From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

Bubbling tension between Alaska's tribes and Native corporations is nothing new. There’s a reason this year’s AFN convention theme was “unity,” after all.

But here’s something I haven’t seen before: One tribe known for pushing the boundaries of its government sovereignty powers is attempting to levy a $500,000 on its regional Alaska Native corporation.

The Chickaloon Village Traditional Council on Oct. 5 sent the half-million-dollar bill to Cook Inlet Region Inc., threatening to seize the regional corporation’s property if CIRI didn’t pay up.

Hence: This lawsuit.

CIRI wants an order from a federal judge saying the Chickaloon tribe doesn’t have the authority to tax the corporation, following 1998 Venetie case.