Man pulls deal over Old Chief Joseph gravesite

Friday, March 23, 2007  

An Oregon man has backed out of a deal to sell 60 acres near the grave of Old Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Tribe.

Steve Krieger says he is angry over the way he has been treated. He is threatening a lawsuit against Wallowa County, where the land is located, and against Geoffrey Whiting, an attorney for the Nez Perce Tribe, and Joe McCormack, a tribal member.

Krieger says Whiting and McCormack have defamed his character by claiming his plans to build housing near the gravesite came out of "hatred." "I broke no laws, I do not hate the Nez Perce Tribes," Krieger told The Wallowa County Chieftain.

The state was going to pay $4.1 million for the land to protect it from a housing development at the start of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail.

Get the Story:
Krieger backs out of land deal with state (The Wallowa County Chieftain 3/22)

Relevant Links:
Nez Perce Tribe - http://www.nezperce.org

Related Stories:
State to buy land near Old Chief Joseph gravesite (3/13)
Editorial: Save Nez Perce burial site from desecration (09/14)
Tribes blast development at sacred site in Oregon (9/9)
Nez Perce Tribe buys nearly 1,000 acres in Oregon (08/05)
Nez Perce Tribe vows to stop housing near cemetery (02/19)
Housing approved near Nez Perce cemetery (02/13)
Commentary: Unthinkable desecration of grave (2/12)
Debate continues on housing near Nez Perce gravesite (02/05)
Nez Perce gravesite threatened by development (2/2)
Appeals seek to protect Old Chief Joseph's grave (01/08)
Developer wants to build near Old Chief Joseph's grave (12/12)