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Unrecognized tribe loses aboriginal rights case
Thursday, January 27, 2005

An unrecognized tribe claiming aboriginal rights on the Uintah-Ouray in Utah saw its case dismissed by a federal judge this week.

The Timpanogos Tribe claimed to have hunting and fishing rights on the reservation. Members say they descend from the Shoshone tribe the reservation was granted to in 1861.

But U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell said the tribe didn't prove it descends from the historic Shoshone tribe. She said the Timpanogos are actually Utes.

The tribe had earlier won a ruling from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals that kept the case alive.

Get the Story:
Judge rejects motion granting tribe special rights (The Deseret Morning News 1/27)
Case dismissed: The group isn't recognized by the state or feds (The Salt Lake Tribune 1/27)

Earlier Decision:
TIMPANOGOS TRIBE v. CONWAY No. 014056 (10th Circuit. April 15, 2002)

Relevant Links:
Timpanagos Tribe - http://www.timpanogostribe.org
Northern Ute Tribe - http://www.northernute.com
Indian Affairs, State of Utah - http://www.utah.org/indian
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources - http://www.nr.utah.gov/dwr/dwr.htm

Related Stories:
Termination policy still affects Utah tribes (8/7)
Non-recognized tribe wins round in suit (4/16)
Utah says tribe not real (11/8)

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