All articles tagged with #native american rights
The Democratic Party has moved New Mexico to an early primary slot for the 2028 presidential race, granting Native American voters significant new influence. This shift forces candidates to engage with tribal governments on issues like sovereignty and infrastructure, as the state’s large Indigenous population becomes a decisive factor in selecting the nominee.
Nine Native American tribes filed a federal lawsuit against the Forest Service and USDA to stop graphite exploration near Pe'Sla, a sacred Black Hills meadow used for ceremonies, arguing the agencies approved the project without proper tribal consultation or environmental review under NHPA/NEPA; protests have emerged at the site and drilling pads as the case unfolds.
Fred Harris, a former U.S. senator from Oklahoma and a professor emeritus at the University of New Mexico, passed away at 94. Harris served in the Senate from 1964 to 1973 and was chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1969. He later became a political science professor at UNM, where he helped establish the Fred Harris U.S. Congressional Internship. Harris was also a strong advocate for Native American rights, sponsoring legislation to restore land to Taos Pueblo. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham praised his contributions to politics and academia.
The Supreme Court has declined to block a lower court ruling that invalidated a speeding ticket issued to a Native American man in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the city is located within the boundaries of an Indian reservation. The decision stems from the Supreme Court's 2020 ruling that much of eastern Oklahoma, including Tulsa, remains an Indian reservation. The Native American man argued that the city lacked jurisdiction over his offense committed in Indian Country. Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted that the appeal raised important questions about the city's ability to enforce municipal laws against Native Americans.
The US Supreme Court upheld key provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act, a law enacted 45 years ago to remedy past government abuse, by a 7-2 vote. The law established three preferences for the placement of Native children when they are adopted or put in foster care. The court's decision left one important question unresolved--whether the statute's system of preferences for Native adoptive parents amounts to an unconstitutional racial preference. Dissenting from Thursday's ruling were Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.