Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Season 2 Episode 3 Tribal Courts

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee season 2 episode 3, titled "Tribal Courts," dives deep into the complexities of the legal system on Native American reservations. Bee investigates the inherent difficulties that tribal courts face regarding jurisdiction, funding, and recognition from the US government.

The episode opens with a brief history lesson on the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which forcibly relocated Native Americans from their ancestral lands to designated reservations. These reservations were often poorly equipped to handle basic amenities, let alone complex legal systems. As Bee notes, "tribal courts are the only court system that was intentionally created with inherent flaws."

Bee visits the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes, to speak with members of the community and tribal court judges. She discovers that many people on the reservation don't understand how the tribal court system works. Lack of information and funding for legal representation, coupled with a language barrier that often prevents non-English speakers from accessing the court, leave many facing serious legal challenges without the proper resources to navigate the system.

One of the biggest issues facing tribal courts is jurisdiction. According to the Major Crimes Act of 1885, certain crimes committed on tribal land, such as murder, rape, and kidnapping, must be tried in federal court, even if both the perpetrator and victim are Native American. This limitation strips tribal courts of their authority to fully hold offenders accountable and can result in long delays before a case is resolved.

Bee also highlights the unique challenges facing women on reservations, who are more likely to face domestic abuse, sexual violence, and human trafficking. She speaks with Christine Diindiisi McCleave, the director of the Native Women's Society of the Great Plains, who explains that the Violence Against Women Act of 2013 helped provide some funding and protection for women on reservations but was recently struck down by a federal judge. As a result, many women are left in vulnerable positions without access to the resources they need.

Despite these challenges, tribal courts continue to operate and push for reform. Bee speaks with Hon. Abby Abinanti, a judge on the Yurok Tribal Court in California, who has been praised for her innovative approach to justice. Abinanti emphasizes the importance of treating each defendant as an individual and not simply as a case, and stresses the value of incorporating traditional tribal practices and values into the court system.

The episode concludes with Bee acknowledging that tribal courts face a long road ahead, but also recognizing the resilience and determination of those advocating for change. She urges viewers to learn more about the issues facing Native Americans and to push for better funding and resources for tribal courts. "We can't continue to ignore the reality of life on reservations," Bee says. "We have to support the people who are fighting to make it better."