The National Congress of American Indians is facing some backlash over a letter that President Jefferson Keel wrote about the $3.4 billion settlement to the Indian trust fund lawsuit.

NCAI's officially supports a settlement. But the letter raised concerns in Indian Country because it discussed a controversial amendment that the plaintiffs and the Obama administration say will kill the deal.

NCAI executive director Jackie Johnson-Pata went on Native America Calling on Tuesday and said the letter has been widely misinterpreted. "I'm here to clarify that NCAI firmly supports a settlement," she said.

But tribal leaders have been calling and writing NCAI to complain, the group's communications director told The Great Falls Tribune. And NCAI issued a statement that said it has not taken a position for or against the amendment.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), the vice chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, is pushing the amendment as part of H.R.4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act: Section 607 of the bill authorizes the settlement.

The House passed the bill after a committee rejected an attempt to change the settlement by Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Washington), who offered an amendment that was the same as Barrasso's.

Get the Story:
Indian trust settlement deadline delayed again (The Great Falls Tribune 6/17)

American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act:
Press Release: Baucus, Levin To Release Joint Legislation To Create Jobs, Extend Tax Cuts for Families and Businesses, Support Americans Looking for Work | Background and More Information

Cobell Settlement Documents:
Agreement | Press Release | Q&A | Audio

Related Stories:
Elouise Cobell responds to questions about trust settlement (6/16)
Parties agree to extend deadline over trust fund settlement (6/16)
Official clarifies that NCAI 'firmly supports' Cobell settlement (6/15)
Blackfeet Nation slams NCAI over letter on Cobell settlement (6/15)
NCAI president writes letter on changes in Cobell settlement (6/14)
Opinion: Republican Senator threatens trust fund settlement (6/14)
Sen. Barrasso pushing amendment to trust fund settlement (6/11)
Obama administration against changes in Cobell settlement (6/10)
Bob Juneau: Pennies on the dollar for Cobell trust settlement (6/9)
New Cobell case judge backed Indian preference at Interior (6/7)
Opinion: Some justice for Indian Country in trust settlement (6/7)
Cobell suit handed to new judge after Robertson retirement (06/02)
Cobell speaks to graduates from Menominee Nation college (06/02)
Sen. Barrasso seeks to make changes to Cobell settlement (6/1)
Trust settlement awaits Senate action after House passage (6/1)
Editorial: Trust settlement is a victory for Native Americans (6/1)
Rep. Hastings loses bid to change terms of trust settlement (5/28)
Congress fails to meet deadline to act on Cobell settlement (5/28)
Editorial: Cobell settlement brings hope for Indian Country (5/26)
White House statement supports bill with trust settlement (5/25)
Votes expected this week on bill with trust fund settlement (5/25)
Five Civilized Freedmen seek a share of Cobell settlement (5/25)
Cobell trust fund settlement a part of jobs and tax measure (5/24)
Editorial: Indian Country deserves settlement to Cobell case (05/18)
White House press secretary mentions Cobell during briefing (05/18)
Rep. Hastings insists Congress not on 'deadline' over Cobell (5/14)
Kimberly Craven: Transparency needed for trust settlement (5/13)
Sen. Coburn blocks attempt to authorize Cobell settlement (5/10)
Angelique EagleWoman: Cobell deal bad for Indian Country (5/10)
Three weeks before end of last Cobell settlement deadline (5/7)
Cobell attorney says Congress can't change terms of deal (5/6)
Elouise Cobell answering questions about trust settlement (5/5)
Editorial: Congress must act quickly on Cobell settlement (5/4)
Cobell criticizes Sen. Barrasso for trying to 'kill' settlement (5/3)
Sen. Barrasso proposes changes to trust fund settlement (04/28)
Editorial: Justice delayed for Indian trust fund settlement (4/27)
House Speaker Pelosi backs settlement for Cobell case (4/26)
Clock ticking for Congress to approve Cobell settlement (4/26)
Harry Reid: Senate needs to act on trust fund settlement (4/23)
Elouise Cobell answers questions about trust settlement (4/21)
Rep. Rehberg pushes for action on trust fund settlement (4/16)
UKB chief hopes Congress acts on trust fund settlement (4/15)
Elouise Cobell answers questions about trust settlement (4/13)
Editorial: Not another 14 years for Indian trust fund case (4/12)
Judge in trust fund case worried about delays in settlement (4/9)
Judge urges Congress to approve settlement in Cobell case (4/8)
Cobell responds to questions about trust fund settlement (4/7)
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes back settlement to Cobell case (4/1)
Gyasi Ross: Cobell a hero and warrior for Indian Country (3/31)
