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SEPTEMBER 20, 2000

Kootenai County Commissioner Ron Rankin said county officials won't join the North Central Idaho Jurisdictional Alliance, a group of Idaho governmental entities, who are opposing the Nez Perce Tribe on various issues.

At the annual convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, Rankin said to join the Coalition is not a "proper use of tax dollars." The Coalition, based in Nez Perce, uses tax dollars, as well as private contributions, to fund its efforts.

The Coalition recently supported the efforts of a Nez Perce tribal member who challenged the existence of his own reservation. But the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Nez Perce reservation still exists as defined by an 1863 treaty.

Rankin's comments came at a panel on tribal, state, and local government affairs.

Get the Decision:
USA v. Webb (9th Circuit. No. 9930155. 7/00)

Get the Story:
Tribes win key battle (The Spokesman Review 9/20)

Related Stories:
Tribal leaders to gather (Tribal Law 9/18)
Court upholds Nez Perce treaty (Tribal Law 07/31)
Group counters charges of racism (The Talking Circle 7/31)
Bigotry discussed (The Talking Circle 06/21)
Nez Perce dispute heats up (Tribal Law 7/19)
Couple may sue city over essay (Tribal Law 6/15)

Relevant Links:
The Nez Perce Tribe - www.nezperce.org
Nez Perce Treaties Site - members.stratos.net/cpetras/index.htm
North Central Idaho Jurisdictional Alliance www.camasnet.com/~stingray/ncija