Tribes are worried about the resurgence of 'Indian fighters,' National Congress of American Indians Secretary Ron Allen said at a recent Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing.

Allen, the chairman of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe of Washington, urged Congress to address the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar. But he warned lawmakers about anti-Indian attitudes have resurfaced amid the debate.

“We’re a little annoyed by any re-emergence of the old system of fighting Indians,” Allen told the committee. “The notion that we’re still fighting Indians and that Indians need to be assimilated or terminated is an old mentality.”

Also testifying at the hearing was South Dakota attorney general Larry Long, who has fought tribes on land-into-trust, jurisdiction and sovereignty. He said Congress, through the Indian Reorganization Act, did not intend for tribes to acquire lands that are outside of existing reservations.

Tribes want Congress to amend the IRA to ensure that all tribes can benefit from the land-into-trust process.

Get the Story:
NCAI leader warns of new breed of ‘Indian fighters’ (Indian Country Today 5/29)

Committee Hearing:
HEARING to examine Executive Branch authority to acquire trust lands for Indian Tribes (May 21, 2009)

Supreme Court Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [Thomas] | Concurrence [Breyer] | Dissent [Stevens] | Concurrence/Dissent [Souter]

Supreme Court Documents:
Oral Argument Transcript | Briefs

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