Legal Document

476 U.S. 734 106 S.Ct. 2216 90 L.Ed.2d 767 UNITED STATES, Petitionerv.Dwight DION, Sr. No. 85-246. Argued March 25, 1986. Decided June 11, Syllabus The Bald Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act) makes it a federal crime to hunt the bald eagle or golden eagle, except that such hunting may be authorized, pursuant permit issued by Secretary of Interior, "for religious purposes Indian tribes" for certain other narrow compatible with preservation those species. Endangered Species imposes similar ban on eagle. Respondent, member Yankton Sioux Tribe, was convicted after jury trial in Federal District Court of, inter alia, shooting four eagles violation Act, but court before dismissed charge Act. Appeals reversed convictions and affirmed dismissal charge, holding members Tribe have right under an 1858 treaty within Reservation noncommercial purposes, neither Acts question abrogated this right. Held: erred recognizing respondent's defense prosecutions. Pp. 738-746. (a) rights Reservation. Congress' intention abrogate must clear plain. Here, is strongly suggested face view supported legislative history. More particularly, action 1962 amending extend its authorizing issue permits reflected unmistakable explicit policy choice permit, inconsistent need preserve 738-745. (b) Since divested respondent his eagles, he had no could assert as charge. 745-746. 762 F.2d 674 (CA8 1985), part remanded. MARSHALL, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. Jeffrey P. Minear, petitioner, pro hac vice, special leave Terry L. Pechota, Rapid City, S.D., respondent. Justice MARSHALL 1 Respondent Dwight Dion, Sr., South Dakota 87 Stat. 884, amended, 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq. (1982 ed. Supp. II).1 54 250, 668 Act). Dion also selling carcasses parts birds Migratory Bird Treaty 40 755, 703 Eighth Circuit all Dion's 752 1261, 1270 1985) (en banc); 674, 694 (1985) (panel opinion). As those, stated only upon determination were killed commercial purposes. F.2d, at 1270. It Court's Ibid. We granted certiorari, 474 900, 270, 88 225 (1985), we now reverse judgment insofar against him 2 * terms prohibits anywhere United States, Interior. equally stringent Circuit, however, sitting en banc, held purposes.2 further did not therefore directed vacated, since nor made any finding whether killings purposes.3 3 relied signed States representatives Tribe. Yancton (1858 spelling) Sioux, Apr. 19, 1858, 11 743. Under treaty, ceded 400,000 acres land then bound Yanktons remove to, settle on, their reserved one year. turn agreed guarantee quiet undisturbed possession land, pay Yanktons, expend benefit, various moneys years come. area thus legally constituted reservation, see Minnesota v. Hitchcock, 185 373, 389-390, 22 650, 656-657, 46 L.Ed. 954 (1902); Wood Jameson, 81 S.D. 12, 130 N.W.2d 95 (1964). place restriction Yanktons' land. 4 All parties litigation agree included exclusive fish See Brief 19; 7.4 general rule, Indians enjoy lands them, unless clearly relinquished been modified Congress. F. Cohen, Handbook Law 449 (1982) (hereinafter Cohen). These expressly mentioned treaty. Menominee 391 404, 1705, 20 697 (1968); Alaska Pacific Fisheries 248 78, 39 40, 63 138 (1918). Those rights, little avail if, Solicitor General argues, they subsequently find were.5 II 5 long settled "the provisions act Congress, passed exercise constitutional authority, . if explicit, upheld courts, even contravention express stipulations earlier treaty" foreign power. Fong Yue Ting 149 698, 720, 13 1016, 1025, 37 905 (1893); cf. Goldwater Carter, 444 996, 100 533, 62 428 (1979). This applied rule congressional abrogation treaties Lone Wolf 187 553, 566, 23 216, 221, 47 299 (1903). concluded, has power "to though presumably will exercised when circumstances arise which justify government disregarding demand, interest country themselves, should do so." 6 required Cohen 223; Santa Fe R. Co., 314 339, 353, 248, 255, 86 260 (1941). "Absent statutory language, extremely reluctant rights. ." Washington Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel Assn., 443 658, 690, 99 3055, 3077, 61 823 construe statutes abrogating "a backhanded way," U.S., 412, S.Ct., 1711; absence statement, " 'the modify lightly imputed Congress.' Id., 413, 1711, quoting Pigeon River Co. Cox 291 138, 160, 361, 367, 78 695 (1934). are too fundamental easily cast aside.6 7 enunciated, different standards over determining how plain intent demonstrated. In some cases, Congress make "express declaration" Leavenworth, L., & G. 92 733, 741-742, Otto 634 (1876); Wilkinson Volkman 627-630, 645-659. looked statute's 'legislative history' 'surrounding circumstances' well Act.' Rosebud Kneip, 430 584, 587, 97 1361, 1363, 51 660 (1977), Mattz Arnett, 412 481, 505, 93 2245, 2258, (1973). Explicit statement preferable purpose ensuring accountability Seminole Nation 316 286, 296-297, 1049, 1054-1055, 1480 (1942). rigidly interpreted preference, per se rule; where evidence sufficiently compelling, weight authority indicates can found reviewing from reliable history statute." 223. What essential actually considered conflict between intended hand other, chose resolve A. 8 renders "take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, offer purchase transport, export import, time manner commonly known American alive dead, part, nest, egg thereof." 