An agreement was reached between the Obama administration and the lawyers for 300,000 American Indians that would resolve a 13-year-old lawsuit over royalties the US Government supposedly owed to them for the use of their land. The dispute dates back to the 1887 Dawes Act which seized Indian land – much of it rich in natural resources – and gave it to white-owned companies to exploit.
President Barack Obama called the agreement “an important step towards reconciliation”.
Under the Obama settlement, the government would pay $1.4 billion to compensate the Native Americans for their claims about historical accounting irregularities. It should be noted that the plaintiffs had claimed they were owed $47 billion, so some say US got a good deal.
It was a class action lawsuit so each member of the class would receive a check for $1,000, and the rest of the money from the 3.4 billion dollar trust would be distributed according to the land owned.
Russian Vesti.ru calls the move: “Great victory for the American Indians over the American Administration”.
The billions will be separate from the money going to the native tribes and nations through the Administration for Native Americans (ANA). Currently US recognize 562 Tribes, American Indian and Alaska Native organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations and Native populations throughout the Pacific basin (including American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).
The Obama administration settlement with the Native Americans must be approved both by Congress and a federal judge. Do you think the Congress will pass this legislature?
Because of the great interest to the matter here are the links to the original sources from the US Department of Justice:
Attorney General Holder at the Announcement of Cobell V. Salazar Settlement
Associate Attorney General Perrelli at the Announcement of Cobell V. Salazar Settlement
December 9th, 2009 at 2:58 am
My great, great, great, great grandmother was a Cherokee (that might not be the right number of greats). Does this mean that I can get some money too?
What about all the DEAD Indians? What about all the tribes that are now EXTINCT? How much money should we give them?
December 9th, 2009 at 5:19 am
Klo, these are all fair questions. I guess we are going to find out during the debates in Congress.
December 9th, 2009 at 6:16 am
My understanding is that the group that sued the Government has an agreement dated 122 years ago – they believe they did not get enough under the agreement. The trust will be settled and those who have documentation about land ownership can get money according to the land – the rest get at least $1000. I am trying to find out who is in the class – at least 300 000 were represented in the lawsuit class action.
I understand it may not seem fair. My experience with similar matter is after the fall of communism in Eastern Europe people got back from the government what the communists stole from private owners. In many cases not much was left from the property and in many cases for lack of documentation people got nothing. It is the way it is. Some will get money – the rest will get a glass of cold water.
More people will feel disappointed under Obama’s settlement than satisfied. The same thing with the desires of the African Americans for reparations. Few who have documents on the matter may at some point get compensation.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Well that is good to see at least some action taken in the end to reconcile the situation. Obviously we could never fully repay those families whose lands were taken during that era.
December 9th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
At some point the Indians should ask themselves how a handful of Europeans could push them all the way off the continent.