Officials with the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior joined Navajo Nation leaders in Window Rock today to sign a settlement awarding the tribe more than half a billion dollars.
The Navajo nation is one of about 100 tribes who had sued the federal government for historic tribal trust and land mismanagement claims.
The ceremony began with several speeches filled with many "thank you's" and acknowledgments.
This signing ceremony marks the end of an 8-year legal battle between the United States and the Navajo Nation over claims that the federal government mismanaged the funds generated from the tribe’s trust land.
For Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn, today’s agreement is another fulfillment of the Obama administration’s commitment to improve relations with tribal nations.
"We really have turned a corner and we’ve got a much more productive relationship with Indian tribes now as a result of settling all this litigation," Washburn said.
The total settlement comes in at just over $554 million. It’s a historic agreement in that it’s the largest sum ever awarded to a single tribe. But its also one of many, as the U.S. government has already settled with about 80 other tribes for similar claims since 2010, with settlements totaling more than $2.6 billion.
U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said agreements like these are a benefit to everyone.
"This $554 million settlement gets the U.S. federal government and the tribe out of court so we’re no longer going to be spending money on attorney fees," Jewell said. "The tribe will be able to spend money on things that are important to it."
For Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly, it was a long time coming.
"It’s been a long battle, yes, but I’m glad it came forth," Shelly said.
He anticipates that many of the funds will be used for capital improvements, like road maintenance, energy infrastructure and scholarship funds. But Shelley added the people will also play a large role in deciding how the money will be spent. Beginning in October, the tribe plans to host town-hall-style meetings to get community feedback.
"The Navajo People are going to really benefit from this funding," Shelly said.
Not all who attended the ceremony had such optimistic attitudes though. Erwin Caimbridge, a Navajo tribal member from Window Rock said while he’s happy to hear about the additional funds, he worries they may not be appropriated correctly once they reach the tribal government.
"I think there’s a lot of things that are going to come into question later, years down the road and who is going to benefit," Caimbridge said. "The Navajo nation doesn’t have the best track record to money and politicians."
Officials with the Department of the Interior said the settlement should be on its way to the Navajo Nation in about 12 weeks.
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell estimated there are about 20 additional tribes whose claims have yet to be settled. She said the goal is to find some sort of resolution for the majority of them before the administration leaves office.
