URL: https://www.indianz.com/News/archives/001080.asp

Monday, September 1, 2003

Secretary of Interior Gale Norton and Congress need to investigate why Navajo landowners are being paid less than market value for the use of their land, The Denver Post says in an editorial.

The paper refers to a recent report from a court official in the Indian trust fund lawsuit. Special master Alan Balaran found that Navajos are being paid $25 to $40 per unit for a right-of-way while private landowners get up to $575 per unit.

"As recently as June 2001, the Interior Department did nothing to protect individual Indians from getting snookered," the paper says. "Many Navajo, particularly older tribal members, don't speak or write English."

The paper says the Bush administration can't claim that problems with the trust fund aren't their fault because some of the leases were signed after Norton came on board. "Since she took office in January 2001, Norton and other high-ranking officials have said they're not responsible for the Indian trust fund mess, and that in any case the disputed sums are small. Clearly, that defense is no longer credible."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Indian leases still a scandal (The Denver Post 8/31)

Get the Report:
SITE VISIT REPORT OF THE SPECIAL MASTER TO THE OFFICE OF APPRAISAL SERVICES IN GALLUP, NEW MEXICO AND THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS NAVAJO REALTY OFFICE IN WINDOW ROCK, ARIZONA (August 20, 2003)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Navajo Nation - http://www.navajo.org
Office of Special Trustee - http://www.ost.doi.gov

Related Stories:
Shirley: BIA 'swindling' Navajo landowners (8/21)
DOI: Paying Navajos less for land is reasonable (8/21)
Whistle-blower warned DOI on Navajo land use (8/21)
Court master releases report on Navajo appraisals (8/20)
Swimmer weighs consolidation of appraisals (8/15)
Norton admits Interior hid facts from Congress (7/24)
Navajo trust fund manager targeted in internal probe (07/15)
Indian employees challenging DOI reorganization (06/03)
Navajo leaders criticize upheaval at trust fund office (05/09)
Confusion detailed at Interior (10/16)
DOI land swap program to be reviewed (10/11)
Norton land deal subject of dispute (10/01)
DOI approved $100M land 'giveaway' (8/19)

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