Nooksack tribe sets teleconference rules for disenrollment
New procedures mandate strict deadlines and phone protocols for members facing removal
The Nooksack Tribal Council has issued formal notices to members outlining a rigid new telephonic process for involuntary disenrollment meetings. The protocols, established through a November 2013 resolution, require individuals to navigate a series of strict administrative deadlines to maintain their tribal status.
Under the updated "Procedures for Involuntary Disenrollment Meetings," members are granted a maximum of 10 minutes to present their case. However, the Council has specified that "no questions will be entertained" during these sessions.
The rules include several critical mandates for those appearing before the Council:
- Pre-meeting confirmation: Members must call or email the meeting coordinator exactly two calendar days before their scheduled time to confirm attendance.
- Documentation deadlines: All written responses and supporting evidence must be received by the Tribe no later than five calendar days prior to the meeting.
- Technical requirements: Participants are urged to use landlines, as the Tribe warns that a dropped call will result in the immediate loss of the meeting.
- Legal representation: While members may be represented by an attorney or advocate at their own expense, they must submit a representation form five days in advance.
The Council maintains that these procedures are final and that the Nooksack Tribal Court has no jurisdiction over controversies related to the disenrollment process.
Jodi Rave Spotted Bear
(Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation)Founder & Editor in Chief
Spoken Languages: English
Topic Expertise: Federal trust relationship with American Indians; Indigenous issues ranging from spirituality and environment to education and land rights
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