I and II. ....................... 533 B. O neida I .......................................... 542 C. O neida II ......................................... 543 IV. NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENTS ............................... 546 A. Land Claims ......................................
    [Show full text]
  • Ending the Interminable Gap in Indian Country Water Quality Protection
    \\jciprod01\productn\H\HLE\45-1\HLE102.txt unknown Seq: 1 3-FEB-21 17:54 ENDING THE INTERMINABLE GAP IN INDIAN COUNTRY WATER QUALITY PROTECTION James M. Grijalva* Tribal self-determination in modern environmental law holds the tantalizing prospect of translating indigenous environmental value judgments into legally enforceable requirements of federal regulatory programs. Congress authorized this approach three decades ago, but few tribes have sought primacy even for foundational programs like Clean Water Act water qual- ity standards, contributing to potentially serious environmental injustices. This Article ana- lyzes in detail EPA’s recent attempt at reducing tribal barriers—reinterpreting the Act as a congressional delegation of tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians—and the early indications its results are insignificant. The Article then proposes an unconventional solution ostensibly at odds with tribal self-determination: promulgation of national, federal water quality standards for Indian country. EPA’s Indian Program actually began this way, as an interim step await- ing tribes’ assumption of federal regulatory programs. Thirty years later, the seemingly inter- minable regulatory gap in Indian country water quality protection remains, and EPA has a legal and moral responsibility to close it. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ....................................................... 2 R I. Background on the Significance of Water Quality Standards ........ 4 R II. Tribal Water Quality Standards ................................ 7 R A. Background on EPA’s Indian Program....................... 7 R B. EPA’s First Interpretation of the CWA TAS Provision ........ 11 R C. A Legal Challenge to EPA’s Operating Rule ................. 16 R D. Why Aren’t There More Tribal Water Quality Standards? ..... 20 R III.
    [Show full text]
  • Observations on the State of Indigenous Human Rights in the United States
    Observations on the State of Indigenous Human Rights in the United States Prepared for: The 36th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review Submission Date: October 3, 2019 Cultural Survival is an international Indigenous rights organization with a global Indigenous leadership and consultative status with ECOSOC. Cultural Survival is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. Cultural Survival monitors the protection of Indigenous Peoples' rights in countries throughout the world and publishes its findings in its magazine, the Cultural Survival Quarterly; and on its website: www.cs.org Cultural Survival 2067 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02140 USA Tel: 1 (617) 441 5400 [email protected] www.culturalsurvival.org I. Executive Summary There are currently 573 federally recognized Native American Tribes in the United States and over 500 non federally recognized Tribes. Over 4.5 million Native Americans and Alaska Natives make up about 1.5 percent of the U.S. population. From 1778 to 1871, U.S. signed over 500 treaties with Native American Tribes, all of which have been violated. No reconciliation can happen without addressing the wrongs of the past and examining the impact of hundreds of years of genocidal and racist policies aimed at disenfranchising Native Peoples, taking over their lands and resources, while decimating Indigenous communities, languages, and cultures. This report is not comprehensive and only briefly touches upon some issues Indigenous Peoples face that are emblematic of deep-rooted systemic discrimination and injustice. II. Previous UPR Recommendations Eleven recommendations were made regarding Indigenous Peoples specifically during the first cycle and then ten in the second cycle, however these have not been implemented.
    [Show full text]
  • Oglala Sioux Tribe
    Oglala Sioux Tribe PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION P.O. Box #2070 Pine Ridge, South Dakota 57770 1(605) 867-5821 Ext. 8420 (O) / 1(605) 867-6076 (F) President Troy “Scott” Weston July 15, 2017 Secretary Ryan Zinke Assistant Secretary- Indian Affairs Michael Black Bureau of Indian Affairs U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20240 via email: [email protected] Dear Secretary Zinke and Assistant Secretary Black: Re: Comments from the Oglala Sioux Tribe on Executive Order 13871 – Reorganization of the Executive Branch The Oglala Sioux Tribe submits these comments in response to the Department’s solicitation for input on President Trump’s Executive Order 13871 to reorganize the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government issued on May 16, 2017. We appreciate the opportunity to submit these comments prior to implementation of the Executive Order. True government-to- government consultation, however, is needed before the Department takes any action that will affect our Tribe, our members and our rights. Reorganization can be healthy if it empowers Tribes for self-determination The current structures of the Department of the Interior (the “Department”) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (“BIA”) were formed over one hundred years ago. These structures were put into place during a different time – a time when there were very different issues confronting Indian Country. Thus, a review of these structures to ensure the Department and the BIA are addressing issues facing Indian Country today can be a worthy endeavor. However, reorganization can be healthy only if it is done right and if it empowers tribes for self- determination and improves the United States’ provision of services to tribes and Indian people.
