Cobell Settlement Consultation in Albuquerque Tomorrow

Native News Network Staff in Native Briefs. Discussion »

September 27

Native Brief: ALBUQUERQUE - The fourth regional tribal consultation on Cobell Trust Land Consolidation Program will take place on Tuesday, September 27. Tribal Leaders from the Southwest Region and other regions will attend the event at National Indian Programs Training Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The Cobell Settlement will address the Federal Government's responsibility for an historical accounting of Individual Indian trust accounts and trust mismanagement claims on behalf of more than 300,000 individual Indians.

Associate Deputy Secretary Meghan Conklin at the United States Department of the Interior (DOI) and Principal Deputy Special Trustee Ray Joseph will facilitate this regional tribal consultation.

Background on Cobell Settlement

The $3.4 billion Cobell settlement was approved by Congress on November 30, 2010 (Claims Resolution Act of 2010) and signed by President Obama on December 8, 2010. The Cobell Settlement will address the Federal Government's responsibility for an historical accounting of Individual Indian trust accounts and trust mismanagement claims on behalf of more than 300,000 individual Indians. A fund of $1.5 billion will be used to compensate class members for their historical accounting, trust administration and asset mismanagement claims.

In addition, to address the continued proliferation of thousands of new trust accounts caused by the "fractionation" of land interests through succeeding generations, the Settlement establishes a $1.9 billion fund for the voluntary buy-back and consolidation of fractionated land interests. The land consolidation program will provide individual American Indians with an opportunity to obtain cash payments for divided land interests and free up the land for the benefit of tribal communities. Up to $60 million of the $1.9 billion will be set aside to provide scholarships for post secondary higher education and vocational training for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

More information and materials can be found at www.doi.gov/cobell »

WHAT:     Fourth Regional Tribal Consultation on Cobell Trust Land Consolidation Program

WHO:     Meghan Conklin, Associate Deputy Secretary, DOI
Ray Joseph, Principal Deputy Special Trustee, Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians Tribal Leaders from the Southwest Region and other regions

WHEN:     Tuesday, September 27
Registration will begin at 7:00 am mdt
Consultation will begin at 8:30 am mdt - 4:00 pm

WHERE:     National Indian Programs Training Center
1011 Indian School Road, NW
Suite 254
Albuquerque, New Mexico

posted September 26, 2011 6:00 am edt