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The Oglala Sioux Tribe is suing the U.S. Department of Interior and its agencies for violating the nation’s treaty obligation to fund law enforcement on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Parties spent the day Wednesday in federal court in Rapid City, SD, the first day of a two-day evidentiary hearing in front of Federal Judge Roberto Lange.
Victoria Wicks has this report.
Algin Young is the current chief of the Oglala Sioux Tribal Police.
He spent the afternoon on the stand, telling of an overwhelming number of calls for assistance handled by 33 federally-funded police officers and eight investigators.
Chief Young told of the situation also outlined in the complaint filed with the court: these few officers patrol 5,400 square miles holding 40,000 people living or conducting business on the reservation.
A former chief of police, Ron Dubray, testified that at one time, the Oglala tribal police had 113 officers, funded through government grants and programs.
But as those programs died out, so did the level of law enforcement. And then crime rates went up, involving drugs, guns, violence, and murder, even before the advent of heroin and fentanyl.
After the first day’s testimony, Oglala Sioux Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out spoke about the lawsuit.
“For decades and decades and decades we’ve been ignored, put on the back burner. Today we’re taking that stand, not only as a tribe but as a nation, and speaking for Indian Country that we need to be heard.”
The lawsuit alleges that the United States has an obligation to provide protection and law enforcement under treaties including the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868.
The tribe says in briefs that the treaties are still alive, having been reaffirmed by Congress, federal statutes, and legal precedent.
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s fight against opioid addiction has expanded to Portland.
KLCC’s Brian Bull reports on the grand opening of the Great Circle Recovery clinic this week.
A crowd gathered for drumming, remarks, and a ribbon cutting by tribal and Multnomah County officials.
Tribal chairwoman Cheryle Kennedy says Native American overdose deaths have increased by over 500% since 2000.
“We have to act now. It’s affecting our younger people at a greater rate, but it has no boundaries. They can be elders as well. So yes…it’s devastating.”
Kelly Rowe, Health and Wellness Director for the tribe, says the clinic staff is trained for fentanyl which is 100 times more potent than morphine.
“It is stronger than any other illicit drug out there. And it is a quick addiction process for people.”
The Grand Ronde opened their first opioid clinic in Salem, almost two years ago.
They say they’ve treated 500 people since.
Federal charges were filed Wednesday against former “Dances With Wolves” actor Nathan Chasing Horse for sexual exploitation and child pornography, 8 News Now reports.
Chasing Horse is accused of sexual assault against women and children spanning decades in multiple states and Canada.
Prosecutors allege he claimed to be a medicine person to gain the trust of Indigenous people, and he’s accused of leading a cult.
Chasing Horse was arrested last week in Las Vegas.
Bail was also set on Wednesday for $300,000 by a state judge. He faces several charges in Nevada.
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk/D-KS) introduced a resolution Wednesday designating this week as “National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week.”
It recognizes their contributions to the economic, educational, and social wellbeing of Indian Country.
There are 35 accredited tribal colleges and universities in the U.S.
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