Leaders of the Western Shoshone Nation will take their long-running battle over land rights to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, this month.

The Western Shoshone National Council says an international forum is the only place where the case can be heard. Tribal activists hope the U.N. will put pressure on the U.S. to abide by the 1866 Treaty of Ruby Valley.

The treaty set aside 24 million acres for the Western Shoshone people. But the Indian Claims Commission ruled that the tribes "lost" the land and awarded the tribes $26 million.

The award has since grown to a $145 million trust fund and some Western Shoshone tribes support the distribution of the money Tribal activists say they won't take the payout.

Get the Story:
Nevada tribe returns to U.N. to claim racism in treaty violations (AP 2/21)

Relevant Links:
Western Shoshone Defense Project - http://www.wsdp.org

Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act:
Bill Report | H.R.884 | S.618

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