Mary Johnson, an 81-year-old Navajo elder, has spent half of her life trying to hold the federal government accountable for drilling on her land.

Oil companies have made billions drilling on Navajo land in Utah. Johnson has seen few of the benefits even though the wells continue to pump on her family's 160-acre allotment.

She's been trying to get answers out of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. "It has always been a fight," Johnson told The Deseret Morning News through a translator. "No one is representing us."

Johnson is one of the plaintiffs represented by the Cobell v. Kempthorne lawsuit. Efforts to resolve the case for $8 billion have been met with delays from the Bush administration, which has failed to respond to a settlement proposal for more than a year.

Get the Story:
Battle over oil (The Deseret Morning News 9/25)
Oil is both boon and bane of the reservation (The Deseret Morning News 9/25)

Senate Confirmation Hearing:
Webcast | Carl Artman Testimony

Relevant Documents:
Staff Draft of Cobell Settlement Bill (Posted by ITMA)

Senate Indian Affairs Committee Statement:
INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE POSTPONES CONSIDERATION OF TRUST REFORM LEGISLATION (August 2, 2006)

Indian Trust Reform Act:
S.1439 | H.R.4322

Relevant Links:
Senate Indian Affairs Committee - http://indian.senate.gov
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Kempthorne - http://www.indiantrust.com
Office of Special Trustee - http://www.ost.doi.gov
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm

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