Dakota descendants back in court over mismanagement of trust

Friday, January 28, 2011  

The plaintiffs in the Wolfchild lawsuit were back in court last Friday to discuss the next steps in the case.

On December 21, 2010, Judge Charles Lettow of the Court of Federal Claims ruled that the descendants of the "loyal Mdewakanton" are owed money for land that was promised to them in the late 1800s. "The Wolfchild case goes on," attorney Erick Kaardal told The Redwood Gazette.

Lettow ruled that the trust ended in 1980, so the damages calculation will end at that point. The plaintiffs are considering an appeal on this issue.

The land at issue in the case is now part of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, the Prairie Island Indian Community and the Lower Sioux Indian Community, all in Minnesota.

Get the Story:
Lineal descendant lawsuit nears final ruling (The Redwood Gazette 1/28)

Court Decision:
Wolfchild v. US (December 21, 2010)

Related Stories:
Native Sun News: Loyal Mdewakanton Dakota win a partial ruling (1/19)
Dakota descendants win another round in trust management suit (1/11)
Supreme Court declines Dakota descendants trust case (4/19)
Tribes working to keep cases away from Supreme Court (3/31)
Appeal planned in Dakota trust mismanagement case (4/13)
Turtle Talk: Issues at play in Dakota trust case (3/11)
Appeals court decision in Dakota trust case (3/10)
Judge expands Dakota trust mismanagement suit (4/30)
Dakota descendants fight for land trust rights (4/23)
Dakota descendants await payment in trust case (8/14)
Judge reaffirms ruling in Dakota trust fund lawsuit (12/19)
Meetings set in Mdewakanton trust fund lawsuit (01/28)
Dakota descendants win round in trust fund case (10/29)
Dakota descendants file trust mismanagement suit (11/19)
Minn. tribes challenged on membership policies (11/17)