Apr 18, 2016 - Idle No More ~ Indigenous People Standing Against Disenrollment
For Immediate Release April 17, 2016
Contact: The Nooksack 306 Spokeswoman: Michelle Roberts
(360) 296-6931
Director of idle No More Washington: Sweetwater Nannauck
(206) 245-5621
SEATTLE, WA – On Monday April 18, 2016 there will be a rally at Westlake Park, 401 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101 starting at 12 noon followed by a march to The Norton Building, 801 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104.
The Norton Building is where Morisset, Schlosser, Jozwiak, and Somerville office is, they are the attorneys who are representing the Nooksack Tribal Chairman Bob Kelly. The Kelly faction is the ones leading this effort of disenrollment of 306 Nooksack tribal members. Although tribal disenrollment is now an epidemic spreading across Turtle Island ‘The Nooksack 306’ have faced some of the most corrupt political and cultural genocide in recent history.
The Kelly faction began by removing tribal council members Michelle Roberts and Rudy St. Germaine who are part of The Nooksack 306. The Nooksack 306 tribal members were disenrolled without due process, and were forbidden from voting in tribal elections. The Kelly faction banned their attorney Gabe Galanda from practicing in the Nooksack Tribal Court. Last month they fired the Nooksack Tribal Court judge, Susan Alexander, who was a fair and just judge that didn’t go along with the Kelly faction agenda.
This march and rally are bringing to light this internalized oppression and lateral violence that affects thousands of other Native Americans. There are over 80 federally recognized tribes in 17 states that have disenrolled their own tribal members. To date, it is estimated that as many as 10,000 Indigenous Peoples have been disenrolled in the US.
In solidarity with The Nooksack 306 of the Rapada, Rabang, Narte/Gladstone families, the Snoqualmie tribal members, and thousands of other tribal members facing disenrollment we invite you to join us for a family-friendly, peaceful rally and march.
