An Alaska Native family says the Bureau of Indian Affairs violated its trust responsibility by approving a bad lease with a major oil company.

Joseph Inuquruq Delia said the BIA negotiated the deal on behalf of his grandfather, who only spoke Inupiat and didn't read or speak English. Delia and his family say the lease has cost them $40 million in back rent from BP, the oil giant.

The Department of Justices is defending the deal. Attorneys said the family was rightfully paid about $670,000 from 1994 to 2001.

But the family says the BIA undervalued his grandfather's allotment by using the wrong appraisal method.

Get the Story:
Suit says millions are due in back rent (AP 10/19)
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