1996: Suit claims longstanding U.S. mismanagement of Indian land leases

A class action lawsuit filed by 300,000 American Indians claims that the United States has mismanaged individual Indians’ trust accounts for 120 years. The named plaintiff, Elouise Cobell, Blackfeet, is president of the Blackfeet National Bank in Browning, Montana.

Theme

Federal-Tribal Relations, Land and Water

Region

Arctic, California, Great Basin, Great Plains, Northeast, Northwest Coast, Plateau, Southeast, Southwest, Subarctic