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The power of a Supreme decision
When a tribe wins a case at the Supreme Court,
it's always a victory, but usually only for that tribe.
Negative decisions, on the other hand,
have a way of impacting all of Indian Country.
That fear is driving a group of tribal leaders
to seek legislation to counteract recent rulings
they say have impacted their rights.
They want full restoration of their
sovereign powers, including the right
to tax and resolve disputes
involving non-Indian activities
on tribal land.
But changes in law, or even in federal policy,
don't always mean smooth sailing, as
the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe of South Dakota
has discovered.
The tribe's attempt to restore
91 acres of its land base has been delayed
for more than a decade.
Get the Story:
Hicks decision having effects
(10/15)
Sioux trust land still in dispute
(10/16)
The day the Supreme Court said no
(10/16)
Supreme Court considers breach of
trust (10/16)
Tribes await Supreme showdown
(10/17)
Trust reform agenda delayed in Congress
Speaking of legislation,
Congress adjourned this year without
passage of any major trust reform
bills.
Five Oklahoma tribes backed a bill
affecting trust land owned by
tribal members.
But last-minute objections from
the oil and gas industry delayed
it.
Objections of another kind affected
overhaul of the Department of
Interior.
After talks between tribal leaders
and government officials broke down,
so did any agreement over reorganization,
legislation and other reforms.
One package that lived through the
debate, but hasn't yet cleared
both chambers of Congress, is potentially controversial.
Tribal leaders wanted full rights for
landowners of Indian ancestry but
settled for a new kind of "passive" trust.
Get the Story:
Oilmen fight tribal land
reform bill (10/15)
Trust reform legislation
sidetracked (10/17)
Proposal limits Norton's trust
duties (10/18)
Individual Indians get stiffed
again (10/18)
Five Nations land bill
derailed (10/18)
more stories
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