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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2002

An energetic Osage Nation welcomed the team responsible for the landmark Indian trust fund lawsuit to Oklahoma on Wednesday for a spirited discussion on what was called the largest scandal in U.S. history.

Elouise Cobell, lead plaintiff in the Cobell v. Norton lawsuit, spoke to about 250 leaders and members of the resource-rich tribe. She described her lifelong battle to force the federal government to be accountable to individual American Indians.

"It's been a real tough journey," she said at a tribal building in Pawhuska, "but when you come out to Indian Country and see the faces, it makes your heart expand."

Joined by Keith Harper of the Native American Rights Fund and Dennis Gingold, a banking attorney who has taken the lead on the six-year old case, the team was blunt about their attempts to reform the century-old trust. Despite repeated promises, government officials and attorneys are unwilling to fix the broken system, they told the crowd.

"They wanted the power of a trustee but didn't want the responsibilities," recounted Harper. He said the Departments of Interior and Treasury refuse to acknowledge the "basic" duties of loyalty, candor and care.

"The government has never lived up to them," he asserted.

Mismanagement is rampant throughout all levels of the government, added Gingold, described by Osage Nation Chief Jim Gray as a "bulldog." Although billions of dollars have passed through the Individual Indian Money (IIM) trust, the funds haven't always gone to beneficiaries, he said.

He cited evidence that Indian money has been used to bail out New York City and Chrysler Corporation during their financial crises. Major water projects in the West were built "over the backs of the individual Indian trust," he said.

Osage tribal members and leaders were eager to learn about the case. "What you gave today was a revelation," said William "Sam" Fletcher, president of the Osage Shareholder's Association, during a question and answer session.

Gray, a newcomer to tribal politics who was elected in June along with a largely new slate of council members, promised the tribe's full support. He said the tribe would work closely with Cobell in the future.

"If we stand together, we are going to prevail," said Gingold.

In addition to the Osage meeting, Cobell was meeting with account holders and tribal leaders in eastern Oklahoma today. Another informational session was hosted by the Quapaw Tribe on Wednesday.

Other meetings throughout Indian Country are being planned. Cobell spoke to Navajo Nation account holders in July and was in North Dakota earlier this month with National Congress of American Indians President Tex Hall.

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com

Related Stories:
Norton tries to delay trust fund (8/21)
Trust fund plaintiffs get ruling (8/16)
U.S. argues limits as trustee (8/9)
Interior avoids admission of trust standards (7/24)
Griles slammed for ignorance (7/12)
Trust fund class action sees support (7/3)
Griles can't explain trust standards (6/27)