A federal judge is making it clear that he will not stop the Lac du Flambeau tribe from blocking roads to and from their reservation.
The roads are in the middle of a back-and-forth over money and access. The tribe closed the roads last winter, cutting off a number of non-tribal members and their homes from the Lac du Flambeau community. Judge William Conley said at a hearing Wednesday that he believes the tribe has sovereign immunity, and has broad powers over the road. The tribe and community are talking about payments for the roads, but there’s no deal yet.
