Coeur d'Alene Tribe remembers lawyer who argued their case in front of Supreme Court
This 2001 photo from the Tribe shows (from left) Jeannie Davidson, Howard Funke, Charles Matheson, Chief Allan, Francis SiJohn, Richard Mullen, Norma Jean Louise, Ernest L. Stensgar, Valerie FastHorse, Jeanne Givens, Brian Cleary, Joe Garry Givens, Maria Givens, Raymond C. Givens and Raymond D. Givens stand on the front steps on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Courtesy Photo
COEUR d’ALENE — The Coeur d’Alene Tribe had to fight for ownership of the lower third of Lake Coeur d’Alene — and the frontman of that battle, Raymond “Ray” Conway Givens, won’t soon be forgotten.
Givens, who passed away in February, represented the Coeur d’Alene Tribe in the 2001 Supreme Court case Idaho v. United States.
The 5-4 decision made in favor of the Tribe “affirmed the Tribe’s historical and cultural connection to the lake,” a press release from the Tribe said.
The court held that the approximately 5,200 acres of land under Lake Coeur d’Alene and the St. Joe River was part of the land held in trust by the United States, not Idaho, as part of the Tribe’s reservation. The decision was also a recognition of the Tribe’s traditional use of these lands and waters.
“The Court’s decision acknowledged the Tribe's rights to the land, which had been taken from them years ago, and cemented the Tribe’s role in managing this prized natural resource,” the press release added.
Following the court victory, Givens emphasized that proper stewardship of the lake was of common interest to both the Tribe and the state of Idaho.
"The Court's decision does not change the fact that the state of Idaho and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe share a common interest in proper management of one of Idaho's crown jewels, Lake Coeur d'Alene," Givens said.
Givens' legal expertise extended to many other victories for the Tribe, including securing the Superfund cleanup of the Coeur d'Alene River Basin and advocating for Indian sovereignty in North Idaho and beyond.
“Ray’s landmark Supreme Court case that returned the southern third of Lake Coeur d'Alene to the Tribe is a victory that will be remembered by our people for generations to come,” Tribal Chairman Chief James Allan said. “This win is not just for us, but for our ancestors who fought to preserve our rights and land.”