The Bureau of Indian Affairs is "jerking around" the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Sen. Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) said during a visit to the school where the student dorm was destroyed by fire.

Johnson said the BIA is mishandling school funds. "Those dollars are hard to come by, and to find they have not used them as intended is exasperating," he said, The Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported.

Johnson wants to know why the BIA failed to renew the insurance policy on the dorm. The tribe had bought insurance but chairman Duane Big Eagle said the BIA promised to take care of it.

The tribe needs $2.2 million to build a temporary dorm in time for the fall semester. But BIA officials have suggested that the tribe use money meant to replace the condemned school gym, Johnson and Big Eagle said.

Get the Story:
Crow Creek dorm was not insured (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 5/6)

Relevant Links:
Crow Creek Tribal School - http://www.crowcreek.k12.sd.us

Related Stories:
State steps in to help Crow Creek Tribe with dorm (5/5)
Senator Tim Johnson: BIA school funding fight (5/4)
Thune calls Crow Creek Tribe school dorm a 'disaster' (5/4)
Crow Creek Tribe needs up to $40M for new schools (5/2)
Editorial: Where were feds when tribe needed help? (5/2)
Crow Creek Tribe needs $2.2M to replace dormitory (4/29)
Wind stirs up another fire at Crow Creek school (4/28)
Crow Creek Tribe to replace dorm destroyed by fire (4/27)
School employees describe rescue of girls from fire (4/26)
Girls saved from fire at Crow Creek school dorm (4/25)