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Editorial: Time to get to bottom of trust fund woes
Thursday, September 22, 2005

"A story periodically appears on news wires that’s full of questions about the federal government’s stewardship over money due American Indians for oil, gas, coal, grazing and timber royalties collected on their behalf.

The story hasn’t commanded much attention but it should. It’s about being upfront with America’s oldest minority group and giving them what they may be owed.

The Indians have been trying to get an accurate accounting about the royalties since filing their class-action suit on behalf of 500,000 account holders in 1996, but nine years and two presidential administrations later, they haven’t gotten an answer. They believe that over time they’ve been shortchanged by more than $100 billion."

Get the Story:
Editorial: A frustrating tale of non-accountability (The Nashua Telegram 9/21)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Office of Special Trustee - http://www.ost.doi.gov
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm

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