Cobell discusses trust fund settlement at Yakama Nation (3/31)
Cobell to discuss settlement at conference in New Mexico (3/29)
Cobell team to discuss trust fund settlement in Wyoming (3/25)
Cobell responds to questions about trust fund settlement (3/24)
Cobell discusses settlement on Fort Belknap Reservation (3/24)
Cobell asks for support to approve trust fund settlement (3/23)
Cobell team heads to Idaho to talk trust fund settlement (3/23)
Cobell holds settlement meetings in Washington, Oregon (3/22)
Great Plains tribal leaders raise Cobell settlement issues (3/22)
Cobell settlement discussions in Montana, South Dakota (3/19)
Elouise Cobell responds to questions about settlement (3/16)
Kimberly Craven: Cobell deal wrong for Indian Country (3/16)
Editorial: Congress must act soon on Cobell settlement (3/16)
Cobell team in Arizona, New Mexico to brief settlement (3/15)
Editorial: It's time to settle the Cobell trust fund lawsuit (3/15)
Editorial: It's time to settle the Cobell trust fund lawsuit (3/15)
South Dakota tribes weigh stance on Cobell settlement (3/11)
Audio: House Resources hearing on Cobell settlement (3/10)
Congress slow to move on Cobell trust fund settlement (3/10)
Witness list for House hearing on trust fund settlement (3/9)
Elouise Cobell responds to questions about settlement (3/9)
Elouise Cobell to meet with landowners in South Dakota (3/5)
Elouise Cobell responds to questions about settlement (3/2)
House Resources Committee schedules Cobell hearing (3/2)
Deadline in Cobell trust fund case extended to April 16 (3/1)
Elouise Cobell answers questions about settlement (2/22)
Elouise Cobell answers questions about settlement (2/17)
Opinion: Questions remain about Cobell settlement (2/9)
Opinion: Cobell case settled for pennies on the dollar (2/8)
Opinion: Cobell trust settlement addresses land issues (02/01)
Deadline approaches to approve trust fund settlement (02/01)
Dennis Gingold: The facts behind trust fund settlement (1/29)
Bill Martin: No rubber stamp for trust fund settlement (1/26)
Editorial: Congress must act fast on Cobell settlement (1/22)
Chickasaw firm secures land consolidation contract (1/21)
Opinion: Indian trust beneficiaries finally getting paid? (1/20)
Interview with Elliott Levitas, attorney for Cobell case (1/18)
Millions coming to Montana under Cobell settlement (01/07)
Congress gets more time to act on Cobell settlement (1/6)
Editorial: A long overdue settlement to Cobell lawsuit (1/6)
Editorial: A long overdue settlement to Cobell lawsuit (1/6)
Letters: A good settlement to Indian trust fund case (12/21)
Cobell urges Senate to move quickly on settlement (12/18)
Column: Free Indians of federal government control (12/18)
Column: Cobell deal not so great for Indian Country (12/18)
Editorial: Cobell deal corrects century-old old wrong (12/18)
Editorial: Settlement and accountability in trust fund (12/18)
Witness List: Senate hearing on Cobell settlement (12/16)
Mary Pember: The small picture of the Cobell deal (12/16)
Opinion: Deal won't change much in Indian Country (12/16)
Editorial: Settlement in Cobell case is long overdue (12/16)
Editorial: Act quickly to approve Cobell settlement (12/16)
Bill Means: Cobell settlement a rip-off for Indians (12/15)
Editorial: At last a settlement in Cobell trust case (12/15)
North Dakota tribes back settlement in Cobell case (12/14)
Opinion: Indian plaintiff won't see trust settlement (12/14)
Column: Navajo woman helped resolve Cobell case (12/14)
Editorial: Preventing future trust mismanagement (12/14)
Editorial: Approve settlement to Cobell trust case (12/14)
Senate committee sets Cobell settlement hearing (12/11)
Washington tribes react to Cobell case settlement (12/11)
Editorial: Land consolidation program 'worrisome' (12/11)
Lynne Harlan: A new era in federal Indian relations (12/11)
Column: Cowboy banks got paid more than Indians (12/11)
Editorial: Settling more than a century of injustice (12/11)
Editorial: Support settlement for Cobell trust case (12/11)
Editorial: Acknowledge past mistakes in trust fund (12/11)
Editorial: A long overdue settlement to Cobell suit (12/11)
NARF welcomes settlement in Cobell trust lawsuit (12/10)
Cobell hailed as warrior as she returns to Montana (12/10)
Billings Paper: Cobell deal sends $27M to Montana (12/10)
Editorial: Cobell settlement fair for Indian Country (12/10)
Editorial: Welcome settlement to Cobell trust case (12/10)
Mostly praise for $3.4B settlement to Cobell lawsuit (12/9)
Editorial: Act quickly on Indian trust fund settlement (12/9)
Twitter Recap of Cobell settlement with Photos (12/8)
Statement by President Obama on Cobell settlement (12/8)
Statement by Sen. Dorgan on Cobell settlement (12/8)
Statement by Sen. McCain on Cobell settlement (12/8)
Statement by Sen. Tester on Cobell settlement (12/8)
Statement by Rep. Rahall on Cobell settlement (12/8)
Statement by Rep. Cole and Rep. Kildee on Cobell settlement (12/8)
'Major' announcement on Indian trust management (12/8)