Quechan Nation claims victory in power line case

Tuesday, March 4, 2008  

The Quechan Nation is claiming victory in a case against a power line that destroyed cultural sites.

President Mike Jackson Sr. said a federal court ruled on January 10 that the Western Arizona Power Administration is liable for damaging the sites when it built a power line that crosses the reservation. Construction took place 70 years ago and the tribe has been in court since 2001 seeking damages.

"What the victory means to us is we hold the United States government negligent in its acts toward our people, particularly when those acts destroy a part of a people's culture and history. It is extremely difficult to try to equate monetary damages with destruction of culture and history. But for the court to hold that the United States is liable is a tremendous victory of our tribe," Jackson said, The Yuma Sun reported.

The tribe and WAPA, a federal entity created by an act of Congress, are in settlement discussions.

Get the Story:
Quechans seek victory in lawsuit over damage to cultural sites (The Yuma Sun 3/3)

$rl Western Arizona Power Administration - http://www.usbr.gov/power/who/wapa.html

Judge dismisses Quechan suit on refinery site (2/21)