"It's been 14 years since a lawsuit was filed seeking compensation for the federal government's mishandling of a tribal trust fund and 123 years since the government first began collecting and holding money from farming and grazing leases, timber sales, mining and oil and gas production on Native American lands.

One estimate holds that as much as $170 billion is owed to tribal members. Because the records were so poorly kept, no one in three administrations has been able to untangle the true amount.

In December, the Obama administration announced a settlement of $1.4 billion for more than 300,000 Native Americans plus $2 billion to buy small parcels of land and return them to the tribes.

But four months later, Congress hasn't been able to find a compromise on where to find the money to pay the $3.4 billion."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Congress must reimburse Indians (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 5/4)

Relevant Documents:
Agreement | Press Release | Q&A | Audio

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