Hey everyone. It’s me, Mari, again. So there are a couple things I want to focus your awareness on. There are probate laws that were put into effect way back in 2006. I’m sure, not many of us are aware of that. I only learned about this stuff from a long discussion with Ms. Armstrong and browsing through her websites and arcane websites such as FederalRegister.gov. If I’m not getting the message, who is?

Here’s the thing: These laws have been in effect for 15 years, and not many of us know about them. 15 years is a long time to stay uninformed, and here we are. To make matters worse, the government wants to change some of the policies. They only just recently posted this intention on one website that virtually no one reads. To me, that’s not fair.

We all have lives. We all have challenges that interfere with our ability to stay connected. The government is assuming that everyone has access to the internet. If you’re reading this, they, yes, the government is correct in that assumption.  But what about those on reservations who don’t have access?

And why does the government want to do this NOW? During a pandemic?

What are your challenges? Please list them in the comment section below.

Here’s the thing: I am accepting our Elder’s Jolette Bird Bear of the Fort Berthold Reservation Call to Action.

To know more about the injustice of the timing and method the Department is using in rolling out these new regulations, listen to the video on our Blog post: Elder’s Plea to Delay AIPRA Rulemaking during Pandemic.

These new rules will give Native Americans even less due process and protection for Indian landowners. It is vital that you be involved and learn what these new regulations mean for you and your future generations. The proposed changes and presentation materials can be found on our Blog page: AIPRA Proposed Rule Presentation Materials.

You can submit your comment on the proposed changes directly to the Department by clicking here: FederalRegisterCommentPage

We hope you Join the Discussion by signing up for our Blog newsletter at www.NativeProbate.org. Get Involved, Stay Informed, and Share Information.

For your FREE Indian Will, please visit our Blog page: Free Indian Wills Until March 8, 2021.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Attorney Roberta Armstrong at Roberta@IndianWillsOnWheels.org