How a tribe won a legal battle against the federal Bureau of Indian Education — and still lost
In a legal marathon, a remote Alaskan tribe emerged victorious against the Bureau of Indian Education, securing $1 billion for dilapidated schools. But their triumph turned bittersweet. The funds came with strings attached, empowering federal bureaucrats to dictate school curriculum, instruction, and policies – decisions that once belonged to the community. The tribe’s hard-fought win laid bare a cruel truth: While Native American tribes may have legal standing, the path to true sovereignty remains treacherous.