Yankton Sioux landowners blocked from meeting

Thursday, August 23, 2007  

Members of the Yankton Sioux Tribe who own land in Charles Mix County were not allowed to attend a public meeting about a lawsuit concerning their land status.

Charles Mix County State's Attorney Scott Podhradsky invited about 250 landowners to the meeting at the county courthouse. But when tribal members and tribal leaders tried to attend, a lawyer working for the county wouldn't allow them inside.

"I went there on behalf of the tribe, since we hold land in fee. They told us that unless we had a letter, we could not get into that meeting," Chairman Robert Cournoyer told The Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

Podhradsky has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. to determine whether certain land parcels are still considered Indian Country. The U.S. Supreme Court has previously determined that part of the reservation has been diminished.

Get the Story:
Meeting excluded Indians, tribe says (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 8/23)

Supreme Court Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [O'Connor]