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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2002

"Accounting boondoggles are not limited to the private sector. Just consider the federal government's Indian Trust Fund. It was set up 115 years ago to ensure that native Americans were paid for the use of their lands by miners, loggers, and ranchers.

Six years ago, a lawsuit was launched to force a clear accounting of that fund, which was notorious for bungled recordkeeping. Estimates on how much money is owed to Indian account-holders range from more than $10 billion (the plaintiffs') to a few million (the government's).

Now the federal judge hearing that case has, for the second time, held top government officials in contempt of court for failing to take decisive action to correct the fund's shortcomings. . ."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Overdue Debt to Indians (The Christian Science Monitor 9/20)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://www.ncai.org/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp

Related Stories:
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Editorial: Norton has made no reforms (9/19)
Column: Norton, aides like 'kids' on trust (9/19)
Norton cited for Indian trust 'fraud' (9/19)
Norton 'unfit' to manage Indian trust (9/18)
Griles nearly perjured himself (9/18)
Congress responds to contempt (9/18)
Lamberth makes ruling on trust (9/18)
Editorial: Send Norton the liar to jail (9/18)
Editorial: Norton deserves rebuke (9/18)
Editorial: Norton is 'disgrace' (9/18)
Slonaker feels vindicated by ruling (9/18)
Norton found in contempt for trust fund (9/17)
Judge holds Norton in contempt (9/17)
Rahall: End the trust fund charade (9/17)
Your Ultimate Guide to Contempt (9/5)