Lower Sioux Indian Community promises defense of land rights

Tuesday, May 27, 2014  

The Lower Sioux Indian Community of Minnesota said it would defend itself from a lawsuit filed by a group of Mdewakanton descendants.

"We want to make it very clear that the Lower Sioux Community Council did not endorse this lawsuit, nor do we support it in any way," the tribal council said in a letter to its neighbors. "In fact, like many of our neighbors, we are defendants in this case. We will do what it necessary to protect our families, our homes and our land."

In 1863, Congress authorized the selection of land for the loyal Mdewakanton to reward them for supporting the federal government during the 1862 Dakota War. The lawsuit claims the Interior Department set aside about 12 square miles in 1865, and some of that land is now a part of the Lower Sioux Reservation.

Get the Story:
Lower Sioux Council says federal lawsuit doesn’t represent tribe (The New Ulm Journal 5/24)

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals Decision:
Wolfchild v. US (September 27, 2013)

Lawsuit seeks establishment of new reservation in Minnesota (5/22)
Dakota descendants sue for return of land promised by 1863 law (5/21) Supreme Court turns down Dakota trust mismanagement case (03/10)
Supreme Court asked to hear Dakota trust mismanagement case (02/19)
Dakota descendants back in court over mismanagement of trust (1/28)
Native Sun News: Loyal Mdewakanton Dakota win a partial ruling (1/19)
Dakota descendants win another round in trust management suit (1/11)