Second round of Cobell settlement checks expected

Brandon Ecoffey, Managing Editor at Native Sun News, alerts readers that checks resulting from lawsuits seeking grievances from years of badly-managed Indian trust funds are in the pipeline.

The parties’ agreements in this case provide that, subject to the Court’s approval, up to $12 million of the settlement funds may be used to pay for Class Counsel’s post-settlement fees and expenses. On September 10, 2013, plaintiffs filed a motion seeking the Court’s approval to pay Class Counsel $11.25 million in post-settlement fees and expenses relating to work performed from December 8, 2009 through June 30, 2013. The motion states that Class Counsel incurred more than $12.8 million in fees and expenses during those 43 months. The amount requested in the motion reflects the $12 million cap on post-settlement attorneys’ fees and expenses, and that there is additional work required of Class Counsel to complete the distribution.

Class Members may object to the requested payment to Class Counsel. All objections must be in writing and filed with the Court no later than Thursday, October 10, 2013. All written objections should refer to “Cobell v. Jewell, Case No. 96-1285.”

President Obama will be hosting the Tribal Nations Congress at the White House on 13 November.

Tribal nations have experienced an exceptionally difficult late Fall due to the Republican government shutdown and from early winter storms due to Anthropogenic climate change.

Voters self-identifying as 'independent' are extremely angry at Congressional Republicans.

Understanding what would address these larger issues requires momentarily looking backward. Historically speaking, wolves got the shaft. When Lewis and Clark explored the American west at the dawn of the nineteenth century, thousands of wolves thrived across the Northern Rockies. Lewis admiringly called them “the shepherds of the buffalo.” [James McWilliams, Ranchers Insistence On Cheap Grazing Keeps Wolf Population In The Crosshairs, Forbes]

Mark Trahant appeared on Dakota Midday today with Karl Gehrke on Bill Janklow's idea of public radio: they talked about Indian Country and the Affordable Care Act.

Take some time & go visit an elder. Elders love it when you show up with gifts & want to talk. Be ready to listen, learn, & unlearn. :)
— Ruth Hopkins (@_RuthHopkins) November 7, 2013