Thank you, Tracy, for your kind introduction. I appreciate
your devoted service as Director of the Office of Tribal Justice. I first met
Tracy more than 20 years ago when we were young attorneys in the Criminal
Division. I am grateful to the employees
of the Office of Tribal Justice for everything that they do to promote public
safety in Indian Country.
I also want to thank everyone throughout the Department who
works to improve our relationship with tribes and to further tribal justice, as
well as those who worked to create today’s event.
It is my great privilege to join you in celebrating American
Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.
The theme for this year’s observance is, “Sovereignty, Trust
and Resilience.” It encourages us to reflect on the important contributions of
Native Americans and Alaska Natives to the Department, and to our nation’s
economic, academic, and cultural institutions.
American Indians and Alaska Natives are an indispensable
part of our national fabric. They are business owners, teachers, first
responders, law enforcement offices, and community leaders. They serve with
honor in our Armed Forces. And they work proudly in the Department of Justice.
President Donald Trump said last month, “Native Americans
have fortified our country with their traditions and values, making tremendous
contributions to every aspect of our national life. We remain committed to preserving and
protecting Native American cultures, languages, and history, while ensuring
prosperity and opportunity for all Native Americans.”
Consistent with the President’s words, we recognize the many
contributions and sacrifices by members of this community. Today, we recommit
ourselves to ensuring opportunities for all Americans. Every American enriches
the quality and character of our great nation.
The Department of Justice plays a unique role in the
government-to-government relationship between the United States and Tribal
Nations.
Our U.S. Attorney’s Offices and law enforcement components,
such as the FBI and the DEA, are responsible for investigations, prosecutions,
and victim services in 51 judicial districts that include Indian country.
Federal prosecutors exercise criminal jurisdiction over 250 distinct regions of
Indian country, covering more than 55 million acres of land.
Our offices work together with Tribal law enforcement, state
and local law enforcement agencies, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to improve
the safety and security of Native American and Alaska Native communities.
The Justice Department also handles a large caseload of
civil litigation in Indian country. Our civil cases include matters relating to
environmental and natural resources, Tribal treaty rights, and Native
Americans’ civil rights.
Our grant making components provided over $259 million to
Tribes last year. Those components include the Office of Justice Programs, the
Office for Victims of Crime, the Office on Violence Against Women, and the
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Their grants support police,
serve victims, combat domestic violence and sexual abuse, and strengthen tribal
justice systems.
We are particularly proud of the Tribal Access Program. That
effort is coordinated by the Office of Tribal Justice and the Department’s
Chief Information Officer. It provides computer kiosks that allow Tribes to
access federal crime databases. The kiosks allow Tribes to protect victims of
domestic violence, identify sex offenders, keep guns out of criminals’ hands,
and help locate missing people.
There are many success stories involving the kiosks.
Last year, the Gila River Police Department received a
report about a sexual assault against a juvenile. Police quickly identified a
suspect, and a warrant followed. But the suspect fled.
Using a kiosk, tribal police entered the warrant into the
FBI’s National Crime Information Center, which we call NCIC. NCIC is a
computerized index of criminal justice information. One of its most important
functions is to help police apprehend fugitives.
When police encountered the suspect outside Tribal
territory, an NCIC check revealed the tribal warrant. Police took the suspect
into custody and transported him to the tribal jail where he was booked using a
federal workstation.
Successes likes that would not be possible without the kiosk
system. Since the program started in 2015, 47 participating Tribes have entered
more than 600 sex offender registrations into the system. Participating Tribes
also have entered arrest data that prevents criminals from purchasing firearms.
And Tribes have conducted more than 4,500 fingerprint-based record checks for
civil purposes, including employment.
The total number of tribes with kiosk access will expand to
114 by the end of 2019.
We are also proud of the Department’s new program to appoint
Special Assistant United States Attorneys to work on Tribal issues. The
initiative, funded through the Office on Violence Against Women, hires
prosecutors to bring cases in both tribal and federal courts. That increases
prosecution capacity and helps to prevent criminals from avoiding prosecution
because of jurisdiction or sovereignty issues. It will promote the goal of
ensuring that every perpetrator of domestic or sexual violence is brought to
justice.
These initiatives demonstrate our Department’s steadfast
commitment to improving public safety in Indian country by promoting
coordination among tribal, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
As part of our observance today, we are fortunate that John
Tahsuda is here as a guest speaker.
Mr. Tahsuda is an enrolled member of the Kiowa Tribe of
Oklahoma. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State
University, and a law degree from Cornell Law School.
Mr. Tahsuda then worked as the acting general counsel of the
Oneida Indian Nation of New York. He also taught classes at Cornell Law School
about federal Indian law, policy, and history.
Mr. Tahsuda later served as general counsel and legislative
director of the National Indian Gaming Association, where he monitored
legislation and policy issues affecting the organization’s 180 member tribes
and assisted with their lobbying efforts.
In 2002, Mr. Tahsuda joined the staff of the U.S. Senate
Committee on Indian Affairs, first as senior counsel and later as staff
director. He handled policy and legislation affecting gaming, federal
recognition, self-governance, and Indian health care.
From 2007 through 2017, Mr. Tahsuda worked in the private
sector, providing clients with advocacy and counsel services about tribal
affairs policy issues.
Last year, Mr. Tahsuda was appointed as the Principal Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior.
Indian Affairs manages Federal trust, treaty, and other responsibilities to 573
federally recognized Indian Tribes. Mr. Tahsuda helps to develop and interpret
policies affecting Indian Affairs bureaus, offices, and programs.
He is a strong advocate for Indian country issues, and we
are grateful to him for joining us today. Please welcome John Tahsuda.
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