Law and Race Commons^™

Diné Bi Beenahaz'Áanii: Codifying Indigenous Consuetudinary Law In The 21st Century, Kenneth Bobroff

Tribal Law Journal

The fundamental laws of the Diné, "the People" in the Navajo language, were placed by the Holy People long before Spaniards arrived in the New World. Since Coronado first traveled to Navajo Country almost five centuries ago, Diné have resisted European assaults on Navajo Law. On November 1, 2002, the Navajo Nation Council acknowledged the survival of the fundamental laws of the Diné, recognizing four specific constituent elements — traditional law, customary law, natural law, and common law – and explaining the principles of each.

Cultural Eclipse: The Effect On The Aboriginal Peoples In Manitoba, Kwesi Baffoe

Tribal Law Journal

Cultural eclipse is a phrase that I coined to describe the inter-relationship between the Aboriginal and European cultures as seen by an observer in space. It depicts the scene of two cultures initially rotating separately in time through the Universe. The European culture slowly drifts towards the Aboriginal culture and partially covers it without consuming it. This paper explores one of the ways indigenous culture is damaged during this "union".

Profile Of The Sayisi Dene Nation Of Tadoule Lake In Northern Manitoba, Kwesi Baffoe

Tribal Law Journal

The cultural groups among the Aboriginal peoples of Northern Canada correspond to climatic latitudinal divides. Above the tree line, where the boreal forest meets the tundra, are the Inuit whose territory stretches far into the arctic. South of the tree line are the Dene, and below them are the Cree nations of the prairies. The goal of this paper is to concentrate on the nature of the particular culture of the Dene People.

A Restatement Of The Common Law Of The Grand Traverse Band Of Ottawa And Chippewa Indians, Matthew L.M. Fletcher, Zeke Fletcher

Tribal Law Journal

This this article sets forth the case law propounded by the Grand Traverse Band Tribal Court. The Grand Traverse Band, with whom the United States concluded two treaties in the 19th Century, only to be denied sovereign status wrongly for over one hundred years, was "re-recognized" by the United States in 1980. The 1988 Grand Traverse Band Constitution established a politically independent Tribal Judiciary that has ruled on a wide spectrum of issues ranging from administrative and constitutional law to fishing and gaming, and from sovereign immunity and tribal economic development to tribal membership. The Restatement distills the principles of …

Navajo Nation V. Rodriguez And The Traditional Navajo Principle Of Hazhó'Ógo, Philip A. Morin

Tribal Law Journal

This case note examines in detail the adoption, and adaptation, of the United States Supreme Court's Miranda decision by the Supreme Court of the Navajo Nation.

The Supreme Court of the Navajo Nation carried out the directive of the Fundamental Laws of the Diné, to make Diné bi beehaz'áanii, or Navajo Common Law, the fundamental basis for its decisions. By doing so, the Supreme Court defined uniquely Navajo rights and procedures governing the custodial interview, holding that the traditional Navajo principle of hazhó'ógo requires truthful, transparent explanations to, and respectful treatment of, persons in police custody.

Mr. Morin's case note …

The Origins, Current Status, And Future Prospects Of Blood Quantum As The Definition Of Membership In The Navajo Nation, Paul Spruhan

Tribal Law Journal

In this article, the author discusses the origin of the Navajo Nation's blood requirement. Mr. Spruhan examines the intended purpose of the quarter-blood quantum definition and the role of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He reviews the current status, regulation, and recent attempts to change the quarter-blood quantum requirement. He discusses the future of the quarter-blood quantum requirement with respect to the Navajo Nation Council's 2002 resolution known as the "Fundamental Laws of the Diné," a resolution mandating the application of traditional law, customary law, natural law, and common law to the Navajo Nation Government and its entities. In this …

Customary Law: The Way Things Were, Codified, Exra Rosser

Tribal Law Journal

The author explores the meaning of customary law from its most general meaning to the meaning and application within various tribal courts. Mr. Rosser discusses the weight of customary law when choice of law and conflict of law issues arise within tribal courts. He discusses the challenges in uniformly applying customary law. He also discusses the challenges in substantiating customs when presented to a tribal court, including the use of experts. Mr. Rosser highlights the complexity and variance of customary law between tribal courts while emphasizing the importance of tribal jurisprudence. Finally, the author provides an appendix of rules and …

What Indian Tribes Can Do To Combat Child Sexual Abuse (Issue Paper), Larry Echohawk, Pawnee Indian Tribe, Tessa Meyer Santiago

Tribal Law Journal

One of the most destructive problems affecting children in "Indian country" today is sexual abuse. Increasing reports of child sexual abuse and the severe impact this type of crime has on Indian youth and their families have prompted tribal leaders to voice great concern about the impact of this crime on Indian communities.

Law Enforcement Authority In Indian Country, Melissa L. Tatum

Tribal Law Journal

The protection order has proven to be an effective tool in the war against domestic violence. A protection order, however, is good only so long as it can be enforced, and enforcement has proven to be a problem when a person travels with a protection order to a different jurisdiction.

Expanding The Network Of Safety: Tribal Protection Orders For Survivors Of Sexual Assault, Sara Deer

Tribal Law Journal

The right to exist in a world free from violence is a basic tenet in many indigenous cultures and governments. The epidemic of sexual violence perpetrated against Native American women in the United States reflects a fundamental breakdown in the cultural and legal norms that have served to provide protection to Native women from time immemorial.

