Briefly from across Indian Country Blackfeet tribal members approve water compact KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) - Members of the Blackfeet Indian Tribe have voted overwhelmingly to approve a water compact that quantifies the tribe’s water rights and confirms its jurisdiction over those rights on the reservation near Glacier National Park. The tribe voted April 27 to approve the water rights agreement with Montana and the United States after more than 30 years of negotiations. The compact passed the Montana Legislature in 2009 and received Congressional approval late last year. It will provide the tribe with $471 million for water-related projects including new or improved irrigation systems, the development of community water systems and land acquisition. Tribal officials say projects in areas of the reservation that have lacked access to clean drinking water will be a top priority.
Law enforcement shakeup underway on Pine Ridge reservation PINE RIDGE, S.D. (AP) - A major shakeup in law enforcement is taking place on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The Oglala Sioux Tribal Council declared a state of emergency and withdrew support in late April for Police Chief Harry Martinez, who has since resigned. The council has faced a deluge of complaints from tribal members on a reservation that’s experienced a wave of drugrelated crime. Eight police chiefs have come and gone since 2008. Not long ago, 100 officers patrolled the reservation’s 3
million acres. Now, it’s just 30 officers. KOTA says the council has disbanded the Public Safety Board and hired Mark Mesteth as interim police chief. He held the job before Martinez.
Officer charged with punching 73-year-old casino bathroom attendant PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) - A Rhode Island police officer charged with punching a 73-year-old casino bathroom attendant because ``the water was too cold’’ is seeking to avoid prison. The Providence Journal reports that 36-year-old Pawtucket officer Michael Tousignant was charged with assaulting
an elderly person. Authorities say Tousignant was offduty at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut on April 1 when he complained to the attendant and then “smacked him.” He was charged by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Police Department. Tousignant said during booking that he served in the military and had been with Pawtucket police for 10 years. He applied for a court program that would let him avoid a criminal conviction and prison. It’s unclear if he has an attorney. Pawtucket police say Tousignant is on administrative duty and under investigation.
Montana governor signs suicide prevention bill HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has signed a bill that allocates $1 million for suicide prevention over the next two years. The Independent Record reports the bill includes elements of several suicide prevention bills introduced during the 2017 Legislative session. Montana’s suicide rate has been at or near the top in the nation for nearly four decades. The bill allocates $250,000 to implement efforts to reduce Native American youth suicide and $250,000 in grant money to help schools implement suicide prevention programs. Another $500,000 would help fund ongoing efforts to prevent suicide including those carried out by veteran organizations and Native American groups. For efforts to qualify for grants, they must be based on peer-reviewed research or recommended by the Montana Suicide Review Team.
May Birthdays: 1st: Dionne Bronson 2nd: Leah VanPelt 3rd: MayAnn Frank 4th: Rylen Bronson 13th: Robert VanPelt & Chris Marsh 15th: Kyle Bates 20th: Kyella Picard 21st: Pam Peterson & Julius Patrick 24th: Chance Squiemphen, Jr. 25th: Buster Brigham & Alek VanPelt 26th: Stacey Kash Kash 28th: MaKeisha VanPelt 29th: Elliot Watchman
January 2017
Confederated Umatilla Journal
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