The plaintiffs in the Wolfchild trust case said they will continue to press their claims despite being rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday.

The plaintiffs represent Dakota descendants who were promised land by the federal government in the late 1800s. The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals said most of their claims weren't supported by trust law but other claims remain.

"It's a grave injustice for the real Mdewakanton of Minnesota," lead plaintiff Sheldon Wolfchild told The Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The land at issue in the case is now part of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Prairie Island Indian Community and Lower Sioux Indian Community, all in Minnesota. The Shakopee and Prairie Island tribes opposed the lawsuit but the Lower Sioux Tribe supported it.

"This should be the end of a misguided effort to attack the three federally recognized Mdewakanton tribal governments in Minnesota," said Shakopee Chairman Stanley Crooks told the paper.

Sheldon is a former chairman of the Lower Sioux Tribe.

Get the Story:
Supreme Court rejects suit over tribes’ casino wealth (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 4/20)

Supreme Court Order List:
ORDERS IN PENDING CASES (April 19, 2010)

Federal Circuit Decision:
Wolfchild v US (March 10, 2009)

Court of Federal Claims Decision:
Wolfchild v. US (December 16, 2005)

Related Stories:
Supreme Court declines Dakota descendants trust case (4/19)
Tribes working to keep cases away from Supreme Court (3/31)
Appeal planned in Dakota trust mismanagement case (4/13)
Turtle Talk: Issues at play in Dakota trust case (3/11)
Appeals court decision in Dakota trust case (3/10)
Judge expands Dakota trust mismanagement suit (4/30)
Dakota descendants fight for land trust rights (4/23)
Dakota descendants await payment in trust case (8/14)
Judge reaffirms ruling in Dakota trust fund lawsuit (12/19)
Meetings set in Mdewakanton trust fund lawsuit (01/28)
Dakota descendants win round in trust fund case (10/29)
Dakota descendants file trust mismanagement suit (11/19)
Minn. tribes challenged on membership policies (11/17)