Native Hawaiian Roll Commission Established

Last month, Hawaii’s Governor Abercrombie signed a bill that recognizes Native Hawaiians as the indigenous people of Hawai’i and establishes a commission to create a roll of qualified Native Hawaiians. Legislators claim that this bill sets the framework for self-determination and increases the possibility of sovereignty.  For more information see the governor’s press release as well as the legislative history of the measure.

NILL added new content to 6 Indian Law Bulletins on 8/24

* U.S. Courts of Appeals Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/cta/currentcta.htm
Cases featured:
Blatchford v. Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (Alaska Native health consortium lien)

* U.S. Trial Courts Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/dct/currentdct.htm
Cases featured:
Attorney's Process and Investigation Services, Inc. v. Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa (jurisdiction, conversion of tribal funds)

* State Courts Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/state/currentstate.htm
Kelly v. Kelly (divorce, custody)
In re M.H. (Indian Child Welfare Act, transfer to tribal court)

* Regulatory Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/regulatory/currentfr.htm
This week we feature a notice from the Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs about adding land to the Bay Mills Indian Reservation.

* News Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/news/currentnews.htm
This week, in the "Land & Water" section, we feature articles relating to a law suit brought by Oklahoma tribes to halt future sales and exports of Southeastern Oklahoma water without agreement from the tribes.

* Law Review & Bar Journal Indian Law Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/lawreviews/currentlr.htm
This week we feature an article relating to concurrent Tribal-State-Federal criminal jurisdiction in Kansas.

NILL added new content to 5 Indian Law Bulletins on 8/17

* U.S. Courts of Appeals Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/cta/currentcta.htm
Cases featured:
Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa v. Frans (taxation, pensions)
Blue Lake Rancheria v. United States (Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) taxes)
United States v. Drapeau (jurisdiction)

* U.S. Trial Courts Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/dct/currentdct.htm
Cases featured:
Alturas Indian Rancheria v. California Gambling Control Commission ("notice of levy," collection)

* State Courts Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/state/currentstate.htm
Gustafson v. Estate of Poitra (jurisdiction)
Guardianship of H.C., Z.B. et al. (Indian Child Welfare Act, entitlement to counsel)

* Regulatory Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/regulatory/currentfr.htm
This week we feature proposed rules of the Department of Interior on class II Indian gaming.

* News Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/news/currentnews.htm
This week, in the "Health & Welfare" section, we feature an article relating to challenges of collecting child support from tribal members.

* U.S. Legislation Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/legislation/new_uslegislation.htm
This week we feature 1 new bill relating to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

NILL added new content to 6 Indian Law Bulletins on 8/11/11

* U.S. Courts of Appeals Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/cta/currentcta.htm
United States v. Poitra (Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act)
K2 America Corporation v. Roland Oil and Gas, LLC (trust lands, federal jurisdiction)

* U.S. Trial Courts Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/dct/currentdct.htm
Lummi Tribe v. Unites States (funding for federal housing)
Different Horse v. Salazar (distribution of funds for taking of the Black Hills)

* State Courts Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/state/currentstate.htm
In re S.H. (Indian Child Welfare Act, termination of parental rights)
The People v. Black Hawk Tobacco, Inc. (tobacco sales to non-Indians)

* Regulatory Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/regulatory/currentfr.htm
This week we feature a notice from the Department of Agriculture requesting comments on a draft report of the U.S.D.A and U.S. Forest Service on Native American Sacred Sites policies and procedures.

* News Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/news/currentnews.htm
This week, in the "Health & Welfare" section, we feature articles relating to solving violent crimes in Indian Country.

* Law Review & Bar Journal Indian Law Bulletin
http://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/lawreviews/currentlr.htm
This week we feature an article relating to revisiting Maine's Indian claims settlement acts in light of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

New Report Highlights the Impact of Climate Change on Indian Country

As part of a collaborative effort, the National Wildlife Federation recently released Facing the Storm: Indian Tribes, Climate-Induced Weather Extremes, and the Future for Indian Country (available at www.nwf.org/news). The report details how North American Indian Tribes are especially harmed by severe weather events like drought, floods, wildfires, and snowstorms.

See a description NARF’s continuing work to address climate change as well as NARF’s internal sustainability policies.