Interior Releases First Report on Indian Boarding Schools
On May 11, 2022, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland released Volume One of the investigative report for the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative. The report found that between 1819 and 1969, the United...
Arizona State Supreme Court Allows State Taxation of Non-Indian Property on Trust Lands
On April 26, 2022, the Arizona Supreme Court issued a decision impacting the ability of Indian tribes to tax non-Indian property on lands held in trust for tribes. The court held that the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) of 1934 did not expressly preempt the ability...
Biden Announces Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day
On May 4, 2022, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation declaring May 5, 2022, as Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. This declaration was accompanied by a call for all Americans and levels of government to support Tribal governments and Tribal...
Supreme Court to Hear Case Attacking McGirt Decision
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta. The case threatens to limit the effect of the landmark decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma. In the 2020 McGirt case, the Supreme Court held that Congress never disestablished the Muscogee...
Bipartisan COVID Supplemental Bill Threatens Tribal Relief Funds
U.S. Senators returned to Washington, D.C. on April 25, and resumed consideration of a proposed COVID-19 Supplemental Appropriations Bill. The bill would provide $10 billion in funding for additional vaccines, testing, and therapeutics. However, the Senate would pay...
Interior Announces Consultation on Fee-to-Trust and Gaming Compact Regulation Revisions
The Department of the Interior will host consultations to solicit input from Tribes on proposed revisions to the regulations governing Fee-to-Trust applications and Class III Tribal-State Gaming Compacts. In proposing revisions, the Department stated that "protecting...
White House Releases FY 2023 Budget Proposal
On March 29, President Biden released his budget proposal for FY 2023. According to the White House, the proposed funding for Tribal programs and services reflects direct consultations with Tribal Nations. Significant agency funding in the proposal for tribes include:...
White House Finds Impediments to Native American Vote
At the end of March 2022, the White House released its Report on Native American Voting Rights. The Report found that Native Americans face "unnecessary and unacceptable impediments" to exercising their voting rights. According to the Report, several reoccurring...
GAO Seeks Nominations for First Ever Tribal Advisory Council
On April 7, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) announced plans to form its first Tribal Advisory Council (TAC). GAO is calling for nominations to fill 15 positions. The TAC will advise GAO on vital and emerging issues affecting Tribes and Indigenous...
Supreme Court to Hear ICWA Challenge
On February 28, the United States Supreme Court announced that it would hear a challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in the Haaland v. Brackeen case. The Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of ICWA, its validity under the Indian Commerce...