Local News

SUIT AGAINST COLVILLE BUSINESS COUNCIL DISMISSED

Dec 09, 2014

A lawsuit filed against members of the Colville Business Council by Colville Tribal member Yvonne L. Swan and the “Colville Members for Justice”, as Plaintiffs, has been dismissed by the Colville Tribal Court of Appeals. Citing Tribal Law, the Tribes’ Sovereign Immunity and Tribal Constitutional provisions, the Appellate Court affirmed the decision of the Colville Tribal Court, which dismissed the suit in October, 2013. The decision was penned by Chief Justice Anita Dupris, and joined by Justices Dennis Nelson and Theresa Pouley.

The suit, Yvonne L. Swan, et al. v. Colville Business Council, was an effort to compel the Colville Business Council to distribute $96.5 Million, the remaining half of the Tribes’ historic $193 Million settlement with the U.S. in a suit filed by the Tribes over governmental Trust mismanagement. Half of that settlement was distributed through per capita payments to the Tribal membership. The remaining half, the subject of this suit, was allocated by Tribal Resolution to long-term cultural and economic goals through the Tribes’ “Qwam Qwmpt’” plan. The plan allows for a Tribal Language Endowment, Land Purchase, a Forest Restoration Plan, Community Development funds, Health and Wellness funds, and Sustainable and Generations Funds to generate interest for future growth and community capital expenditures, among other funds.

“This decision allows us to put this issue to rest and move forward with the unfettered implementation of the plan. It’s unfortunate that our Tribes have been divided on this issue, but we (the Colville Business Council) are excited about the future. There are a lot of successes we are focused on, like the construction of our new Government Center and Casino in Omak, the clean-up of the Inchelium Post and Pole plant, the continued operation of the Mill in Omak, the construction of a senior mealsite in Keller. Moving forward, we will continue to do what we feel is a balanced best-effort to offer success and wealth to our Tribal membership and our future generations. We’re all in this thing together, and all want the same results. It should get easier in finding that common ground from here.” said Colville Business Council Chairman Jim Boyd today.