The Hoopa Valley Tribe of California has been denied membership on the Humboldt County Association of Governments board despite having state law in the tribe's favor.

The board deadlocked 4-4 on giving the tribe a seat at the table. Chairman Clifford Lyle Marshall called the vote "shocking," The Eureka Times-Standard reported.

A special state law includes specific language qualifying the tribe to sit on the board. But some members questioned whether they would have to allow other tribes to join.

The tribes could almost outnumber the cities and when you're outnumbered you get outvoted and the Indians are entitled to a whole bunch of money from the federal government that we can't get," Fortuna Mayor Odell Shelton said, the paper reported.

Get the Story:
Shocking to us' (The Eureka Times-Standard 12/15)

Relevant Links:
Hoopa Valley Tribe - http://www.hoopa-nsn.gov