An estimated 10,000 Dakota descendants are expected to sign on as plaintiffs in a trust fund lawsuit.

The descendants are entitled to a share of damages in Wolfchild v. US. A federal judge ruled that the United States breached its responsibility to the plaintiffs by failing to hold their land and the proceeds from it in a trust.

According to the ruling, the land that should have been placed in trust for the descendants was instead given to the Shakopee, Prairie Island and Lower Sioux Mdewakanton tribes, who now operate successful casinos.

The judge has yet to make a ruling on how much money would be awarded to the Wolfchild plaintiffs.

Get the Story:
Descendants of 1862 Indian conflict seek share of casino profits (AP 8/14)

Court Decision:
Wolfchild v. US (October 27, 2004)

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Judge reaffirms ruling in Dakota trust fund lawsuit (12/19)
Meetings set in Mdewakanton trust fund lawsuit (01/28)
Dakota descendants win round in trust fund case (10/29)
Dakota descendants file trust mismanagement suit (11/19)
Minn. tribes challenged on membership policies (11/17)