Lawyer calls for legal challenge

Says court system denies human rights

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

MORTON -- New York attorney Jim McGuire thinks the Civil Rights Act may be able to help tribal members that were denied rights by their own court system.

Speaking at the Dakota Treaty Conference at Jackpot Junction Hotel Casino Friday, McGuire make the remark after he was told by Native Americans that their own court system is used to keep members off the reservation.

Law enforcement and the court system on the Lower Sioux are not set up to handle criminal matters so they are handled in Redwood County, according to tribal members.

A Pine Ridge, S.D. member suggested tribes adopt their own Bill of Rights as was done by his tribe in order to better govern itself. McGuire said each tribe should develop its own judicial code.

He suggested tribal members arrested and prosecuted off the reservation for something they did on it could challenge the constitutionality of the law, since they are part of a sovereign nation.

Native Americans from as far away as Manitoba, Canada attended the three-day conference. Dakota Treaty Council Chairman Milton Quinn thanked about 100 members for coming to the event.

"I hope we showed you some avenues to better your government," Quinn said. "The present form of tribal government is not working for most of you. The only way it can change is by your becoming active in the political arena. You need to voice your ideas on how to improve it."

Turning back to 150-year-old history, Sisseton tribal member Laurs Williams of Veiblen, S.D. said he would like to see a monument built for Native Americans that suffered from white oppression.

He suggested anybody that disagreed with Native American racial issues should read The American Holocaust to get insight on what took place over the past 200 years.

Indians and members of other races should come together to better understand each other's culture and language, he suggested.

Williams has attempted to create a multi-lingual radio and television station in South Dakota but has been unsuccessful.