Congratulations to the Snoqualmie tribal members who were ousted from the tribe by a shadow government. We detailed the story and how the BIA stood by and watched HERE How embarrassing for the BIA to be exposed like this.
Ousted Snoqualmie tribe members get to present case
Nine ousted Snoqualmie Indians, who claim they were illegally banished by their own tribe in a bitter power struggle, will be allowed to present their case in federal court that they were denied due process.
U.S. District Court Judge James Robart ruled Sept. 5 that he has jurisdiction to hear the matter brought by the banished tribal members against the sitting tribal council. He denied a procedural motion by the tribe's leadership to dismiss the case.
Some of the banished tribal members say they were thrilled to have the chance to make their case in court.
"I was hoping this was America," said Bill Sweet, the ousted chairman of the council. "Rights are just that, rights. This isn't a communist country, this is the United States, and everyone has the right to be heard."
Sharon Frelinger, elected to the council in May 2007 only to be banished within a year, said, "I am ecstatic."
"This represents hope for other Native Americans that there might be a place where we can be heard. Even though they are a sovereign nation, you still cannot treat your people without due process."
Following a new tribal election in September 2007, the tribe in April "clarified" the enrollment of more than 40 members, cutting off their right to hold office or vote. The tribe also banished nine members, including several elders and a leader of the Indian Shaker church.
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10 comments:
This is good news for ALL
go get 'em and never give up.
This is huge for all of us as it sets an example that tribes can't just hide behind sovereignty.
That is what we have wanted ourselves all along, someone to hear our case on its merits, we have never had that.
Certainly not within our own tribal system in which the tribe didn't even follow its own laws but until now there has been nobody who could possibly make tribes do so.
I know the tribes will all say that letting an outside judge rule on an interanl matter such as membership is wrong because it erodes sovereignty but if the tribes themselves had been fair and impartial in regards to the various disenrollment situtations, then no outside judge would have to make a ruling.
The tribes have abused sovereignty in case after case regarding membership.
Be VOCAL, Snoqualmie, send letters to your editors, letters to congress.
Make sure ALL your families are involved EARLY. Don't let them sit on the sidelines and most of all, don't let them give up.
so what can be gained from this? another vote by the membership to ban them again? sounds like a great use of money!
this is akin to allowing the Mexican government having a Canadian judge decide a persons Mexican citizenship. silly silly. this just goes to show the lengths people will go through for attention.
The above comment is the dumbest analysis i have ever read here.
To the last anonymous poster, what you fail to understand is that the disenrolled are also American citizens with rights of due process.
If those rights of due process are not followed within the tribal systems, then what other recourse do they have?
As someone here pointed out, what is a tribal member do if a tribe violates its own laws in disenrolling and or banishing people?
If tribes would just be fair and honest in their dealings, then no outside judge would have to rule on anything.
But in tribe after tribe and case after case just the opposite is true and the tribe's themselves for the erosion of sovereignty
and what you fail to understand is that these 9 individuals were given the opportunity to present their case to the membership.
that must not be what you mean by due process.
what you mean is if you do not get what you want the first time we should complain and cry until we get what we want! that is a good american, but a bad indian.
i am not saying that rights have not been violated by other tribes in other situations, however it is just plain ignorant to assume that all banishments in all tribes are a re unwarranted and without reason.
i find it sad that you guys put more faith in the american court system than your own people and traditions.
and i loved your very insightful interpretation of my post "just do it!" i will ponder on your deep wisdom.
as always, all my love to you poor confused people out there.
huy!
You sound like a pompus CPP member from pechanga!!
"anonymous 9/22"
god bless you for screwing your own people-Hope the per diem checks are worth it-punk!!!!
And i loved your very insightful interpretation of b.s.& use of propaganda & good luck!!
My love to you poor,lost &confused
person out there overtaken by greed!!
you realize this has nothing not with per capitas? are you even a tribal member?
i am a tribal member, have been my whole life. i have been at the meetings discussed, the only people that even think it is about money are these 9 former members. THEY disrespected tribal elders, THEY tried to fire everyone that works for the tribe and put in their own family members, THEY are the ones that screwed themselves.
really, you have no idea what you are talking about, i only dignify this with a response because i like seeing the real pampas jackasses like yourself get put into a tizzy-fit over something you honesty have no damn clue over.
i know no matter what i say you are going to say i am wrong. you care nothing about the truth as long as your narrow-minded brain can type up a post disagreeing with someone.
so again i will withdraw from this silly board and wait to see what other bait you silly little fishies try to bite at.
Disrespecting the elders is cause for disenrollment in the Snoqualmie tribe? But usurping power is NOT?
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