The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in Yellen v. Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, a dispute over COVID-19 funding in Indian Country, on April 19, 2021.

The hearing in Yellen, No. 20-543., lasted about an hour and 45 minutes, far longer than the one hour allotted for the case.

At issue is whether Alaska Native corporations (ANCs) are entitled to funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, in the same manner as sovereign Indian nations.

The case has been consolidated with Alaska Native Village Corporation Association v. Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, No. 20-544.

A decision is expected before the conclusion of the Supreme Court’s current term in June 2021.

A long-running dispute over #COVID19 relief for tribal governments is finally before the nation’s highest court but Indian Country almost lost out on the chance to argue due to infighting among attorneys involved in the case. #Coronavirus #SupremeCourt https://t.co/9lVZTL2lOD

— indianz.com (@indianz) April 19, 2021