Tiffany asks for reimbursement to LdF for road use payments

Rep. Tom Tiffany last week sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting the Town of Lac du Flambeau to be reimbursed for the hundreds of thousands of dollars paid to the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.

The tribal government denied public passage on four roads during the winter of 2023, placing blockades that restricted a number of town residents from entering or leaving their homes. In order to restore public access, the town began making payments to the tribe to keep the roads open which ultimately resulted in payments of more than $600,000. According to Tiffany’s letter, the roads were assessed at a value of approximately $79,000.

“I am asking the Department of Justice to investigate this matter and seek compensation from the tribal government to reimburse the town,” Tiffany said in his letter. “Not only did the town hand over in excess of $600,000 as part of this illegal shakedown, it also incurred significant legal expenses and administrative costs associated with responding to the actions of tribal leaders and the Biden administration’s BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs).”

Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Conley ruled that the homeowners have a right to access the roads, which were listed on the National Tribal Transportation Inventory list at the time when the barricades were put into place. The BIA subsequently removed the roads from the inventory in March 2023, which Conley ruled was a violation of the law.

“The town of Lac du Flambeau — a small community with a population of just over 3,000 people — saw its finances pushed to the absolute limit by the unlawful standoff created by the reckless and irresponsible actions of the tribal government,” Tiffany’s letter continued. “It is only fair that as the instigators of this unnecessary dispute, the tribe be held accountable. Thank you in advance for your favorable consideration.”