But the council soon made its motive clear. At the very same meeting, the council voted to disbar its biggest foe: Gabriel Galanda.
The Native American attorney, with offices in Seattle’s Wedgwood neighborhood, has been fighting for three years to prevent the tribe from kicking out 306 members whose lineage is in dispute. In the process, he has become a nationally known opponent of tribal disenrollment, an increasing trend in recent years amid fights over money and power.
Days before the council made its move, he had won a victory in the Nooksack Tribal Court allowing his clients to vote in tribal elections.
“It seemed like a strategic tactic to get him out of the court system,” said Carmen Tageant, one of two dissident council members who voted against disbarment.
From: Nooksack leaders disbar lawyer fighting tribal disenrollments | The Seattle Times
The quote makes it sound like disbarment is a simple popularity contest. Are there any objective standards that he is guilty of violating?Report
Color me surprised that people, regardless of color, race, etc., using the political / legal process to marginalize their opposition and increase their own power and wealth.Report
Nit:
Maintaining the status quo is no gain.
Since tribal affiliation is a claim on property, I would be really interesting in knowing why exactly these people are suing for enrollment.Report
Actually, if you maintain the status quo by preventing someone from gaining a share of your pie, it’s worthwhile., and can be considered a gain vs the loss of some of the pie by allow them status.Report
Let’s think. If you split a cake four ways do you get more than you would if the cake was split five ways?Report