The United Keetoowah Band and the Cherokee Nation are at odds again, this time over the ownership of the Arkansas Riverbed.

The UKB claimed to own the riverbed as a successor of the historic Cherokee Nation. But the UKBs were not a part of a court case that ultimately determined that the Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw nations owned the river. Nor were the UKBs part of a Congressional settlement to the case.

The UKB subsequently sued to challenge the settlement but a judge dismissed the case last week, citing the Cherokee Nation's sovereignty and rights to the riverbed. The decision was praised by the Cherokees but blasted by the UKBs, who are vowing to appeal.

Get the Story:
Ruling favors Cherokee Nation over United Keetoowah Band (The Native American Times 9/22)
Cherokee lawsuit dismissed (The Oklahoman 9/21)
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Get the Decision:
UKB v. US (September 16, 2005)

Relevant Links:
United Keetoowah Band - http://unitedkeetoowahband.org
Cherokee Nation - http://www.cherokee.org

Related Stories:
UKB banishes Chad Smith, Swimmer called a target (09/07)
Cherokee chief renounces enrollment in UKB (9/1)
UKB sets hearing for removal of Cherokee Chad Smith (8/23)
UKB discusses banishing Cherokee's Chad Smith (07/12)
Cherokee Nation threatens county over UKB trust (05/26)
Keetoowah Band survives despite CNO opposition (03/15)