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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US to pay Native Americans $1.4bn | US to pay Native Americans $1.4bn |
| (38 minutes later) | |
| The US government has agreed to pay $3.4bn (£2.1bn) to settle a long-running case over Native American land. | The US government has agreed to pay $3.4bn (£2.1bn) to settle a long-running case over Native American land. |
| The Cobell case, filed in 1996, alleged the government had mismanaged billions of dollars in income from natural resources on Native American land. | The Cobell case, filed in 1996, alleged the government had mismanaged billions of dollars in income from natural resources on Native American land. |
| Under the deal the interior department will share $1.4bn (£859m) among 300,000 tribe members as compensation and set up a $2bn fund to buy land from them. | Under the deal the interior department will share $1.4bn (£859m) among 300,000 tribe members as compensation and set up a $2bn fund to buy land from them. |
| President Barack Obama said it was "an important step towards reconciliation". | President Barack Obama said it was "an important step towards reconciliation". |
| "I heard from many in Indian Country that the Cobell Suit remained a stain on the nation-to-nation relationship I value so much," Mr Obama told Congress. | |
| He said he had pledged as a presidential candidate to resolve the issue and was proud the step had finally been made. | He said he had pledged as a presidential candidate to resolve the issue and was proud the step had finally been made. |
| The secretary of the interior department also said it would aid reconciliation. | The secretary of the interior department also 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. | "This is an historic, positive development for Indian country," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a statement released by the department. |
| Contentious case | Contentious case |
| The dispute dates back to the 1887 Dawes Act, which seized Indian land - much of it rich in natural resources - and gave it to white-owned companies to exploit. | The dispute dates back to the 1887 Dawes Act, which seized Indian land - much of it rich in natural resources - and gave it to white-owned companies to exploit. |
| Ms Cobell said many Natives Americans were owed far more | Ms Cobell said many Natives Americans were owed far more |
| Under the Act, the land was divided into plots and each Indian family was assigned a parcel of land, a concept alien to their culture in which all land belonged to the tribe. | Under the Act, the land was divided into plots and each Indian family was assigned a parcel of land, a concept alien to their culture in which all land belonged to the tribe. |
| The idea was for them to be "compensated" for the use of their land; however disputes arose almost immediately, perpetuated as ever smaller parcels of land were inherited by new generations. | |
| Attorney General Eric Holder said the parties had tried to reach an agreement "many, many times". | Attorney General Eric Holder said the parties had tried to reach an agreement "many, many times". |
| "But today we turn the page. This settlement is fair to the plaintiffs, responsible for the US, and provides a path forward for the future," he said. | "But today we turn the page. This settlement is fair to the plaintiffs, responsible for the US, and provides a path forward for the future," he said. |
| Elouise Cobell, a member of the Blackfoot tribe and who filed the complaint in 1996, welcomed the settlement, saying the administration had listened to Native American concerns. | Elouise Cobell, a member of the Blackfoot tribe and who filed the complaint in 1996, welcomed the settlement, saying the administration had listened to Native American concerns. |
| But she said there was "no doubt" that the final amount was "significantly" less than what those affected actually deserved. | But she said there was "no doubt" that the final amount was "significantly" less than what those affected actually deserved. |
| The plaintiffs had claimed they were owed $47bn. | The plaintiffs had claimed they were owed $47bn. |
| On its website the department for the interior said that the litigation had included hundreds of motions, dozens of rulings and appeals, and several trials. | On its website the department for the interior said that the litigation had included hundreds of motions, dozens of rulings and appeals, and several trials. |
| The agreement must be approved both by Congress and a federal judge. | The agreement must be approved both by Congress and a federal judge. |