The Hoopa Valley Tribe is questioning what it sees as a delay by the federal government in dealing with a $90 million trust fund, alleging mismanagement of money the tribe wants to see split between it and the Yurok Tribe.

The Hoopa Tribe wants Rep. Mike Thompson to request an inquiry into the status of the fund and press for congressional hearings on the Hoopa-Yurok Settlement Act.

But the Yuroks lashed back on Friday, saying the Hoopa Tribe was trying to make a grab for money. The Yurok government said there's no need for a hearing right now.

St. Helena Democrat Thompson said he's received assurances from the Interior Department that a report on the settlement fund is due in July. Not until then does he expect to request hearings.

”Congressman Thompson doesn't feel it's appropriate to hold a hearing until that's released,” said his press secretary Matt Gurien. “If it's not, there'll be a problem and Congressman Thompson will talk with them about it.”

The fund is about $20 million more than believed until recently. The money comes from timber sales on the Hoopa Valley Reservation, which was split into two in 1988. Some of that money was distributed to the tribe and its members at the time.

The Yuroks believe all of the rest of the money should go to their tribe, since most of its reservation along the Klamath River is owned by private landowners. The money has been held in trust, since the Yuroks didn't have a government in place in 1988.

”While I can appreciate that the settlement money now held in trust for the Yurok Tribe makes a tempting target for some, it is bad form to try to return to the table to eat the rest of the cake after you have already been served your portion,” said Yurok Tribal Council Chairman Howard McConnell.

The exceedingly complicated issue has been to the U.S. Supreme Court and is probably the biggest dispute between the two tribes.

But Hoopa Valley Tribal Chairman Lyle Marshall said in a statement this week that it would be futile to wait until the tribes agree before the money is distributed. He called on Congress to step in and develop a formula to parcel out the money.

”I know there are people who don't even want to talk about ending this argument, but this money is not helping any native people while it sits in the U.S. Treasury,” Marshall said. “After 17 years it is time to admit that Congress has to step in and resolve this even though not everyone will like it.”

McConnell, however, accused Marshall of speaking for the Yurok people in an effort to fulfill campaign promises.

“I am hopeful that our tribes will find common ground in the months and years ahead,” said McConnell. “The Yurok Tribe will work hard toward this goal. However, that common ground cannot be a naked attempt by one tribe to take a part of what Congress gave the other.”