This code shall be known as the "Exclusion Code."
The Tribal Council finds and declares that:
A. Article VI, Section 1(k) of the Constitution of the Nottawaseppi
Huron Band of the Potawatomi grants to the Tribal Council the power
to regulate the conduct of all persons (Indian and non-Indian) who
enter, reside on, and/or conduct business on the Band's lands
and the power to exclude persons not qualified to enter upon or reside
within tribal trust lands under statutes promulgated by the Tribal
Council;
B. Article VII, Section 1(a) of the NHBP Constitution provides that
the Band, in exercising the powers of self-government, shall not "[d]eny
to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of its
laws or deprive any person of liberty or property without due process
of law";
C. Exclusion or banishment from the Band's community and/or lands
is a traditional Bodewadmi remedy that is typically implemented as
a last resort, or used in emergency or other exigent circumstances,
in order the protect the health, safety and security of persons residing
on tribal lands or property.
The purpose of this code is to implement the authority set forth
in Article VI, Section 1(k) of the NHBP Constitution to govern the
exclusion of persons, both Indian and non-Indian, from NHBP lands
and property for the purpose of protecting the territory and health
and safety of persons within the jurisdiction of the Band.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
COUNCIL or TRIBAL COUNCIL
The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Council,
the governing body of the Tribe pursuant to Article IV of the Constitution.
COURT or TRIBAL COURT
The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Court, as established
under Article XI of the Constitution.
EXCLUSION
Prohibiting or conditioning entry of a person from all or
a portion of the Tribe's lands or properties and includes the
exclusion or permanent banishment of NHBP tribal members, non-member
Indians and non-Indian persons.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, corporation, or public or private entity,
including a business entity.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The NHBP Police Department, or any subsequent tribal department
or agency with primary law enforcement responsibilities on the Tribe's
land or properties.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
Any lawful right-of-way, such as a public road, located within
the boundaries of tribal lands that is open to public access as a
matter of federal law or applicable state law.
TRIBAL LANDS OR PROPERTY
Includes all lands defined as "Indian country" by 18 U.S.C.
§ 1151, the Pine Creek reservation, Firekeepers Casino and
Hotel, and any other property owned in fee by NHBP or any of its agencies,
subdivisions or instrumentalities, or held in trust for NHBP now and
in the future.
TRIBE OR NHBP
The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, a federally
recognized tribe.
A person may be excluded from tribal lands and property for
any of the following reasons:
A. Repeated invasion of the privacy, stalking or harassment of tribal
members or Reservation residents as evidenced by restraining orders
against that person by tribal members, the Tribe, or Reservation residents.
B. Conviction of domestic violence or multiple domestic violence offenses
occurring on or off tribal lands or properties, which involve physical
injury or sexual assault.
C. Conviction of a serious crime on or off the reservation involving
violence against persons or property, including arson, murder, rape,
assault with a deadly weapon, or a sexual offense against a minor
or a vulnerable adult.
D. As a condition of bond or release for any person charged with an
offense of domestic or family violence, or any other serious offense
involving violence or threats of violence against persons or property
within tribal lands or property.
E. Illegal controlled substance production, manufacture, trafficking,
distribution or cultivation, including the cultivation of marijuana
plants within or on tribal lands and property.
F. Repeated or serious illegal damage to the property or natural resources
of the Tribe, including land clearing, timber harvesting, and water
quality impacts.
G. Repeated unauthorized entry onto tribal lands or property, or premises
leased to individuals on tribal lands or property, including residing
in tribal rental housing in violation of housing policies and/or any
rental agreement.
H. Conviction of crimes committed on or off reservation related to disturbing
or excavating items, sites or locations of religious, historic or
scientific purposes, including graves, without authorization of the
Tribe or in violation of the laws, customs, or traditions of the Tribe
or any state or federal law.
I. Interference or threats to interfere with the governmental operations
or business activities of the Band.
J. Exclusion from a neighboring reservation for offenses or conduct
stated herein.
K. Any other misconduct or objectionable condition that threatens the
life, health, safety, or property of a tribal member, a Reservation
resident, or the Tribe and is found by the Tribal Court or Council
to be sufficient cause for expulsion, so long as the person is first
advised of the objection and given notice to desist but nevertheless
continues the misconduct or condition.
This code and the authority to exclude persons not qualified
to enter or reside on the NHBP Reservation, set forth in Article VI,
Section 1(k) of the NHBP Constitution, shall extend to all persons,
including nonmembers, in order to implement the Tribe's authority
and responsibility to protect the health and safety of the tribal
community and persons within the jurisdiction of the Band.
All requests for exclusion of a person shall be initiated through
a written complaint filed with the Tribal Council.
A. All complaints for exclusion shall contain the name of the person
to be excluded, a brief statement of the grounds for exclusion, and
shall be signed by the complaining witness.
B. A complaint for an exclusion order directed to a specific person
may be initiated by:
(1) Any member of the Tribal Council;
(2) The Chief of the Tribal Police Department;
(3) The Tribal Prosecutor; or
(4) Any enrolled tribal member.
C. A complaint for exclusion shall be filed with the Tribal Council
Coordinator.
D. The complaining party shall attend the next regular or special meeting,
as scheduled by the Tribal Council, and shall provide any necessary
information requested by the Tribal Council.
Upon majority vote of the Tribal Council that sufficient cause
exists to initiate exclusion proceedings, it shall initiate exclusion
proceedings by resolution authorizing the Tribal Prosecutor or Legal
Department, as appropriate, to file a complaint and petition the Tribal
Court seeking exclusion of the named person.
After proper notice has been served, the Tribal Court shall
hold a hearing to determine whether grounds for removal have been
proven by clear and convincing evidence.
A. After proper notice has been served, if the person does not appear
at the hearing at the time and place scheduled, the Tribal Court may
enter a default order to exclude such person.
B. The hearing shall be recorded.
C. The attorney representing the Tribe in the exclusion hearing shall
establish the basis for the proposed exclusion action by presenting
evidence, including any witness testimony. The person subject to the
proposed exclusion or that person's attorney may cross-examine
each witness.
D. The attorney representing the Tribe may, as appropriate, present
the case for exclusion. The person subject to the proposed exclusion
or that person's attorney may present evidence or call witnesses
to oppose the exclusion.
E. The Court shall have the discretion to direct questions to either
side relative to the proposed exclusion.
F. Within one week following the conclusion of the hearing, the Tribal
Court shall issue a written order containing findings of facts and
conclusions of law.
The remedies provided for in this code are in addition to any
other available remedies or right authorized representatives of the
tribal government operations or tribal business enterprises may have
to exclude persons from government offices or business premises under
approved policies and procedures, the NHBP Gaming Regulatory Act,
or other applicable law.
Except to the extent that this code provides for judicial review
by the NHBP Tribal Court, nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted
as a waiver of the Tribe's sovereign immunity from unconsented
lawsuit, or as authorization for a claim for monetary damages against
the Tribe.
Nothing in this code shall be read or interpreted as a limitation
of the Tribal Court's inherent authority to exclude persons from
tribal lands or property as a condition of bond for any person charged
with a criminal offense, as a condition of a personal protection order,
or as a condition of any judgment entered upon conviction of a criminal
act.
If any provision of this code or its application to any person
or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this code or its
application to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected,
and to this end, the provisions of this code are severable.
This code shall have immediate effect upon adoption by the Council.