HOOPA: MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR SETTLEMENT

 
Hoopa, CA-- More controversy out of the Hoopa Valley, as tribal members have petitioned to vote on whether millions of dollars of federal settlement money will be distributed to tribal members.
 
49.2 million dollars is what’s causing a stir among the indigenous people of the Hoopa Valley. The money comes from a class action lawsuit against the federal government for mismanagement of the reservation resources.
 
One tribal member says, " Our tribe has become bitter and ungrateful for the money.”
 
 
Last week, $10,000 dollar settlement checks were given to every qualifying tribal member; only about 60- percent of the entire settlement.
 
The division lies between voting for the rest of the money to be released… or held for special tribal programs.
  
" The argument has been by even a couple of council members that feel the tribe doesn't manage money well. They may have been something in the past but we certainly have put things in place that prevent that from happening,” said Vice Chairman Byron Nelson.
 
Voting will take place January 3rd. Vice Chairman Nelson predicts money will go to the tribal members.