US settles case with Native Americans after 13 years (BBC) {122y, actually}

[eppur_se_muova]

The US government has settled a long-running case over royalties owed to American Indians.

Under the deal the interior department will share $1.4bn (£859m) among 300,000 tribe members as compensation.

The tribes claim they have been cheated out of billions of dollars worth of natural resources since 1887.

The agreement ends a case which has been running for 13 years. The secretary of the interior department said it would aid reconciliation.

"This is an historic, positive development for Indian country," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a statement released by the department.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8402329.stm




Am I the only one who thinks $1.4bn sounds way too small for the gold, silver, copper, uranium, oil, etc. that's been taken under this program? :shrug: (There's a $2bn fund for the land alone ...)

Details, background: http://www.cobellsettlement.com/

Actual doc: http://www.cobellsettlement.com/docs/2009.12.07_Settlement_Agreement.pdf

[EC]

1. Yeah, that's only about $5,000. each

person...