The following story was written and reported by Brandon Ecoffey, Native Sun News Managing Editor. All content © Native Sun News.

Indian beneficiaries in Oklahoma demand release of Cobell settlement funds at this protest last year. Photo from Katherine Ware-Perosi / Change.Org

Cobell might ‘almost’ be ready
Garden City Group says 3 to 5 weeks
By Brandon Ecoffey
Native Sun News Managing Editor

WASHINGTON— According to the Garden City Group, the trust administrator for the Cobell settlement fund, the long awaited payment due to members of the Trust Administration class of the historic Cobell lawsuit can be expected in 3-5 weeks.

"(Garden City Group) is prepared to commence sending out checks within three weeks as long as the court gives final approval for the Trust Administration Class distribution. We will update the website when the first checks have been mailed," said attorneys for GCG on CobellSettlement.com.

The promise however has not been greeted well on social media by tribal members who have become increasingly skeptical of any promises made regarding the second payment.

GCG had updated class members more than a month ago and stated that disbursement of the checks were originally upheld by appeals made by class members and then more recently that GCG was waiting for the Department of Interior to fulfill their role as stated by the settlement.

This second payment will go to members of the Trust Administration Class who consists of , “Anyone alive on September 30, 2009, and who had an IIM account recorded in currently available electronic data in federal government systems ("Electronic Ledger Era") anytime from approximately 1985 to September 30, 2009, or (who) can demonstrate ownership interest in trust land or land in restricted status as of September 30, 2009.”

The Trust Administration class also includes, "The estate of any deceased beneficiary whose IIM account was open or whose trust assets had been in probate as reflected in the federal government's records as of September 30, 2009.”

For more information please visit CobellSettlement.com.

(Contact Brandon Ecoffey at staffwriter2@nsweekly.com)

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