Notification process begins for $3.4B Indian trust fund settlement

Thursday, January 27, 2011  

The notification process for the $3.4 billion settlement to the Indian trust fund lawsuit is underway.

The Cobell website has been updated to include information about the process. Beneficiaries will be receiving a claim form notice in the mail that describes their rights to the settlement. Those who don't receive one can visit www.indiantrust.com/claim or call 1-800-961-6109.

The site also lists important dates. Beneficiaries have until April 20 to opt out of the portion of the settlement that addresses the administration of the Indian trust, to file a comment or objection to the settlement or to request to speak at the fairness hearing, which is scheduled for June 20.

“The Obama administration is continuing to move forward on its agenda to honorably and responsibly address long-standing injustices in Indian Country,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a press release. “The court-ordered process is now spreading the word so individual Indian trust account holders can understand what their rights are and how they can participate in the settlement. Now is the time for those who want to know their rights under the Cobell Settlement to call the 1-800 number or go to the Indiantrust.com website.”

Cobellsettlement.com and Indiantrust.com contain the same information.

Get the Story:
Notification begins in $3.4B Cobell settlement (AP 1/26)
Interior notifying eligible Indians about Cobell settlement money (The Great Falls Tribune 1/27)
American Indians to receive Cobell case notifications from Interior Department (The Oklahoman 1/27)

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