Facebook Twitter Email
MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2002

Attorneys for 300,000 American Indian trust fund beneficiaries are questioning whether the Department of Interior has sent checks to everyone who deserves them.

The government has admitted there are hold-ups at two Bureau of Indian Affairs agencies. But the departemnt has no idea whether the amount paid since a court-ordered shutdown represents the full payments due to account holders.

According to a government attorney, $24 million has been distributed in general assistance, leasing and oil and gas royalty checks. Of this amount, $17.6 million was for leasing and $1.7 million was for estimated royalty checks.

Additionally, Osage Nation headright owners are being paid $4.1 million, according to the government. Another round of estimated checks -- more than 60 days late -- is scheduled early next week.

Whatever the story, plaintiffs' attorney Dennis Gingold isn't buying it. He questioned the figures reported to U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth last week and said tens of thousands more account holders are deserving of money.

Get the Story:
Dogged lawyer vies for Indians (The Denver Post 3/18)
Interior Slow in Paying Royalty Checks to Indians (The Washington Post 3/16)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://130.94.214.68/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp

Related Stories:
Judge 'dumbfounded' with DOI (3/15)
Interior blames security on consultants (2/26)
DOI: We're writing checks (2/25)
Defense on security charge lacking (2/22)
BIA: Grazing checks in 'backlog' (2/22)
Judge says 'duped' by government (2/21)
Judge blasts Interior 'deception' (2/21)
NCAI President testifies on shutdown (2/21)
Contempt testimony concludes (2/21)
Judge says 'duped' by government (2/21)
Judge blasts Interior 'deception' (2/21)
NCAI President testifies on shutdown (2/21)
Contempt testimony concludes (2/21)
DOI: 'No idea' on royalty payments (2/21)
Royalty checks still not out (2/20)
Letter: Dom Nessi took my job (2/19)
email@nps.gov sputtering through (2/19)
No payments hurt Indian Country (2/14)
Griles has hope on contempt (2/13)
Norton concludes testimony (2/13)
Norton takes the stand in contempt (2/13)
Norton agrees to testify (2/12)
Norton set for trial testimony (2/12)
Audit finds more security holes (2/8)
Norton dodges questions on Internet shutdown (2/7)
McCaleb: From a donkey to Star Trek (2/6)
Navajo Nation distributing checks (2/6)
Interior security funds outlined (2/5)
Navajo Nation approves royalty funds (1/30)
Letter: Enough is enough! (1/30)
Gaming commission ignoring Norton (1/28)
BIA to start payment processing (1/25)
Interior turning on trust fund system (1/24)
Computer security finally a concern (1/23)
Indian trust seen in new light (1/23)
Interior shutdown has wide effects (1/21)
Norton told of security problems (1/18)
Interior's weaknesses not unique (1/17)
Norton effort 'too little, too late' (1/16)
Interior shutdown still unresolved (1/16)
Norton notes 'challenge' of daily work (1/15)
McCaleb tries to explain computer shutdown (1/11)
Interior waited weeks on trust fund shutdown (1/9)
Order on trust fund payments sought (1/8)
Debate continues over trust fund shutdown (1/7)
Speedy trust fund payments sought (1/7)
Interior says working on shutdown (1/7)
Little hope for trust fund payments (1/4)
Computer security charge stands as checks delayed (12/21)
Checks to Great Lakes region delayed (12/20)
For BIA, a working holiday (12/19)
Taking lead on trust reform proves tough (12/19)
Baucus: Delay in checks 'unacceptable' (12/19)
Judge orders Interior reconnect (12/18)
Interior shutdown was 'overreaction' (12/18)
'Not be a very bright Christmas' (12/18)
Cost of Interior shutdown not known (12/17)
Interior computer agreement dropped (12/14)
Interior computer order finalized (12/13)
Editorial: Still ripping off Indians (12/12)
Griles in charge of IT reform (12/11)
Floods more important than Indians (12/10)
Judge holds security hearing (12/8)
DOI Shutdown: 'We're Hurting Tribes' (12/7)
From the top, a gamble in trust (12/7)
Norton acknowledges Internet problems (12/7)
'We're in the Dark' (12/7)
Judge orders Interior to cut Internet access (12/6)
Security contempt charge added (12/6)
Transcript of Dec. 5 trust fund hearing (12/6)
Interior doesn't understand court order (12/6)
Judge cuts trust fund access(12/5)
Report reveals attacks on tribal, Indian trust (12/5)
No Trust: Hacking the Department of Interior (12/5)
Judge holding secret hearings (12/4)
New: Security report released (12/4)