Questions for AS Indian Affairs' Lawrence Roberts on Abuse in Indian Country and the BIA's Involvement

Thousands of Native Americans have been harmed by our OWN TRIBES, with the BIA's tacit approval.  Yet, we can't get Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs to go on record against tribes who do this.  WHY?

Lawrence Roberts

We have some questions here, if you have more, the COMMENTS are open.

1. What is the BIA's and the U.S. government's responsibility to protect the individual Indian from harm by their own tribes and to help them receive justice?

2. Is there a requirement that a tribal member be Native American?  If not, does a Non Indian tribal member have more Native rights than a true Native American disenrolled member in the eyes of the BIA?


3. When are you going to show leadership for the BIA, and step in to support bringing ALL the disenrolled and unrecognized indian people home--where we belong?

4. Since the BIA must approve all tribal constitutions, why does the BIA not act when tribes do not follow their constitutions, such as not giving due process, which happens when fair hearings aren't allowed?

5. What responsibility do you have to correct the mistakes or wrongdoing by your predecessors or their staffs, Such as the San Pasqual Applicant descendant matter?

6. WHY do we need the Bureau of Indian Affairs, if your department is NOT upholding their fiduciary responsibility to Native Americans

7. Why does the BIA deny due process to appellants of disenrollments? The BIA does not provide hearings before an independent tribunal and instead conducts appeal procedures within the agency?

8. Why does the BIA resort to sovereign immunity to protect tribal leaders from tribal members? Tribal members are just as entitled to immunity as leaders are? 

9.  In a recent Answering Brief  in Aguayo, the BIA's attorneys claimed that the matter was a case of a dispute between a tribe and its members. A tribe consists of its members. How can there be a dispute between a tribe and its members? This fallacious reasoning belies the BIA policy of treating tribal leaders as the tribe and tribal members as a group distinct from the tribe.