The Interior Department said it disbursed $765 million to tribal and individual Indian beneficiaries in fiscal year 2009.

According to an independent audit, $414 million was disbursed to tribal governments and $342 million was disbursed to individuals. The $765 million is slightly higher than the $747 million that was disbursed in fiscal year 2008.

Overall, the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians recorded $864 million from leases, use permits, land sales and income from tribal and individual trust assets. That includes $298 million for about 384,000 open accounts in the Individual Indian Money (IIM) system and $566 million for about 2,700 accounts owned by tribes.

The figure is slightly lower than the $890 million in trust receipts that was reported in fiscal year 2008.

The Obama administration says it will regularly report on the status of the Indian trust fund. “When you access this year’s independent audit online, in addition to tribal and Individual Indian Money trust funds statements, you’ll also see a few of the improved services to beneficiaries that took place over the last year,” Secretary Salazar said. “However, we are well aware that work remains to ensure that significant trust reform efforts of the Department of the Interior continue to move forward.”

The independent audit will be posted on the OST site.

Get the Story:
Press Release: $756 Million Distributed to Individual Indian and Tribal Trust Accounts in FY 2009 (DOI 11/18)

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DOI to report regularly on Indian trust fund (08/10)