The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community of Michigan can finally rest after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the state's taxation case.

The state tried to impose property taxes on land owned by tribal members. But the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals said Congress hasn't authorized it.

The state filed a petition with the Supreme Court, but the justices refused to take the case. "It�s been a long and difficult struggle in the court system over this issue," KBIC President Susan LaFernier told The Daily Mining Gazette. "But now we�ve received the final answer on it. It�s a reason for celebration."

The case set a precedent because the 8th Circuit ruled that treaty language contemplating allotment wasn't enough to open tribal lands to state taxation. The court said Congress must authorize the tax.

Get the Story:
KBIC celebrates tax decision (The Daily Mining Gazette 12/5)

6th Circuit Decision:
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community v. Michigan (June 26, 2005)

Lower Court Decision:
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community v. Michigan (June 1, 2005)

Supreme Court Decision:
Cass County v. Leech Lake (June 8, 1998)

Relevant Links:
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community - http://www.ojibwa.com

Related Stories:
Supreme Court refuses Michigan taxation case (12/1)
State appeals Indian tax decision to high court (09/28)
State misses deadline on Indian taxation case (07/28)
Michigan tribe wins another ruling in state taxation battle (06/30)
Judge says tribe must collect state tobacco taxes (09/16)
Judge rebuffs state's attempt to impose taxes on tribe (06/02)
Michigan tribe rejects talk of tax deal with state (03/18)
Members of Michigan tribe protest state tax deal (3/16)
Mich. tribe still considering state tax agreement (07/15)
State wants Mich. tribal members to pay taxes (06/10)