The Hoopa Valley Tribe of California is suing the federal government over a $90 million trust fund.
Chairman Clifford Lyle Marshall says his tribe is owed $80 million of the fund. But Special Trustee Ross Swimmer ruled that the money belonged to the Yurok Tribe.
"We're looking for the smoking gun. I think Ross Swimmer had a lot to do with it," Marshall tells The North Coast Journal.
The fund was created by Congress in 1988 to settle a land and resources dispute between the two tribes.
The Hoopas received a $34 million share but the Yuroks challenged the law while their share went undistributed.
After losing rounds of litigation, the Yuroks finally said they wanted the fund, which had grown to $90 million.
But the Hoopas say the Yuroks broke their end of the agreement and shouldn't get any of the money.
Get the Story:Damages Is it Hoopa v. Yurok, Hoopa Yurok or none of our damned business? (The North Coast Journal 2/14) Relevant Documents:
Complaint: Hoopa Valley Tribe v. US (February 1, 2008) $rl Hoopa Valley Tribe - http://www.hoopa-nsn.gov
Yurok Tribe - http://www.yuroktribe.org
