Indian farmers in Montana discuss discrimination

Thursday, May 17, 2007  

Indian farmers and ranchers on the Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana talked about discrimination they have felt in their dealings with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Farm Service Agency.

The farmers told the Fort Belknap Indian Community about denied loans, foreclosures and long waits for service. "All I wanted when I started ranching in 1982 was the same kind of treatment in government loan programs to start up and run my ranch as other, white ranchers and farmers got," Luther "Luke" Crasco said, The Great Falls Tribune reported.

Crasco is one of the lead plaintiffs in the Keepseagle v Johanns suit. It alleges the USDA and the FSA engaged in systematic discrimination against Indian farmers and ranchers.

The plaintiffs are seeking a trial on their claims but the case has been bogged down for several years. Meanwhile, USDA settled a similar lawsuit with African-American farmers.

David Frantz, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said he is confident the farmers will win their case when it goes to trial, possibly in 2008.

Get the Story:
Indian farmers say they faced discrimination (The Great Falls Tribune 5/17)
Attorney confident tribal farmers will win (The Great Falls Tribune 5/17)

P Recent Court Decision:
Keepseagle v. USDA (March 23, 2006)

Relevant Links:
Keepseagle Race Discrimination - http://www.cmht.com/cases_keepseagle.php
Civil Rights, USDA - http://www.ascr.usda.gov

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