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From: hutch@shark.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison)
Newsgroups: net.legal,net.politics
Subject: Re: Indians and state law
Message-ID: <877@shark.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 9-Jul-84 16:18:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: shark.877
Posted: Mon Jul  9 16:18:44 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 10-Jul-84 07:54:35 EDT
References: <1480@sun.uucp>
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 28

Amusingly enough, in most states where there are reservations, there is
also an overlaid state and municipal authority.

Where I grew up (Montana) there was the Flathead Reservation (actually
called that on roadsigns, even though its real name is the Salish Nation).

However, it is overlaid upon Flathead County and two other counties.
Members of the tribe (there are <30 who can claim more than 1/4 blood)
are requited to have licenses to use county/state roads, must pay taxes
for the use of county or city utilities, and so on.  However, tribal
roads are restricted to ONLY the members of the tribe and their guests.
They have their own licensing authority (very informal).

The federal regulations upon the tribe are (or were) mediated by the
agents of the Interior Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs.  At least,
this was where they used to be.  I dunno what the current authority is.
They treat the nations as (conquered) client states.  Autonomy is limited
to specific areas, negotiated years ago with any given individual nation.

Strangely enough, to recieve all of the federal payments which the tribe
recieves for the use of/purchase of tribal lands, tribal members MUST remain
on the reservation.  This is a tribal rule, which changes depending on how
the tribal judges decide to administer it.  The regulation apparently has
to exist because of a ruling by the BIA.

Interesting setup.  Not particularly fair to anyone.

Hutch