Elouise Cobell discusses settlement at University of Montana
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Filed Under:
Cobell
Elouise Cobell, the lead plaintiff
Indian trust fund lawsuit, spoke at the
University of Montana on Wednesday.
Cobell, who filed the lawsuit in June 1996, urged students to stand up for their beliefs. "Do something," she said, The Missoulian reported. "You don't have to do anything that they'll throw you in jail or anything. Stand up for your rights."
After hundreds of court hearing and numerous appeals, Cobell and the Obama administration reached a settlement in December 2009. The deal provides $1.5 billion in direct payments to Indian beneficiaries and creates a $1.9 billion fund to buy land from willing account holders.
Cobell said the first round of $1,000 checks should be distributed sometime this fall. Another round of payments -- at least $800, but more for many account holders -- will probably be made in spring 2012.
"I know it sounds like a long time, but people have been patient for a very long time," said Cobell, the Missoulian reported. "It's sad. Every day that an elder passes on, it hurts me because they died without their restitution."
Get the Story:
Elouise Cobell tells students trust case's lesson: 'Stand up for your rights'
(The Missoulian 3/24)
Speaker remembers historic lawsuit (The Montana Kaimin 3/24)
Elouise Cobell Speaks To UM Students, Staff About Landmark Settlement (NBC Montana 3/23)
Related Stories:
Cobell attorneys host meetings in Alaska to
explain settlement (3/23)
Oklahoma beneficiaries question payment to
Cobell attorneys (3/23)
S.E. Ruckman: Indian
beneficiaries look for answers on Cobell (3/21)
United Keetoowah Band assists members in Cobell
settlement (3/18)
Michael Roberts:
Investing Cobell money in Indian institutions (3/18)
Lawyers in Cobell case discuss $3.4B settlement in
Oklahoma (3/17)
So far, a few
beneficiaries have opted out of Cobell settlement (3/16)
Audio from Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing
on budget (3/15)
Cherokee Nation
estimates 1700 might benefit from Cobell deal (3/14)
Rep. Gosar signs onto bill to restrict Cobell
attorney fees to $50M (3/11)
Cobell team
to hold meetings in Oklahoma to discuss settlement (3/10)
Cobell attorneys say fee request not a big issue in
Indian Country (3/9)
Bill to limit Cobell
attorney fees to $50M referred to committees (3/8)
Cobell attorneys criticize Republican bill to
restrict fees to $50M (3/4)
House
Republicans plan bill to limit Cobell attorney fees to $50M (3/2)
Key deadline approaching for beneficiaries to
Cobell settlement (3/1)
Dorgan calls
Cobell attorney fee request for $223M 'shameful' (2/25)
Editorial: Lawyers the true beneficiaries in Indian
settlements (2/25)
Cobell attorneys
facing criticism over request for $223M in fees (2/24)
Elouise Cobell discusses Indian trust settlement in
New Mexico (2/10)
Elouise Cobell headed
to New Mexico to discuss $3.4B settlement (2/8)
Elouise Cobell to visit Navajo Nation to talk about
$3.4B settlement (2/4)
Cobell team
holding meetings across Indian Country for settlement (2/2)
Cobell attorneys detail request for $223M fees for
14 years of work (2/2)
Notification
process begins this week for $3.4B Cobell settlement (1/18)
Attorney fees an issue as Cobell settlement moves
ahead in court (1/4)
Shoshone-Bannock
landowner not optimistic on trust reform at DOI (1/3)
Copyright © Indianz.Com
Subscribe