"It was 1996 when the lawsuit was filed by five Native American plaintiffs on behalf of 500,000 others. The lead plaintiff was Elouise Cobell, a Blackfeet from Browning.

Trusts were set up during the Andrew Jackson administration in the 1830s, part of a government effort to compensate Indians for use of land granted to them, at the same time weakening tribal control of desirable assets.

The money derives from the sale of minerals and other resources, as well as leases, and as trustee the government was supposed to manage the accounts and distribute royalties.

Almost from the start, there was short distribution and little accountability, a long-standing scandal that the Cobell suit hoped to rectify.

Promising news broke near the end of 2009: A $3.4 billion settlement had been reached.

After roughly 180 years of federal mismanagement of their funds, American Indians — many times removed descendants of the original landowners — were about to get at least a piece of what they were owed.

Or not."

Get the Story:
Senate should move now on Indian trust suit settlement (The Great Falls Tribune 6/18)

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

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