Another Native American tribal council has voted to recognize marriages of same-sex couples within the past week. Last Thursday, the
Colville Tribal Council in Washington state voted to recognize such marriages within the tribal members and to treat these families "
equally and with respect":
The provision affects over 9,360 members who are descendants of 12 different tribes and are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. About half of them live on the 1.4 million-acre Colville Indian Reservation.
Initiated by tribal council members, the action taken by the Council on Thursday amended the tribes’ domestic code to recognize gay marriages. Practically speaking, (Council Chairman Michael) Finley said, it will mean that gay partners can have the same rights as a married couple of different sexes. One change already enacted allows anyone who works for the tribe to add a spouse of the same sex to their insurance and benefits. He said the tribe will now begin modifying its other codes, plans and policies to make sure they agree with the newly passed amendment.
Several other Native American tribal governments recognize same-sex marriages, including the Coquille Tribe in Oregon, the Suquamish Tribe in Washington, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Michigan, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians also in Michigan, and the Santa Ysabel Tribe in California.
