GREAT FALLS – A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit against the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council must be heard in tribal court.
Five members of the Blackfeet tribe filed a lawsuit in federal court in October of 2015, stating that the business council did not have the authority under tribal law to negotiate and ratify a water compact.
Judge Brian Morris adopted Magistrate Judge John Johnson’s findings and recommendations in the case last Friday.
The findings state that all claims made by the plaintiffs are in the Blackfeet trial law and constitution and that the federal court lacks jurisdiction to resolve inter-tribal disputes.
-Margaret DeMarco reporting for MTN News
