Today is the deadline for American Indians and their descendants to take part in a $3.4 billion settlement with the federal government over the mismanagement of Indian land and money. In Minnesota, the settlement will distribute $57 million to more than 35,000 tribal members. Earlier this month, Arlene Weous, who lives on the Mille Lacs reservation in central Minnesota, called the Bureau of Indian Affairs to file her claim. She will be among thousands of American Indian around the country taking part in the Cobell settlement -- named after a member of Montana's Blackfeet Tribe, who sued the federal government over its accounting practices related to tribal lands. Weous, who has lived on the reservation for 54 years, said the settlement will close a long and unjust chapter in the relationship between the U.S. government and Indian tribes.Get the Story:
Confusion may slow settlement payments to Minnesota tribal members (Minnesota Public Radio 3/1) Related Stories:
Deadline for second round of Cobell settlement is almost here (2/28)
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Deadline approaching for second round of Cobell settlement (2/25)
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