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Monday, February 2, 2004

Members of the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma voted 135-18 on Saturday to settle an historical accounting lawsuit with the Department of Interior.

Under the settlement, the tribe would drop its claim for an accounting of tribal trust funds. In exchange, DOI would pay the tribe $4.6 million to conduct accountings of Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts held by tribal members. From there, a mediator would resolve what may be owed to the account holders.

Separately, tribal members voted to approve a Superfund lawsuit filed against several mining companies who polluted Indian lands. In response, the companies have countersued tribal members, including business committee chairman John Berrey.

Get the Story:
Tribe accepts deal with U.S. Interior (The Joplin Globe 2/1)
Quapaws vote to approve land deal (The Daily Oklahoman 2/1)
Username: indianz@indianz.com, Password: indianz
Mining companies fire back (The Miami News-Record 1/31)

Relevant Documents:
DRAFT: Quapaw-DOI Settlement (December 2003)

Relevant Links:
Tar Creek Information Site - http://www.tarcreek.org
Tar Creek, State of Oklahoma - http://www.deq.state.ok.us/LPDnew/Tarcreek

Related Stories:
Quapaw casino manager also partner in chat deal (12/17)
Quapaw Tribe sues companies over mine pollution (12/15)
Paper posts critique of Tar Creek plan on website (12/12)
Quapaw Tribe to sue mining companies for cleanup (08/18)
EPA changes mind on Superfund funds (7/22)
Bush cutting cleanup funds for Okla. site (7/2)
EPA criticized for Superfund cuts (7/2)
EPA cleanup funds being slashed (7/1)
Tar Creek mold confirmed (4/23)
Head of EPA urged to visit Okla. site (9/11)
BIA aiding cleanup of Okla. site (9/7)
End of mine waste moratorium praised (8/30)
Sale of mine waste cleared for Okla. Tribe (8/22)

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