Indianz.Com
Ariz. tribe sues non-Indian who started fire
MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2003 The White Mountain Apache Tribe of Arizona is suing the non-Indian woman who started part of last year's devastating Rodeo-Chediski Fire, which destroyed more than half of the reservation. The civil suit against Valinda Jo Elliott was filed in tribal court. The six-count complaint seeks up to $4,500 in fines. The tribe lacks criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians. Elliott started the Chediski portion of the fire while she was wandering around tribal forest land. A tribal member who started the Rodeo fire was indicted on federal arson charges. Get the Story:
White Mountain Apache Tribe Files Suit (AP 6/27)
DUI jail time for 'Chediski' fire starter (The Arizona Republic 6/28) Relevant Links:
White Mountain Apache Tribe - http://www.wmat.nsn.us Related Stories:
Tribe still struggling a year after major fire (06/16)
BIA firefighter claims mentally unfit (12/13)
White woman won't be charged for fire (7/19)
Apache Tribe to get $1M tribal donation (7/11)
Ariz. grand jury indicts for fire (7/3)
White woman remains free for fire (7/2)
Charges brought in Ariz. fire (7/1)
Ariz. tribe shocked by fire charges (7/1)
Ariz. fire burning reservation (6/28)
Ariz. fire fuels racial animosity (6/27)
Ariz. reservation declared a disaster (6/26)
Apache community saved from flames (6/25)
Ariz. fire forces thousands to flee (6/24)
Ariz. wildfire rages on (6/21)