Law | National

Keepseagle attorneys schedule meetings to discuss $380M fund






Plaintiffs and attorneys in Keepseagle lawsuit are seen in this 2011 photo following the announcement of a settlement. Photo by Naive Sun News

The attorneys who handled the Keepseagle settlement have scheduled a series of meetings and webinars to discuss the creation of a $380 million trust fund.

The Department of Agriculture settled the lawsuit in 2011 to address discrimination against Native ranchers and farmers. All claims were successfully processed but now there's $380 million in cy pres funds that need to be distributed.

The Keepseagle plaintiffs and the Obama administration have proposed creating a $380 million trust fund to distribute the money to non-profit organizations that serve Native ranchers and farmers. Input from Indian Country is being solicited to determine how to proceed.

The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative will be moderating meetings on the issue. The schedule follows, with details to be announced as the dates approach:
July 30 - Tulsa, OK
August 5 - Albuquerque, NM
August 7 - Phoenix, AZ
August 12 - Rapid City, SD
August 14 - Bismarck, ND
August 19 - Spokane, WA
August 21 - Billings, MT
August 26 - Raleigh, NC

Additionally, webinars will be held on August 6, August 16 and August 20. Call-in numbers to be announced no later than July 18:

Related Stories:
USDA questions plan to create $380M Keepseagle foundation (09/18)
Opinion: Keepseagle foundation boosts farmers and ranchers (9/13)
Choctaw Nation seeks $58.5M from Keepseagle for foundation (9/6)
Keepseagle foundation would share $380M with Indian Country (9/3)
Magazine: Farmers hope for new era with USDA settlement (8/27)
Most of Indian farmer discrimination settlement goes unspent (04/26)

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