Proposed enrollment amendments open for comment; deadline May 24
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — The Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Enrollment Committee is asking tribal members to comment on proposed amendments to the 2016 Enrollment Act with a deadline of May 24.
A letter was sent to tribal members advising of the change and because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee is unable to go to district lodge meetings.
The letter reads the amendments don’t affect enrolled members of the Tribes but are procedural in nature. They seek to clarify residency and relinquishment of enrollment in another tribe prior to determining eligibility in the Tribes and decrease the quorum requirement for the Enrollment Committee to do business.
Enrollment Committee members include Sandra Eschief, chairperson, Glenn Fisher, Elizabeth Whitworth, Inez Preacher and Sandy Navo.
Following are the amendments and the changes are in red text:
Amendment #1 Section 2-3-5-(2)
Temporary absences by an enrolled Tribal member for purposes of business, vacation, military services or spouse's military service, temporary housing, incarceration, education, or health reasons may not result in loss of residence. If, however, an enrolled Tribal member actually moves to another place and uses that place as his or her fixed place of abode, the new place is deemed to be his or her residence, despite doubtful, vague or equivocal intent to return to his or her former Tribal residence.
Amendment #2 Section 2-3-9 (h)
A quorum of the Enrollment Committee shall consist of three (3) members or more in order to conduct official enrollment business.
Amendment #3 Section 2-3-17 (a)
A person who is enrolled in another Federally recognized, state or Canadian tribe may be considered for enrollment into the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, provided that the person proves full relinquishment in another tribe and meets the requirements under Article II of the Constitution of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Enrollment Act.
Amendment #4 Section 2-3-17 (b) currently reads and is deleted:
All current and past applications for enrollment based on relinquishment from another Federal, State, or Canadian recognized tribe, are considered null and void, and any applications rejected for this reason will not be considered for enrollment into the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.
Amendment #5 Section 2-3-20 (c)
If the applicant is 17 years of age or younger, an application for enrollment may be completed and filed by the applicant's parent(s), enrolled member legal guardian, or next of kin as the sponsor of such person.
Amendment #6 Section 2-3-21 (9)
The Enrollment Committee may require additional information, as needed, from an applicant in order to better determine the applicant's eligibility for enrollment and may request, in writing, such information to be submitted prior to the application being reviewed by the Enrollment Committee. Any and all additional information requested by the Enrollment Committee shall be received within thirty (30) days from the date the request is received.
Comments can be submitted to ecommittee@sbtribes.com on or before May 24 or drop off at their office in the Tribal Business Center or mail written comments. The committee’s telephone number is 208-478-3705.
