The Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is telling tribal members not to pay property taxes in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.
Chairman Louis Taylor said tribal members are exempt under the 1854 Treaty of LaPointe.. He
cited a recent decision from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals that applied to the
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community in Michigan.
In that case, the court said tribal land that was opened to allotment by treaty did not fall out of Indian status.
Only Congress can change the nature of Indian land, the court said.
The state says four reservations -- Bad River, Red Cliff, Lac du Flambeau and Lac Courte Oreilles -- fall under the 1854 treaty and properties should be examined to determine whether they are exempt.
Get the Story:
LCO members exempt from property taxes
(The Sawyer County Record 2/14)
$rl Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa -
http://www.lco-nsn.gov
6th Circuit Decision:
Keweenaw
Bay Indian Community v. Michigan (June 26, 2005)
Lower Court Decision:
Keweenaw
Bay Indian Community v. Michigan (June 1, 2005)
Supreme Court Decision:
Cass County v. Leech
Lake (June 8, 1998)
Related Stories
Michigan tribe wins another ruling in state
taxation battle (06/30)
