The Bureau of Indian Affairs will pay $1.8 million to the family of a 16-year-old girl who died at Chemawa Indian School in Oregon.

Cindy Lou Brightstar Sohappy-Gilbert died in December 2003 after being placed in a holding cell at the school. She had been left unsupervised even though employees knew she had been drinking.

The autopsy later determined that her blood-alcohol level was 0.37. The Interior Department's Inspector General said BIA officials contributed to her death by failing to address known problems.

Gilbert's death came up at a House subcommittee hearing yesterday. Rep. Darrell E. Issa (R-California) demanded to know why some of the BIA officials faulted for Gilbert's death continue to work for the agency.

Two officials have retained high-level positions at the BIA. One of them, Ed Parisian, is deputy director of the Office of Indian Education Programs.

Two employees had disciplinary action taken against them but one was exonerated on appeal, said Interior deputy secretary P. Lynn Scarlett. She did not know the status of some of the other people involved.

Get the Story:
Family gets $1.8 million in death of teenage girl (The Oregonian 9/15)

Cindy Gilbert Report:
Report on Child�s Death at Chemawa Indian Boarding School

Detention Facility Reports:
Final | Interim

Oregonian Special Series:
Warm Springs - A Place Where Children Die

Relevant Links:
Chemawa Indian School - http://www.chemawa.bia.edu

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