"On Dec. 4 an action was taken against Crow Creek tribal land near my district that shook the absolute foundations of Indian law all the way back to the 1800s. Yet few people were in the small room in Highmore to see this monumental action, and few other tribes even know that it has taken place.

I write this letter because any tribe with land should shudder at the magnitude of what this precedent could mean for themselves or their tribal members.

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service collected against 7,100 acres of Indian-owned land in Hyde County. To put that in perspective, the number is equal to 11 square miles of land.

This particular parcel was part of the original Crow Creek treaty boundaries, but the treaty subsequently was broken, and this land was sold to LeMaster. Interestingly enough, our tribe was able to use settlement money from another federal-land taking to repurchase this land in 1998.

My issue is not with the IRS action but rather with the system under which our tribe and all other tribes find themselves. I have said throughout this process that the actions of a handful of people are being used to take the property of 3,000 tribal members. Where else in America is that even a possibility?"

Get the Story:
Duane J. St. John: Loss of Crow Creek land should concern tribes (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 1/11)

Also Today:
Tribal chairman says support overwhelming in fight against IRS (AP 1/11)

Court Decision:
Crow Creek Sioux Tribe v. IRS (January 6, 2010)

Related Stories:
Judge to proceed with trial over Crow Creek auction (1/8)
Crow Creek leader continues protest over land sale (12/18)
Crow Creek Sioux Tribe protests IRS auction of land (12/9)
IRS auctions 7,100 acres of Crow Creek Sioux land (12/4)
Crow Creek Sioux Tribe fails to stop IRS land auction (12/3)