The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday refused to get involved in a dispute between the Spirit Lake Nation of North Dakota and a tribal member.

Douglas Longie, a former tribal judge, sued the tribe over a 30-year-old land transaction. He had agreed to swap 40 acres of his land for 80 acres of the tribe's but the deal was never formally completed, either by himself or by the tribe.

Longie kept using both parcels of land, leading to a dispute over unpaid lease income on the 80 acres. The tribe also started using the 80 acres for its own use.

Longie sued the tribe but the 8th Circuit said that he has to exhaust his tribal court remedies. "This intra-tribal matter is contingent upon tribal law, not federal law," the court said in a unanimous decision.

Get the Story:
Federal appeals court rejects appeal over Spirit Lake land (AP 3/7)

Get the Decision:
Longie v. Spirit Lake Nation (March 7, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Spirit Lake Nation - http://www.spiritlakenation.com