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MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2002

The Supreme Court today declined to hear a case challenging the authority of the Hoopa Valley Tribe of California.

Without comment, the Court refused a challenge brought by a non-Indian against the tribe. Roberta Bugenig was seeking to harvest timber on land she owns on the Hoopa Valley Reservation near a sacred tribal site.

The Court's decision lets stand an appeals court ruling which allows the tribe to prevent logging from taking place.

In a separate action, the Court refused a land claim by the Bay Mills Indian Community of Michigan. A Michigan court of appeals ruled the tribe didn't have access to a parcel of land that passed out of tribal ownership in the late 1800s.

Related Decisions:
Bugenig v. Hoopa Valley Tribe, No 99-15654 (9th Cir. September 11, 2001)
Bugenig v. Hoopa Valley Tribe No 99-15654 (9th Cir. October 2000, Withdrawn)
Bugenig v. Hoopa Valley Tribe No. C-98-3409 (US District Court. Mar 4, 1999)
BAY MILLS INDIAN COMMUNITY V STATE OF MICH NO. 218580 (Mich. Court of Claims March 2, 2001)

Related Stories:
Supreme Court considering Indian cases (2/19)
Court upholds sacred site protection (9/12)
Tribe loses case involving sacred site (10/5)