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DECEMBER 7, 2000

The Yakama Nation on Wednesday appeared in federal court in Yakima, Washington, seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed against them by the state.

The state filed the suit in response to the tribe banning the sale of liquor on the resrvation. The state says the tribe can't control the activities of non-Indians, particularly on non-Indian land.

In seeking to dismiss the suit, the tribe said in court that the state filed its lawsuit prematurely because the tribe hasn't attempted to arrest or prosecute any non-Indians. The tribe enacted the law to help curb alcoholism and related problems on the reservation.

Get the Story:
Tribe defends ban on alcohol (AP 12/7)

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