1987-03-10 Char-Koosta News

              VOLUME 15, NUMBER 29 THE MONTH OF THE GEESE MARCH 10, 1987
'Drug Awareness Week' inspires a flurry of local activities
Reservation residents frad quite a variety of events to attend last week as part of the valley's observance of National PTA Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week, March 1-7. There were so many things planned, in fact, that the observance stretched out to two weeks; it's still going on now with film showings and workshops.
St. Ignatius seems to have had the most going on, with numerous special activities designed for its students according to the theme, "Having Fun, Naturally!": assemblies, poster contests, a "lip sync" contest, scavenger hunts, a balloon 4let-go', and a theatrical presentation. The Tribal Health Department sponsored a number of events, as did the school's PTA and CARE groups. Last Friday, of course, was the 4th annual Antoine 'Stoney' Curley Memorial and youth conference, which featured nationally known speaker Billy Mills (story in the next issue).
Parents were also challenged to get in the act as they were encouraged to write their kids and tell them "Why I think you're special".
On the agenda in Mission for what remains of this week is:
Thursday (March 12) -- Film, "Generation at Risk"; panel discussion with local people who work with young people, 7 p.m. at the elementary gym.
Friday (March 13) - "Hugs, Not Drugs" balloon launch; dance and lip sync contest for grades 7-12; K-6 scavenger hunt at 3:15; 7-12 hunt at 4:30 (both groups will meet at the grade-school gym).
Arlee's observance included a presentation on youth suicide March 3; Two Eagle River School's staff spent two days learning about the Four Worlds school curriculum. (If you're reading this on March 10, you can get (Concludes on page two)
Supreme Court votes for Tribal Court system
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Chief Tribal Court judge Don Dupuis, and other judges in Indian Country, have an extra reason to feel happy these days.
Dupuis explains that the U.S. Supreme Court gave a vote of confidence to Indian court systems everywhere when it decided last December that an Iowa insurance company did have to submit to the Blackfeet Tribal Court's jurisdiction with regard to a case involving two Tribal members.
The case, La Plante v. Wellman, worked its way from the Blackfeet
Tribal Court to the appellate court, the 9th circuit court, and finally the Supreme Court. Dupuis had been called in to preside over the case in its early stages. He originally decided that Tribal court was the proper forum for the case, even though the protesting insurance company involved is headquartered in another state. His decision was upheld by three subsequent judges.
"The U.S. Supreme Court thus upheld the Tribal court system, which is certainly good news," he said.