President Obama Issues Statement on Final Approval of the Cobell Settlement

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Challenges. Discussion »

WASHINGTON – After an action by the US Supreme Court and the appeal deadline expired on Saturday, November 24, the Cobell settlement agreement gained final approval. On Monday, the White House released the following statement from President Barack Obama, whose administration settled the long lasting lawsuit:

Clearing the Way for Reconciliation

Statement of the President on the Final Approval of the Cobell Settlement

I welcome the final approval of the Cobell settlement agreement, clearing the way for reconciliation between the trust beneficiaries and the federal government. While Elouise Cobell, the named plaintiff in this case is no longer with us, her legacy will be a renewed commitment to our trust relationship with Indian country. I thank her for her honorable work, and also want to thank the leaders at the Departments of the Interior, Justice and Treasury who helped reach this conclusion.

posted November 27, 2012 8:30 am est