federal funds.

With the existing contracts set to expire at the end of September, Northern Arapaho attorneys have asked the court to block the federal government from reasserting control over services currently managed under “638” agreements.

Specifically, the Northern Arapaho want to be able to operate their own tribal court while the BIA is preparing to set up a Court of Indian Offenses in the absence of an agreement between the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone to continue operating the existing tribal court.

A judge heard arguments in a Great Falls, Montana, courtroom Wednesday and is expected to issue a ruling on Sept. 26 addressing the Northern Arapaho’s request to run its own court and on a federal motion to dismiss the case.

But stretching beyond the tribal court, the Northern Arapaho argue they should not be required to jointly operate any reservation services with the Eastern Shoshone. That could lead to a bumpy transition as two court systems, two sets of hunting and fishing regulations and other administrative structures would be duplicated in the same geographic area.