Yakama Nation sues federal government over raid of tobacco firm
Friday, March 11, 2011
Filed Under:
Business
|
Law
The
Yakama Nation of Washington is suing the federal government over a raid of a tobacco manufacturing company on the reservation.
The tribe says the
FBI and the
Department of Justice violated the
Yakama Treaty of
1855. The lawsuit says the tribe should have been consulted before federal agents entered the reservation on February 16.
The FBI sent a text message to the tribe's commissioner of public safety but only after the raid had begun. "[I]t’s Jen FBI.
About to do a large search on the reservation and wanted you to hear about it
from us 1st. Call me asap for details," the message stated, according to the complaint.
The raid came a day after
King Mountain Tobacco Co., which is licensed by the tribe and grows tobacco on the reservation, sued the state of Washington.
The
9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the treaty allows tribal members to bring goods to the market without state interference.
Turtle Talk has posted the complaint from the case,
Yakama Nation v. Holder.
Get the Story:
Tribe sues feds over reservation raid
(The Yakima Herald-Republic 3/11)
Related Stories:
Yakama cigarette firm raided after filing
lawsuit against state (2/18)
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