Elouise Cobell, the lead plaintiff in the Indian trust fund lawsuit, says the fight over an historical accounting will continue despite a negative court ruling.

On August 15, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a broad accounting of the trust fund. But Cobell said the government is not off the hook to tell hundreds of thousands of Indian people what they are owed for use of their land.

Members of Congress hope to settle the case, which has been in the courts for nine years. Leaders of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and the House Resources Committee are sponsoring legislation to end the historical accounting portion of the lawsuit.

Some landowners aren't convinced the effort will be successful. "They're not going to do nothing for the Indians," said Harvey Moses told Gannett News. "They never have, and they never will."

Get the Story:
Plaintiff in Indian trust case vows to fight on (AP 11/21)
ndians seek land resolution (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 11/21)

Historical Accounting Decision:
Cobell v. Norton (November 15, 2005)

Senate Documents:
John McCain Statement | Byron Dorgan Statement | Full Text of Bill as Introduced | S.1439

Relevant Documents:
Trust Reform and Cobell Settlement Workgroup Principles for Legislation (June 2005)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm
National Congress of American Indians - http://www.ncai.org
Intertribal Trust Fund Monitoring Association - http://www.itmatrustfunds.org

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