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Anti-Reservation Group Hosts Conference In Riverton

Wyoming's Wind River Country

An organization that's working to end tribal sovereignty hosted a national conference in Riverton this weekend. The group is protesting the Environmental Protection Agency's recent decision that the city of Riverton falls within Wind River reservation boundaries. That has led to tensions between tribal members, the state, and Riverton.   The group--known as Citizens Equal Rights Alliance—posted on their website that it isn't fair that tribal members receive special status because it threatens the individual rights of all Americans.  

Equality State Policy Center Director Dan Neal says the group is taking advantage of a fragile situation.  “We know that people are angry that tribes have sovereignty and have this status because of their treaties with the U.S. government,” Neal said.  “But we need to see that there's a middle path here. We've got to talk, keep the discussions civil and remember that groups like these Wisconsin groups are on the fringe and we don't have to listen to them.”

Neal says tribal members at the state capitol last week expressed worry that local residents had invited the group to host their conference in Riverton.

Melodie Edwards is the host and producer of WPM's award-winning podcast The Modern West. Her Ghost Town(ing) series looks at rural despair and resilience through the lens of her hometown of Walden, Colorado. She has been a radio reporter at WPM since 2013, covering topics from wildlife to Native American issues to agriculture.
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