Supreme Court declines to hear Chinook Indian Nation recognition case
High court leaves lower rulings that Congress must decide recognition, as Chinook Indian Nation says it will continue its efforts
The United States Supreme Court declined to take up a case that could have determined whether the Chinook Indian Nation would be granted federal recognition, according to an article in The Oregonian/OregonLive. The decision leaves in place lower court rulings that recognition is a matter for lawmakers, not the courts.
In a news release cited in the article, Chairman Tony A. (naschio) Johnson was quoted as saying the tribe will continue pursuing recognition: “It is not an end, but instead a beginning of a revitalization of our efforts.” The Chinook Indian Nation was federally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 2001, but that status was rescinded 18 months later. Since then, the tribe has continued seeking recognition through multiple avenues, including the courts, according to the report.
- 1.Jamie Hale. The Oregonian/OregonLive, .