The plaintiffs in a landmark discrimination lawsuit against the Department of Agriculture still hope they can reach a settlement with President Barack Obama.

The Keepseagle case represents thousands of Indian farmers and ranchers who say they were victims of systemic discrimination. They say they were denied loans and other services for decades.

"By rights and by now, I should be sitting pretty good, but I'm not. Probably all the white ranchers around here my age are probably all paid off financially and they're sitting a lot better," lead plaintiff George Keepseagle, 69, told the Associated Press.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said he wants to resolve discrimination issues but an attorney said there haven't been any talks. The case could head to trial later this year.

"There is definitely new hope with this president," former National Congress of American Indians President Tex Hall told the AP. "Obama is a minority and he probably grew up with discrimination and experienced it himself."

Hall will discuss the case at a meeting in Bismarck, North Dakota, this Thursday.

Get the Story:
Indian Farmers' Claims Unsettled After a Decade (AP 9/7)

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