The Nez Perce Tribe will receive $33.6 million as part of a settlement concerning with two lawsuits it filed against the federal government alleging mismanagement of tribal trust fund accounts.
Under stipulations of the settlement, the tribe agreed to dismiss its claims for trust accountings and trust mismanagement against the United States in consideration of a payment. The lawsuits were filed in 2006.
The accounts hold money from timber sales and other natural resources harvested from tribal lands and the lawsuits accused the U.S. government – acting as manager of the accounts for the tribe – lost assets or failed to provide sufficient, or any return from the accounts for some 30 years.
The settlement is still pending approval of the U.S. Department of Justice.
