LAC DU FLAMBEAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – The federal government has sued the town of Lac du Flambeau, alleging that it is illegally exploiting roadways owned by the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians and 76 individual Indian landowners.
The conflict between the town and the tribe has raged for years, culminating in January when the tribe chose to place barriers across multiple roadways on the reservation. After a temporary compromise was reached in March, the tribe agreed to remove the barricades while the parties talked.
Elsie Lake Lane, East Ross Allen Lake Lane, Annie Sunn Lane, and Center Sugarbush Lane were all part of right-of-way agreements signed in the 1960s; all have since expired and have not been renewed.
Federal officials are now seeking the court to consider the town’s conduct of trespassing and to pay the tribe compensation for any profits or losses caused by the town. If no agreement is achieved, they will approach the court to evict the town from tribal land.
The town stated in a May 30 press release that it is “working diligently with the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Council in seeking resolution of accessibility to roads located on Tribal lands in the Town.”
