$3.4 Billion Cobell Settlement Approved

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

Cobell Settlement

WASHINGTON - After a 15 year long lawsuit, US Senior District Judge Thomas F. Hogan granted final approval on Monday to the $3.4 billion Cobell Settlement.

Unless the decision is appealed, the court's approval of the $3.4 billion settlement paves the way for payments to be made to as many as a half-million individual American Indians who had Individual Indian Money accounts or an interest in trust or restricted land managed by the US Department of the Interior.

President Obama issued the following statement on Monday evening:

"After fifteen years of litigation, today's decision marks another important step forward in the relationship between the federal government and Indian Country. Resolving this dispute was a priority for my Administration, and we will engage in government'to'government consultations with tribal nations regarding the land consolidation component of the settlement to ensure that this moves ahead at an appropriate pace and in an appropriate manner. And going forward, my Administration will continue to strengthen our relationship with Indian Country."

"The Cobell settlement is the beginning of true trust reform," said Interior Deputy Secretary Hayes, noting that Interior is establishing a Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform in consultation with tribes. This commission will undertake a forward-looking, comprehensive evaluation of how the Interior Department manages and administers its trust responsibilities. "Interior needs to be more transparent and customer-friendly," said Deputy Secretary Hayes. "The status quo is not acceptable."

Following an earlier ruling by Judge Hogan, Interior Deputy Secretary Hayes began scheduling consultation meetings with tribal leaders to begin discussions on the land consolidation component of the settlement. Deputy Secretary Hayes and other Department officials will hold six regional government-to-government tribal consultations which will provide valuable input in developing an implementation strategy that will benefit tribal communities and help free up trust lands. The consultation process is fundamental to respecting the government-to-government relationship with the tribes.

posted June 21, 2011 6:00 am et