Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Trust
Cobell awarded fellowship from Lannon Foundation


Elouise Cobell, the lead plaintiff in the Individual Indian Money (IIM) trust fund lawsuit, is one of five winners of Cultural Freedom Fellowships awarded by the Lannan Foundation of Santa Fe.

Cobell, a member of the Blackfeet Nation, is a banker from Browning, Montana. She is leading one of the largest class action lawsuits against the United States government, for breach of its trust duties to thousands of American Indians.

�Ms. Cobell's persistence in bringing the charges to trial has shone a bright light on more than a century of government malfeasance and dishonesty," the Lannan Foundation said in announcing the award.

In addition to Cobell, the foundation has announced that it is giving a total of $675,000 to support the work of anti-globalization activist Maude Barlow of Canada; book publishers Bobby Byrd and Lee Merrill Byrd of the United States; and journalist Amira Hass of Israel.

The cultural freedom fellowship program is designed to recognize individuals whose work inspires their communities, domestic and international, that are struggling to uphold and defend their right to cultural freedom and diversity. This support is intended to encourage and enhance the recipients' efforts to advance the cause of cultural freedom, a basic human right dependent on political, economic, and environmental justice. The money provided with the fellowship may be used for travel, study, research, or other similar purposes.

"These fellowship recipients are inspiring examples of the kinds of people who keep hope alive, who again and again remind us of the necessity to struggle always for freedom and cultural diversity," said Lannan Foundation president J. Patrick Lannan, Jr.

Relevant Links:
Cultural Freedom Fellowships - http://www.lannan.org/lf/cf/fellowships
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com

Related Stories:
Lamberth orders Interior to turn over e-mails (05/27)
DOI to go ahead with wireless despite IG report (5/24)
Opinion: Feds still dragging feet on Indian trust fund (5/23)
Hearing weighed for McCaleb's e-mail destruction (05/11)
Interior Secretary Gale Norton hacked by expert (5/10)
Hacker tells court how he broke into DOI systems (5/4)
Special Trustee Ross Swimmer: I am not a crook (05/04)
Trust fund hearing dispute causes delay in testimony (5/3)
Lamberth to hold hearing on trust fund security (5/2)
Interior ordered to trial on trust fund security (4/26)
Cobell: Ross Swimmer and the truth rarely mix (04/22)
Lamberth holds hearing on Indian trust security (04/21)
Lamberth schedules hearing on computer systems (04/20)
Norton blocking information technology report (04/18)
Cobell presented with national leadership award (04/11)
Bush administration won't give up fight on Cobell (03/18)
McCain weighs GAO probe of Indian trust debacle (03/10)
Norton won't testify on trust fund retaliation (2/28)
Lamberth takes action on Cobell trust lawsuit (2/24)
Bush official won't accept claims of trust mismanagement (02/17)
Appeals court won't hold back Lamberth on trust reform (12/13)
Appeals court supports Lamberth's authority on IT (12/06)
Lamberth critical of Norton's 'bad faith' on trust fund (10/25)
Interior denies attempt to halt trust fund payments (10/05)
Bush administration challenges trust fund ruling (09/16)
Appeals court takes on Cobell trust fund case (9/15)
Lamberth exchanges harsh words with Cobell critic (08/02)
Bush administration calls for end to Cobell case (04/09)
Cobell trust fund suit mediators announced (4/6)
DOI's Internet connection shut down for third time (03/16)
Lamberth defends special master against attack (03/16)
Anderson praises Cobell suit in NCAI speech (2/25)
Tribes still frustrated on trust reform (11/20)
Bush officials blasted by tribal leaders (11/19)
Cobell plaintiffs disputing trust fund rider (11/17)
Daschle criticizes 'shameful' rider in DOI budget bill (11/04)
Norton welcomes time-out in Cobell trust fund case (11/4)
Bush official balks at large settlement for Cobell (7/10)