"From the start, the whole paternalistic premise of the government-as-trustee relationship between American Indians and the U.S. government was wrong.

Now, an amendment to legislation settling a decade-old lawsuit by Natives against the federal government offers an opportunity to embark upon a fair and honest course for the future.

In short, the legislation would remove from the federal government responsibility for managing American Indian trust lands.

Now committee staff members have suggested an amendment that would go a step further - a step we believe is worth exploring, with tribes leading the conversation and decision-making.

The new proposal would end, over a period of 10 years, most of the federal government's responsibilities for managing Indian lands. The ground would remain in trust, but the landowners themselves would make almost all land-use decisions and all revenues would go directly to the owners."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Time to trust Natives to manage lands (The Missoulian 11/1)

Briefing Paper:
NEWLY PROPOSED PROVISIONS FOR SENATE BILL 1439 THE INDIAN TRUST REFORM ACT (SCIA 10/23)

Press Release:
ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION MEETINGS TO BE HELD ON S.1439 (SCIA 10/19)

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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