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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2003

"There is a metaphysical question presented by the dispute between American Indians and the U.S. Interior Department: Is the United States stealing from American Indians or are the Indians attempting to steal from the United States?

The enduring stereotype is that the government always steals from the Indians. Every school child has been told how the Indians sold Manhattan for a handful of beads and how the government tricked Indian tribes, violated treaties and continues to break its promises.

So, given that history, shouldn't the lawyers for the Colorado- based Native American Rights Fund be believed when they claim the government owes the holders of Indian trust accounts $137 billion?

The answer is "no."

Get the Story:
Al Knight: Who is 'stealing' now? (The Denver Post 1/8)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://www.ncai.org/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp

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