Cobell v. Salazar
In 1996, Elouise Cobell, who is Blackfeet from Browning, Mont., filed a lawsuit alleging the U.S. Interior Department had mismanaged Native American assets to the tune of billions of dollars. Her class action suit, which eventually came to be known as Cobell v. Salazar, was finally settled in late 2009 for $3.4 billion, to be divided among hundreds of thousands of Indian people owed royalty payments on lands developed by the U.S. government. But congressional approval is necessary before those payments can go out. As it stands now, that approval has been delayed time and again. Here’s a summary of posts about the case:
Elouise Cobell (AP photo)
July 8, 2010 – Ask Elouise – Barrasso likely to take another shot at Cobell v. Salazar settlement
July 6, 2010
Cobell to Barrasso: Native Americans have got it rightJuly 2, 2010UPDATE: U.S. house approves Cobell settlement. On to Senate
July 2, 2010 New hope for Cobell settlement agreement
June 30, 2010Wyoming senator defends amendment that could kill $3.4 billion settlement in Cobell case
June 26, 2010One more crushing delay for Native Americans awaiting money from $3.4 billion Cobell settlement
June 24, 2010National Congress of American Indians backs Cobell settlement
June 22, 2010Native American group mulls Cobell settlement changes
June 18, 2010Wyoming tribes oppose amendment to $3.4 billion settlement in Cobell case
June 15, 2010 Cobell settlement deadline extended to July 9
June 15, 2010 Ask Elouise: Indian trust settlement needs tribes’ support
June 15, 2010 Native American group may support Cobell case amendment, but Blackfeet say butt out
June 11, 2010 Legal Times: Cobell case showdown!
June 9, 2010 Obama administration to Senate: Don’t mess with Cobell settlement
June 8, 2010 The Atlantic’s take on the Cobell case – ‘Mistreatment of Indians is America’s Original Sin’
June 2, 2010 Presiding judge in Cobell case retires before congressional vote on Indian trust lawsuit
May 28, 2010 – Deadline extended, again, for Congress to approve Cobell settlement
May 28, 2010 – Congress will miss deadline for Cobell approval
May 26, 2010 – More doubt cast on Congressional approval of Cobell settlement
May 22, 2010 – An end to fight over Indian trust money? Cobell says yes
May 5, 2010 – Ask Elouise: Is Sen. Barrasso trying to kill Cobell settlement?
April 28, 2010 – Sen. recounts ‘very strong concerns’ about Cobell settlement