Attorneys for the Indian trust fund lawsuit were on the Yakama Nation in Washington on Monday to explain the $3.4 billion settlement to the case.

More than 300 people turned out for the meeting, The Yakima Herald-Republic reported. Many are eligible for a share of the settlement, which Chairman Harry Smiskin said was not large enough.

"I think the settlement is long overdue," Smiskin told the paper. "Is it adequate? No. But it is what it is. $3.4 billion spread across all the tribes in the country, it's not going to go far."

The meeting came as the April 20 deadline to opt out of the portion of the settlement that deals with trust administration approaches. Attorneys said people should weigh their decision carefully.

"What we've discovered is that many of these claims are stale in terms of the federal government," attorney David Smith said at the meeting, the paper reported. "Statute of limitations has run out on many of them. So there is a lot to consider if you decide to still pursue a lawsuit against the federal government," he said.

Get the Story:
Indian trust settlement will help Yakamas, a little (The Yakima Herald-Republic 4/12)

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