A member of the Yakama Nation of Washington and a vocal critic of tribal sovereignty are seeking a seat on the Toppenish City Council.

Derald Ortloff is the facilities manager for the Yakama Nation. He said he wants the city to improve its relationship with the tribe.

Elaine Willman, who claims Cherokee ancestry, shares that goal. But she said the tribe and and the city must be mindful of jurisdictional limits.

Willman is the founder and executive director of the Citizens Standup Committee. The group tried to challenge the Yakama Nation's ban on alcohol but lost in federal court due to sovereign immunity. Willman also fought the Yakama Nation's utility tax but recently lost a decision before the Washington Supreme Court.

Willman previously served as president of the Citizens Equal Rights Alliance, a national group opposed to tribal sovereignty and federal Indian policy. The group is allied with One Nation, an anti-sovereignty group based in Oklahoma that tribal leaders describe as racist. At CERA's recent annual meeting in Washington, D.C., Willman debuted a book and video "expose" of tribal sovereignty.

Get the Story:
Toppenish candidates want to motivate community (The Yakima Herald-Republic 8/29)

Relevant Links:
Citizens Equal Rights Alliance - http://www.citizensalliance.org
One Nation - http://www.onenationok.com

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