Human rights panel prepares for action

COEUR d'ALENE - A fledgling human rights group is preparing to move into action in Benewah County.

The Benewah Human Rights Coalition, led by former county commissioner Christina Crawford began forming earlier this year.

"Our goal is to provide education to make sure that people are treated fairly and to keep a record of incidents and activities that are not in keeping with peaceful coexistence," Crawford told The Press.

The group, now in the process of official incorporation, will be a nonprofit led by private citizens.

"We are not a government entity. We are not political. We are not partisan, neither Democrat nor Republican," Crawford said.

Crawford, who has lived in Benewah County since 1993, was appointed to the board of commissioners in December 2009 by Gov. Butch Otter. She was in the District 2 position, which covers much of the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation. Crawford lost a November bid for election to the position, and left office in January after completing the last year of the term.

"During that time in office, I realized we needed a human rights organization," Crawford said.

Her decision to set up a county human rights coalition was not based on any single issue.

"It's a cumulative situation where there is misunderstanding," she said. "Information is a powerful tool, disinformation is also a powerful tool."

Crawford cited the recent controversy over policing authority on the reservation as an example.

The Coeur d'Alene Tribe and Benewah County have long been at odds over police jurisdiction within the section of the reservation situated in Benewah County.

Without a cross-deputization agreement in place, as the Tribe has with Kootenai County, tribal police lack authority to arrest non-Indians, creating a public safety issue. According to the Tribe, criminals are going free on the reservation because sheriff's deputies fail to respond quickly when called for assistance by tribal police.

The tribe has sought legislative intervention during the last two sessions in Boise, igniting contentious debate. Those who oppose giving tribal officers policing authority over non-tribal members raised concerns that non-Indians would be subjected to tribal law rather than state law, and that citizens with concealed weapons permits would have their guns taken away from them by tribal officers. A policing bill failed passage in February.

"One of the things that has been so frustrating about that is that there was basically no need for the upset," Crawford said. "It could have been negotiated, but there really wasn't any good will to negotiate it, and in my opinion it became completely out of proportion. The average person wasn't given accurate information about the situation."

That's where the new human rights coalition plans to step in, she said, to promote good will by providing accurate information and respect, without confrontation.

They plan to be at community events throughout the summer.

"It's not about agreement. It's not about arguing with people to change their mind. It's about accuracy, consistency, and tolerance," Crawford said. "I think they are very, very important. We're here to help people understand and get along through education and information."

The group has designated an initial six-member board. They have about 20 founding members which Crawford expects will grow significantly.

A human rights task force was previously in place in Benewah County, but has been inactive for several years.

When the new group was forming, Crawford reached out to Kootenai County human rights activist Tony Stewart, and asked him to mentor the group.

Stewart and other members of the 30-year-old Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations set up a one-day workshop for the Benewah group.

"What is so wonderful about a countywide task force is their mission to bring all constituency groups to work together in unity and harmony, supporting the dignity of all persons," Stewart said. "Task forces are inclusive. That's what democracy is all about."

The Benewah Human Rights Coalition is developing a website. They can be reached by sending mail to P.O. Box 111, Plummer, ID 83851, or by phone, (208) 274-2839.