668(a). prohibition "sweepingly framed"; enumeration forbidden acts "exhaustive careful." Andrus Allard, 51, 56, 318, 322, 210 authorizes Interior taking, possession, transportation tribes," 668a. 9 Congressional certainly provision allowing taking tribes difficult explain reflection understanding statute otherwise bans Indians, recognition would cause hardship decision problem solved exempting coverage statute, appropriate. 10 supports view. originally 1940, contain reference Indians. Its prohibitions related eagles; shadow more plentiful 1962, amendments extending well. drafted staff Subcommittee Wildlife Conservation House Committee Merchant Marine Fisheries, simply added words "or eagle" two places relating described. Miscellaneous Fish Legislation: Hearings 87th Cong., 2d Sess., (1962) Hearings). Before start hearings bill, received letter Assistant Frank Briggs behalf Department. Department proposed bill. noted, following concern: 12 "The important enabling many tribes, particularly Southwest, continue ancient customs ceremonies deep emotional significance them. note (Smithsonian Institution, 1912) volume I, page 409, states follows: 'Among superstitious appreciative regard aborigines North America, reason majestic, solitary, mysterious nature, became especial object worship. expressed employment esthetic only. 14 ..... 15 "There frequent reports continued veneration use feathers tribal rites. Hopi, Zuni, several Pueblo groups Southwest great strong feelings concerning eagles. circumstances, evident deeply interested both If enacted, bill regulation, allow tribes." 2-3. reported out bill.7 setting legislation, explained part: 17 "Certain large number obtain these feathers, provide souvenirs tourists country. addition, actively hunted bounty hunters Texas States. result activities steps taken contemplated there grave danger completely disappear." H.R.Rep. 1450, (1962). 18 reprinted Briggs' Report, id., 3-5, adopted exception three major changes law, along technical ones. extended law's provided exempt, takings And final proviso: "Provided, That unless, prior so procured Interior." 7. Senate Commerce. 19 At hearings, reiterated position that, because religion authorized tribes. Golden Eagle: Commerce, agreed, additional amendment authorize preying livestock. again letter, S.Rep. 1986, 5-7 (1962), summarized resolution hereby bring 1940 act, (their rituals) request Governor State, protection livestock game." 3-4. Senate, concurred House, discussion. seems us, reading whole, believed take Indeed, Report cited demand threats survival necessitated passage supra, ----. set regime control hunting, rather than on-reservation unrestricted. cultural interests balanced needs conservation specific, delineated extent permitted 21 argues fact restricting hunting. He points internal memorandum circulated stating, analysis, apply reservations. Memorandum Vaughn, Branch Wildlife, Office Director, Bureau Sport 26, 1962. believe aware contents Vaughn memorandum. importantly, contention understand irreconcilable face. granting necessarily unrestricted ability while construes non -Indians purposes," interpretation pointing testimony during effect large-scale sometimes sold argument credible. felt necessary left free reservations, nonetheless unable satisfy own forced call non-Indians behalf. Yet nothing remotely patronizing strained immediately regulations "individual who authentic, bona fide practitioners religion." 28 Fed.Reg. 976 (1963).8 action, conclude, read having B 24 asserts prosecution. considerably slim history, out, silent regarding case, conclude asserted barred event. 25 immune prosecution possesses kill held, passing 26 hold amended stripped away conduct prohibited statute. But relevant prohibit exactly same conduct, reasons. here engage precisely overriding criminal shield hold, removed failure discuss context revive 27 promote sensible law derived bar killing bars conduct. Even address valid abrogation, therefore, already explicitly III For reasons n. 3, pass claim raised amici invades freedom. Cf. Abeyta, 632 F.Supp. 1301 (NM 1986). Nor argument, first Court, separate birds. case remanded proceedings consistent opinion. 29 ordered. verdict conclusively establish took reservation. (indicating questions remain open remand). Both parties, 10; 2. testified assumed opinion, shall same. sell 1264-1265. does challenge here, validity us. On remand banc court, panel rejected freedom Dion. pursue accordingly consider it. A rejecting claim, though, casts doubt squarely stated: record reveals protected gain. 680 (1985). Notwithstanding gain, apparently court's refusal issue, vacating "pursuant banc." 694. properly presents outside scope disturb cannot absent purpose, vacated finding. correctness below punishable, Such individual Winans, 198 371, 381, 662, 664, 49 1089 (1905); Kimball Callahan, 590 768, 773 (CA9), cert. denied, 826, 49, 33 (1979); Felter, 1505, 1509 (CA10 1985). General's protect extinction." Volkman, Judicial Review Abrogation: "As Long Water Flows, Grass Grows Upon Earth"—How Time Is That?, Calif.L.Rev. 601 (1975) Volkman). Various witnesses, course gave 15, 20, 29, 34, 35, 39, 47. Respondent's meant benefit nontreaty flawed. reservations created agreement, executive order normally carry them implicit 224; Antoine Washington, 420 194, 944, 43 129 (1975).

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