"Today, we joined Osage Tribe Principal Chief John Red Eagle, other tribal leaders, and our colleagues at the Treasury Department, in a ceremony to commemorate an historic settlement marking the end of a long-running lawsuit by the Osage Tribe of Oklahoma regarding claims involving the United States’ accounting and management of the tribe’s trust funds and non-monetary trust assets.

Reaching a final settlement with the Osage Tribe on its trust accounting and trust mismanagement claims has been a priority for the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior. Attorney General Holder and Secretary Salazar have been committed to resolving pending tribal trust accounting and trust mismanagement cases, in a fair and equitable manner and without protracted litigation, so that the United States and the tribes can jointly undertake reconciliation and empowerment for American Indian nations.

The settlement between the Osage Tribe and the United States is the product of months of dedicated efforts by the parties to achieve a fair and just resolution of the tribe’s trust claims. The settlement is fundamental to the government-to-government relationship between the United States and the tribe. The agreement marks a new beginning – one of just reconciliation, better communication between the Interior Department and the tribe, and strengthened management by Interior of tribal trust funds and trust resources."

Get the Story:
Ignacia S. Moreno and Hilary C. Tompkins: Osage Tribal Trust Settlement (The White House Blog 10/21)

Also Today:
Osage Nation, U.S. settle legal battle (The Tulsa World 10/22)
Osage Nation signs agreement in trust settlement (The Native American Times 10/21)
DOJ Settles Indian Trust Suit For $380 Million (The Blog of Legal Times 10/21)

Related Stories:
Osage Nation to receive $345M settlement payment in November (09/27)
Osage Nation to settle trust mismanagement lawsuit for $380M (08/18)