United States Federal Circuit

In an action involving Native American lands, trials court's order is reversed where: 1) neither the Appropriations Acts of 1888, 1889 and 1890 or the conduct of the Interior Department created a trust relationship through which the 1886 Mdewakantons and their descendants obtained beneficial ownership rights in the 1886 lands; and 2) Congress' enactment of the 1980 Act giving political control to the Mdewakanton communities over all the property within the communities that had been set aside for Indians terminated any trust that may have been created by the Appropriations Acts.

Appellate Information

• Decided 03/10/2009
• Published 03/10/2009

Judges

Court

• United States Federal Circuit

Counsel