As I don't have detailed knowledge of this specific story, it's hard to say for sure. But generally, if it was a legal case, it could have set precedents for similar situations in the future.
The 'old chief v united states 1997 narrative story' could potentially have a great significance. If it was a legal battle, it might have influenced policies related to the particular group that the 'old chief' represented. It could have also been a turning point in how the US government interacted with indigenous communities. Maybe it led to changes in laws or at least a re - evaluation of existing ones. But without more details, it's all speculation.