A view of Fort Hall, Idaho, on the Fort Hall Reservation, home to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Photo by Matthew Trump
The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Idaho are threatening to disenroll eight members and deny them any future benefits as part of an ongoing murder case, KPVI reports Anthony Ish, a tribal member, has already been indicted in connection with the murder of Darrel Auck. But the victim's body has never been found and the tribal council has prepared a resolution that calls on seven alleged witnesses -- including Ish's grandmother -- to come forward with information or face removal. “Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Business Council of the Shoshone Bannock Tribes, the above individuals are hereby disenrolled from the Shoshone Bannock Tribes effective immediately and further banished from the Fort Hall Reservation forever. In addition, no children born or adopted by the above former Tribal members shall be eligible for enrollment in the Shoshone Bannock Tribes," the proposed resolution reads, according to a document filed in federal court. “Be it further resolved that any and all Tribal benefits, including, but not limited to, hunting, fishing, gathering, gaming, per caps, are hereby withdrawn effective immediately and forever denied to the above individuals and their issue," it continues. The threats have prompted Ish to request sanctions against the government and to have other information suppressed. His attorney claims the information about the potential disenrollment should have been disclosed as part of the case. The U.S. Attorney's Office is disputing that contention. Although Ish may not have been personally told of the exact language in the resolution, an official tribal police record that was already provided to his defense mentions the document and its content, government attorneys wrote. Auck was 44 years old when he was killed in October 2014. Although witnesses saw the shooting, according a tribal criminal investigator, repeated searches have failed to turn up his body. According to a tribal detective who told the U.S. Attorney's Office about the resolution, tribal leaders viewed the disenrollment threat as a way to encourage cooperation with authorities. "They want you to know how serious it is and they just want the body returned," the detective stated, according to a transcript of the conversation. Get the Story:
Defense wants charges dropped against Fort Hall man charged with murder (KPVI 6/2)
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