Former members of the Ute Tribe of Utah who were terminated by the federal government will continue to press their case in the courts and in the public arena.

The 490 mixed-blood Uintas lost their federal recognition under an act of Congress in 1954. Full-bloods -- defined as those with at least one-half and over one-half Indian blood -- were allowed to keep their tribal membership.

The mixed-bloods eventually filed suit to challenge their removal from the tribe. But a judge last month ruled that the group waited too long to fight termination.

The plaintiffs are planning an appeal and a letter-writing campaign to draw attention to their case.

Get the Story:
Mixed-blood Uintas plan letter campaign (The Deseret Morning News 2/21)

Court Decision:
Felter v. Norton (January 27, 2006)

Related Stories:
Judge dismisses lawsuit filed by mixed-blood Utes (01/30)
Terminated Utes seek to regain status, identity (11/21)
Utah court blocks state jurisdiction on hunting (11/11)
Utah court tries to figure out who is legally Indian (09/22)
Court to hear terminated Ute hunting rights case (09/08)
Federal courts try to decide who is legally Indian (08/24)
Unrecognized tribe loses aboriginal rights case (1/27)
Termination policy still affects Utah tribes (8/7)
Non-recognized tribe wins round in suit (4/16)
Utah says tribe not real (11/8)