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| WISCONSIN INDIAN TRIBE TO RECEIVE BIG SETTLEMENT FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT |
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WPR News - Wisconsin Indian tribe to receive big settlement from federal government
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Friday April 13, 2012
by Gilman Halsted
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(UNDATED) One of Wisconsin's smallest Indian tribes will be getting $3.7 million from the federal government.
The money is part of a $3.8 billion settlement of a class action suit over the mismanagement of tribal trust lands. The tribal chairman of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Mike Wiggins calls the settlement bitter sweet, "It's an acknowledgement you know that the U.S. government failed to uphold its fiduciary obligations to our tribe, which isn't a positive thing to think about. But at the same time if our council does its due diligence we have an opportunity to utilize the money that has positive outcomes for our people."
Wiggins says the tribal council will be looking for ways to use the $3.7 million to improve the infrastructure for health care, housing and employment on the reservation that covers about 125,000 mostly undeveloped acres. The tribal government serves about 7,000 members. Forty other tribes will receive payments as the result of the settlement including one other Wisconsin tribe the Lac Du Flambeau Chippewa.
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