NESPELEM, Wash. (AP) — The Confederated Colville Tribes have agreed to accept a $193 million settlement offer from the federal government for mismanaging tribal lands.
The Wenatchee World reported Friday (http://bit.ly/A1m8tW ) that the U.S. Department of Justice is expected to sign the agreement in the next two weeks.
Colville Tribal Chairman Michael Finley calls it one of the largest Indian trust mismanagement settlements in U.S. history. Finley says a portion of the funds will be set aside and distributed over time to tribal members, and the rest will be used to restore tribal forests, rangeland and other natural resources.
The Colvilles filed suit in 2005 alleging the government sold tribal timber and leased its rangeland for less than market value for years.