    [Show full text]
  • 586 LTBB Motion for Summary Judgment
    Case 1:15-cv-00850-PLM-PJG ECF No. 586 filed 03/18/19 PageID.10106 Page 1 of 40 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN – SOUTHERN DIVISION LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY BANDS OF ODAWA INDIANS, a federally recognized Indian tribe, Plaintiff, Court File No.15-cv-850 v. Hon. Paul L. Maloney GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of the State of Michigan, et al., Defendants. Brief in Support of Tribe’s “Historical Motion” for Partial Summary Judgment Concerning Exemption-Diminishment and Title-Diminishment Defenses William A. Szotkowski James A. Bransky Jessica Intermill 9393 Lake Leelanau Dr. Andrew Adams III Traverse City, MI 49684 Amy Kania Phone: (231) 946-5241 Hogen Adams PLLC E-mail: [email protected] 1935 W. County Rd. B2, Ste. 460 St. Paul, MN 55113 Donna Budnick Phone: (651) 842-9100 7500 Odawa Cir. E-mail: [email protected] Harbor Springs, MI 49740 [email protected] Phone: (231) 242-1424 [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] Counsel for Plaintiff Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Case 1:15-cv-00850-PLM-PJG ECF No. 586 filed 03/18/19 PageID.10107 Page 2 of 40 Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................1 Background ..................................................................................................................................3 I. Historical background ..............................................................................................3
    [Show full text]
  • Sanctioning a Tyranny: the Diminishment of Ex Parte Young, Expansion of Hans Immunity, and Denial of Indian Rights in Coeur D'alene Tribe
    Fall 1999 Sanctioning a Tyranny: The Diminishment of Ex parte Young, Expansion of Hans Immunity, and Denial of Indian Rights in Coeur d'Alene Tribe John P. LaVelle University of New Mexico - School of Law Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/law_facultyscholarship Part of the Indian and Aboriginal Law Commons Recommended Citation John P. LaVelle, Sanctioning a Tyranny: The Diminishment of Ex parte Young, Expansion of Hans Immunity, and Denial of Indian Rights in Coeur d'Alene Tribe, 31 787 (1999). Available at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/law_facultyscholarship/570 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the UNM School of Law at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Scholarship by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. SANCTIONING A TYRANNY: The Diminishment of Ex parte Young, Expansion of Hans Immunity, and Denial of Indian Rights in Coeur d'Alene Tribe John P. LaVelle* I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................... 789 II. THE COEUR D 'ALENE TRIBE LITIGATION IN THE LOWER FEDERAL C O UR TS ............................................................................. 795 A. The Birth and Sudden Death of a Tribe's Requestfor Justice ....... 795 B. The District Court Decision................................................ 797 1. Shielding in HanslBlatchford Immunity States' Violations of Tribes' Federally Protected Rights ..................................... 797 2. Rendering Irrebuttable Montana's Erroneous Rebuttable Presum ption ................................................................. 807 C. The Ninth Circuit Decision: Salvaging Federal Rights from the Wreckage of the Supremacy Clause ...................................... 824 III. THE SUPREME COURT'S COEUR D 'ALENE TRIBE DECISION .............. 832 A.
