The Yakima Herald-Republic interviewed Winona LaDuke about various topics, including the Indian trust fund lawsuit, the controversy over the use of Geronimo as a codename for the military mission against Osama bin Laden and President Barack Obama.

"Q: Local U.S. Rep Doc Hastings recently launched an effort to keep attorneys in the Cobell case from getting their requested $222 million in fees from Indians awarded in the multi-billion dollar settlement. Do you think the fees are too high?

A: I think that their fees are exorbitant. The plaintiffs are destitute. I think that they should be ashamed to take that much. But the federal government should be ashamed to offer so little. You steal the resources all those years and then you give the Indians back basically a pittance of what the actual value is. Plus, what's the punitive value for denying people their dignity for 50 years?

Q: Going back to recent news that shook up the American Indian community, what was your reaction to Geronimo being Osama bin Laden's code name during the operation carried out against him?

A: What the tribal community has said is it's a bad analogy. He's not a national hero like Geronimo is.

Q: You endorsed Barack Obama for president in 2008. Given this issue and other concessions he's made to the Republican Party, do you still support him?

A: He didn't give Osama the name Geronimo, but I'm not too pleased with him right now. However, it's a hell of a time to be president. You walk into this deep recession, two wars, environmental disarray. If I was the first black man to be president, this isn't the time I would pick for it. I cut him some slack."

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Q and A: Former vice presidential candidate LaDuke visits Valley (The Yakima Herald-Republic 5/13)