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MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2002

The federal government must stop treating American Indians and tribes with "shabby disregard" and deal with them honorably, The Denver Post argues in an editorial.

The paper cites the Supreme Court's review of two breach of trust cases. "In one case, the U.S. Department of Interior had signed away coal-mining rights on the Navajo reservation," the paper writes, while in the other "the government so badly bungled the management of a historic site - Fort Apache in Arizona - that today it is of little value as a tourist attraction."

The paper ties the cases to the Indian trust fund suit affecting the rights of 500,000 American Indians. It draws a distinction in that Cobell is about equitable relief while the others are about money damages.

"However, the cases are related in a broader moral and public-policy sense," the paper says. "All ultimately ask the same, compelling question: Will America in the 21st century deal with Indians honorably, or will our country continue to treat its first inhabitants with the shabby disregard that hallmarked earlier, shameful eras?"

Get the Story:
Editorial: Indians deserve justice (The Denver Post 12/8)

Today on Indianz.Com:
Norton attacks 'unfit' trustee ruling

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
White Mountain Apache Tribe - http://www.wmat.nsn.us
Navajo Nation - http://www.navajo.org

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