General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: US should return stolen land to Indian tribes, says United Nations [View all]PufPuf23
(8,854 posts)for Indian Trust lands (Reservations and Allotments) sold under the Dawes Act and monies lost by BIA mis-management of natural resources on Indian Trust lands.
The settlement was for less than $0.02 on the dollar in economic terms ignoring cultural damage and excludes most American Indians.
Many American Indian leaders and the Obama Administration consider the settlement a "win" rather than a political convenience even though most American Indians are excluded.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobell_v._Salazar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawes_Act
About 100 million acres of Indian Trust lands were sold by the DOI/BIA under the Dawes Act. Individual Tribes were harmed more than the $2 Billion allotted for the entire USA.
From the FAQ at : http://www.cobellsettlement.com/
2. What am I giving up as part of the Settlement?
If the Settlement becomes final, you will give up your right to sue the federal government for the claims being resolved by this Settlement. The specific claims you are giving up against the federal government are described in Section A, paragraphs 14, 15, and 21 of the Settlement Agreement. You will be "releasing" the federal government and all related people as described in Section I of the Settlement Agreement.
If you did not receive an IIM account statement for 2009, you may request your IIM account balance as of September 30, 2009 by calling 888-678-6836. If you request your IIM account balance, you are agreeing to the balance provided by Interior unless you excluded yourself from the Settlement (see Excluding Yourself From the Settlement).
The Settlement Agreement describes the released claims with specific descriptions, so read it carefully. If you have any questions, you can talk to Class Counsel for free or you can talk to your own lawyer at your own expense.