FORT TOTTEN, N.D. (AP) _ The Spirit Lake Tribal Council says a
``tremendous shortfall'' of support from the federal government is
the reason the North Dakota tribe decided to surrender control of
its social service programs.
The council in a letter to tribal members also says it was
hampered by ``baseless'' accounts of tribal corruption made by two
federal officials who reported problems with the tribe's efforts to
protect vulnerable children.
Those allegations ultimately led to the Bureau of Indian Affairs
takeover of tribal social service programs, which became effective
Monday.
The tribal council's letter says the tribe struggled to address social
problems without proper federal funding and other help. But Tribal
Chairman Roger Yankton says he hopes handing over social services
administration to the BIA will improve relations.
