Indian beneficiaries finding long-lost money

Monday, March 5, 2007  

Indian beneficiaries are being connected with long-lost trust fund payments and trust land they didn't know they owned.

A man from Oklahoma found out he inherited land from his grandmother, a member of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in California. Now he is getting back in touch with his tribal family.

Tasia Wagner, 22, also inherited land from her grandmother in Oklahoma. She now has money in her trust fund account.

The Office of Special Trustee is trying to find more "whereabouts unknown" accounts. About $63.3 million is owed to about 54,000 people.

Get the Story:
Search for tribal beneficiaries rebuilds ties (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 3/5)
Millions in tribal inheritance sits unclaimed in feds' hands> (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 3/5)

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

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