CrowNews.Net

Supreme Court Denies Certiorari in Friday Case, Remands to District Court

On February 23rd, the United States Supreme Court denied review of the Tenth Circuit's May 2008 decision in United States v. Winslow Friday, a case involving an Arapaho man's challenge to the Interior Department's application of the various federal laws requiring accommodation of Indian religious and traditional uses of eagle feathers.

Winslow Friday, who shot and killed a bald eagle for use in a Sun Dance ceremony without a federal permit, will now face criminal prosecution in federal court in Wyoming and a possible one-year prison sentence and $100,000 fine.

Crow Tribe Well-Represented at 17th Annual NALSA Moot Court Competition

Boulder, Colorado --

The National Native American Law Students Association recently held it's annual moot court competition at the University of Colorado School of Law in Boulder.  The two-day event, which took place on February 27th and 28th, was co-hosted by the University of Colorado and University of Denver NALSA chapters.

Recent NNALSA moot court competitions were held at Arizona State in Tempe, the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and the University of Washington in Seattle.

Although none of the five Crow Tribal members currently in law school was a competitor, there was a strong Crow presence at this year's event with Crow legal counsel Heather Whitemanrunshim-Oleyte, Big Horn County Attorney Georgette Hogan, and Big Horn County Justice of the Peace Leroy Not Afraid all serving as moot court judges. 

Crow Tribal Chairman Venne Dies at 62

Official Apsaalooke Nation News Release: Date: February 15, 2009

Mr. Carl E. Venne, Chairman of the Apsaalooke Nation passed away sometime during the night of February 14 or in the early morning hours of Sunday February 15. Initial reports indicate by natural causes. Further information, as to the time and cause of death will be determined by the Big Horn county coroner.

Arrangements are being made and notice will be provided soon. The Tribal Administration asks that you respect the family’s wishes during this difficult time.

Vice Chairman Cedric Black Eagle has assumed the duties of the office of Chairman during the interim. The process for filling the vacancy is well established in the Tribal Constitution and Election Ordinance. Full details of this process will be published at a later time when appropriate out of respect for the family.

If you have any questions, please contact Media Spokesman Ben Cloud at 406-665-5235 cell, or office at 406-638-4115. benc@crownations.net

Photo by Adam Sings In The Timber

Chairman Venne in Accident

By Heather Whiteman Runs Him-Oleyte

Following is an official press release from the Executive Branch of the Apsaalooke Nation

On the evening of October 25, 2008, Chairman Carl E. Venne was involved in a one-vehicle accident east of Hardin, Mont., on Highway 47, in which he was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

We are thankful that no one was seriously injured in the accident, and that we are able to issue this statement to you today.

We are grateful for the outpouring of support and prayers for Chairman Venne's continued recovery, for our families, and mostly importantly, for the Crow Nation to remain strong.

In return, Chairman Venne pledges that he is humbled by this accident, and knows that he has his Creator (and his seatbelt) to thank for the fact that he is still here to continue to fight for the future of the Crow Nation.

We are issuing this statement to let those with whom we do not come into contact personally know that Chairman Venne was in an accident, and that he is, by the grace of our Creator, fine. Aho!

Heather Whiteman Runs Him-Oleyte is Deputy Executive Counsel of the Apsaalooke Nation.

Tribe, Aussie Firm Plan $7B Coal-to-Diesel Plant

By Jay Harris

The Crow Tribe has agreed to work with the Australian-American Energy Company, a subsidiary of the Australian Energy Company, to construct a multi-billion dollar coal-to-diesel fuel production plant on the Crow Reservation.

Following the tribal legislature's 16-1 vote last Thursday in favor of the project, Chairman Carl Venne and company executive Allan Blood announced the news that now has many Crows buzzing about the potential for future large-scale economic development in a resource-rich yet chronically underemployed portion of Montana.

The tentative agreement calls for an initial 50-year development period, which would begin following federal permitting and construction of the plant.   

Bad Day for Friday: 10th Circuit Reverses Lower Court, Denies Rehearing -- Supreme Court Review Sought

As reported by CrowNews.net in February 2008, the Tenth Circuit in December 2007 heard oral argument in United States v. Winslow Friday -- a case involving an Arapaho man's criminal prosecution in federal court for killing a bald eagle for religious purposes on the Wind River Reservation of Wyoming.

In early May, a three-judge panel of the Tenth Circuit reversed the U.S. District Court of Wyoming's order that charges against Friday be dismissed.  Despite acknowledging problems with the federal government's accommodation of tribal religious practices using eagle parts, the Court of Appeals held that the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act is still enforceable law in the six-state Tenth Circuit and remanded Friday to District Court to face reinstated criminal charges.  The Court's opinion can be read here.

In June, Friday's public defender requested a rehearing en banc (meaning the full panel of all twelve Tenth Circuit judges would hear the case).  In early July, Friday's motion to rehear was denied.

CrowNews.net has been informed that a petition for a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court will be made by the Colorado Federal Public Defender's Office.   If the Supreme Court decides to hear the case, CrowNews.net will provide updated information and legal commentary on what will be a landmark decision affecting Indians and tribes throughout the United States.

The New York Times on Off-Reservation Schools

CrowNews.Net

As summer nears, a New York Times piece looks at two area high schools and how "the intertwined arcs of Hardin and Lodge Grass have made for a bittersweet experience."

In a Sunday story, reporter Kirk Johnson writes that Hardin's student body has grown in recent years because of a decision handed down by the Hardin School District in 2004 not to bus students from Hardin to Lodge Grass as well as Crow students' and parents' preference for the off-reservation school. Meanwhile, Lodge Grass High School has lost more than a third of its student enrollment in the last eight years.

The shift in numbers between the two schools, Johnson notes, has mostly benefited Hardin High while Lodge Grass faces continued budget cuts and a dwindling staff.

Click here for the full story.

Crows Thrilled to Be Obama's 'Brothers and Sisters'

Sen. Barack Obama greets supporters on his visit Monday to the Crow Reservation. (Click here or on the photo above to see a slideshow of April Gregory's photos from the Obama event).

Story by Mary Hudetz | Photos by April Gregory
reznetnews.org

Some Crow tribal members waited in line more than six hours to ensure they would have a good view when the first presidential candidate to visit their reservation stepped to the stage to speak.

Others spent those hours braiding their hair and fastening the ties of their traditional outfits so they would look their best when Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama took the microphone and explained his stance on issues that affect hundreds of Native American tribes throughout the country but often go unmentioned by candidates running for national office.

"Somebody finally recognized us enough to come an extra few hours," said Beverly Big Man, a Crow Agency Elementary School teacher. "We're always the forgotten ones."

House District 42 Candidate Profiles

Here are profiles of the two candidates running for the House District 42 seat.  The candidates are Bill Joseph, a Republican, and Carolyn Pease-Lopez, a Democrat.

Slideshow: Obama Visits Crow Country

Several thousand people attend the Barack Obama rally in Crow Agency Monday.

By Mary Hudetz | Photos by Casey Kills Pretty Enemy
CrowNews.Net

Sen. Barack Obama, the front-runner in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, came to Crow Country Monday, outlining his stance on some of the many issues facing Native Americans and saying that if elected president he would honor treaty obligations.

On June 3, Montana and South Dakota Democrats will weigh in on the race for the Democratic party's nomination and the two states' primaries will mark the end of the historic 2008 primary season. Obama's visit to Crow marked the first time a presidential candidate campaigned on the Crow reservation.