"Some people will agree that there is a group of Tribal Members, small in number, willing to discard tribalism for individual gain for less money than the price of a new car.

Tribalism makes us what we are. It’s a consciousness and loyalty to the people as a whole, with less emphasis on the individual. Without that belief and concept, we no longer exist as a tribe, and if that happens, we may as well assimilate into the greater society.

This settlement money will be the last windfall the tribe will see in a great while. With the drastic decline in the value of our timber and the expected cutbacks in Federal funding, tough times are surely ahead. Now is the time to shore up programs that support the most vulnerable."

Get the Story:
Byron Nelson Jr.: More at Stake than Money (The Two Rivers Tribune 9/21)

Also Today:
History of the Hoopa v. United States Lawsuit (The Two Rivers Tribune 9/21)

Related Stories:
Hoopa Valley Tribe open to distribution for trust settlement (9/11)
IRS affirms per capita payouts from trust settlements not taxable (09/06)
Social Security Administration issues ruling on trust payouts (08/23)
Hoopa Valley Tribe expects to receive $49.2M trust settlement (5/24)