    [Show full text]
  • Supreme Court of the United States ———— CITY of SHERRILL, NEW YORK Petitioner, V
    No. 03-855 IN THE Supreme Court of the United States ———— CITY OF SHERRILL, NEW YORK Petitioner, v. ONEIDA INDIAN NATION OF NEW YORK, et al., Respondents. ———— On Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ———— BRIEF FOR RESPONDENTS ———— RICHARD G. TARANTO MICHAEL R. SMITH FARR & TARANTO Counsel of Record 1220 19th Street, N.W. WILLIAM W. TAYLOR, III Washington, D.C. 20036 DAVID A. REISER (202) 775-0184 THOMAS B. MASON ZUCKERMAN SPAEDER LLP PETER D. CARMEN 1201 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. MACKENZIE HUGHES LLP Washington, D.C. 20036 101 South Salina Street (202) 778-1800 Syracuse, New York 13202 (315) 233-8386 Counsel for Respondents WILSON-EPES PRINTING CO., INC. – (202) 789-0096 – WASHINGTON, D. C. 20001 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page STATEMENT ............................................................... 1 A. Federal Protection of Oneida Lands. ................. 1 B. Federal Protection of Tribal Lands Generally. .. 3 C. Illegal Conveyance of Oneida Lands................. 3 D. The Treaty of Buffalo Creek. ............................ 4 E. Federal Decision to Keep Tribes in New York and to Sell the Kansas Land. ............................. 6 F. The Oneidas After the Treaty of Buffalo Creek.................................................................. 7 SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT..................................... 9 ARGUMENT................................................................. 12 I. ONEIDA LAND SUBJECT TO UNEXTIN- GUISHED TRIBAL POSSESSORY RIGHTS CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM ONEIDA POSSESSION THROUGH A STATE LAW PROPERTY TAX FORECLOSURE. ............... 12 A. States May Not Tax Land in Which a Tribe Holds an Unextinguished Possessory Right Deriving from Indian Title or Federal Treaty Protection. ........................................ 12 B. The Tribal Possessory Right Persists Un- less Extinguished in Compliance with Federal Law, Even if Possession Is Inter- rupted for a Long Time as a Result of Land Transfers that Violated Federal Law.
    [Show full text]
  • Tribal Land and Ownership Statuses: Overview and Selected Issues for Congress
    Tribal Land and Ownership Statuses: Overview and Selected Issues for Congress Updated July 21, 2021 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R46647 SUMMARY R46647 Tribal Land and Ownership Statuses: Overview July 21, 2021 and Selected Issues for Congress Tana Fitzpatrick Tribal lands can have a complicated and intermingled mix of land ownership statuses. Specialist in Natural The history between federally recognized Indian tribes (hereinafter, Indian tribes or Resources Policy tribes) and the United States—dating back centuries—continues to affect current land issues for tribes. Three early 19th century Supreme Court cases, known as the Marshall Trilogy, established a basic framework for federal Indian law and the roots of the federal-tribal trust relationship. These cases determined that tribes have the right to reside on lands reserved for them, but the United States has ultimate title; tribes are “domestic dependent nations”; and states cannot impose their policies within Indian territories. Centuries of shifting federal policymaking also profoundly affected the treatment of tribal lands. In the 1800s, policymaking focused on renegotiating treaties with tribes, leading to the formation of reservations and often resulting in tribes ceding to the United States larger tracts of land for smaller parcels. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, in an effort to assimilate tribes and their members into mainstream American culture, Congress authorized lands communally held by tribes to be allotted to tribal members, leading to millions of acres passing out of trust and into different ownership statuses. In the 1930s and 1940s, Congress ended the allotment policy and granted more administrative control to tribes with the passage of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (IRA).
    [Show full text]
  • Download WS Updated Rpt by ILRC To
    INDIAN LAW RESOURCE CENTER CENTRO DE RECURSOS JURÍDICOS PARA LOS P UEBLOS INDÍGENAS 602 North Ewing Street • Helena, Montana 59601 (406) 449-2006 • Fax (406) 449-2031 • Email [email protected] UPDATED REPORT TO THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE REGARDING THE UNITED STATES’ COMPLIANCE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS By THE INDIAN LAW RESOURCE CENTER June, 2006 UPDATED REPORT TO THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE REGARDING THE UNITED STATES’ COMPLIANCE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS I. INTRODUCTION This report is in response to the United Nations Human Rights Committee’s request for updated information from non-governmental organizations relative to the United States’ compliance with the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights. We are submitting this report to provide important information to the Committee in anticipation of the United States’ response to the Committee’s List of Issues to be Taken Up in Connection with the Consideration of the Second and Third Periodic Reports of the United States of America (“List of Issues”). In particular, we would like to take this opportunity to provide the Committee with the Indian Law Resource Center’s perspective on Issue No. 1 relating to the right to self-determination and rights of persons belonging to minorities. II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) recognizes the right to self-determination. For indigenous peoples, inter alia, the right of self-determination has been associated with the right freely to control lands and natural resources. See, Concluding Observations and Recommendations of the Human Rights Committee: Canada, 07/04/99, U.N.
    [Show full text]