The Intertribal Monitoring Association on Indian Trust Funds (ITMA) kicked off the first day of its listening session in Billings, Montana.

Indian beneficiaries, tribal leaders and government officials spoke of the problems and challenges associated with managing billions of funds and millions of acres of land. "Complicated" was a word used more than once during the session.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Office of Special Trustee are currently undergoing a reorganization aimed at addressing some of the problems. OST is adding "trust officers" to work at BIA agencies throughout the nation.

Get the Story:
Complexity of trust funds loom over hearing (The Billings Gazette 7/16)

Relevant Links:
Intertribal Monitoring Association on Indian Trust Funds - http://www.itmatrustfunds.org

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ITMA hosting trust reform sessions in Montana (7/14)