TOPEKA, Kan. ? The Native Nations Law Symposium here was a cooperative effort to create a broader understanding by the legal community of relationships between tribal courts and sovereignty and municipal and state governments as well as the history and culture of Kansas tribes.
The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation was host for the ‘Sharing the Knowledge’ symposium sponsored by the Kickapoo Tribe, Sac & Fox Nation’s Iowa Tribe and the Kansas Department of Human Resources and endorsed by the Washburn University School of law and the Washburn University School of Applied Studies, Department of Social Work.
In a general session, attorneys Anthony Powell; Alan Metzger; David Prager and Francis Skendandore discussed difficulties state courts and attorneys may have in understanding complex Indian Law that can cause jurisdiction disputes. Basic limitations of jurisdiction from the tribal standpoint, tribal court and the federal viewpoint were explained.
‘Prior to scheduling the symposium we sent out a questionnaire to 6,000 attorneys in Kansas. ? What they wanted is what is on the agenda, criminal jurisdiction, sovereign immunity, tribal state government relations and also the child welfare act, hunting and fishing and they also wanted a better understanding of tribal governments.
‘We are hoping that they will leave here with a better understanding of all the areas they were interested in, which are all key areas for us, so we thought they were very appropriate to put on the agenda.’
Kitchkumme and Jodi Spindler from the Kansas Native Affairs Office and others said they hope to see more exchanges between legal professionals and tribes throughout the country.
Spindler said she sees symposiums as one more way for tribes and state governments to form a more cooperative effort in dealing with Native American legal issues.
‘I would imagine that a better understanding of tribal issues and tribal relations and how they relate to state issues and relations’ would develop, she said. ‘Hopefully, above all it will build a better tribal-state relationship.’
‘I think the four tribes in Kansas are very interested in participating in local governments because of the change in their status in terms of what they bring to the community,’ Kitchkumme said.
He said the effort is to cross the lines with continuing issues between tribes and communities surrounding reservations. ‘At times they have been cooperative, at times not. For example cross-deputization is still a hot issue.
‘As with other issues, we have to keep the communication levels up as well as the education to help people who are not familiar with Indian governments.’ The forums help explain what tribal governments are and how they work as well as the role of sovereignty and ‘the responsibility of the federal government in local communities as well.’
