Chairman Jeff Haozous (Deming) — The Fort Sill Apache Tribe is suing Governor Susana Martinez to force her to recognize the tribe's status in New Mexico.
The largely Oklahoma-based tribe was granted federal reservation status for a small plot of its homelands in Luna County two years ago, and it alleges Martinez is violating a state law and discriminating against the tribe by ignoring it.
Chairman Jeff Haozous says despite attempts to reach out to the administration, the tribe has been barred from the state's annual state-tribal summit, excluded from consultations with other tribes and prevented from accessing state capital programs and benefits.
The Associated Press is reporting that the lawsuit asks the Supreme Court to require Martinez to recognize the tribe.
The Fort Sill Apache Tribe is the successor to the Chiricahua and Warm Springs Apache people who lived in southern New Mexico until 1886, when they were forcibly removed to Oklahoma by the U.S. Government.
Today, a 30-acre parcel of land at Akela in Luna County is the extent of the Fort Sill Apache’s restored and federally-recognized homeland.
The tribe has been battling state officials over attempts to build a casino on its homelands in Akela.
The largely Oklahoma-based tribe was granted federal reservation status for a small plot of its homelands in Luna County two years ago, and it alleges Martinez is violating a state law and discriminating against the tribe by ignoring it.
Chairman Jeff Haozous says despite attempts to reach out to the administration, the tribe has been barred from the state's annual state-tribal summit, excluded from consultations with other tribes and prevented from accessing state capital programs and benefits.
The Associated Press is reporting that the lawsuit asks the Supreme Court to require Martinez to recognize the tribe.
The Fort Sill Apache Tribe is the successor to the Chiricahua and Warm Springs Apache people who lived in southern New Mexico until 1886, when they were forcibly removed to Oklahoma by the U.S. Government.
Today, a 30-acre parcel of land at Akela in Luna County is the extent of the Fort Sill Apache’s restored and federally-recognized homeland.
The tribe has been battling state officials over attempts to build a casino on its homelands in Akela.
RSS Feed
