Indianz.Com > News > Shoshone-Bannock landowner not optimistic on trust reform at DOI

Shoshone-Bannock landowner not optimistic on trust reform at DOI
Monday, January 3, 2011
Filed Under: Cobell

Ernestine Werelus, a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, doesn't think Indian landowners should "get too excited" about trust reform efforts at the Interior Department.

Werelus started the Fort Hall Landowners Alliance to address trust management issues on the Fort Hall Reservation in Idaho. She was a witness in the Indian trust fund lawsuit, which was settled for $3.4 billion last year.

“It’s a long-standing, bittersweet settlement and I don’t know that the people here are really going to see a lot of benefit from it, or if the government’s going to shape up, so to speak, to do a better job,” Werelus told The Idaho State Journal. “I wouldn’t get too excited.”

As part of the settlement, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will establish a Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform. The commission will take two years to evaluate current trust reform activities and make recommendations for the future.

The five members of the commission can be appointed now that Congress enacted the settlement.

Get the Story:
Settlement money may not be distributed soon (The Idaho State Journal 1/3)

Cobell Settlement Documents:
• Agreement | Press Release | Q&A | Audio

Related Stories:
Cobell expects settlement payouts within 8 to twelve months (12/17)
Joint motion filed over preliminary approval of Cobell settlement (12/14)
Editorial: Long awaited justice over Indian trust fund settlement (12/13)
Jen Bloom: Cobell settlement no victory for Indian beneficiaries (12/13)
Democracy Now: Obama signs bill with Cobell settlement into law (12/9)
President Obama to sign bill with Cobell settlement this afternoon (12/8)
Obama to sign bill with Cobell settlement into law on Wednesday (12/6)
Column: A little justice for Indian land owners in trust settlement (12/6)
Column: Years of hard work end with settlement in Cobell lawsuit (12/6)
Elouise Cobell provides update on status of trust fund settlement (12/3)
Sen. Baucus to hold press conference in Montana for Cobell case (12/2)
Ken Salazar: Settlements fulfilling our promises in Indian Country (12/1)
CNC: Reaction from Elouise Cobell on final passage of settlement (12/1)
Cobell settlement heads to White House after clearing Congress (12/1)