Jan 28, 2017 - North Dakota Introduces Resolution to give State’s Rights over Reservations

North Dakota on January 26 Rep. Kempenich, Steiner introduced a resolution to urge Congress to give State’s the ability to engage with Tribes over development on reservations.

HRC 3017 reads

“A concurrent resolution urging Congress to modify the Indian reservation system by vesting the states with the ability to engage in relations with Native American tribes and with the responsibility of developing plans to improve the failed Indian reservation system, advance and elevate the quality of life on Indian reservations, promote and increase literacy on Indian reservations, and help Indian reservations to achieve economic stability and independence.”

The language of the resolution is an attack on Tribe’s treaty rights and Tribal sovereignty. Treaty’s can only be signed between sovereign Nations and enshrined in the Constitution as the Supreme Law of the land. To grant State’s the right to engage in ‘development’ on reservations would be a violation of both Treaty rights and the Constitution.

Tribal Nations have worried the incoming Trump administration would seek to usher in a new era of termination. HRC 3017 certainly seems to be pointing in that direction.

by Wakíƞyaƞ Waánataƞ (Matt Remle- Lakota)