Tribes Lose Land Lawsuit
Published at | Updated at(FORT HALL, ID) – The Shoshone-Bannock tribes have lost a lawsuit in federal court over the jurisdiction of private property on the reservation. David Evans is a non-tribal member who built a home on land that was deeded to him by his father. Although privately-owned, the land is still within reservation boundaries, and the tribes wanted Evans to pay thousands in fines because he failed to purchase a building permit from Fort Hall. Shoshone-Bannock lawyers argued that they had jurisdiction over Evans’ construction project, but a federal judge disagreed, noting that the zoning board’s powers only extend to tribal members.