Native communities take on government

ANCHORAGE - Several Alaska Native communities are suing the federal government over housing funds awarded, then rescinded.

Metlakatla, which sits on Annette Island south of Ketchikan, said it could lose hundreds of thousands of dollars thanks to a retroactive accounting change made by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD.

The town's attorney said HUD's actions are illegal and hurting communities nationwide.

Jim Wagenlander said some Native tribes are losing as much as $17 million HUD has taken or plans to take back.

Adjustments come after audits revealed HUD overcounted how much money tribes should receive.