Cherokee Nation Tribal Profile, Ahnawake Carroll

Tribal Law Journal

Cherokee Nation Tribal Profile by Ahnawake Carroll provides readers with an overview of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Government. This profile includes information regarding both the historical and contemporary uses of the tribe's traditional law, law of governance, enacted law, and case law.

Cherokee Nation Election Of 1995, Ahnawake Carroll

Tribal Law Journal

The Cherokee Nation Election of 1995 by Ahnawake Carroll discusses a test of the constitutional distribution of powers within the Cherokee government in the context of the 1995 tribal election. This article explores through the mechanism of five selected rulings the role of the tribal judiciary in adjudicating various controversies arising out of the election resulting in the judiciary placing "a check on the legislative and executive powers of the Cherokee government" based upon interpretations of the Cherokee Constitution, as well as codified Cherokee law.

The Status Of Traditional Indian Justice, Agustin Grijalva

Tribal Law Journal

The Status of Traditional Indian Justice in Ecuador by Agustin Grijalva discusses constitutional reforms in Ecuador that recognize traditional Indian law and traditional Indian authorities as collective Indian rights. This article explores the historical background of the constitutional reforms, how these reforms might affect the current Ecuadorian judicial system and some potential problems in administering these reforms.

Cp 87 And Cp 100: Allotment And Fractionation Within The Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Mark Welliver

Tribal Law Journal

CP 87 and CP 100: Allotment and Fractionation Within the Citizen Potawatomi Nation by Mark Welliver illustrates some of the problematic issues faced today by interest owners of Indian allotment land by using his father's interest in allotment land as a "hypothetical," in the context of the Citizen Band Potawatomi's history and removal to Oklahoma. The article also discusses "solutions that are applicable either by the federal government, the tribes, or the individual interest holders."

Restoring Harmony Through Nalyeeh: Can The Navajo Common Law Of Torts Be Applied In State And Federal Forums?, J. R. Mueller

Tribal Law Journal

Restoring Harmony through Nalyeeh: Can the Navajo Common Law of Torts be Applied in State and Federal Forums? by J. R. Mueller demonstrates "that the Navajo Nation has developed and articulated a modern tort law and doctrine of restitution grounded in Navajo tradition and evolved from ancient custom, similar to the Anglo-American notion of common law." This article also explores whether tribal customary law can be applied in state and federal forums in light of a recent federal case Cheromiah v. United States.

Oglala Lakota Nation Profile, Danielle Her Many Horses

Tribal Law Journal

Oglala Lakota Nation Profile by Danielle Her Many Horses provides an overview of the Oglala Lakota Nation government. This profile contains information on the Oglala Lakota Nation's traditional governance and its contemporary government.

Pueblo Of Laguna Tribal Government Profile, Kim Coco Iwamoto, Frank Cerno Jr.

Tribal Law Journal

Pueblo of Laguna Tribal Government Profile by Kim Coco Iwamoto, provides readers with an overview of the Pueblo of Laguna Tribal Government. Iwamoto's profile contains information on the Pueblo's traditional law, governance, dispute resolution, and extratribal law.

Tribal Law As Indigenous Social Reality And Separate Consciousness [Re]Incorporating Customs And Traditions Into Tribal Law, Christine Zuni Cruz

Tribal Law Journal

Tribal Law as Indigenous Social Reality and Separate Consciousness-[Re]Incorporating Customs and Traditions into Tribal Law by Christine Zuni Cruz explores the reflection of traditional legal concepts and values in enacted laws of indigenous nations. The premise of this article is that "an indigenous nation's sovereignty is strengthened if its law is based upon its own internalized values and norms." Zuni-Cruz's article questions the impact of enacted western laws on indigenous communities' people and culture.

Means V. District Court Of The Chinle Judicial District And The Hadane Doctrine In Navajo Criminal Law, Paul Spruhan

Tribal Law Journal

This case note analyzes the Navajo Nation's application of traditional law concepts in order to find criminal jurisdiction to prosecute a non-member Indian in Means v. District Court. The author examines this use in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Duro v. Reina.

Troublesome Aspects Of Western Influences On Tribal Justice Systems And Laws, Alex Tallchief Skibine

Tribal Law Journal

Troublesome Aspects of Western Influences on Tribal Justice Systems and Laws by Alex Tallchief Skibine provides readers with an overview of the colonial process by which tribal written law resembles the legal structures of the states and the federal government. Skibine's article highlights why and how tribal court systems have been influenced by western law, as well as the problems associated with the integration of tribal justice systems into the U.S. political system.

Introduction To New Mexico Tribal Court Handbook, Tribal Law Journal Staff

Tribal Law Journal

These handbooks are intended to help attorneys and advocates become more aware of the various individual tribal court systems and their rules and protocol.

Profile Of The Law Of The Navajo Nation, Bidtah N. Becker, Navajo Nation

Tribal Law Journal

The Navajo Nation is a non-IRA5 tribe and is not governed by a written constitution. The Navajo Nation government consists of a three-branch system. The nation has a six volume, twenty-four title6 code. Title II outlines the administration of tribal affairs, including the executive and legislative branches. Title VII outlines duties of the judiciary. The modern Navajo Nation government is best described as a western / traditional blend of governance.