"And President Obama has signed into law a pair of multi-billion-dollar settlements resolving longstanding lawsuits over the mismanagement of Native American land trusts and discrimination against African-American farmers. Under the Cobell settlement, $3.4 billion will be paid out to more than 300,000 Native Americans to settle claims over unpaid royalties on seized lands. African-American farmers will receive just more than $1.1 billion under the Pigford II settlement for having been systemically denied aid and loans by the U.S. Department of Agriculture."

Get the Story:
Obama Authorizes Settlements for Native Americans, Black Farmers (Democracy Now 12/9)

Also Today:
Obama signs historic Cobell settlement (Indian Country Today 12/9)
President signs Indian Trust Fund Settlement Act (The Cherokee One Feather 12/9)
Cobell settlement signed by Obama (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 12/9)
Obama signs law; Cobell sees 'justice' (AP 12/9)
Obama signs $4.6B settlement with Native Americans, black farmers (KXLH-TV 12/8)
Obama Signs Landmark Settlement Bill into Law (KFBB-TV 12/8)
Obama signs land claims legislation (The Press Association 12/8)
Justice to black farmers, Indian tribes (CNN 12/8)
Holder: Black Farmer and Indian Settlements Have Safeguards Against Fraud (Main Justice 12/8)

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

Relevant Documents:
• Elouise Cobell | President Obama | DOJ/DOI/USDA | Roll Call
• NCAI | Sen. Dorgan | Sen. Baucus | Rep. Cole | Rep. Pallone

Related Stories:
President Obama to sign bill with Cobell settlement this afternoon (12/8)
Obama to sign bill with Cobell settlement into law on Wednesday (12/6)
Column: A little justice for Indian land owners in trust settlement (12/6)
Column: Years of hard work end with settlement in Cobell lawsuit (12/6)
Elouise Cobell provides update on status of trust fund settlement (12/3)
Sen. Baucus to hold press conference in Montana for Cobell case (12/2)
Ken Salazar: Settlements fulfilling our promises in Indian Country (12/1)
CNC: Reaction from Elouise Cobell on final passage of settlement (12/1)
Cobell settlement heads to White House after clearing Congress (12/1)
House passes package with Cobell and tribal water settlements (11/30)
David Hayes: Settlements honor our pledges to First Americans (11/30)
Audio for White House conference call on Claims Settlement Act (11/29)
Editorial: House must take action to pass the Cobell settlement (11/29)
Editorial: Small slices of justice for Native American landowners (11/29)
Editorial: Indians in Montana benefit from claims settlement bill (11/29)
Elouise Cobell provides update about action on trust fund lawsuit (11/23)
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe chairman opposes Cobell settlement (11/23)
NPR: NCAI president discusses settlement of Indian trust lawsuit (11/23)
Editorial: Overdue justice for Indian landowners with settlement (11/23)
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Justice Department honors attorneys who work on Cobell case (10/27)
Cobell calls $3.5B settlement 'best we're going to get' in case (10/18)
Judge hopes for 'one last chance' for Congress to support Cobell (10/15)
Opinion: Time to pass Cobell and African-American settlements (10/08)
Elouise Cobell provides update about state of trust settlement (10/4)
Cobell worried about ties to African-American farmers lawsuit (10/4)
Cobell settlement changed to give more money to beneficiaries (10/1)
Elouise Cobell statement on lack of Senate vote for settlement (9/30)
Republican opposition kills vote on Cobell settlement in Senate (9/30)
Cobell probably not included in stopgap appropriations measure (9/28)
Cobell not included in bill for African-American farmer settlement (9/27)
Editorial: Time running out for Senate to act on Cobell settlement (9/24)
Marty Two Bulls: Something stinky about Cobell trust settlement (9/24)
John Boyd: Cobell lawsuit delaying African-American settlement (9/23)
African-American farmers don't want settlement linked to Cobell (9/22)
Shakopee Tribe awards $50K grant for Cobell case documentary (9/20)
White House asks Congress to fund $3.4B Cobell trust settlement (9/16)
Elouise Cobell: Sen. Barrasso needs to work for trust settlement (9/13)
Obama calls trust fund settlement 'priority' at press conference (9/13)